Assistance Dog Program
At AIA, we have continuously been a supporter of the positive benefits that animals can provide to us all and we work to promote improvements in the physical, social, emotional and/or cognitive functioning of a person with the help of our trusted animal companions alongside us. A lot of the time, our animals seem to instinctively know the best course of action for many situations. We are practiced at listening to these moments of guidance from our animals.
Having worked in the NDIS and Mental Health areas we have seen how beneficial an assistance dog or animal can be in elevating the confidence and capabilities of their handlers. For this reason, we have dedicated a side of our business to the area of assistance and therapy dogs, offering membership based access to coaching and support in training assistance animals and therapy animals.
We can assist you in making an assessment of an animal being selected for future assistance animal work.
We have qualified and practiced canine coaches that have been in this field for years and who all hold a significant passion for this type of work and training.
For animals and handlers at any stage, under our membership, our goal is to help create assistance animals that honour the professional and behavioural conduct and etiquette expected of an assistance animal out in a public space, aiming to ensure community support is maintained by well-behaved animals who do not raise concerns in businesses and public spaces, hopefully ensuring persons with disabilities are able to access all areas of life without judgement or concern about the presence and behaviour of their assistance animal.
Having worked in the NDIS and Mental Health areas we have seen how beneficial an assistance dog or animal can be in elevating the confidence and capabilities of their handlers. For this reason, we have dedicated a side of our business to the area of assistance and therapy dogs, offering membership based access to coaching and support in training assistance animals and therapy animals.
We can assist you in making an assessment of an animal being selected for future assistance animal work.
We have qualified and practiced canine coaches that have been in this field for years and who all hold a significant passion for this type of work and training.
For animals and handlers at any stage, under our membership, our goal is to help create assistance animals that honour the professional and behavioural conduct and etiquette expected of an assistance animal out in a public space, aiming to ensure community support is maintained by well-behaved animals who do not raise concerns in businesses and public spaces, hopefully ensuring persons with disabilities are able to access all areas of life without judgement or concern about the presence and behaviour of their assistance animal.
HOW ARE WE UNIQUE COMPARED TO OTHER AD TRAINING ORGANISATIONS?
AIA is currently operating offering NDIS funded AEL/EAL and therapies and this learning can be accessed via the NDIS funding.**
Several of our NDIS Participant Funded learning goals go hand in hand with the training and Public Access Test (PAT) goals of Assistance animal training. Why not join the two together? By working toward a participant’s personal goals with an NDIS plan we can incorporate the building of an assistance dog team with that participant to an aim to facilitate public access and community oriented goals of many of our NDIS clients
Several of our NDIS Participant Funded learning goals go hand in hand with the training and Public Access Test (PAT) goals of Assistance animal training. Why not join the two together? By working toward a participant’s personal goals with an NDIS plan we can incorporate the building of an assistance dog team with that participant to an aim to facilitate public access and community oriented goals of many of our NDIS clients
WHO DO WE ACCEPT AS MEMBERS?
We accept memberships for all stages and ages. If you have just purchased your animal and are wanting to progress toward becoming an assistance animal team, if you have already obtained accredited Assistance Dog Team status and are wanting to increase your skills or refresh on existing skills, or if you are seeking a prospective animal for training that would be suited to this role.
Noting that NOT ALL ANIMALS will be able to progress to the high standards of the Public Access Test (PAT) at the very least you can increase your skills as a trainer and have a very well behaved pet or therapy animal.
Noting that NOT ALL ANIMALS will be able to progress to the high standards of the Public Access Test (PAT) at the very least you can increase your skills as a trainer and have a very well behaved pet or therapy animal.
WHY SHOULD I BECOME A MEMBER?
Section 9(2) of the DDA states:
Section 54(a) (5) & (6) requires that an AD is appropriately trained and evidence of this must be able to be provided
Top notch trainers. A network of trainers.
Individual support – As individual as every persons needs are
Training resources
Personal assessments along the way to ensure you are on track and on target.
Access to a private support group to discuss with like minded members and trainers so you can share experiences, ask for assistance from other handlers as well as trainers, and seek advice.
Assistance to find the right partner to wrk with to establish a AD team.
One of the biggest advantages of joining a training organization is the access to training and support. Another great benefit is that it provides advocacy in possible instances of disability discrimination under the DDA. We can provide education and support to businesses and the general public surrounding laws and expectations around AD Teams with a view to foster harmonious relationships and etiquette between all parties.
We will happily make contact with any business you may be experiencing a difficulty in discussing your AD needs and attempt to find a mediated resolution on your behalf before the situation becomes out of hand or animosity is created. For some of our clients this conflict and confrontation can be overwhelming so we are happy to assist where ever we are able and if litigation is pursued then we are able to support with honest evaluations of your assistance animals training and skills as necessary to prove legal requirements for assistance animals.
Section 54(a) (5) & (6) requires that an AD is appropriately trained and evidence of this must be able to be provided
Top notch trainers. A network of trainers.
Individual support – As individual as every persons needs are
Training resources
Personal assessments along the way to ensure you are on track and on target.
Access to a private support group to discuss with like minded members and trainers so you can share experiences, ask for assistance from other handlers as well as trainers, and seek advice.
Assistance to find the right partner to wrk with to establish a AD team.
One of the biggest advantages of joining a training organization is the access to training and support. Another great benefit is that it provides advocacy in possible instances of disability discrimination under the DDA. We can provide education and support to businesses and the general public surrounding laws and expectations around AD Teams with a view to foster harmonious relationships and etiquette between all parties.
