Assistance animals

NDIS support

Assistance animals are trained to help a person with day-to-day tasks or to support them to take part in the community.

The short answer

Assistance animals are trained to help a person with everyday tasks or to take part in the community. This page explains what they do and what to consider before deciding whether one is right for you.

About Assistance animals

Assistance animals help people with a range of disabilities. Guide dogs support people who are blind or have low vision, hearing dogs alert people who are deaf or hard of hearing, and other animals are trained for tasks such as opening doors, retrieving items or responding to medical events. What an animal does depends on the person and the tasks it has been trained for.

Having an assistance animal is a big commitment. The animal needs daily care, exercise, veterinary attention and a stable routine, and the handler is responsible for its behaviour. For the right person the benefits can be significant, but it is a long-term partnership rather than a piece of equipment.

An assessment by a suitably qualified professional and a conversation with a training organisation can help you decide. It is also worth talking to people who already work with assistance animals, and thinking about your home, family and lifestyle.

Who is this service for?

People who would benefit from a trained animal to help with daily tasks, safety or taking part in the community.

What a typical session looks like

Living with an assistance animal becomes part of your daily routine. The animal may help with tasks such as guiding, retrieving items, alerting to sounds or medical events, providing physical support or helping with anxiety. Out in the community, it works alongside you at the shops, on public transport and at appointments, and it needs a calm, well-established routine to do that reliably.

At home the animal is also a living companion that needs rest, play, exercise and care. Many people find the best results come when the whole household understands the animal's role, follows consistent commands and lets it do its job without distraction.

Who delivers this support

Assistance animals are generally trained by specialist organisations or trainers, and different organisations focus on different types of work, such as guide dogs, hearing dogs or animals for psychosocial or physical support. Once the animal is with you, its ongoing care involves you, your vet, and often the training organisation, which may provide follow-up support.

How to choose a provider

• Look for organisations that explain their training standards and how they match animals to people.
• Ask about waiting times and how they will keep in touch while you wait.
• Check what support you receive after placement.
• Ask how public access and identification are handled.
• Find out how the organisation supports you when the animal retires.

Questions to ask a provider

• What tasks would the animal be trained to do for me, specifically?
• How long does the matching and training process usually involve me, and what is expected of me?
• What ongoing support will I have from your organisation after the animal is placed?
• How will my household and the people around me be prepared to live with the animal?
• What are my responsibilities under the law and the access rules that apply to me?
• What happens if the placement is not working for me or for the animal?

Common mistakes to avoid

• Choosing an animal for the wrong reasons, such as companionship alone, when the aim is a working relationship.
• Not involving family or housemates in the decision and the training.
• Overlooking the cost in time and energy of caring for an animal every day.
• Assuming the animal will work equally well in every setting without practice.
• Not checking that the organisation follows recognised standards.

Getting started

1. Think about the tasks you would like an animal to help with.
2. Discuss it with your health professionals.
3. Contact organisations and ask about their process.
4. Consider how an animal would fit with your home, family and daily routine.

How it fits with the rest of your plan

An assistance animal is one part of a plan that may also include therapy, personal care, community access and equipment. It does not replace human support, but for some people it changes how independently they can live and how confident they feel in public. Thinking about how the animal fits with your other supports helps you use it well.

Eligibility

You can use NDIS funding for Assistance animals 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 animals 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 animals 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

• Community nursing care
• Continence products
• Customised prosthetics and orthotics
• Hearing services and audiology

Frequently asked questions

What is an assistance animal?

An assistance animal is trained to do specific tasks that help a person with disability, or to support them to take part in daily life. Guide dogs and hearing dogs are well-known examples.

How do I know if an assistance animal is right for me?

It is a big commitment for both the person and the animal. An assessment by a suitably qualified professional, and a conversation with a training organisation, can help you decide.

How long does it take to get an assistance animal?

Timeframes vary widely between organisations, and there are often waiting lists. Ask each organisation about its process, how animals are matched, and what support you receive afterwards.

Do I need a diagnosis to get an assistance animal?

Organisations have their own criteria. Ask each one what they require and what evidence they need.

Can I take an assistance animal everywhere?

Access rights are protected in many situations, but rules and exceptions exist. Ask the training organisation and check the rules that apply where you live and travel.

Can assistance animals be any breed?

Different tasks suit different animals. Organisations choose animals for temperament and ability, and can explain why they select particular breeds.

What types of assistance animals are there?

The best-known are guide dogs for people who are blind or have low vision, hearing dogs for people who are deaf or hard of hearing, and dogs trained to help with mobility, medical alerts or psychosocial disability. Each type has its own training.

Are assistance animals allowed in public places?

There are rules about public access, and they depend on the animal meeting certain standards. Ask the training organisation how they help you meet these requirements and what documentation you may need.

Can an assistance animal help with mental health conditions?

Some animals are trained to support people living with psychosocial disability, for example by interrupting distress or providing grounding. It is best discussed with a professional who can assess whether it suits your situation.

Can I use my NDIS plan to pay for Assistance animals?

If Assistance animals 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 animals 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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