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To decide if an assistance animal is trained to assist a person with a disability, we adopt the internationally recognised definition recommended by La Trobe University.
La Trobe University worked with 50 international experts to look at reports and industry websites and get agreement about the best definition for assistance animals.
You can read the full La Trobe University report – Key terms for animals in disability assistance roles .
The La Trobe University report defines assistance animal as an animal that is trained to:
- a high level of obedience to enable it to access public spaces. This means they can safely go to public places that are typically off-limits to animals, such as a train station, café, or shops.
- perform at least 3 tasks or behaviours to do things you can’t do because of your disability.
When we talk about the tasks the assistance animal does to help you, we mean active things that:
- the animal wouldn’t naturally do that help you manage your disability
- mean you need less of your other funded supports.
The tasks might be things like:
- open and close doors or fridges
- open and close drawers or cupboards
- pick up dropped items
- reassure you in times of extreme anxiety, such as helping you to leave your home when you’re not comfortable to go out
- press the button at traffic lights
- take clothes out of the washing machine
- help you find your way around safely, including stopping at kerbs and stairs
- guide you through crowds
- find a spare seat on a bus
- help you find doors on cars and trains
- block or be a barrier to other people if needed.
An assistance animal is not the same as an animal included in animal-assisted therapy. An animal included in animal-assisted therapy is a tool an appropriately qualified person, like a clinical psychologist, includes as part of delivering goal-directed, structured therapy.
An assistance animal is also not a pet kept for companion support, even if you’ve trained it to do some tasks for you. We also know animals can be good for helping with routines and taking part in social activities. However, these things alone don’t mean it meets the definition of an assistance animal.
Learn more at What about other kinds of animals?
An example of an assistance animal is a dog guide. They’re specially trained to help you do tasks if you have a severe vision impairment or blindness.
They can guide you so you can independently and safely move around at home and in the community.
By doing this, a dog guide will reduce your need for other supports.
We use the name ‘dog guide’ as this is the general name for dogs that help people with a severe vision impairment or blindness. Guide Dogs and Seeing Eye Dogs are both brand names of dog guides in Australia.
An assistance animal must meet the hygiene and behaviour standards expected for an animal in a public place.
This means they can safely go to public places that are typically off-limits to animals, such as a train station, café, or shops.
The types of assistance animals we fund are:
- dog guides
- physical assistance animals
- assistance animals for some participants who have been diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), who are able to take on the ongoing responsibilities of a primary handler.
What about other kinds of animals?
There are other types of animals that are not considered assistance animals and are not NDIS supports.
These include:
- companion animals - an animal kept for company or fun, including pets.
- emotional support animals - an animal that provides emotional and informal support.
- therapy animals - an animal included in an activity to provide a positive experience, such as engaging with puppies.
- animals included in animal-assisted therapy - an animal that is included as part of delivering goal-directed, structured therapy activities that are led by a therapist.
- facility animals - an animal that is trained to work in a specific facility or type of facility, such as a residential aged care home. It may or may not live onsite.
- visitation animals - an animal that belongs to a volunteer or provider and is trained to visit residential, health, or educational facilities. These animals bring enjoyment to the clients or students.
All these other types of animals can be helpful in your life, but they’re not an NDIS support.
Learn more about What does NDIS fund?