Voiceless Grant Recipients (2004 – 2017)

2004 GRANTS

COMPASSION IN WORLD FARMING

Farm Animals and Us

CIWF Trust is the charitable education and research arm of leading UK based farm animal welfare organisation Compassion in World Farming, which works internationally to prevent cruelty and promote respect for farmed animals and the environment. The Trust has produced a variety of educational resources that have been successfully introduced into schools in Britain, Ireland , South Africa and several countries in Continental Europe. This $20,000 grant was awarded to the CIWF Trust in order for them to adapt, produce and distribute an educational video on farm animal welfare to Australian schools. Their original material was adapted so that Australian lower secondary school children could enjoy and relate to it, understand the effect that different farming methods have on the welfare of animals, and appreciate how consumer choice can create better lives for farm animals. The completed DVD ‘Farm Animals and Us in Australia’ has been offered to over 1100 secondary schools. Hugo Weaving, Voiceless’ ambassador kindly provided his voice as the voice of compassion’ on the DVD. Background information and classroom exercises have also been made available online for teachers to access. To view the cover of this inspirational DVD, click the download icon below.

HUMANE SOCIETY INTERNATIONAL

Humane Choice Label

Humane Society International was granted $20,000 for the creation of a ‘Humane Choice’ animal product label in Australia. Verna Simpson, Humane Society International’s Australian Director, on hearing that their “Humane Choice” project had been selected for a $20,000 grant, said: “In partnership with Voiceless, we aim to be at the forefront of the promotion of products that will improve the lives of all animals, in this instance, assessing the potential for the development of a “humane choice” label in Australia”. To view a 2005 press release issued by Humane Choice, please click on the download icon below.

ANIMAL LIBERATION ACT

Free Range Canberra

Animal Liberation ACT was granted $20,000 for their ‘Free Range Canberra’ project, which aimed to bring about a ban of battery egg production in the ACT and to encourage ACT consumers to buy free range eggs. In 1997, legislation was passed to ban the production and sale of battery eggs in the ACT and to restrict the importation of battery eggs, given the agreement of the other states and territories. Since agreement from other states was not forthcoming, the legislation was never implemented. This grant was intended to assist Animal Liberation ACT to circumvent a recurrence of the 1997 problem, by establishing a ban on the production of battery eggs in the ACT, but not on their importation into the territory. Free Range Canberra was successful in raising community awareness (as evidenced by market research commissioned by Animal Liberation ACT), through the distribution of 40,000 leaflets, an advertising campaign in ACT papers, as well as on bus backs, the distribution of 9,000 Avant Cards, and the revamping and regular updating of the Free Range Canberra website.

AUSTRALIAN WILDLIFE PROTECTION COUNCIL

Kangaroos: Myths and Realities

The Australian Wildlife Protection Council was granted $10,000 to assist with the publication and distribution costs of ‘Kangaroos: Myths and Realities’, a collaborative production of papers by scientists, animal protection and wildlife protection groups. This book aims to promote the intrinsic value of kangaroos, and their non-consumptive use for tourism. The second edition is described by Maryland Wilson, President of the Australian Wildlife Protection Council, as “a heartbreaking expose of the insidious events that have led to the present crisis facing the nation’s kangaroos” and also contains additional scientific papers and a new forward by Professor Peter Singer. Coverage of the books launch appeared in the Sydney Morning Herald and Canberra Times, as well as ABC TV and radio talkback. To view the cover art of the Voiceless funded book, click the download icon below.

MONASH UNIVERSITY

Animal Welfare Textbook

This $10,000 grant supported the development of a syllabus related textbook for students enrolling in the Graduate Certificate in Animal Welfare, an innovative and unique higher education degree course which was launched in 2003. This $10,000 grant allowed Dr Pauleen Bennett to revise the existing course materials and prepare a textbook and supporting CD-Rom.

HOLLAND PARK STATE PRIMARY SCHOOL

Citizenship and Compassion through Animal Rights Education (CACTUS)

Holland Park State Primary School teacher Carmel Loane, in conjunction with the Queensland Department of Education and the Arts, was awarded a $5,000 grant to develop an online ‘Webquest’ program, promoting compassion and citizenship through the study of animal rights. The program, titled ‘Citizenship and Compassion through Animal Rights Education (CACTUS)’ was targeted towards middle school aged children and designed to run over 10 weeks.

AUSTRALIAN VEGETARIAN SOCIETY

Humanimal Eye

April Gadd and Tessa Rubenstein, in association with the Australian Vegetarian Society, were granted $5,000 towards the development of an entertaining, eye-catching and interactive on-line lifestyle magazine to inform the public about the benefits of making the shift to vegetarianism and veganism. The magazine, titled ‘Humanimal Eye’ was intended to reinvent the image of vegetarians and vegans, as well as to promote human and animal wellbeing. To view the launch party flyer, please click on the download icon below.

VEGAN PET FOOD

Vegan Pet Food

Sandy Anderson of VeganPet was granted $5,000 towards the development of a range of vegan cruelty free wet food for cats and dogs. The project aimed to supply a high-quality product to meet the nutritional requirements of dogs and cats without sourcing animal-based products. Sandy already marketed a dry dog and cat food and used the grant to expand her range to include both tinned wet food and vegan pet chews. This grant allowed her to locate a cannery, survey customers and vegans regarding can size, source vegan human-grade raw materials, test her products in a laboratory and fund the first few canning runs. To view one of the vegan pet food tin labels please click on the download icon below.

ANIMALS AUSTRALIA

Save Babe

The Animals Australia ‘www.savebabe.com’ billboards were part of a public awareness campaign designed to raise the community’s awareness and understanding of the widespread use of sow stalls and other intensive farming practices. The billboards prompted the public to logon to the campaign website ‘www.savebabe.com’ to learn about how pigs suffer in intensive confinement and then encouraged consumers to make informed ethical choices in an attempt to promote the adoption of alternative pig housing systems. This $10,000 grant also funded the distribution of over 50,000 information leaflets, which prompted hundreds of public enquires from individuals seeking Animals Australia information packs. To view one of the billboards from the campaign, click the ‘download’ icon below.

2005 GRANTS

ANIMALS’ ANGELS

Live Export Port Control

Animals’ Angels was granted $15,000 towards their investigation and documentation of loadings at Freemantle Harbour as part of the live animal export trade. In response to reports from Animals’ Angels, the Department of Local Government and Regional Development has appointed six new inspectors. Animals’ Angels is also now the only animal welfare group other than RSPCA WA to have been invited to join a state government-related board, committee or group.

THE INTERNATIONAL NETWORK FOR HUMANE EDUCATION (INTERNICHE)

Promoting Replacement of Animals in Education

interNICHE was granted $2,500 for a project promoting the replacement of the harmful use of animals in education by educating members of the scientific teaching community about alternatives to the use of animals in life science education. The first phase saw the distribution of two hundred copies of the book ‘From Guinea Pig to Computer Mouse: alternative methods for a progressive, humane education’ throughout Australia. The project was widely promoted to the scientific educational community through the ANZCCART email list and at the ANZCCART conferences in 2005 and 2006. It also received coverage in the email lists and newsletters of several Australian animal protection groups. The grant further funded the distribution of 30 copies of Helena Pedersen’s book ‘Humane Education in Laboratory Classes. Aspects, Attitudes and Implications’. To view the cover of this book, click on the download icon below.

VEGETARIAN/VEGAN SOCIETY OF QUEENSLAND

Boycott Cruelty – Go Vegan

The Vegetarian/Vegan Society of Queensland received a $2,500 grant for the re-printing of their ‘Boycott Cruelty – Go Vegan’ brochures. These brochures, originally funded by a 2005 Voiceless Grant, aim to create public awareness about animal protection issues and encourage the public to take action in their personal lives to help animals. They are available for download from the Vegetarian/Vegan Society of Queensland website.

ANIMALS AUSTRALIA

Intensive Pig Farming Advertising Campaign

Animals Australia and Voiceless formed the Pigs to Paddocks alliance, alongside Hunter Hall and the Berg Family Foundation, to fund an advertising campaign designed to educate and create changing attitudes to intensive pig farming in Australia. The campaign stirred up much public debate and discussion in the Australian advertising community. To view these emotive advertisements please click on the download icons below.

ANIMAL LIBERATION SA

Pig Mobile / Free Ranger

Animal Liberation South Australia was granted $15,000 to purchase a van for education and outreach purposes. The van will be used to display and distribute the group’s educational material, addressing all issues relating to wildlife and farm animals, visiting supermarkets, festivals and events. Animal Liberation’s life-sized sow, Priscilla, will also be transported in the van. To see the van for yourself, click the download icon below.

PEOPLE AGAINST CRUELTY IN ANIMAL TRANSPORT (PACAT)

Live Animal Export Myth Busters

People Against Cruelty in Animal Transport (PACAT) received a $15,000 grant to support a major advertising campaign exposing the myths of the live export trade with a specific focus on the transport of sheep in ships from Fremantle to the Middle East. This grant funded a major PR campaign exposing the myths of the live export trade which included a series of print ads in the Saturday Western Australian newspaper exposing the myths surrounding the export trade. This publication has a viewership of one million people each week and is distributed throughout the state. This print media message was reinforced with a series of billboards around the city of Perth. To see one of the billboard designs click the download link below.

