About Us

The Psychologists for the Promotion of Animal Welfare Interest Group aims to promote and apply psychological knowledge that fosters positive relations between human and non-human animals.

The Interest Group can provide a forum for research and professional exchanges on the role of psychology in promoting animal welfare.

It is aimed that positive human-animal interactions can be encouraged by disseminating psychological knowledge to members of the Interest Group, members of the APS, and the wider community.

Terms of Reference
  1. To promote the application of psychological knowledge aimed at fostering mutually beneficial human and non-human interactions.
  2. To provide a forum for research and professional exchange (e.g. seminars, conferences) of mutually beneficial relationships between human and non-human animals.
  3. To become a recognized source of psychological expertise on the relationships between human and non-human animals and the related psychological well-being of both.
  4. To disseminate empirically based information on issues of relevance (e.g. importance of biodiversity for psychological well-being; the role of companion animals in psychological well-being, particularly for the elderly in modern society; the relationship between empathy toward other species and humans) to other professionals, including psychologists, as well as to members of the general public.
  5. To be broad in focus so as to encompass relationships between humans, animals and companion animals, wildlife, farm animals, and animals used in research.
  6. To foster and maintain alliances with other groups whose aims are congruent with those of the proposed interested group and with those of the Australian Psychological Society Limited.
  7. To develop a capacity to formulate policies regarding human and non-human animal interactions and to respond to the policy decisions of others.

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