Yes, the Greyhound Welfare & Integrity Commission (GIWC) is an NSW Government agency. Although it is not subject to the control and direction of the Minister except to the extent expressly provided for under the Greyhound Racing Act 2017, or any other Act, it is subject to oversight of the NSW Parliament, Independent Commission Against Corruption, NSW Ombudsman and the NSW Audit Office.
All NSW registered participants must adhere to the Greyhound Racing Rules which contain detailed requirements for participation and conduct in the NSW greyhound racing industry.
Participants must also follow the standards in the Greyhound Welfare Code of Practice and any policies developed by the Commission.
The Greyhound Welfare Code of Practice (the Code) sets out standards for the keeping, treatment, handling and care of greyhounds. It also includes standards for the facilities, equipment and conditions at premises where greyhounds are kept, trialled, trained or raced.
In addition, the Code sets out standards for the procedures and practices to be adopted for keeping, trialling, training and racing greyhounds.
Visit the NSW Greyhounds Welfare Code of Practice webpage for more information.
Only standards marked with a red ‘R’ apply to greyhounds that have been retired to an industry participant.
The Code does not apply to greyhounds retired outside of the industry (i.e. To a member of the general public) as these greyhounds are placed onto the NSW Pet Registry and are outside of GWIC’s jurisdiction.
The Nose Print Recognition app will provide a secondary means of identification for registered greyhounds in NSW. Learn more about Nose Print Recognition with our FAQs
The practice of ear tattooing of greyhounds as an identification method will cease Australia-wide 1 November 2024. Learn more about the removal of ear tattoo requirements with our FAQs
The Commission will only use your personal information for the purposes for which it was collected (eg. Processing registration applications), or any directly related purpose. In the event that there is a serious and imminent threat to your health, or the health of another person, these will be exceptional circumstances in which the Commission may also use your personal information.
The Commission will need to disclose your personal information to other agencies from time to time. In order to process any application for registration, the Commission may be required to disclose your personal information to various agencies, including (but not limited to):
- law enforcement agencies, including (but not limited to) the NSW Police Force;
- animal welfare agencies, including (but not limited to) the RSPCA; and
- local councils.
Visit our Participant registrations webpage for information relating to registrations.
Registration renewals are due on a participant’s birthday each year, and can be renewed online via the eTrac portal.
Individuals aged 18+ can apply for any role within the industry if they meet the appropriate registration criteria.
Individuals aged 14 - 17 can apply for an Associate Attendant or Associate Race Official registration.
Individuals aged 12 - 13 can apply for a Junior Attendant Permit.
Find more information on the Participant registrations page.
To apply for registration head to the Commission's eTrac portal to create an account, and apply for registrations online.
If you have any questions about applying for registration or registration requirements, please contact GWIC on 13 49 42.
If your registration has already expired, the Commission will provide a 28-day grace period in which you can still renew your registration over the phone by calling 13 49 42.
If you registration has expired in the last 29 days – 3 months, you may choose to reinstate your registration so that you can complete your renewal. A reinstatement fee of $50 will apply in addition to the standard renewal fees. To reinstate your registration, please call our registration and Welfare team on 13 49 42.
If you registration has expired more than 3 months ago, you will not be able to renew or reinstate your registration. If you wish to become registered again, you will need to submit a new registration application through your eTrac portal.
Participants will receive the following reminders before their registration is due for renewal:
- An email three months before registration expires
- A letter two months before registration expires
- An email one month before registration expires
- An SMS the month registration expires
Participants should ensure their contact details are up to date so they don’t miss any important notifications.
If you don’t have access to a computer, please call 13 49 42 (13 GWIC) and the Commission’s Registration & Welfare Team can help you complete a number transactions over the phone. Alternatively, where a transaction cannot be completed over the phone, a member of our team may be able to post you a paper form.
The Commission is required to undertake a Fit and Proper Person Test on all registration applicants and part of this process is a Criminal History Check. A conviction will not necessarily result in an application being refused. The Commission will consider the circumstances of the conviction, such as the nature of the offence and the applicant’s behaviour since the conviction was recorded.
Visit the Fit and Proper Person webpage for more information.
The Commission’s Greyhound Rehoming Policy outlines the necessary steps you must take to retire your greyhound to yourself, to a person outside of the industry or to a rehoming agency.
You need to ensure that the vet who euthanases the greyhound completes a Euthanasia of a Greyhound - by a Vet Notification form, and then submit this form to GWIC within 48 hours.
Euthanasia of a greyhound may be performed by a person who is not a veterinarian only in an emergency where the euthanasia is:
- necessary to relieve the animal’s immediate suffering, and
- a veterinarian is unable to attend in a timely manner, or transporting the animal to a veterinarian would unreasonably prolong the animal’s suffering, and
- only after a veterinarian has been consulted.
Euthanasia performed in emergency must be performed using humane methods endorsed by a veterinarian. Following emergency euthanasia of a greyhound, the owner must submit a completed Emergency Euthanasia of Greyhound - Not by Vet Notification form to GWIC within 48 hours.