YUGUL MANGI COMMUNITY GOVERNMENT COUNCIL

Ngukurr Dogs

Yugul Mangi Community Government Council, located in South East Arnhem Land NT, received a $10,000 grant to assist the development of a comprehensive training program for the proper care of dogs in Aboriginal communities such as Ngukurr. This funding also supported the production of video footage broadcast in multiple time slots over a three month period and the assistance of a local vet and community members also to educate the community on animal welfare best practice.

CENTRAL QUEENSLAND UNIVERSITY

Happy Animals

Central Queensland University received a grant of $10,000 in support of the development of a resource kit entitled Happy Animals’ to address the deliberate harm of animals by children. The kit was distributed to key stakeholders, including child protection agencies, educators and animal protection agencies with the aim of increasing awareness of the implications of deliberate cruelty to animals and act as an intervention into the cycle of cruelty. It further included an information leaflet for adults and an interactive CD Rom for children to work through. The kit has been distributed to and well-received by state departments of child safety and RSPCA centres across the country. For an idea of what the CD offers, click the download icon below.

GRIFFITH UNIVERSITY

Learning to Care: Education for Compassion

Griffith University was granted $10,000 towards a pilot project titled ‘Learning to Care: Education for Compassion’. The project aimed to provide teachers with the knowledge, methods and vision necessary to help students develop compassion for animals. It addresses the failure of current curriculums to address animal welfare issues and was rolled out in two phases. The first component consisted of a research phase, where students and teachers in Queensland schools were asked about their understanding of and attitudes towards animal ethics issues. This research formed the basis of a detailed report, which outlined the need for curriculum development and teacher training, to ensure that animal ethics education is incorporated into the school program. To view a report summary, please click on the download icon below.

EDGAR’S MISSION

Alice the Pig and the Kindness Trail

Edgar’s Mission was granted $10,000 in support of their animal sanctuary, which provides a home for unwanted and abused farm animals. They also serve to educate people about intensive farming. $5,000 from Voiceless was allocated towards the care and upkeep of Alice the pig, a one-time factory farm pig, who appeared in the movie Charlotte’s Web and was then retired’ to the sanctuary. Voiceless sponsor, Bio-Distributors, also contributed $5,000 towards the Kindness Trail’, an educational and interactive ‘walk through’ of the sanctuary, which was launched on an Open Day on 1 October 2006.

WILDLIFE WARRIORS WORLDWIDE

Project Steward

Wildlife Warriors Worldwide received a $10,000 grant towards the development of ‘Project Steward’ designed to encourage the introduction of legislation in Queensland, to make spotter catchers a mandatory requirement in all land clearing activities. A spotter catcher is a person who mitigates harm to protected animals, whose habitats are to be destroyed by human activity. They report on potential harm to wildlife, recommend actions to protect, and when appropriate, relocate animals. The mandatory use of spotter catchers ensures the impact of land clearing on all wildlife, not just endangered, will be minimised. To date this grant has funded the production of a 40 page document entitled ‘Code of Practice for the Welfare of Wildlife Affected by Land Clearing and Other Habitat Impacts’ and the organisation of stakeholder meetings in Queensland.

COOMALIE COMMUNITY COUNCIL

Animal Awareness Project

Coomalie Community Council in the Northern Territory was granted $5,000 to conduct an Animal Awareness Program for residents in the region. With the help of funds from the Voiceless grant, the Council was able to organise a range of information sessions and workshops about caring for both domestic animals and native wildlife. The sessions were extremely popular and proved to be an effective way of promoting respect and compassion for animals within the community.

MICHELLE READ ZORN

Australian Humane Educators Network

Michelle Read-Zorn was granted $5,000 for the creation of the Australian Humane Educators Network, which provided both teachers and parents, resources and assistance for educating students about animal protection issues.

COMPASSION IN WORLD FARMING

Farm Animals and Us

Compassion in World Farming (CIWF) received a $5,000 grant for the development of teacher support materials for the DVD ‘Farm Animals and Us’ in Australia. The DVD was originally funded by a 2004 Voiceless Grant and will now be supplemented with teacher support materials, aimed at enabling better and more self-sufficient use, in order to encourage greater uptake of the DVD in classrooms. To read the corresponding article in The Age, click the download link below.

RATTLE THE CAGE PRODUCTIONS

Lolita: Slave to Entertainment

This grant was awarded to Timothy Gorski for his documentary film Lolita: A Slave to Entertainment. The film addresses the cruel practice of capturing and confining wild marine mammals for their use in human entertainment industries. This is an issue of international concern and is equally relevant for Australian audiences as it is for those in the United States. The film has received numerous accolades, including the award for Best Documentary at the New Jersey International Film Festival. To view the poster for this documentary please click on the download icon below.

PROFESSOR BARRY SPURR

Say No to Animals in Circuses

Dr Barry Spurr was granted $5,000 towards a campaign aimed at achieving local council bans on performing-animal circuses throughout NSW. The ultimate goal of the campaign was to ban the practice of keeping animals in circuses nationally. Dr Spurr’s campaign aimed to increase public awareness of conditions affecting animals used for entertainment, in order to encourage the public to lobby for a ban. In 2006 and 2007 respectively, as a result of his efforts, and those of other dedicated activists who had been working on this issue independently, Parramatta City Council and Wingecarribee Shire Council (covering such towns as Bowral, Moss Vale and Mittagong), passed a unanimous motion to ban performing-animal circuses.

STUDENT YOUTH NETWORK INC (SYN)

Animal Radio

Student Youth Network Inc (SYN) received a $5,000 grant aimed at encouraging young radio makers to engage and educate their audience, particularly youth, through the use of community media. The grant funded a series of radio documentaries and community service announcements based on animal protection issues, which were broadcast nationally on the community radio satellite over a period of 9 months. The broadcasts featured regular on-air interviews and segments, promoting animal protection issues aimed at young people across Australia.

2006 GRANTS

GRIFFITH UNIVERSITY

Griffith University

Griffith University, working alongside Compassion in World Farming, received $20,000 for a humane education symposium ‘Humane Education: a compassionate ethic for animals’. Held on the 5th and 6th of October 2006, the event brought together teachers, academics, government and animal welfare representatives, in order to define and assess humane education initiatives in Australia, explore perspectives over various education sectors, and promote interest in the concept and application of humane education. The symposium was attended by almost one hundred delegates from across the country. This resulted in two remarkable days of discussion and debate about the concept of humane education and how it can be effectively implemented in schools throughout Australia.

REDFERN LEGAL CENTRE

Pro Bono Animal Law Service (PALS)

Redfern Legal Centre received a grant of $20,000 in 2006 for the establishment of the Pro Bono Animal Law Service (PALS), a legal referral service which linked animal protection organisations and individuals with lawyers who were willing to provide free legal services to promote better animal protection outcomes. Due to its initial success, PALS went on operate as a national service out of the Public Interest Law Clearing House (PILCH) in Victoria. PALS at PILCH sought to improve laws to promote animal protection by engaging in strategic litigation, community education and law reform and policy work. To see the PALS logo, click the download link below.

VEGETARIAN/VEGAN SOCIETY OF QUEENSLAND

Human Battery Cage Campaign

The Vegetarian/Vegan Society of Queensland received a $20,000 grant for their Human Battery Cage Campaign, which used installation art to illustrate the animal welfare implications of battery cages. This project saw the construction of oversize battery cages containing human occupants in public spaces around Australia, in order to illustrate the cramped and inhumane conditions that battery hens endure, and to encourage members of the public to take action against this cruelty. The campaign achieved notoriety across Australia in 2006, attracting the attention of members of the public in every location as well as receiving an extraordinary amount of media coverage. For more details see their website. To view an image of the project please click on the download icon below.

GRIFFITH UNIVERSITY

Animal Law in Australasia: A New Dialogue

website: http://www.auckland.ac.nz/uoa/

Griffith University, along with The University of Auckland, received a $15,000 grant for a project which brought together the growing number of academics and practitioners working on animal law scholarships across Australia and New Zealand. The project titled ‘Animal Law in Australasia: A New Dialogue’ had two components. The first of these was completed in September 2007, when an intensive animal law workshop was held bringing together both academics and practitioners, currently working on animal law scholarships to discuss the legal issues relating to how animals are treated in the region. The second component of the project involved the publication of a book of the same name, the first major academic publication in the Southern Hemisphere on animal law. Officially launched in 2009 by the Hon. Michael Kirby AC CMG, as part of the Voiceless 2009 Animal Law Lecture Series, it was hoped that Animal Law in Australasia would provide a useful starting point for those wishing to engage with the discipline. The 2nd edition of was published in 2013 and is available for purchased on the publisher’s website.

