Assistance animals


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Assistance animals are trained to assist a person with a disability. They can accompany their owner in any public place in the ACT. There are no registration or identification requirements. Assistance animals can include a variety of animals but are most often dogs and may be referred to as ‘service dogs’.

The ACT assistance animal accreditation framework is voluntary and clarifies and promotes access rights for people who use an assistance animal.

Right to access public places

Service dogs and other assistance animals are allowed in all public places. This includes cafes, restaurants, hospitals, public transport, taxis/rideshare, entertainment venues, shopping centres and hotels. They are not allowed in some places with restricted access, such as commercial kitchens and operating theatres.

You do not need to carry ID or registration. A special coat or harness on your animal is optional.

Please see the Domestic Animals Act 2000 for more details.

Report access refusal

If you have been refused access to a public place you can lodge a complaint with Domestic Animal Services by:

It may be helpful to include evidence to support an investigation, such as:

  • the details of the person refusing access
  • names of any witnesses
  • recordings or copies of conversations with the person refusing access.

Once submitted, you will receive an email advising you that your complaint is being investigated. If you have not received a response to your complaint within 6 weeks, you should contact Domestic Animal Services.

Register your assistance dog

You can have your assistance animal tested, accredited and registered and receive an Accredited Assistance Animal card (ID card) for a period of up to 2 years. This is a voluntary registration scheme and is not a requirement to access public places in the ACT with your assistance animal.

The ID card gives handlers, businesses and the community confidence that the assistance animal meets standards of behaviour and hygiene acceptable for public places.

You will need to take the ACT Public Access Test. This is conducted by one of the ACT’s registered trainers and assessors. Once you have completed and passed the test you can apply for an ID card.

If your assistance animal is registered in another jurisdiction, you may have to provide evidence of your accreditation to apply for registration in the ACT. NSW Transport Permits for assistance animals are not recognised in the ACT.

Please note: dangerous dogs cannot be registered as assistance animals.

ACT Public Access Test

This 2-3 hour test must be conducted by a registered trainer and assessor. Costs vary depending on the provider and must be paid whether the animal passes or fails.

Before you take the test, you will need:

  • evidence of a disability (from a medical practitioner)
  • a completed Veterinarian Declaration Form (PDF 70.0 KB). This requires you to book an appointment with your vet and bring along the form.

The test measures:

  • ability to assist
  • animal welfare
  • obedience and behaviour
  • dealing with distractions, e.g. people and places, noise and food
  • handling public places and transport.

Make sure your animal is ready to take the test. Any risks to public safety or animal welfare will be automatic grounds for failure.

Please see the ACT Public Access Test Form (PDF 360.4 KB) for more details on the test criteria and grounds for failure.

Apply for your ID card

Once you have completed the Public Access Test, you can register your accredited assistance animal and receive an ID card.

You will need to complete the Assistance Animal Application Form and provide the following:

  • evidence of a disability (from a medical practitioner)
  • photos of the handler/s and the assistance animal (a face photo of each for your ID card)
  • evidence of the assistance animal’s accreditation which includes either:
    • a completed and passed ACT Public Access Test form
    • evidence of accreditation from a recognised organisation or jurisdiction.

If you have any issues using the form, call Access Canberra on 13 22 81.

Renew your registration

Registration is valid for up to 2 years starting from the date of accreditation. If you received accreditation through another jurisdiction or organisation, the ID card will expire at the same time as the recognised accreditation.

To renew your registration you will need to repeat the accreditation process for your assistance animal. You will not need to supply your evidence of a disability again.

Find a registered trainer and assessor

The following trainers and assessors are approved to train assistance animals and conduct the ACT Public Access Test.

It is an offence to carry out a business training and/or testing and accrediting assistance animals without being registered.

Registered assistance animal trainers and assessors

Dejana Durdevic from Sit Stay Play is a registered assistance dog and cat trainer and assessor. Please note Dejana is based in Queensland. Contact Dejana on woof@sitstayplayqld.com or 0432 861 844.

Jody Harrington from IdaBoss Dog Training is a registered assistance animal trainer and assessor. Contact on 0405 365 572 or jody@idabossdogtraining.com.au Please note Jody is based in Queensland.

Karen Hill from 4PAWS 2FEET 1TEAM is a registered assistance animal trainer and assessor. Contact on 0467 420 258 or k421@myyahoo.com. Please note Karen is based in NSW.

Rebecca Hughes from Birubi Service Dogs is a registered assistance animal trainer. Contact at bexletterbox@hotmail.com

Adele Lindley from PADS-Personal Assistance Dog Solutions is a registered assistance animal trainer and assessor. Contact on 0458 755 757 or adele@pads-australia.org Please note Adele is based in NSW.

Izabela Lisiecka from Wooft Dog Training is a registered assistance animal trainer and assessor. Contact at wooftdogtraining@gmail.com

Erin Mathieson is a registered assistance animal trainer and assessor. Contact on 0410 470 202 or erin@sithappens.com.au Please note Erin is based in Victoria.

Eve McKenzie is a registered assistance animal trainer and assessor. Contact on 0400 439 977 or emckenzie77@yahoo.com.au Please note Eve is based in NSW.

