21 Dec TAWC officially launched at Animal Welfare Horizons
TAWC officially launched at Animal Welfare Horizons
The Animal Welfare Collaborative (TAWC) was officially inaugurated by The University of Queensland’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research), Professor Bronwyn Harch, at Animal Welfare Horizons on December 4th in Brisbane.
Animal Welfare Horizons was a future-facing conference to consider how Australia can address animal welfare as a nation and ways in which enrichment for animals can be implemented in Australia for a variety of animals.
Professor Donald Broom of the University of Cambridge flew to Brisbane to open the event with a moving keynote speech on “Why animal welfare will define Australia.”
Other presentations included
- Animal welfare in Australia: past & future – Andrew Spencer, Managing Director, Ancer Consulting and Chair, Australian Farm Institute
- Good, clean, fair – the future of Australian food – Dr Noelene McBride & Dr Ian McBride, Slow Food Brisbane
- The chef’s dilemma – Simon Bryant, Dirt(y) Inc, and Simon Toohey, MasterChef Contestant
- Human effects on their animals (negative and positive) – Professor Paul Hemsworth, The University of Melbourne
- Building enriched environments – Kerrie Haynes-Lovell, Delta Society
- Promoting positive experiences in animal welfare – Nicolas de Graaff, Zoo and Aquarium Association
- Friends with benefits – Dr Mia Cobb, Animal Welfare Science Centre and Working Dog Alliance
During the event, Professor Alan Tilbrook also gave participants an update on the Daylight Project being facilitated by TAWC.
The official launch of TAWC at Animal Welfare Horizons represents a significant moment for Australia. Facilitated by researchers at The University of Queensland, The University of Newcastle, The University of Western Australia and The University of Adelaide, TAWC is the first national initiative since the former Australian Animal Welfare Strategy (AAWS) to bring such a diverse network of stakeholders together around the single goal of improving the welfare of animals. With everyone working together, we see a very bright horizon for animal welfare in Australia!
The next Animal Welfare Horizons will be in December 2021. Are you keen to volunteer at it? If so, please send us a message on our Contact page to discuss how you can get involved.