AUSTRALIAN WILDLIFE PROTECTION COUNCIL

The Kangaroo Trail

The Australian Wildlife Protection Council received a $10,000 grant to launch ‘The Kangaroo Trail’. This project aims to give both Australians and international visitors a greater appreciation of, and respect for kangaroos, through the creation of a tourist trail providing first-hand education on, and engagement with, kangaroos. ‘The Kangaroo Trail’ was officially launched by the Australian Wildlife Protection Council at NSW Parliament House on 21 August 2008, and consists of a brochure and website aimed at encouraging both Australians and international tourists to view kangaroos in their native habitats. The brochure and website contain insights into the behaviour of all 50 species of kangaroo, and the best places around the country to see them.

COALITION AGAINST DUCK SHOOTING

Victorian Duck Shooting Ban

The Coalition Against Duck Shooting used their $10,000 grant to commission Roy Morgan Research to conduct a poll on the recreational shooting of native waterbirds in Victoria. The results of the poll showed that 75% of Victorians, from both urban and rural areas, were in support of a ban on recreational duck shooting. These results were then presented to the Victorian Government in an effort to encourage the cancellation of the 2008 duck shooting season. This strategy was successful with the Voiceless-funded poll adding extra pressure to a campaign which eventually resulted in the cancellation of the 2008 duck season.

http://www.roymorgan.com/findings/finding-4239-201302262309

ANIMAL LIBERATION ACT

Free Range Canberra 2007 – The End Game

Animal Lib ACT received a $10,000 grant for the continuation of their project ‘Free Range Canberra 2007 _ the endgame’, which was originally funded by a Voiceless Grant in 2004. This project is aimed at bringing about a ban on the use of battery cages in the ACT. In previous years, Animal Liberation ACT had already succeeded in bringing the issue of battery cages to the top of the agenda of the ACT government by raising public awareness, facilitating ways the public could approach politicians and lobbying politicians directly. With this new round of funding, the Free Range Canberra project was successful in bringing about a commitment from all ACT Government agencies/institutions to purchase barn raised or cage-free eggs from 2008 onwards. In addition, the ACT government offered PACE Farms a funding package to facilitate a change in the method of egg production at its ACT facility.

ANIMAL LIBERATION VIC

ALV Youth

Animal Liberation Victoria was awarded a grant of $7,500 to establish a grassroots ‘Youth’ street team of dedicated animal activist teens across Australia, providing them with the tools necessary to spread the word amongst their peers. This project included homework packs with factsheets on animal rights issues that can be incorporated into assignments; activist materials such as leaflets, stickers, posters and stencils; help with organising events including animal rights video screenings; vegan barbeques on campus; and help with getting vegan options at school canteens and getting a dissection policy in writing at schools.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Animal-Liberation-Youth/76567589733

HUMANE CONSUMER

Humane Consumer

Humane Consumer received a $5,000 grant for a project intended to influence the purchasing habits and preferences of mainstream Australian consumers through its website. The grant funded the necessary research and development needed to establish the site, so it could serve as a comprehensive source of information about humane product and service alternatives.

CHRISTINE BOND

One Mile Dam Animal Welfare Project

Christine Bond was awarded a $2,500 grant for the development of her ‘One Mile Dam Animal Welfare Project’, a dog management project which aimed to improve the health and wellbeing of companion animals within indigenous town camps in the Darwin region. The grant allowed Christine to implement de-sexing and vaccination programs and to assist community members to care for their animals, by engaging with other organisations to obtain funding to keep her work going in the future. The project has successfully provided resources and increased awareness of animal welfare in targeted communities.

NSW YOUNG LAWYERS ANIMAL RIGHTS COMMITTEE

The Future of Animal Law In Australia

The NSW Young Lawyers Animal Law Committee were granted $2,500 to develop and run an Animal Law Conference aimed at promoting the interests of animals through the legal system and raising public awareness of Animal Law in Australia. The conference, titled The Future of Animal Law in Australia’ was held at The University of New South Wales on the 6th and 7th July 2007 and was attended by a broad audience including legal professionals, policy-makers, students, academics, industry and the wider community. Conference organisers received a mass of positive feedback at the event and numerous requests for further information on some of the issues discussed. It is hoped that the conference has encouraged the development of animal law in Australia. To view a copy of the conference program, please click on the download icon below.

2007 GRANTS

FRIENDS OF THE HOUND

Run For Your Life

Friends of the Hound used their $2,500 grant to create glossy posters promoting greyhounds as model pets. This campaign intended to educate the public about the plight of greyhounds who are destroyed because they are considered ‘surplus’ to greyhound racing industry requirements. Friends of the Hound work to encourage more people to adopt greyhounds as companion animals in order to save the lives of these dogs. Visit their website for further information. To view a copy of the campaign poster, please click on the download icon below.

ANDY CARNAHAN

The Wise Hen

Andy Carnahan was awarded $1,500 for his book titled ‘The Wise Hen’. The goal of this book project was to educate readers about the inherent cruelty of the battery cage system, and to encourage them to make humane choices as consumers. To view the front cover of this moving book please click the link or download icon below.

PET RESCUE

Where do puppies come from?

PetRescue was awarded a $10,000 grant for the project ‘Where do puppies come from?’. This project was a two month long public awareness campaign, aimed at shedding light on puppy farming practices, empowering consumers to make more ethically informed choices about buying pets. The campaign was run on ninemsn’s free email service, Hotmail, and directed people to their website. ‘Where do puppies come from?’ made a significant impact on the public and media, and led PetRescue to team up with Pet Stock stores to offer an adoption service for abandoned animals, as an alternative to selling puppies and kittens.

PROFESSOR BARRY SPURR

Interstate Circus Ban

website: http://www.rspcaqld.org.au

Professor Barry Spurr, along with RSPCA Queensland, were awarded a grant of $10,000 for the development of the ‘Say No to Animals in Circuses’ project, a continuation of a campaign originally funded by Voiceless in 2005. This project was intended to achieve state wide bans in New South Wales and Queensland, on circuses which use performing animals, both exotic and domestic. Professor Spurr and RSPCA Queensland have collaborated to establish an informative and entertaining website where visitors are able to read the latest news updates, sign the online petition, play a fun ‘Free the Circus Animals’ game, and add their photo to the ‘No No No’ gallery. Flyers were also made available for download and were distributed by RPSCA Queensland’s Education Mobile Unit. Be sure to look up ‘Say No to Animals in Circuses’ on Facebook too.

http://www.animalcircuses.com

GRIFFITH UNIVERSITY

Animal Ethics and Affective Education

Dr Gail Tulloch of Griffith University was awarded $10,000 for a research project addressing the importance of affective education in changing attitudes to animal ethics and welfare. ‘Animal Ethics and Affective Education’ presents a strong case establishing the link between animal ethics and the promotion of affective education. The paper was presented by Dr Tulloch at the Humane Education conference in October 2007, and at conferences held in Florence and Newcastle.

http://animalethicsaustralia.org/pdf/tulloch.pdf

UNIVERSITY OF QUEENSLAND

Feasibility of an Educational Memorial Program at the School of Veterinary Science

Dr Shan Lloyd of the University of Queensland was awarded an $8,000 grant towards a feasibility study into whether an Educational Memorial Program promoting the supply of ethically sourced cadavers, to replace the use of healthy shelter animals in teaching practice, could be successfully introduced at the School of Veterinary Sciences at the University of Queensland. Although there was some hesitancy from both the veterinary community and academic staff at the School of Veterinary Science, enough support was gained during the feasibility study to establish a small trial body donation program with those clinics willing to participate. To view a copy of the brochure, please click on the download icon below.

ANIMAL LIBERATION NSW

Cruelty Free Cosmetic

The team at Choose Cruelty Free (CCF) were awarded a $5,000 grant which they used to publish an eye-catching, informative and easy to read booklet entitled ‘Cruelty Free Cosmetics’. Aimed at high school students, the booklet covers the history of animal testing of cosmetics, the search for alternatives in safety testing, the current legislative changes in the EU and the Australian situation. To obtain a copy and to find out where you can buy cruelty free products, visit the CCF website. To view a copy of the book cover, please click on the download icon below.

http://www.choosecrueltyfree.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Cosmeticz.pdf

THE VEGAN SOCIETY NSW

Third Annual Sydney Vegan Expo

A $5,000 grant awarded to the Vegan Society of NSW enabled the Third Annual Vegan Expo, held at Wharf 8 in Sydney. The Expo was a huge success, attended by over 1,500 people, and featured stalls from animal protection groups, cruelty free clothing and cosmetic brands, as well as delicious food. Speakers included Voiceless director Brian Sherman AM, Voiceless Animal Advocates (VAA) Ambassador Lindsay McDougall, Darren Cordeaux from popular Aussie band Kisschasy and Lee Rhiannon MLC.

http://www.vegansocietynsw.com/vs/html/veganexpo.html

ANIMAL LIBERATION NSW

A Shot In The Dark

Animal Liberation NSW received a $5,000 grant to research and publish a report on the Australian commercial kangaroo industry. The report entitled ‘A Shot in the Dark’ addressed concerns about animal welfare, environmental sustainability, and health standards relating to the commercial kangaroo industry. Animal Liberation provided the report to both current and potential Australian exporters of kangaroo meat, the European Union, China and the Russian Federation.

