How to Get an Assistance Dog in Australia- Therapy Dog Thursday

It brings us great pride to share our Therapy Dog Thursday blogs with you, highlighting the incredible impact Assistance Dogs have on people across the country every single day.

There are many different organisations and charities that provide varying levels of support and training for people needing a loyal canine companion to help them navigate daily life with greater confidence and independence.

One of the most common questions people ask is how to get an Assistance Dog and where to begin the process for themselves or a loved one.

If you are researching how to get an Assistance Dog, the first step is ensuring the person seeking support has the correct paperwork confirming their diagnosis and receives a referral from their healthcare provider.
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Through advice from your healthcare provider or organisations such as the NDIS and DVA, you can begin researching which organisation may train a dog best suited to your specific needs.

Another important part of understanding how to get an Assistance Dog is learning about the approval and matching process.

Once you are approved through the organisation that can provide a dog best suited to your needs, you will either be paired with a suitable dog or complete a training program before being placed with one.

To be able to freely access public places together, both you and your new Assistance Dog need to be recognised under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992. This requires you to pass a formal Public Access Test, which will be organised through the organisation providing your dog.
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This assessment ensures that your dog is safe, calm, and well behaved in public spaces while supporting you. 

If you would like more information on how to get an Assistance Dog, speak with your healthcare provider or reach out to one of the organisations that train and provide dogs in the specific area of support you are seeking.

Learning how to get an Assistance Dog can feel overwhelming at first, but the right organisation and support network can help guide you through every step of the journey.

The right Assistance Dog can truly change lives, providing greater independence, confidence, companionship, and daily support for those who need it most.
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Don’t forget, if you love the work of Assistance Dogs, every group survives on support and donations, so be sure to check out their websites above to see how your time could make a huge difference in supporting the amazing work these groups do!