Assistance animal training and assessment

NDIS support

Assessment and training to prepare an assistance animal, such as a guide or hearing dog, and to check that the animal and handler work well together.

The short answer

This support prepares an assistance animal to do specific tasks for its handler and checks that the animal and handler work well together. Training is usually delivered by a specialist organisation.

About Assistance animal training and assessment

An assistance animal is not simply a well-behaved pet. It is trained to carry out defined tasks that help a person with disability, and to behave reliably in public places. Training and assessment are what turn a suitable animal into a working partner.

Assessment looks at both sides of the partnership. It checks that the animal has the temperament and skills for the role, and that the handler is able to manage and care for the animal and to use the tasks it has learned. Some organisations train the animal and handler together, while others place an already-trained animal.

Because public access rights and rules around assistance animals can differ between states and settings, it is worth asking the training organisation what applies to you. A reputable organisation will explain its standards, what follow-up it provides and what happens if the match does not work out.

Who is this service for?

People who are considering an assistance animal, or who already have one and need it assessed or trained to work reliably with them.

What a typical session looks like

Assessment usually involves a trained professional looking at what you need an animal to do, how you live, and whether an assistance animal is a suitable and safe option. This often includes conversations with you and the people around you, observation at home or in the community, and a written report that explains the findings.

Training is a longer process. It may involve the animal being trained by a specialist organisation before it comes to live with you, followed by sessions in which you and the animal learn to work as a team. Training continues in your own environment, because a skill learned in a training centre often needs adjusting to the places where you will actually use it.

Who delivers this support

Assessment and training are usually carried out by specialist organisations and trainers with experience in assistance animals, sometimes working with an occupational therapist or another health professional. Because there are different types of assistance animals and different standards, it is worth asking about the trainer's experience, the methods they use and how they assess whether an animal is suitable and healthy for the work.

How to choose a provider

• Ask how the organisation trains and assesses animals and what standards it works to.
• Find out what follow-up support you receive after the animal is placed with you.
• Ask what happens if the match between you and the animal does not work.
• Check how the organisation talks about public access rights and any certification it provides.
• Ask for information about the animal's health and how it will be looked after during training.

Questions to ask a provider

• What is your process for deciding whether an assistance animal is right for me?
• How is the animal selected and trained, and what standards do you follow?
• Will training take place in my own home and community, and how much of it involves me?
• What support do I get after the animal comes to live with me?
• How do you assess the animal's health and temperament, and what happens if it turns out to be unsuitable?
• What are the public access rules I should know about, and how do you help me meet them?

Common mistakes to avoid

• Choosing an animal or trainer without a proper assessment of whether it will suit your daily life.
• Underestimating the ongoing effort involved in caring for an animal, on top of its working role.
• Not asking what happens if the match does not work out.
• Assuming any trained animal automatically has public access rights everywhere.
• Expecting training to be finished once the animal arrives, when follow-up in your own environment is often what makes it work.

Getting started

1. Think about the tasks you want an assistance animal to help with.
2. Talk to a health professional about whether an assistance animal suits you.
3. Contact a small number of training organisations and compare how they work.
4. Ask for a written outline of the process, timeframes and what is expected of you as handler.

How it fits with the rest of your plan

An assistance animal is a long-term commitment, so assessment and training sit alongside decisions about ongoing care, veterinary needs and how the animal will be looked after when it is not working. Many people also continue to use other supports, such as personal care or therapy, and the animal is one part of a wider picture rather than a replacement for those supports.

Eligibility

You can use NDIS funding for Assistance animal training and assessment if it is included in your NDIS plan. The NDIS funds supports that are reasonable and necessary: they relate to your disability, help you pursue your goals and represent value for money. Not sure whether it is in your plan? Check your plan, or ask your planner, Local Area Coordinator or support coordinator. You can also arrange it privately.