http://animal-lib.org.au/images/stories/news/a_shot_in_the_dark.pdf

LAWYERS FOR ANIMALS

Report on Animal Testing in Cosmetics

Lawyers for Animals were awarded $5,000 for their project entitled ‘A report on animal testing in cosmetics’. The report was aimed at educating members of the community about the use of animal testing by the cosmetics industry, and the need for mandatory and responsible labelling of cosmetics that test on animals, and/or contain animal-derived ingredients. The report was distributed online via the Lawyers for Animals website, and in hard copy to all relevant media agencies, animal welfare groups and relevant government departments.

http://www.lawyersforanimals.org.au/documents/Submission-20060405.pdf

JOHN MANCY

Australian Animal Protection Law Journal

John Mancy was awarded a grant of $15,000 for the ‘Australian Animal Protection Law Journal’ (AAPLJ) which is a scholarly, peer-reviewed, bi-annual legal journal, and the first of its kind in Australia. The Voiceless grant went towards the publication and distribution of the journal, which is intended to serve as a source of information about current developments in animal protection law, to be used by members of the Australian legal profession. A further Voiceless Grant in 2013 will soon see the development of a dedicated website for the AAPLJ.

http://www.animallaw.info/policy/poaustraliajournalindex.htm

VEGETARIAN NETWORK VICTORIA

Eating Up The World: The Environmental Consequences of Human Food Choices

Vegetarian Network Victoria was awarded a $15,000 grant for their booklet ‘Eating Up The World: The Environmental Consequences of Human Food Choices’. The funds from this grant funded the production and distribution of the educational booklet, which was aimed at raising awareness of the basic facts concerning the environmental impact of animal industries in Australia. The booklet highlights some of the key problems that are facing both us and our our planet, shedding light on the current condition of the environment and what the future holds. Effective solutions are offered that can easily be implemented to make improvements to the sustainability of our environment and reduce animal suffering. To view a copy of the brochure, please click on the download icon below.

REDFERN LEGAL CENTRE

Continuation of Pro Bono Animal Law Service (PALS)

Redfern Legal Centre received a grant of $20,000 in 2006 for the establishment of the Pro Bono Animal Law Service (PALS), a legal referral service which links animal protection organisations and individuals with lawyers who are willing to provide free legal services to promote better animal protection outcomes. This year they have been granted an additional $15,000 to fund the continuation of PALs through 2008.

AGAINST ANIMAL CRUELTY TASMANIA (AACT)

Wildlife Matters

Against Animal Cruelty Tasmania (AACT) received a $15,000 grant towards their ‘Tasmanian Wildlife Matters’ project. This project focused on the production of a detailed education resource for schools and the general public, aimed at changing the way many people view Tasmanian wildlife. The project has seen the development of a resource kit which has been mailed out to every primary and secondary school in Tasmania, as well as the development of a dedicated website, which provides fact sheets and teaching resources for download. To view a copy of the flyer, please click on the download icon below.

PEOPLE AGAINST CRUELTY IN ANIMAL TRANSPORT (PACAT)

Live Export Myths

People Against Cruelty in Animal Transport’s (PACAT) ‘Stop Live Exports’ campaign, funded by a 2005 Voiceless grant, achieved great success in raising awareness about live export. PACAT received a $10,000 grant to further fund the production of billboards carrying the Baa Baa Barbaric’ slogan, which were featured at four train stations around Perth. The billboards directed people back to the Stop Live Exports website, which provided information about the live export industry in an updated format. PACAT also produced 11,000 campaign post cards, which were widely distributed at festivals and through letterbox drops. To see the Baa Baa Barbaric billboard click the download link below.

COALITION AGAINST DUCK SHOOTING

Victorian Duck Shooting Ban

The Coalition Against Duck Shooting received a $10,000 grant to further fund their campaign to ban duck shooting in Victoria. Initially funded by a Voiceless grant in 2006, this campaign was successful in creating pressure adequate to force the cancellation of the 2008 duck season. This second round of funding went towards the generation of a public awareness campaign, in an effort to secure the cancellation of the 2009 duck shooting season. The project made use of research into community opinions about the recreational shooting of native water birds, to call on the Victorian Government to ban the hunt for another year. The Coalition Against Duck Shooting published a 1/3 page ad in The Age newspaper, which called on the Premier John Brumby to cancel the duck shooting season. To view a copy of the ad, please click on the download icon below.

2008 GRANTS

RMIT UNIVERSITY

What factors lead Australians to support or actively reject factory farming?

Dr Iris Bergmann and Dr Cecily Maller and their team from RMIT University received the Against Factory Farming Grant and $21,000 for their project entitled: “What factors lead Australians to support or actively reject factory farming?”. This project addresses the lack of sound academic research on Australian opinions, values and norms towards farm animals and factory farming. The first phase of the project saw the assembly of six regional and metropolitan focus groups throughout Australia to establish data on the issue. The report’s findings showed that most participants reject the conditions on factory farms; however, most have little knowledge of those conditions and of their impact on animals, the environment and community health. A fatalistic attitude towards farm animals prevails and many believe there is a need for factory farms to produce inexpensive meat for growing populations. At the same time, there is a strong call for accurate labelling of animal derived food products, a demand for more humane treatment, and improved government standards. These findings were presented in July 2009 at the International Inaugural Minding Animals Conference, Newcastle Civic Precinct, Newcastle. To view a copy of this presentation please click on the download icon below.

ACTION FOR ANIMALS

If You Knew

Action for Animals received a grant of $20,000 to produce a TV commercial project titled ‘If you knew’. Media advertising is one of the most effective ways to inform members of the public about animal protection issues, and this campaign is designed to promote more compassionate eating among consumers. Inspired by a highly effective series of ads made by US organisation, Compassion Over Killing, Action for Animals produced and broadcast a powerful 30 second TV commercial exposing the cruelty endured by farmed animals in Australia. The commercial directs viewers to a website containing information about making the transition to a cruelty-free diet, including easy recipes, nutritional information, a shopping guide and a directory of vegetarian restaurants. The ad aired on Channel 10 for 3 weeks in Canberra, and was shown in Newcastle in late 2009.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLN9NeLx430

ACTION FOR ANIMALS

If You Knew

Action for Animals received a grant of $20,000 to produce a TV commercial project titled ‘If you knew’. Media advertising is one of the most effective ways to inform members of the public about animal protection issues, and this campaign is designed to promote more compassionate eating among consumers. Inspired by a highly effective series of ads made by US organisation, Compassion Over Killing, Action for Animals produced and broadcast a powerful 30 second TV commercial exposing the cruelty endured by farmed animals in Australia. The commercial directs viewers to a website containing information about making the transition to a cruelty-free diet, including easy recipes, nutritional information, a shopping guide and a directory of vegetarian restaurants. The ad aired on Channel 10 for 3 weeks in Canberra, and was shown in Newcastle in late 2009.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLN9NeLx430

ANIMAL LIBERATION QLD

What’s wrong with factory farming?

Animal Liberation Queensland was awarded a grant of $11,000 for their ‘What’s wrong with factory farming?’ project. The grant went towards the production and distribution of two brochures entitled ‘What’s Wrong with Factory Farmed Pigs?’ and ‘What’s Wrong with Battery Hens?’ to supplement the informative and eye-catching ‘What’s Wrong with Broiler Chickens?’ brochure that they have already made. The brochures were distributed at major locations, events and festivals throughout south-east Queensland. Three free-standing banners were also created to complement and promote the brochures as part of a wider public awareness campaign. The brochures are also available to download and print directly from their website. To view a copy of the brochure, please click on the download icon or button below.

http://www.animalliberationqld.org.au/downloads/ffbrochure02final.pdf

UNIVERSITY OF NEWCASTLE

Minding Animals Conference

The University of Newcastle was granted $10,000 towards their Minding Animals conference held in Newcastle in July 2009. The conference was the first international event of its type dedicated to the emerging trans-discipline of animal studies. Over 500 delegates and artists from Australia and overseas joined activists and academics from the University of Newcastle, and several Australian universities to discuss such varied topics as animals in sociology, religion, history, literature, the law, and zoo and veterinary science. The conference also examined the complex philosophical and theoretical foundations of the interrelationship between humans and animals, as well as examining animal welfare and protection measures taken by governments, universities and the community.

http://www.mindinganimals.com//index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=210&Ite…

BRIGHTSIDE FARM SANCTUARY

Compassion Trail

Brightside Farm Sanctuary in Tasmania was awarded the People’s Choice Award of $10,000 for their project to construct a ‘Compassion Trail’. The trail leads visitors and school students through paddocks and animal habitats, giving them an insight into the animals lives, providing information and photographs detailing the cruel facts about factory farming and encouraging people to make more humane choices. The launch of the ‘Compassion Trail’ was detailed in Tasmanian newspaper The Mercury.