We will happily make contact with any business you may be experiencing a difficulty in discussing your AD needs and attempt to find a mediated resolution on your behalf before the situation becomes out of hand or animosity is created. For some of our clients this conflict and confrontation can be overwhelming so we are happy to assist where ever we are able and if litigation is pursued then we are able to support with honest evaluations of your assistance animals training and skills as necessary to prove legal requirements for assistance animals.
WHAT AGE DOES MY ANIMAL HAVE TO BE TO START?
There is no age too early to start training. We recommend the earlier the better to ensure correct training right from the start however we accept animals of all ages.
Once a member you will be given access to our professional trainers as well as many other training resources suited to your level and requirements. You will be supplied our criteria to work towards your training goals in qualifying at each of our levels of training. You can work toward these goals independently or with the assistance of a professional trainer or a combination of both.
Once a member you will be given access to our professional trainers as well as many other training resources suited to your level and requirements. You will be supplied our criteria to work towards your training goals in qualifying at each of our levels of training. You can work toward these goals independently or with the assistance of a professional trainer or a combination of both.
WHAT WILL I NEED TO START TRAINING?
- A good attitude towards putting dedicated time into becoming the best team you can be with your animal.
- An animal you feel passionate about working with.
- A willingness to learn.
WHERE ARE YOUR TRAINERS LOCATED?
Currently we are taking on memberships for locally accessible applicants only in order to provide the necessary contact, assessments and training you will require. As our business grows in this area we will be offering many on line accessible options as well as obtaining locum trainers to help in the assessments and training required.
Ask us if you have an interest in joining our team but do not have access to us locally, we are happy to do some research to see if we can obtain a trainer in your area who we can assess to be suitable for your needs
Ask us if you have an interest in joining our team but do not have access to us locally, we are happy to do some research to see if we can obtain a trainer in your area who we can assess to be suitable for your needs
Therapy Dog VS. Assistance Dog
When talking about the terms Therapy Dog and Assistance Dog many people believe these are one and the same. The terminology is in fact meaningful on each note but they are not the same and legislatively you should be mindful of the difference.
An Assistance Dog is a dog outlined in legislative requirements as a medical aid to a person with a disability. They typically work alongside one person and are trained to assist that person with their disability or disabilities. Another term that sometimes is utilized in substitute for Assistance Dog is Service Dog.
Assistance Dogs are legally allowed to access public areas with their disabled handler. This means they can travel on public transport, enter shopping centers, movie cinemas, medical facilities and other public places with their disabled handler. They are task trained to assist that individual. The training these dogs undergo ensures they are capable of tolerating a diversity of environments, experiences and people in a non-reactive and calm manner while upholding their job to assist their handler. These dogs are able to live with their disabled handler regardless of rental pet policies.
Minor limits do apply to these dog’s legal right to access areas. For example, these dogs could not enter an operating theatre / surgery or sterile environment and cannot enter areas where food preparation is taking place. Most areas legally allow access to these dogs.
A Therapy Dog generally supplies comfort and support to a number of people, not just one. They often work in areas such as schools, hospitals, nursing homes and court houses but are not specifically trained to task for one person. They are only allowed to access public places that provide permission for the animal to be there. They are trained to tolerate a diverse range of environments, experiences and people in a non-reactive and calm manner but are not required to task for one person.
Therapy dogs DO NOT have legal access to all public places and cannot enter where permission is not granted.
NOT ALL ANIMALS have the capability of passing a PAT (Public Access Test) in order to become an assistance dog. An Assistance Dog must also have a handler who has a disability as stipulated under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 in order to qualify the dog for an Assistance Dog Status.
An Assistance Dog is a dog outlined in legislative requirements as a medical aid to a person with a disability. They typically work alongside one person and are trained to assist that person with their disability or disabilities. Another term that sometimes is utilized in substitute for Assistance Dog is Service Dog.
Assistance Dogs are legally allowed to access public areas with their disabled handler. This means they can travel on public transport, enter shopping centers, movie cinemas, medical facilities and other public places with their disabled handler. They are task trained to assist that individual. The training these dogs undergo ensures they are capable of tolerating a diversity of environments, experiences and people in a non-reactive and calm manner while upholding their job to assist their handler. These dogs are able to live with their disabled handler regardless of rental pet policies.
Minor limits do apply to these dog’s legal right to access areas. For example, these dogs could not enter an operating theatre / surgery or sterile environment and cannot enter areas where food preparation is taking place. Most areas legally allow access to these dogs.
A Therapy Dog generally supplies comfort and support to a number of people, not just one. They often work in areas such as schools, hospitals, nursing homes and court houses but are not specifically trained to task for one person. They are only allowed to access public places that provide permission for the animal to be there. They are trained to tolerate a diverse range of environments, experiences and people in a non-reactive and calm manner but are not required to task for one person.
Therapy dogs DO NOT have legal access to all public places and cannot enter where permission is not granted.
NOT ALL ANIMALS have the capability of passing a PAT (Public Access Test) in order to become an assistance dog. An Assistance Dog must also have a handler who has a disability as stipulated under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 in order to qualify the dog for an Assistance Dog Status.
Some other terminology you may have come across could include Emotional Support Dog or Companion Dog. In Australia we do not have the term Emotional Support Dog. This is most commonly known as an American term and not recognised in Australian legislation and discussion.
Companion Dog is a term used to refer to a Pet Dog.