Codes of Practice
Animals working in Film in Australia
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Codes apply to all animals used in the production of films, TV, theatrical performances and photographs
Working with animals in Australian film and television means navigating a different rulebook in every state and territory — and knowing how to move through it is a real advantage.
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Only some states have dedicated codes for filming with animals. Others rely on broad welfare legislation never designed with a production environment in mind.
That gap matters, and it isn't always visible until you're already on set.
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That's where a professional animal coordinator earns their place. Not just familiarity with the legislation, but fluency in how it's actually applied — state by state, production by production.
It's the specialist knowledge that keeps budgets intact, schedules on track, and productions running the way they should.
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When you know the rulebook, you're never caught off guard by it
Animal Welfare is the responsibility of the production company & producers.
Please use these pages and links to familiarise yourself with the requirements of working with animals.
Please contact Bec with any questions you may have.
A code of conduct is a set of rules outlining the responsibilities or proper practices of an individual party or an organisation.
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The code of conduct for the use of animals in productions is outlined for each state below.
Victoria
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Victoria's 1988 Code of Practice sets the benchmark for animal welfare in Australian film production — and it means business. Unlike the vague general provisions found elsewhere, the Victorian framework requires formal contracts that clearly spell out responsibilities across everyone involved in animal use on set.
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The veterinary requirements alone demand serious logistical planning. For scenes carrying genuine risk of injury or distress, a veterinary surgeon must be present on set throughout rehearsal and filming.
For lower-risk scenes, a vet must be on standby and able to attend within 20 minutes — no exceptions, and no winging the arrangements on the day.
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Risky situations include fast movement of any kind, large numbers of animals, very young, very old or pregnant animals, difficult terrain, adverse weather, reduced visibility, and fire or smoke — a list broad enough to catch most productions off guard if they haven't planned carefully.
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Special effects scenes face particularly close scrutiny, with pyrotechnics, loud noises and visual effects all requiring careful advance planning and proper desensitisation of animals before cameras roll.
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Meeting these standards consistently and confidently is exactly what an experienced animal coordinator is trained to do — ensuring every Victorian requirement is not just ticked off, but genuinely upheld.
New South Wales
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Of all Australian states, New South Wales imposes the most structured pre-production obligations on productions using animals. NSW mandates formal notification to either the RSPCA NSW or the Animal Welfare League before a single animal steps on set — making early engagement with these requirements non-negotiable.
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The timeframes alone demand disciplined scheduling. Commercial productions must lodge notification at least 48 hours in advance, while other productions face a 14-day window. These deadlines don't flex around shoot dates — they shape them, and any production that treats this as an afterthought will find its schedule unravelling fast.
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The notification itself is no simple tick-box exercise. Authorities require comprehensive documentation: which animals will appear, what they'll do, what safety protocols are in place, and how veterinary care will be managed. Compiling this accurately requires genuine familiarity with what regulators expect to see — and how they expect to see it presented.
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The consequences of getting it wrong are severe. NSW authorities can inspect sets and shut down filming on the spot, and non-compliance carries lasting reputational damage — the kind of headline that follows a production long after wrap.
This is exactly what a professional animal coordinator is there for. From preparing compliant documentation to hitting every deadline, an experienced coordinator ensures NSW's demanding requirements never become the reason a production stalls — or makes the news for the wrong reasons.
Screen NSW
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Productions in NSW, must adhere to a specialised Code of Practice for animal welfare, requiring notifications to the RSPCA NSW and compliance with safety codes.
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This code applies to all animals used in the production of films, TV, theatrical performances and photographs.
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Relevant forms and information are also provided below.
South Australia
South Australia's legislative landscape presents a unique challenge for film and television productions: no dedicated regulatory framework exists for on-screen animal use. Instead, productions fall under broad, general animal cruelty statutes — legislation written without the specific realities of a film set in mind.
This absence of industry-tailored guidance leaves considerable grey area. What constitutes an acceptable working condition for an animal on a controlled set? How are holding periods, handling protocols, and on-camera action assessed by authorities? The legislation simply doesn't say — and that ambiguity carries real risk.
Without clear, prescriptive standards, productions are left to interpret how general cruelty provisions apply to their specific circumstances. Get it wrong, and the consequences can extend well beyond a formal investigation.
In an era of heightened public scrutiny, even the perception of inadequate animal welfare practices can trigger reputational damage, online backlash, and media criticism that overshadows the production itself.
This is precisely where an experienced animal coordinator becomes indispensable. A seasoned professional doesn't just manage animals on set — they understand how regulatory authorities interpret and apply these broad provisions in practice.
They know where the lines are drawn, even when the legislation doesn't draw them explicitly. They build the documentation, protocols, and oversight structures that demonstrate due diligence to any authority that comes knocking.
Engaging a qualified animal coordinator from the outset is not an optional layer of professionalism — it is the most effective safeguard against regulatory uncertainty, unexpected compliance issues, and the kind of public fallout that no production wants attached to its name.
Western Australia
Western Australia follows a similar pattern to other states — broad animal welfare legislation with no film-specific guidance to speak of.
This leaves productions working largely in interpretive territory, and local authorities don't always read the rules the same way across different regions.
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That inconsistency is where things can get caught out. Without someone who understands how requirements are applied on the ground in WA, productions can find themselves facing unexpected demands mid-shoot.
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A professional animal coordinator brings exactly that local knowledge — turning what could be a compliance minefield into a manageable, well-planned part of the production process.
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Queensland
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Queensland currently has no dedicated code governing animals in filmed media.
Productions working with native wildlife or non-indigenous animals do require a licence, but beyond that, general animal welfare legislation is the primary reference point — legislation that was never written with a film set in mind.
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That grey area is a real risk for productions that don't know where the boundaries sit.
Without clear, industry-specific direction, even well-intentioned productions can find themselves on the wrong side of compliance.
Professional guidance isn't a luxury here — it's what stands between a smooth shoot and a costly, reputation-damaging incident.
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​However, as there are no specific codes in Queensland, productions may refer to New South Wales codes for exhibiting animals, and the Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines for exhibited animals have been endorsed at a national level and are referred to when applying to exhibit and deal with animals in Queensland.
Tasmania & Northern Territory
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​Tasmania's modest production industry means animal welfare regulation for film has simply never had to develop much depth.
There are few local precedents to draw on, and authorities may have limited familiarity with the practical realities of complex animal sequences on set.
That knowledge gap cuts both ways — and a professional coordinator is often the most experienced person in the room when questions arise.
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The Northern Territory presents its own distinct challenges. Operating under the Animal Protection Act 2018 and Animal Protection Regulations 2022 — broad legislation with no film-specific provisions — productions are left to interpret general welfare laws in an environment that demands much more specific planning.
Remote locations can make veterinary access and emergency response genuinely difficult, and the climate adds another layer of complexity that productions from the southern states often underestimate.
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Both jurisdictions tend to look to NSW or Victoria for guidance, and adopting those best practices is a sensible starting point. But local conditions frequently demand a different approach entirely — which is exactly why cookie-cutter compliance doesn't work here. An experienced animal coordinator knows how to adapt, customise and plan for the realities of wherever the production takes them.​