ANIMALS’ ANGELS

Interstate long distance transports

Animals’ Angels were awarded a grant of $10,000 towards their investigations into long distance animal transport. Animals’ Angels is an organisation focused on monitoring and documenting the suffering of animals subject to long distance transport across Australia, a practice which they believe amounts to some of the worst cruelties perpetrated upon animals in this country. This grant was used to fund an investigation into these practices which saw Animals’ Angels setting off with two professional investigators to follow trucks as they leave saleyards loaded with cattle and sheep. Despite meticulous preparation and the tracking of transporters thousands of kilometres, the team encountered unexpected difficulties in 2008 which prevented the gathering of sufficient evidence to publish a comprehensive report. Animals’ Angels remain dedicated to exposing an industry where no monitoring or controls currently exist and stated, “If you don’t do the hard yards, nothing will change”.

UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY

Cardiovascular control practical: online design

The University of Sydney was awarded the $5,000 Humane Resources Grant for their project entitled “Cardiovascular control practical: online design”. Using these funds, Dr Laura Batavian, Senior Lecturer with the Faculty of Medicine, created an on-line and interactive practical which can be used as an alternative to classes involving rabbits thereby reducing animal-based learning whilst promoting alternatives to animal use in teaching. Although it is many years since the University of Sydney has used animals in this area of teaching, a number of other Australian and international universities have indicated they are interested in adopting the on-line version of the practical once it has been created. In an effort to encourage this, Dr Batmanian has digitised, edited and optimised the video for web playback. In addition, the content has been re-written for web use and text graphics and navigation have been incorporated. As a result of this work, the Unity of Study coordinators for Body Systems in the Discipline of Biomedical Sciences as well as the Schools of Physiology and Pharmacology at the University of Sydney have decided to incorporate the practical into their curricula.

HUMANE RESEARCH AUSTRALIA

Public Opinion Poll

The Australian Association for Humane Research (AAHR) was awarded a grant of $5,000 to carry out a public opinion poll into animal experimentation. The poll found almost 90% of respondents consider that the number of animals used for research and teaching in Australia is unacceptable or could be reduced, and over half don’t believe it’s always safe to apply results to humans. Astonishingly, only 62% of the general public are even aware that animals are used in experimental research. AAHR CEO Helen Marston said, “Approximately 7 million animals are used in research and teaching in Australia every year. It’s heartening to know the majority of Australians are opposed to such archaic practice and recognize the need to seek more humane and scientifically-valid options”. The information obtained is being used to assist AAHR in determining how they can most effectively direct their work in opposing animal experiments. To see a press release related to the survey results, please click on the download icon below.

THE VEGAN SOCIETY NSW

Fourth Annual Sydney VeganExpo

This grant, awarded to The Vegan Society of New South Wales, went towards the funding of their Fourth Annual Sydney VeganExpo held in 2009. Voiceless has supported this event in the past with a grant being awarded in 2007. This year, Voiceless has contributed $1,500 towards promotion of the expo. The aim of the day was to create a fun, educational and informative event with stalls, entertainment, a kid’s area and a range of speakers.To view the logo created for this event please click on the download icon below.

http://www.vegansocietynsw.com/vs/html/veganexpo2009.html

2009 GRANTS

INSTITUTE FOR SUSTAINABLE FUTURES

Profits from Pigs: An analysis of the pig meat industry in Australia

The Institute for Sustainable Futures was issued a $20,000 grant to fund a research paper titled ‘Profit from Pigs: An analysis of the pig meat industry in Australia’. The paper investigates the state of the pig meat industry through an analysis of the impact of the rise of the factory farm, challenges faced by the industry, and the power of the consumer.

AUSTRALIAN SOCIETY FOR KANGAROOS

Decimation of an Icon

The Australian Society for Kangaroos were awarded a $15,000 grant to fund the administrative and production costs of a television commercial entitled ‘Decimation of an Icon’. The ad strikes a contrast between the image of a mother and her Joey, and text telling the horror of the commercial slaughter, in order to highlight the plight of kangaroos. The commercial was launched at the Voiceless 2010 Annual Awards Event held at Sydney Town Hall. It then aired hundreds of times on commercial and community television across regional and metropolitan Australia in July and August 2011, appearing on Channel Nine, Network Ten and WIN TV.

http://www.australiansocietyforkangaroos.com/advertisement.html

ANIMAL LIBERATION NSW

Caged Eggs: Can You Taste The Cruelty?

Animal Liberation received a $15,000 grant to develop two creative and engaging TV commercials to inform consumers about battery hens. Animal Liberation sourced pro-bono talent and professional production, aiming to capitalise on the growing public awareness around the issues of caged eggs. The powerful ads were shown on prime time morning television around Christmas and again during peak rating periods in March 2010. As a result, many members of the public contacted Animal Liberation with positive feedback. ABC’s Midday Report ran a story about the ads featuring actual footage filmed inside a battery farm. Release magazine wrote an article in response which were featured on the ABC’s Gruen Transfer.

COMMUNITY BROADCASTING ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA (CBAA)

Voices for the Voiceless

The Community Broadcasting Association of Australia (CBAA) were awarded the 2009 Peoples Choice grant worth $10,000, to fund the development of a series of 60-second radio segments. The project began with the formation of a Steering Committee (including members of Animals Australia, Animal Liberation Queensland, Brightside Farm Sanctuary and Compassion in World Farming), to develop a list of key issues to be promoted and to put together scripts for eight 60-second radio segments. The segments were aimed at disseminating information to listeners about how they can take action for animals in their own lives. These segments were broadcast on the Community Radio Satellite Service and ran for six months. To supplement their broadcast, 500 information packages were developed and distributed to community radio stations, community organizations, educators and individuals. In addition, a website was also created allowing the public to listen to the audio segments, read relevant information on each key topic and take action through signing petitions, writing letters or making changes in their own lives.

RSPCA QLD

Choose to End Cruelty

The RSPCA Queensland developed a successful education campaign about broiler chickens with their $10,000 Voiceless grant. Titled ‘Choose to End Cruelty’, the campaign used a confronting image of chickens squashed together in a cube, aimed to give audiences a stylised representation of the cramped living conditions experienced by chickens confined to broilers. This image, together with text, was reproduced on outdoor campaign posters, bumper stickers, Avant cards, t-shirts, and a dedicated microsite. The campaign also featured radio advertisements, information packs and a petition with 3,500 signatures that were presented to state parliament calling for a review of the Codes of Practice for Animal Welfare. To view an Avant Card that supported the campaign, please click on the download icon below.

http://chickenrights.rspcaqld.org.au/learn

INSTITUTE FOR SUSTAINABLE FUTURES

The Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme and the potential impact on farm animal welfare

The Institute for Sustainable Futures was issued a $5,000 grant to fund the production of a report entitled The Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme and the potential impact on farm animal welfare. The report investigates the Governments proposed Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS), designed to reduce Australias carbon pollution, which currently excludes agriculture and livestock emissions from its inventory. So, while there are many participants involved in the debate, animal welfare concerns are currently mostly absent. The report identifies possible animal welfare consequences which may result from the implementation of an Emissions Trading Scheme including diet manipulation, selective breeding, livestock management and rumen manipulation. It also provides possible solutions to the problem of managing emissions reductions with animal welfare issues.

http://cfsites1.uts.edu.au/isf/projects/ISFRA4.cfm#cprs

NORTHERN RIVERS COMMUNITY LEGAL CENTRE

Animal Law Education Project

The Animal Law Education Project is a collaboration between Southern Cross University’s School of Law and Justice and the Northern Rivers Community Legal Centre (NRCLC). The project was funded by a $5,000 Voiceless grant to develop animal law learning-resources aimed at creating a strong community of informed animal activists and lawyers. This project has provided education to students, legal practitioners and the public about current practices, issues and strategies in animal protection through the development of a community education and legal practitioner workshop held at NRCLC in June. This collaborative effort has also produced a set of course materials for a new animal law unit at SCU, which was delivered for the first time in November 2010. To view a copy of the conference flyer or of the study guide, please click on the download icons below.

http://epubs.scu.edu.au/law_pubs/204/

UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE

Australian Animal Studies Group Website

The Australian Animal Studies Group (AAS) grew from the need for connectivity and support between the many scholarly disciplines within the emerging field of animal studies. This $5,000 grant was to assist in the establishment of a dedicated website as well as a database and newsletter. The objective being to facilitate the formal organisation of animal studies scholars and advocates by creating a supportive environment, ensuring the continuation of the bi-annual conference series and facilitating the exchange of ideas. The AASG spotlights new academic research on animal protection issues and allows for the free flow of information and support between peers. To view a copy of the media release, please click on the download icon below.

http://www.aasg.org.au/

2010 GRANTS

DEAKIN UNIVERSITY

Humanising Animals: Civilising People

Professor Mirko Bagaric from Deakin University was awarded a $15,000 grant to fund the project ‘Humanising Animals: Civilising People’, a monograph that addresses the discord between our moral values on the one hand, and our conduct towards animals on the other. The book builds on Professor Bagaric’s paper published in the Original Law Review in 2008, and explores this most striking and important paradox, while setting out pragmatic steps that individuals can take to help animals. The book was published in 2012 by CCH Australia with a foreword by The Hon. Michael Kirby AC CMG. To view a copy of the book cover, please click on the download icon below.

