Our Mission
Our Vision
A future where no animals are harmed in the name of science, and scientific progress is advanced through animal-free research methods.
Our Values
- Compassion — for animals used in science and for all beings reliant on safe and effective medical progress
- Respect — for the scientific process, including all who may hold opposing viewpoints or work in the animal research industry, whom we will treat with courtesy and civility
- Integrity — in providing factual information about animal research
- Courage — to speak out in the face of opposition and on behalf of animals who cannot speak for themselves
- Commitment — to continuously challenge the status quo by advocating for scientifically valid, animal-free methods of research
- Transparency — in all our undertakings to promote positive solutions that advance animal-free science
*AFSA is a non-violent organisation and does not condone harm to any sentient living being.
Our Mission
We build public awareness of animal experimentation, pursue all reasonable channels to eliminate it, and champion the adoption of animal-free alternatives throughout scientific and medical research and teaching. We work professionally, ethically, and with compassion for all beings as our driving motivation.
We hold the following as core principles:
- Animal-based research and teaching represent unnecessarily cruel, empirically compromised and unethical treatment of non-consenting sentient beings.
- Research data obtained from animal experimentation and extrapolated to human conditions is unreliable and ineffective, which delays progress for human health.
- The replacement of animals with validated, non-animal methods will facilitate scientifically reliable, effective and empirically valid research outcomes.
Our position on animal use in science
We oppose any harmful use of animals in science. We define harmful use as anything causing pain, suffering, distress, lasting harm, or death, without any clear benefit to the animals themselves¹. This applies across all fields involving animal experimentation, including biomedical research (fundamental and applied), chemical testing, regulatory science, agriculture, veterinary research, and science education.
Even where research is not considered directly harmful, laboratory environments can still compromise animal welfare by causing stress, restricting natural behaviours, and preventing positive experiences².
While we advocate for animal-free research, we accept that in very limited circumstances, animal use may be permissible if it is in the direct interests of the individual animal(s) involved. Because every situation is different, AFSA assesses each case on its individual merits.
We prioritise opposition to research that:
- is highly invasive or causes significant suffering
- uses species with advanced cognitive abilities or long lifespans
- is unnecessary or of questionable scientific value
- has scientifically validated animal-free alternatives available.
AFSA recognises that there are logistical, institutional, economic, and regulatory barriers to transitioning to human-relevant research, all of which are frequently raised at Congresses such as the World Congress for Alternatives and Animals in the Life Sciences. AFSA is open to collaboration with individuals and organisations to overcome these barriers and to work together to incentivise a phase-out of animal experimentation in Australia. With no such plan currently in place, we support the principles of the RSPCA UK 2030 Phase-out Plan, the Cruelty-Free International Target Xero report, the Eurogroup for Animals Strategy, and the PETA Research Modernization Now plan. We also support the recommendations of the 2023 CSIRO report Non-animal models: A strategy maturing Australia’s medical product development capabilities.
AFSA’s annual activity statements are available on the ACNC website.
We do not receive any Government funding, or funding from Phamaceutical companies.
Our corporate partners are listed here.
Our investments exclude any companies or sectors that are damaging to animals or the environment. We positively screen companies which conserve, regenerate, and protect the environment, or invest in alternatives to animal research.
AFSA is a member organisation of the International Council on Animal Protection in OECD Programmes (ICAPO) and the International Council on Animal Protection in Pharmaceutical Programs (ICAPPP).
See here for more information on how ICAPO contribute to the test guidelines development.
AFSA’s Regulatory Science Officer sits on the editorial board of the journal Alternatives to Laboratory Animals.
If you have a complaint about Animal-Free Science Advocacy, please contact us through one of the following methods:
- Phone: Call 1800 486 263 during business hours (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm). Outside these hours, leave a message, and we will return your call within one working day.
- Email: Send your complaint to info@animalfreescience.org.au
- Mail: Write to Animal-Free Science Advocacy, PO Box 15, Fitzroy, Victoria, 3065. Please include your contact details.
We will acknowledge your complaint within two working days of receipt and aim to resolve it within ten working days. If you are dissatisfied with the response, contact the relevant oversight bodies, being the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission or Consumer Affairs Victoria. Our member grievance procedures are outlined in AFSA’s constitution which is made available to all members.
Want to learn more about AFSA? See our team and take a look at our history and achievements.
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