Please complete the Greyhound Death Notification form online through your eTrac Participant portal within 48 hours. Please remember to include information about the circumstances of the greyhound’s death on the form.
If you have information regarding a welfare or integrity related issue within the NSW Greyhound Racing Industry, you can make a report using the following avenues:
- Online anonymously: Report a concern
- Email: emailus@gwic.nsw.gov.au
- Phone: 13 49 42
- Speaking with the Commission’s Stewards, Veterinarians or Inspectors
- Post: Greyhound Welfare and Integrity Commission, PO Box 718, Bathurst NSW 2795
- In person: Greyhound Welfare and Integrity Commission, Level 1, 230 Howick Street, Bathurst NSW 2795
Get in touch with a greyhound Rehoming Organisation such as Greyhounds As Pets.
Ask the previous owner to complete the ‘Getting to know your new greyhound’ template to help your newest family member settle in.
Yes, if you would like to retire your greyhound and keep it as a pet you must complete a retirement notification and submit it to GWIC.
Retired greyhounds that remain with a registered participant, remain on the Commission’s Greyhound Register and are still subject to the Code of Practice. Retired greyhounds kept by industry participants will also need to be eTrac scanned every twelve months.
You can re-home your greyhound through Greyhounds As Pets (GAP), other rehoming/rescue organisations, or to an individual outside of the greyhound racing industry.
It is important that you follow the requirements of the Greyhound Rehoming Policy when rehoming your greyhound.
Once your greyhound has been rehomed, you will need to submit a retirement notification to GWIC. This includes if the greyhound is rehomed to GAP.
If you cannot rehome your greyhound the Commission recommends that you contact rehoming organisations to see if they can assist. Another option is to ask a family members, friends, or colleagues if they would like the greyhound as a pet.
Participants are no longer allowed to surrender retired greyhounds to a NSW or interstate facility that conducts animal research, animal plasma or blood collection. Greyhounds can only be rehomed to Council pounds with prior approval of the Commission.
The making of two genuine attempts to rehome and notifying GWIC of the intent to euthanise, is no longer permitted.
Euthanasia can only be considered where a greyhound is legally required, or permitted to be euthanased (see clause 9 of the Greyhound Rehoming Policy).
It is a greyhound owners’ responsibility to ensure their greyhound’s welfare throughout their life, whether that be before, during, or after their racing career.
Yes, it is the responsibility of the greyhound owner to notify GWIC when they have rehomed their greyhound, even if a rehoming organisation was involved. Owners must submit a Retirement Notification within 14 days of rehoming.
Yes, any premises where greyhounds not owned or leased by the proprietor are trialled must be registered with the Commission in accordance with the Trial Track Policy.
You will need to submit a trial track registration application form. In addition to this, applicants must:
- Be registered as a trial track proprietor
- Have adequate and current public liability insurance for the premises
- Have an agreement with a local veterinarian who is able to provide treatment to greyhounds that are injured at the premise.
- Have the premises inspected by the Commission’s compliance team.
More information can be found on the Registrations page of the GWIC website.
Commission inspectors do wear body worn cameras (BWC) at times.
BWC’s are not used during routine inspections unless an inspector is working without another staff member and has obtained the consent of the participant.
BWC’s may be deployed during targeted, intelligence led, positive swab and some follow up inspections.
BWC’s are a clearly visible, overt recording device used by Commission Inspectors to record any activity relating to their work as a Commission Inspector. The footage is locked and cannot be edited.
Commission Inspectors will always make you aware when or if they are switched on and recording, and participants may request a copy of the footage relating to them or their property.
In conducting routine, new kennel, new licence and some follow up inspections, Commission Inspectors will contact the owner / occupier of kennels at least two days prior to the proposed kennel inspection to schedule a mutually convenient time and day to conduct the inspection.
Targeted inspections that form part of an investigation may occur without prior notification from the Commission.
Inspectors have the power to enter and inspect kennels located on a property operated by a participant. However, they can only enter a residential home with the permission of the occupier or if a court, or other authorised person, has issued a search warrant authorising entry.
Your fine will list options for payment. You can contact us on 13 49 42 to make a payment via credit card over the phone, or complete a bank transfer using the details on the fine paperwork, referencing your fine number.
If you cannot pay your fine by the due date, you should contact us to let us know. You can do this by calling us on 13 49 42. If you would like to enter into a payment plan you should outline, in writing, the reasons you require a payment plan and the amount you can afford to pay per fortnight. This request will be considered and if approved, you will be advised of the details in writing.
Yes. If you are do not agree with a penalty issued to you by the Commission, there are two avenues of appeal available. An Internal Review can be conducted by a one or more reviewers at the Commission who were not substantially involved in making the original decision or participants can appeal a decision through the Racing Appeals Tribunal, which is an independent body set up under the Racing Appeals Tribunal Act 1983.
For more information see the Appeals to the Racing Appeals Tribunal and Internal Review webpages.