In Australia, animals are still used in some surgical and trauma training courses—despite a growing range of human-relevant alternatives
Pigs and sheep are the most common species used, with chickens in some cases. These courses aim to give trainees hands-on experience in procedures such as trauma management, airway management, vascular access, haemorrhage control, laparoscopic surgery and specialist surgical techniques. Typically, animals are anaesthetised while invasive procedures are performed, then euthanised at the end of the course.
Surgical education is changing. Around the world, training is moving towards human-relevant methods such as high-fidelity simulators, synthetic tissues, human cadavers, virtual reality and robotic training platforms—approaches that can be realistic, repeatable and directly relevant to human medicine, without harming animals.
Animal use in Australia
Under S1.19 of the Australian code for the care and use of animals for scientific purposes (2013), animals must not be used if a suitable replacement method is available. Any institution using animals in surgical or trauma training must obtain approval from an animal ethics committee (AEC). AECs should not approve animal use where valid, human-relevant alternatives exist.
Nevertheless, several institutions across Australia currently use animals in surgical or trauma training, and some course curriculums continue to include live animal surgeries.
For example:
- The Alfred in Melbourne conducts ECMO courses on live pigs.
- South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI) in Adelaide runs surgical workshops across trauma, cardiology, gynaecology and ENT, with direct supply of research sheep, mice and rats.
- The Definitive Surgical Trauma Care (DSTC) course is recommended by the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons for all consultant surgeons and final-year trainees and is carried out at various locations around Australia using pigs.
Animal-free training methods
Simulation technologies can replicate everything from basic surgical skills to complex trauma and laparoscopic procedures. Many provide realistic tactile feedback and performance tracking. Examples include the TraumaMan System and products provided by SynDaver and STOPS Medical.
Synthetic tissue models are designed to mimic human organs, blood vessels and other tissues. They can be reused, standardised and adapted to different training needs.
Adelaide-based company Fusetec produces surgical training models using 3D technologies designed to mimic human soft tissue, including complex anatomies and pathologies.
Human cadavers provide clinically relevant human anatomy and allow trainees to practise procedures in realistic settings. Perfused human cadavers are widely recognised as educationally superior to animal models. It is worth noting, however, that soft-embalmed cadavers suitable for perfusion are considerably more expensive and scarcer in Australia than in Europe or North America, and there is no national body donation register. A helpful resource produced by Willed lists universities across Australia with body donation programs, including direct contact details.
Virtual and augmented reality platforms allow surgeons to rehearse procedures in immersive digital environments before performing them in clinical practice.
Robotic and digital training platforms are expanding rapidly. It is worth noting that robotics is a modality for performing surgical skills, not always a direct replacement for animal use in training—much robotics training in Australia and globally is still conducted on live animals. Where animals are not involved, robotic training offers reproducible, standardised scenarios and remote access without the ethical concerns of live animal use.
International Medical Robotics Academy, Melbourne — uses online learning, virtual reality, 3D video, simulators and synthetic organ models to train surgeons in robotic surgery.
Macquarie University Hospital, Sydney — in 2021, became the first hospital in Australia with access to the Versius Surgical Robotic System for minimally invasive surgery.
RACS position
The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) recognises simulation as an important part of surgical education. In its 2023 report on robot-assisted surgery, RACS recommended a staged simulation pathway.
In 2017, RACS also phased out the use of live animals in its Early Management of Severe Trauma (now called Advanced Trauma Life Support) course following assessment of advanced human simulation technology—a significant milestone demonstrating that meaningful change is achievable.
What AFSA is calling for
AFSA supports:
- Replacing animals in surgical training wherever validated alternatives exist
- Increased investment in simulation technologies, synthetic models and other human-relevant methods
- Greater transparency about animal use in surgical education for students prior to enrolment
- Clear reporting on animal use in surgical education
Australia has an opportunity to lead the way in humane, evidence-based surgical education. With modern training technologies now available, surgeons can develop essential skills without using animals.
Learn more
🎧 AFSA’s podcast episode with Andrew Costello from International Medical Robotics Academy
📰 News broadcast interview with Dr Kerry Foley, a retired emergency medical doctor, who shares her views on best practices for surgical training
Further reading
- Enhancing oral surgery simulation: a systematic review of 3D-printed patient-specific models compared to traditional animal jaw models for presurgical training
- The impact of incorporating surgical simulation into trichiasis surgery training on operative aspects of initial live-training surgeries
- A review of simulation training and new 3D computer-generated synthetic organs for robotic surgery education
- Highly accurate, patient-specific, 3-dimensional mixed-reality model creation for surgical training and decision-making
- Surgical training simulation modalities in minimally invasive surgery: how to achieve evidence-based curricula by translational research
- Bridging the gap in rhinoplasty training: the effectiveness of 3D printed models in surgical education