Labtech is the professional association for laboratory technical staff in educational laboratories at all levels in Victoria. It provides professional development for laboratory technicians. Labtech maintains a list serve for the exchange of information between members and as a forum for problem solving on a day to day basis.
Join Labtech and the Labtech email list
Become a member – there is no cost to join. This will also add you to the Labtech email list (see below).
Labtech Email List Application Form
Labtech email list
The Labtech list has been setup by STAV as a discussion forum where Laboratory Technicians can exchange
information, share ideas and seek advice.
Terms and conditions for use of the STAV Labtechlist
Information for Laboratory Technicians
Safety in science
DET – endorsed safe working procedures for all school areas, including science rooms and laboratories can be found at:
www.education.vic.gov.au
There are links to safety information, risk assessment advice and handling of hazardous substances.
Animals in the classroom
Changes to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Regulations 2008 in December 2008 require the use of adult cephalopods (octopus, nautilus, cuttlefish and squid) and adult decapod crustaceans (lobsters, crayfish and crabs) in teaching and research to be approved by an Animal Ethics Committee. Yabbies (freshwater crayfish) are commonly held in schools and may be used for teaching purposes only if their use is first approved by an Animal Ethics Committee.
Comprehensive guidelines for the use of animals in schools have been provided by the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development: www.education.vic.gov.au/careofanimals Schools must hold a Scientific Procedures Licence from the Bureau of Animal Welfare if they wish to use animals as part of their teaching of scientific concepts, and must use an Animal Ethics Committee to review this animal use. The keeping of classroom pets is not considered to require licensing or AEC oversight, nor is the practice of animal husbandry as authorised by a Code of Practice. See www.dpi.vic.gov.au/animalwelfare for more information.
The DET holds a single licence that includes all government schools. Due to differences in administration, independent schools and CECV schools must apply to the Bureau of Animal Welfare for their own individual licences. The Victorian Schools Animal Ethics Committee (VSAEC) was established in 2005 by the Department of Education, Association of Independent Schools of Victoria and Catholic Education Commission of Victoria to service all registered schools in Victoria with a current Scientific Procedures Licence