http://www.cch.com.au/au/onlinestore/ProductDetails.aspx?ProductID=9254

JUMPING DOG PRODUCTIONS PTY LTD

Tyke: Animal Outlaw

Jumping Dog Productions were awarded a $15,000 Voiceless Grant to fund the development and production of a documentary which examines the story of Tyke, an elephant who escaped a circus in Honolulu during a live performance in 1994. Tyke was shot and killed in the streets, sparking a local campaign to ban the use of exotic animals for entertainment in Hawaii. Jumping Dog Productions has used this true story as a vehicle to examine questions about the state of animal rights in America. Watch the trailer for ‘Tyke: Elephant Outlaw’ here.

http://tykeelephantoutlaw.com

WILD OAT FILMS

The Animal Condition

Wild Oats Films was awarded an $11,000 Voiceless grant to help fund the production of a documentary feature, ‘The Animal Condition’. This film is an eye-opening documentary about factory farming in Australia which aims to raise public awareness of intensive farming in an attempt to shift the perception of animal protection from a fringe issue to the forefront of current affairs. The funds from this grant contributed towards the purchase of equipment and accessories for the production. To view a copy of the poster, please click on the download icon below.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2119536/

GRIFFITH UNIVERSITY

Animals, People – a Shared Environment

Griffith University were awarded a $10,000 grant to fund the fourth conference of the Australian Animal Studies Group (AASG) entitled ‘Animals, People a Shared Environment’. Held on 10 13th July 2011, the conference brought together theorists and scientists to examine relationships between human and nonhuman animals from cultural, historical, geographical, environmental, representational, moral, legal and political perspectives. Delegates travelled to Brisbane from every state in Australia and 5 overseas countries to deliver a total of 100 papers at the conference which was well attended with 121 delegates present and full across the three days.

http://www.webls.info/weblease/tpcommon/src/tp1FullPage.cfm?idPageCopy=15026&idC…

UNIVERSITY OF QUEENSLAND

An investigation into whether grief is measurable in animals

The University of Queensland was awarded the Peoples Choice Award worth $10,000 to fund their research report titled ‘An investigation into whether grief is measurable in animals’. In what will be a scientific first, researchers as the University of Queensland will investigate whether animals experience grief when members of their herd are removed. Non-invasive research will be carried out on a herd of cattle through the observation of behavioural changes and analysis of milk samples for physiological changes. Project manager and PhD candidate Jessica Walker says the findings of this research will help inform a greater body of knowledge about animals experience of grief and on their emotional and cognitive abilities. This understanding will lead to improved welfare outcomes and husbandry practices. The final report is expected during 2014.

ANIMAL LIBERATION ACT

Big Birds, Big Cruelty.

‘Big Birds, Big Cruelty’ is a community education campaign designed to raise awareness around the little-known issue of factory farmed turkeys in Australia. The $6,100 Voiceless grant funded the production of a significant research report about the factory farming of turkeys in Australia. The report is one element of a broader community education program, which has seen a phase of local grassroots campaigning on this issue. Animal Liberation ACT has held dedicated stalls at the Living Green Festival and the Cruelty Free Festival, as well as leafleting and educational presentations to students at the University of Canberra. Leading up to Christmas, a feature on turkeys was published by Animal Australia which was complemented by continuing campaigns from Animal Liberation NSW and Animal Liberation South Australia, also aimed at raising awareness of turkey cruelty. To view a copy of the report, please click on the download icon below.

http://www.bigbirdsbigcruelty.org

MONASH UNIVERSITY

Profile of the Australian Kangaroo: A Media Analysis

Professor Eleonora Gullone of Monash University was awarded a $5,000 Voiceless grant to fund her project ‘Profile of the Australian Kangaroo: A Media Analysis’. This report examines the role played by the media in the Australia’s current attitudes toward the kangaroo.

ANIMAL LIBERATION NSW

Feedlots: Marbled Meat Expose

Animal Liberation NSW were awarded a Voiceless Grant of $20,000 towards their ‘Feedlots: Marbled Meat Expose’ project which aimed to investigate conditions in Australian feedlots. The project was specifically focused on animals bred for ‘marbled meat’ with the lions share of work being put into gathering first hand evidence regarding the levels of disease and suffering experienced by these animals. Animal Liberation’s expose eventually resulted in investigations by both NSW Police and the RSPCA. The information gathered as a result of this grant was used as evidence to convince the Assistant Police Commissioner for Rural Crimes Superintendent, Geoff McKechnie, to make it a Task Project to investigate shelter for cattle feedlots in summer, or during periods of excessive heat.

UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, SYDNEY

Investing with Care

The University of Technology, in conjunction with the Institute for Sustainable Futures, received a $5,000 Voiceless grant to undertake research on shareholder activism. This research is intended to view from an investors perspective, at how a business whose operations, or supply chains, are linked to intensive industrial agriculture can be exposed to serious risk as societal values regarding the health and wellbeing of animals changes.

http://www.uts.edu.au

UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE ANIMAL PROTECTION SOCIETY (UMAPS)

Cage Free Campus

The University of Melbourne were awarded a $400 grant to fund their ‘Cage Free Campus’ project. The project had two distinct phases: first it sought to raise awareness on campus of the cruel conditions endured by battery hens and second, it aimed to garner the support of the University Council to implement a Cage Free Campus policy mandating a ban on the use of cage eggs by food suppliers on campus. A dedicated web presence was set up for the project and close to 450 signatures were received for the campaign’s petition. The campaign obtained official support from the University of Melbourne Vice Chancellor, whose office has also contacted the Student Union about sourcing free range eggs from suppliers. Campaigners have provided each campus food supplier an information pack and the opportunity to join the campaign which resulted in the successful conversion of one on-campus food outlet to cage free eggs with another currently in the process of doing so. The project has also seen letters sent to each of the residential colleges to encourage the use of cage free eggs in their catering supplies. To view a copy of the sticker, please click on the download icon below.

http://www.umapsociety.org/facts.html

2011 GRANTS

COALITION FOR THE PROTECTION OF RACEHORSES

Ban Jumps Racing

The Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses was awarded the Peoples Choice Award and $15,000 towards mobile billboard advertisements for their ‘Ban Jumps Racing’ campaign. This grant funded the purchase of fortnightly advertising space on mobile billboards towed by two scooters for the first four months of the jumps racing season in South Australia and Victoria, the only two states who continue to allow jumps racing. This advertising drew attention to the animal welfare implications associated with hurdles races and steeplechases, calling on individuals to take direct action, or to get involve with the Coalitions campaign. The ads were supplemented by simultaneous political lobbying efforts by the Coalition.

NORTHERN RIVERS COMMUNITY LEGAL CENTRE

Community Legal Centres’ Animal Law and Education Network

The Northern Rivers Community Legal Centre was awarded a $15,000 grant towards the establishment of a NSW Community Legal Centres’ Animal Law and Education Network. During the life of the project, the network undertook animal protection law activities such as community education and law reform, through the existing Community Legal Centres across the state, with the aim of establishing a permanent network across NSW.

TRICK BOX CREATIVE

At the Fork

Trick Box Creative was awarded a $12,000 grant to fund ‘At the Fork’ – seven 2 minute webisodes, which present animal welfare issues to audiences in a non-confrontational format. During each short, Australian teenagers challenge their parents with questions about food and ethics around the dinner table. Each episode winds its way to variations on the phrase, ‘Isn’t it funny what we think of as ‘normal’. To view a copy of the list of webisodes, please click on the download icon below.

http://www.physicaltv.com.au/AtTheForkDirectedByRichardJamesAllenWrittenproduced…

ANIMAL RIGHTS ADVOCATES INC

The Cruelty Free Festival

Animal Rights Advocates Inc. was awarded a $7,500 grant to assist in funding The Cruelty Free Festival. Held in Western Australia, the purpose of this festival was to influence consumer behaviour with regards to animal rights, through the adoption of a cruelty free diet and to gather data about consumer attitudes to animal rights and veganism for use to inform future campaigns.

http://crueltyfreefestival.org.au/

OPEN HEART ARTS CENTER

Chloe and Joey Meet a Very Wise Kiwi

Open Heart Arts were awarded a grant of $6,737 to fund the publication of ‘Chloe and Joey Meet a Very Wise Kiwi’, the first in a series of books educating children about kangaroos. The book follows the story of an 8 year old girl who befriends a joey whose mother has been killed by her school bus. ‘Chloe and Joey Meet a Very Wise Kiwi’ will be made available in primary schools and public libraries nationwide, and through a dedicated website, where children can learn more about kangaroos. To purchase a copy of the book please view the order page from the download icon below.