Jessica McNamara-Rice from The Zen Den Dog Training is a registered assistance animal trainer and assessor. Contact on 0404 779 351.

Laura Mundy from Laura Mundy Dog Training is a registered assistance animal trainer and assessor. Contact on 0412 732 771. Please note that Laura is based in Victoria.

Hilary Paull from K9 Potential is a registered assistance animal trainer and assessor. Contact on 0401 935 750. Please note Hilary is based in Queensland.

Megan Roach from Helpful Hounds is a registered assistance animal trainer and assessor. Contact on 0435 742 366 or megan@helpfulhounds.com.au. Please note Megan is based in Queensland.

Lisa Robinson from Assistance Paws Australia is a registered assistance animal assessor. Please note Lisa is based in Queensland.

Claire Salathiel from Ned and Co. is a registered assistance animal trainer. Contact on 0407 850 443. Please note Claire is based in Victoria.

Tessa Stow from K9 Support is a registered assistance animal trainer and assessor. Please note Tessa is based in Victoria.

Lauren Toone from Canine Refined is a registered assistance animal trainer and assessor. Contact 0432 437 401 or info@caninerefined.com. Please note Lauren is based in Queensland.

Jessica Torrance from Assistance K9 is a registered assistance animal trainer and assessor. Please note Jessica is based in Victoria.

Jackie Trotter from Leading the Way Dog Training Services is a registered assistance animal trainer and assessor. Contact on 0417 681 049 or Jackiectrotter@gmail.com

Ruth Wheeler from Meraki Dog Training is a registered assistance animal trainer and assessor. Contact on 0424 314 352 or merakidogtraining@yahoo.com

Emelia Wilmot from Paws for Assistance Dog Training is a registered assistance animal trainer and assessor. Please note Emelia is based in Victoria.

Accreditations by recognised organisations

Trainers and assessors associated with the following organisations do not have to apply to be registered as independent assistance animal trainers or assessors:

  • Assistance Dogs Australia
  • Australian Support Dogs
  • Guide Dogs Australia
  • Guide Dogs NSW/ACT
  • Guide Dogs QLD
  • Guide Dogs SA/NT
  • Guide Dogs TAS
  • Guide Dogs VIC
  • Guide Dogs WA
  • Integra Service Dogs Australia
  • mindDog Australia
  • Seeing Eye Dogs Australia – Vision Australia
  • Any assistance animal organisation, Australian or international, that is formally recognised by Assistance Dogs International and the International Guide Dog Federation and is not already listed above.

Travelling interstate or overseas

The ACT’s rules for assistance animals only apply within the territory. If you are planning travel to other states and territories, contact the relevant government for advice.

Accredited assistance dogs do not automatically qualify for in-cabin travel on aircraft. Each airline has their own policies for assistance animals. If you are planning to travel with an assistance dog, contact your airline before booking.

If you plan to travel overseas with your assistance animal check the Civil Aviation Safety Authority website for more information.

Become a registered trainer and assessor

Anyone who meets the requirements below can apply to be a registered assistance animal trainer and assessor. Registration is free and valid for 5 years.

If you work for a recognised organisation, you do not need to apply for registration. However, staff who wish to work as an independent assistance animal trainer or assessor outside of a recognised organisation must be registered.

If you are an assistance animal trainer or assessor in another jurisdiction, you may be eligible to work in the ACT under the automatic mutual recognition scheme.

Requirements

To become a registered trainer and assessor, you must:

  • have not committed an animal welfare offence in Australia in the last 2 years
  • have the skills and experience to train and assess assistance animals and demonstrate ongoing professional development in this area
  • have a relevant qualification from a registered training organisation, preferably a Certificate IV. A Certificate III is acceptable if the individual can demonstrate extensive experience related to working with assistance animals
  • use only force-free methods when training or working with assistance animals
  • be able to work with persons with a disability including holding a Working with Vulnerable People card
  • offer ongoing support to clients
  • maintain secure record keeping in relation to all assistance animal applicants and clients.

How to apply

Apply using the application form (PDF 178.4 KB). The form and any supporting documentation should be submitted via email to TCCS.AnimalManagement@act.gov.au

Please also provide:

  • your CV and evidence of a relevant qualification
  • a copy of your Working with Vulnerable People card or evidence that you have applied for one (your application will be held until the registration has been obtained)
  • any other supporting documentation that may demonstrate your expertise working with assistance animals.

All applications will be processed in 30 days, unless an applicant is still waiting on their Working with Vulnerable People card or if other required information has not been provided.

Interstate registration holders

If you are a registered assistance animal trainer and assessor in another state, you may be able to work in the ACT through automatic mutual recognition or mutual recognition.

For more information and to check your eligibility please check Access Canberra.

Related links

Forms

Acknowledgement of Country

We acknowledge the Ngunnawal people as traditional custodians of the ACT and recognise any other people or families with connection to the lands of the ACT and region. We acknowledge and respect their continuing culture and the contribution they make to the life of this city and this region.

To see how we are building stronger relationships with the Traditional Custodians of the ACT view the Reconciliation Action Plan.