Assistance dog
Key facts
- Assistance dogs are a type of support service to help people with disability.
- A dog must get special training to become an assistance dog and assist a person with disability.
- Owners of assistance dogs have the right to take their animals into public places.
- States and territories are responsible for how assistance dog schemes get regulated.
What is an assistance dog?
An assistance dog is a working animal. It has special training to give people with disability support in their daily life. It is not a pet.
Assistance dogs:
- are individually trained in obedience
- can perform tasks that ease disability
- can pass a public access test (PAT)
The legal definition of an assistance dog is a dog that is:
- accredited under a state or territory law, or
- accredited by an animal training organisation stated in the regulations, or
- trained to assist a person with a disability to alleviate the effect of the disability and meets standards of hygiene and behaviour that are appropriate for an animal in a public place
If a dog meets this standard, the owner (also called a handler) and the dog must have full access to public places.
States and territories are responsible for regulating assistance dog schemes.
While this article is on assistance dogs, the Commonwealth Disability Discrimination Act 1992 and state and territory accreditation and regulation also covers other types of assistance animals.
Are there other names that cover the term assistance dog?
Yes. The term assistance dog covers, but is not limited to, guide dogs, medical alert animals, hearing assistance animals, mobility assistance animals, psychiatric assistance animals and assistance animals for developmental disorders. Sometimes an assistance dog may get called a service dog, but this term is no longer recommended in Australia.
There are other types of dogs that assist people with disability, but they may not get the same access rights as an assistance dog. They can include:
- emotional support animal
- visitation animal
- therapy animal
- facility animal
- companion animal
Who uses assistance dogs?
Assistance dogs can help people with:
- episodic and serious medical crisis — for example epilepsy, and changes in blood pressure or blood sugar
- mental illness — for example post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, hallucinations, panic attacks or suicidal ideation
- physical disabilities
- vision loss
- hearing loss
Assistance dogs may also be able to help with educational support for use in schools. For more information on the guidelines of each state and territory, check your government education website.
What breeds of a dog are assistance dogs?
Labradors and Golden Retrievers are common breeds for use as assistance dogs in Australia. This is because of their intelligence and temperament.
How can a dog become an assistance dog?
For a dog to become an assistance dog, they must get special training. States and territories have guidelines for who can train assistance dogs. While many dogs are trained by an assistance dog organisation, you can also train your dog privately.
You can find out more about assistance dog training in your state and territory from the Australian Government's Disability Gateway website.
What jobs can assistance dogs do?
The training for each dog is unique. It depends on the personality of the dog and the type of tasks needed by their owner.
Assistance dogs can be taught to do tasks such as:
- opening and closing doors, drawers and fridges
- getting dropped items, like mobile phones or keys
- helping with balance
- alerting people to medical issues, such as oncoming seizures
The benefits for owners include:
- less need for carers
- greater freedom and self-confidence
- friendship and love of the animal
Can I take my assistance dog into public places?
Yes. Owners of assistance dogs have the right to take their animals into public places.
According to the Commonwealth Disability Discrimination Act 1992, it's against the law to discriminate against a person with a disability who is using an assistance dog.
States and territories have their own laws relating to assistance dogs. You may need to get a certificate. Find out more about the law and assistance animals in your state or territory.
What should I do when I meet an assistance dog?
You shouldn't pat or call an assistance dog without permission from the owner. Assistance dogs are working dogs and you may distract it from the tasks it is given.
How can I get an assistance dog?
There are different ways that you may be able to get an assistance dog:
- source one yourself and train it privately
- ask for one via an organisation in your state or territory — the animals are given free of charge to people who qualify
- if you're a serving or discharged member of the Australian Defence Force, you can apply for one through The Department of Veteran's Affairs
If you are with disability and access funding through the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), you can apply for funding to cover the costs of owning an assistance dog. This may cover:
- buying or leasing an assistance dog
- training the dog
- ongoing maintenance costs, such as vet care and food
More information on assistance dogs
To find out more about assistance dogs, you can visit:
- Disability Gateway or call 1800 643 787 — to find out what's available in your state or territory
- NDIS or call 1800 800 110 — to find out about funding for an assistance dog
- Australian Government Department of Vetran's Affairs — for members and those discharged to find out how to apply for an assistance dog
- Australian Human Rights Commission — to learn more about the rights of an owner and their assistance dog
State and territory government information:
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Last reviewed: March 2023