3CR COMMUNITY RADIO

Freedom of Species

Melbourne radio station 3CR was awarded a $5,500 grant to assist with the promotion of their ‘Freedom of Species’ program. The program is a weekly 60 minute radio show broadcast on 3CR, 855AM, 3CR Digital, and streamed live via 3cr.org.au. ‘Freedom of Species’ is hosted by a team of local animal advocates and enthusiasts, presenting local and international news, interviews, and music which relate to animal welfare and protection. This grant helped fund a promotional campaign, which included the production of printed materials that feature the ‘Freedom of Species’ logo, website, and broadcast details, as well as T-shirts, business cards and bumper stickers. To view a copy of the logo, please click on the download icon below.

http://www.3cr.org.au/freedomofspecies

UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE

Human-Animal Studies

The University of Melbourne was awarded a $5,000 grant towards the establishment of a human-animal studies subject titled ‘Knowing Animals Past and Present’. The funds were used for a research assistant to do the necessary ground work in developing the subject, and the accompanying application to the University of Melbourne to have it accepted into the curriculum. As yet, the subject has not been established, but the project team continues to work towards having human-animal issues incorporated into existing subjects

UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY

Vox Animalia Award for Academic Excellence in Animal Studies

This $2,500 grant was awarded to the Human Animal Research Network at The University of Sydney. The grant was used to fund a new award for undergraduate students who have achieved excellent results in animal studies units, which include an emphasis on animal welfare, animal justice and animal ethics. The award titled ‘Vox Animalia’ aims to raise awareness of Animal Studies within the university, and the broader community, to encourage undergraduate students with an interest in animal studies, and celebrate and encourage future scholarship in the field.

2012 GRANTS

ETHICAL EATS LIMITED

Meat Free Week

This national event encouraged Australians to think about the origin of meat, increasing awareness of factory farming. Influential ambassadors stirred discussion, while nutritious vegetarian recipes were developed for participants by popular foodies and chefs. This succesful week long initiative also succesfully raised almost $50,000 for Voiceless.

https://meatfreeweek.org

HUMANE RESEARCH COUNCIL (USA)

Animal Tracker Australia

For five years Animal Tracker has surveyed opinion and behaviour relating to animal protection issues in the United States. This grant will enable an Australian version which will provide local advocates with a better understanding of public support (or opposition) to animal protection and evaluate the changing status of animals over time. The results of the first Animal Tracker Australia survey were released in 2014 and can be downloaded here.

OSCAR’S LAW

Animal Advocates Program

This grant enabled the Oscar’s Law Animal Advocates Program (OLAP), which was held over a weekend in 2013 in Victoria. 75 advocates were provided with training, enabeling them to educate communities about animal related concerns. Speakers included: Deb Tranter, the founder of Oscars Law, Anthony Wilson, current train the trainer expert for Al Gore’s Climate Project, Emma Haswell from Brightside Farm Sanctuary, Sid Chakravarty, Sea Shephard captain of the Steve Irwin, leading animal law professor and author Steven White, and BBC Kangaroo Dundee Star Chris Barnes. It is hoped that OLAP will become an annual fixture on the Australian calendar.

http://www.oscarslaw.org/advocate-program

MJADWESCH ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICE SUPPORT

Nomination to list the Sydney Basin Bioregion Eastern Grey Kangaroo population as endangered

Much of Sydney’s North-West basin bioregion Eastern grey kangaroo population is subject to commercial shooting. This grant will be used to help fund the research required by the NSW Scientific Committee, to consider the listing of these kangaroos as endangered, by providing a case that the commercial harvest in the North-West of the bioregion is a significant contributor to the kangaroos decline, putting the population at risk of extinction. While submissions were made in December 2012 to the NSW Scientific Committee, the research project is ongoing.

GREG KEIGHTLEY

The Big Picture

This grant provides funding to the ongoing project of documenting evidence (kangaroo remains, mostly skulls) in the Blue Mountains region. It is believed this project will provide evidence of the cruelty of the commercial hunting of kangaroos. Expert veterinary assistance has been engaged to provide diagnostics and storage of remains, with findings being compliled and reported to both Australian and international audiences.

UNIVERSITY OF TASMANIA

UTAS Animal Law Conference 2013

This grant enabled the first Tasmanian Animal Law Conference to be held in early 2013, and raised the profile of animal law as an area of academic study at UTAS. The event enabled networking between animal lawyers and the broader movement and increased public awareness of animal justice issues. One of the most critical outcomes of the conference was the establishemnet of the first Animal Law course which is being offered at UTAS in 2014.

http://www.events.utas.edu.au/2013/january/utas-animal-law-conference

PORT ADELAIDE MONITORS

Live Export Monitors – Port Adelaide

This grant has enabled a three woman team to set up Port Adelaide Monitors, designed to monitor and report on the loading and unloading of all live export vessels using Port Adelaide. They continue to compile video recordings of bad handling at the port, and lodge evidence-based formal complaints to State and Federal regulators, as well as lobby port owners and the Port Adelaide Council. Their work is ongoing.

PEANUTS FUNNY FARM

Teaching compassion and empathy towards animals

This grant is supporting interactive workshops to teach children about animal protection first-hand through the practice of caring for animals. Peanuts Funny Farm educates the young about animal cruelty in order to bring about future change. Bringing disadvantaged, neglected and abused children and animals together with kindness and thoughtfulness is intended to help break the cycle of abuse which neglected children are often caught up in.

FAIR PROJECTS

Media production

This grant is being put towards the costs assocaited with production, distribution and promotion of documentaries on animal protection issues. Productions that will be covered by this grant include: the commercial hunting of kangaroos; the impacts of factory farming on animals, the environment and consumers; and the slaughter of ex-racehorses by the Australian horse racing industry. This is an ongoing project and new titles are regularly completed.

http://fair-projects.org/portfolio/pigs/

UNIVERSITY OF QUEENSLAND (CENTRE FOR ANIMAL WELFARE & ETHICS)

Vocalisations of chickens as measures of welfare

This long term research project aims to determine if chickens make specific calls consistently in positive welfare situations. If so, an automated welfare assessment system may be developed, which could present a useful non-invasive measure of farmed chicken welfare.

ANIMAL LIBERATION QLD

Chickadee: magazine for tweens

This grant was used to cover the printing costs of a lifestyle magazine for tweens, promoting animal sentience awareness, and compassionate lifestyle choices. The magazine was completed in 2013 and distributed via mail and Animal Liberation stalls. Readers were also directed to a blog on the Animal Liberation website for more information.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.740748422607573.1073741829.15154543819…

AUSTRALIAN ANIMAL STUDIES GROUP (AASG)

Writer in Residence: AASG Conference 2013

This grant enabled the ‘Writer in Residence’ program as part of AASG’s Life in the Anthropocene Conference 2013. The Writer in Residence produced original work, presented readings and shared their expertise in workshops, to support cultures of positive human-anmial relationships.

http://aasgconference.com/speakers/session-presenter-profiles/

2013 GRANTS

ETHICAL EATS LIMITED

Meat Free Week 2013

Following on from the success of the inaugural Meat Free Week last year, this grant will fund the delivery of the 2014 Meat Free Week. The website has been expanded to include more comprehensive information. The issues covered are now extended to animals, environment and human health. Funds will be raised for the three charities represented, Bowel Cancer Australia, Australian Conservation Foundation and Voiceless.

https://meatfreeweek.org/

LITTLE OAK SANCTUARY INCORPORATED

Moving Connections

Moving Connections is a public awareness campaign, which will splash an animal protection message across Canberra’s public transport system, through a series of panel ads to be placed on buses. The ads will connect viewers with individual animal residents of Little Oak Sanctuary, spreading awareness about cruelty and encouraging the adoption of an animal-friendly lifestyle.

THE AUSTRALIAN PHOTOJOURNALIST

Unsustainable Cruelty

The Australian PhotoJournalist is a magazine published annually by the Centre for Documentary in Queensland. These grant funds enabled the printing of the latest issue entitled Unsustainable Cruelty which features 272 full colour pages accompanied by the words of 19 authors addressing sentience and animal rights.

ANIMAL DEFENDERS OFFICE ACT

Animal Defenders Office

The ADO will be a non-profit community legal centre based in the ACT specialising in animal law. The ADO will provide legal advice and representation, participate in law reform and offer a comprehensive education program to empower the community to contribute to public decisions which affect animals.

https://www.facebook.com/ADOACT

CONSUME WITH CARE

Creating and Promoting an Online Resource for Animal Friendly Living

consumewithcare.org provides an online space for consumers to learn more about the animal welfare consequences of their consumption choices. This grant will help Consume With Care boost their presence in conventional and social media formats in an effort to expand the reach of their ethical message.

AUSTRALIAN ANIMAL PROTECTION LAW JOURNAL

AAPLJ Online

This project involves the creation of a website to provide easy access to AAPLJ published journal articles. The website will fill a need which has been clearly identified by subscribers, readers, contributors, law students and more recently, by a panel of animal law academics at the recent Animal Law Workshop. The website is now live and will be maintained by the editor and/or assistant editors.

ANIMAL LIBERATION NSW

A Voice for Australia’s Forgotten Farm Animal

This project is the continuation of a 2011 grant awarded to Animal Liberation NSW, to produce an investigative report about duck welfare. This stage of the project will build awareness by specifically targeting advertisements towards the Chinese community, the largest population of duck meat consumers in Australia, in an effort to change purchasing behaviours and influence production methods.

http://www.aussieducks.com.au/

SENTIENT, THE VETERINARY INSTITUTE FOR ANIMAL ETHICS

Sentient Student Essay Prize for Animal Welfare & Ethics

This grant will provide the prize money for an essay competition, which encourages Australian veterinary students to consider issues of welfare and ethics that affect animals used in food production, experimentation, or entertainment. The winning essays must demonstrate critical analysis and moral consideration for the animals being discussed. Caroline Hoetzer’s 2014 Winning essay can be downloaded below.