Funding

Which part of an NDIS plan pays for Assistance animal training and assessment depends on the specific support and on how your plan is set up. Your planner, Local Area Coordinator or support coordinator can confirm where it fits, and providers can give you a quote to check against your budget. Many NDIS supports have price limits, so ask providers for a quote and check it against the current NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits. Whether your plan is managed by the NDIA, by a plan manager or by you, ask for a written quote and a service agreement before you start. If your plan is plan-managed or self-managed you can use providers who are not registered with the NDIS. If it is NDIA-managed you generally need a registered provider.

What it costs

Supports such as Assistance animal training and assessment that are funded by the NDIS are paid at rates that follow the NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits, which the NDIA reviews regularly. Many items have a maximum price, and some prices are higher in remote areas. Before you start, ask for a written quote that lists each support, the hours and the price, and check it against the current NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits on the NDIS website. A provider may charge less than a limit. If you pay privately, the provider sets its own fees. Plan-managed and self-managed participants can also use providers who are not registered, and those providers set their own prices.

Checking credentials

• Check registration Search the NDIS Commission's register of registered providers to see whether a provider is registered and for which types of support. Plan-managed and self-managed participants can also use unregistered providers.
• Ask about worker screening Ask whether workers hold a current NDIS Worker Screening Check where their role requires one, and how the provider checks its workers' identity and qualifications.
• Get it in writing Ask for a written quote and a service agreement that describes the support, the prices, how to change or end it and how to make a complaint.

Regulation and safeguards

NDIS providers and their workers must follow the NDIS Code of Conduct, and registered providers are regulated by the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission.

• NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission Regulates NDIS providers and handles complaints about the quality and safety of NDIS supports. Phone: 1800 035 544.
• National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) Runs the NDIS. Contact them about your plan, your funding and eligibility. Phone: 1800 800 110.

Related services

• Assistance animal upkeep
• Assistance animals
• Community nursing care
• Continence products

Frequently asked questions

What does assistance animal training involve?

Training prepares an animal to carry out specific tasks for its handler and to behave reliably in public places. It usually includes an assessment of how well the animal and handler work together.

Are assistance animals the same as pets?

No. An assistance animal is trained to help a person with a disability by carrying out specific tasks. Access rights and rules can differ from those for pets, so ask the training organisation what applies.

How do I find a reputable trainer?

Look for an organisation with clear information about its training standards, its assessment process and the follow-up it offers. Ask what happens if the match between animal and handler does not work out.

Does the animal have to be trained by a specific organisation?

Requirements can vary depending on where you want to use the animal and the rules that apply. Ask organisations and the relevant authorities what is required for your situation.

Can I train my own animal?

Some people do, though it needs specialist skills and time. Ask a training organisation what assessment would be required to show the animal is suitable.

What happens as the animal gets older?

Working animals eventually retire. It helps to ask early about how retirement is handled and what planning is needed for a replacement.

What is the difference between an assistance animal and a pet?

An assistance animal is trained to do specific tasks that help with a person's disability, and it is expected to behave reliably in public. A pet provides companionship but does not have this training or these responsibilities.

Do I need an assessment before getting an assistance animal?

An assessment is a sensible first step because it looks at whether an animal would really help and whether it is practical for you. Some organisations require one, and some funding decisions rely on it.

Can I train an assistance animal myself?

Some people do, but it requires a lot of time, skill and consistency, and there are standards the animal generally needs to meet. Speak to a specialist organisation about what is involved before deciding.

Can I use my NDIS plan to pay for Assistance animal training and assessment?

If Assistance animal training and assessment is in your NDIS plan and is reasonable and necessary for you, then yes. Check with your planner, Local Area Coordinator or support coordinator. You can also arrange it privately.

How do I find a Assistance animal training and assessment provider near me?

Browse providers on SolDirectory, or send a free enquiry with your location and what you need and suitable providers will review it. Then ask each one about availability, a quote and a service agreement before you decide. Details come from providers and registers, so confirm them directly.

Sources and further reading

• NDIS: how the NDIS works, plans and price limits
• NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission: find a registered provider, make a complaint

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