ANIMAL LIBERATION NSW

Like a Duck Out of Water: An expose of the Australian duck industry

Animal Liberation NSW, along with the Public Interest Law Clearing House (PILCH), were awarded a $13,000 grant to fund ‘Like a Duck Out of Water: an exposé of the Australian duck industry’. This project investigated the Australian intensive duck industry, which currently produces around 8 million ducks per year, subjecting them to cruel treatment and cramped conditions. The report was launched at the Voiceless Awards in December 2013. It will eventually be made available in Chinese, and will be widely distributed to restaurants, duck meat suppliers and airlines. To view the entire report please click the link to download.

http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2012/s3528922.html

2014 GRANTS

CENTRAL QUEENSLAND UNIVERSITY

Is a Picture Worth a Thousand Words?

Animal advocacy groups use a variety of images to challenge the public to think differently about animals. This project will allow researchers at Central Queensland University to determine what kind of images create the most effective animal advocacy campaigns.

ANIMAL LIBERATION NSW

Meat Rabbits: Tasteful or Disgraceful? A Journey Down the Rabbit Hole

Animal Liberation NSW will run an investigation into the battery caged farming of rabbits in Australia. They will create a documentary as part of a broad awareness campaign targeted at consumers as well as chefs and restaurants.

ANIMAL LIBERATION QLD

Ditch Dairy

This grant supported Animal Liberation Queensland in their campaign to promote and develop public understanding of the welfare concerns associated with dairy production. ‘Ditch Dairy’ reached audiences through radio and cinema advertising, a dedicated Ditch Dairy website, social media content, print materials and online recipes, available from the download link below.

RSPCA QLD

World Farm Animal Day Symposium 2015

The 2015 Symposium, ‘Back to the Future: Welfare in Animal Production’ brought together experts from across the country to speak on farm animal welfare, food production and compassionate consumption. The symposium examined how welfare in farm animal production has improved over the years, while examining all we still need to achieve. This grant helped fund the promotional and operational costs of the symposium.

MONASH UNIVERSITY

Building Animal Law in Australian Universities

This grant allowed Monash University to run a one-day Australian Animal Law Teaching Workshop in November 2015. The workshop aimed to equip legal academics to teach animal law at a university level, including seminar topics of ‘Factory farming of Animals: Welfare labelling’ and ‘Welfare Regulations and Violence in Animal Industries’. The project also involved the development of a national animal law curriculum framework. To view the final program for this workshop, please use the download link below.

ANIMAL LIBERATION NSW

Cruelty Free Festival

The Cruelty Free Festival is an annual event held in Sydney during October to raise awareness about animal protection issues and promote compassion. This grant helped fund the redevelopment of the website for the 2015 Festival, as well as advertising and promotions for the event over two years. To view the flyer for this festival event, please use the download link below.

http://www.crueltyfreefestival.org.au/

UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, SYDNEY

The Animal Law Case Book

The University of Technology Sydney has published a casebook compilation of 72 Australian animal law case notes, launched by Voiceless Legal Counsel at the 20156 Voiceless Awards. Published as an e-book, the casebook is a reference for animal law students and practitioners.

ANIMAL JUSTICE PARTY

Kangaroos’ Plight to Parliaments Abroad

The kangaroo meat industry has long been plagued by hygiene concerns. The AJP The AJP used this grant to purchase kangaroo meat from different retailers across the country and test them for salmonella and E.coli to prove the unhygienic conditions of the kangaroo meat industry. Their results showed finding of low levels of E. coli and some Salmonella as well as trace evidence of Acetic Acid, used to sterilise kangaroo meat. Moreover, around the same time period, an internal NSW food safety review found multiple chillers to be non-hygienic and contaminated (see Sydney Morning Herald news article here).

THE GREAT STUPA OF UNIVERSAL COMPASSION LTD

Vegecareian Festival

The Vegecareian Festival is an annual community event held in Bendigo Victoria which brings attention to animal suffering and the importance of community attitudes. This grant helped to fund various aspects of the 2014 Festival.To view the flyer for this festival event, please use the download link below.

http://vegecareian.org.au/

FARM ANIMAL RESCUE INC.

Educational Materials for Sanctuary Visitors and Outreach Programs

Farm Animal Rescue is an animal sanctuary based in Queensland. This grant allowed the sanctuary to design and produce a range of educational and promotional materials to build awareness about farm animal welfare and promote compassion in the community.

THINK KIND INC.

Promoting Humane Education

ThinkKind works to promote humane education throughout Australia with a special focus on animal protection. This grant has allowed them to redevelop their quarterly magazine and assisted with the promotion and strengthening of their brand. To read the 2015 Autumn/Winter issue of their quarterly magazine, please use the download link below.

2015 GRANTS

ADOPT A GREYHOUND MONTH

Companions – Not Commodities campaign

Adopt a Greyhound Month will run a month long awareness campaign during April 2016 to promote greyhounds as loving companions, encourage their adoption and raise community awareness of their plight. The campaign will put greyhounds squarely in the public eye, through online promotion and the placement of outdoor advertising.

ANIMAL LIBERATION QLD

‘Ban Greyhound Racing’ billboard

This Grant will fund a continuation of Animal Liberation Queensland’s highly influential campaign to ban greyhound racing. The project will build on momentum created by ABC’s Four Corners exposé – which made use of Animal Liberation Queensland’s footage –to reinforce the negative side of greyhound racing.

LITTLE OAK SANCTUARY INCORPORATED

Airtime For Animals

Little Oak Sanctuary will produce a television commercial encouraging viewers to create change for animals. This Grant will fund the production and placement of the ad which will show people interacting with animals from Little Oak and call on viewers to learn more.

AUSTRALIA FOR DOLPHINS

Awareness campaign about dolphin captivity

This Grant will fund two mobile billboards to encourage visitors to rethink their support of dolphin captivity. The billboard campaign will be accompanied by education programs in local high schools to grow community awareness of the negative welfare effects captivity has on dolphins. To view the campaign on the roads of Coffs Harbour in March 2016, please click on the download link below.

GOOD ON YOU

Free From Harm app

‘Free From Harm’ is an animal protection shopping app that will make it easier for people to act on their concern for animals when they shop. The app will provide users with an overall vegan rating for products and detailed information on over 2,000 fashion and cosmetic brands.

http://goodonyou.org.au/free-from-harm-animals/

AUSSIE FARMS

Dominion

Dominion is the feature-length documentary sequel to Aussie Farms’ 2014 documentary Lucent. Dominion will look broadly at our treatment of animals and will question the morality and validity of our dominion over the animal kingdom. This Grant will provide funds for post-production and promotion of the film.

ALEX VINCE

Eyes For Animals

The Eyes for Animals project will invite the public to view short animal protection videos. Participants will be approached at universities and train stations and asked to view videos on iPads for $1 payment. The pay-per-view model is intended to incentivise individuals who would not normally engage with animal protection and every viewer will be provided with awareness raising materials afterwards.

FREEDOM HILL SANCTUARY

Advertising at Adelaide Airport

Freedom Hill Sanctuary will run a month-long billboard advertising campaign at Adelaide Airport throughout January. Their banner design introduces some of the animal residents of Freedom Hill and encourages viewers to learn more about animal protection.

ANIMAL LIBERATION NSW

Like A Duck Out Of Water

With the help of a 2012 Voiceless Grant, Animal Liberation NSW produced a report on the factory farming of ducks, followed by a billboard campaign in 2014. This Grant will fund phase three of that project, seeing the report translated into simplified Chinese, making it more accessible to Chinese consumers. Copies will be sent to restaurants that serve duck and to other relevant Chinese establishments across Australia.

ANIMAL VOICES UNSW

Weekly documentary sessions

Animal Voices UNSW will run free weekly animal protection documentary screenings throughout 2016. The screenings are intended to grow student knowledge and interest in animal protection and will include films such as Blackfish, Cowspiracy, Lucent and Meet Your Meat.

2016 GRANTS

AUSTRALIA FOR DOLPHINS

Dolphin captivity: TV advertisements

This People’s Choice: Multi-Channel Campaign Grant for Australia for Dolphins will enable this organisation to drive the passing of legislation, which will ban dolphin captivity and captive breeding in NSW. The grant funds will enable the creation of a powerful television ad to expose the horrific cruelty of dolphins in captivity, driving public support to help convince the NSW Premier to support this Bill.

LET GREYHOUNDS RUN FREE

Let Greyhounds Run Free

This People’s Choice: Capacity Building Grant will support Let Greyhounds Run Free to establish a data storage and reporting facility to provide timely, accurate and ‘cradle to grave’ data, on all greyhounds at risk of death in the Tasmanian greyhound racing industry. This web-based platform will assist in identifying and monitoring dogs, provide statistics for documenting and raising awareness about industry cruelty and be easily accessible by government, industry, media and the public.

Apply for the Voiceless Grant Program

If you are a changemaker dedicated to protecting animals, we would love to hear from you. Click to read our eligibility criteria and expression of interest form to apply.

APPLY