Therapy Dog Thursday - Assistance Dogs in Australia.

11/12/2025

Assistance dogs come in all shapes and sizes, but their job is always the same: to support and assist their person. They often stay by their handler’s side almost all day. There are laws in Australia that protect assistance dogs and it’s important we all understand these laws, so we can respectfully and safely welcome anyone who has an assistance dog with them.

Public Access Rights for Assistance Dogs

In Australia, trained assistance dogs and their handlers are protected under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (the DDA). This means that, in general, a qualified assistance dog must be allowed access to public services and public places, including public transport, restaurants, shops, supermarkets, medical clinics, hospitals, and more.

Refusing someone access to a public place simply because they are with a trained assistance dog is unlawful, unless there is a legitimate exemption.

There are a few limited circumstances when access can be restricted: for instance, in areas that require sterility or pose safety risks, such as industrial kitchens or some clinical environments.

How to Recognise Assistance Dogs

Typically, working assistance dogs will wear a harness or vest that identifies them as an assistance dog. The harness may also include the name or logo of the organisation that trained or provided the dog.

If needed, you are permitted to ask for identification. Many certified assistance dogs carry an ID card showing they are properly trained. Under the DDA, a trained and suitably behaved animal qualifies as an “assistance animal” and its handler may be asked to provide evidence of that training if required.

Who Is Responsible for an Assistance Dog?

When out in public, the handler (owner) of the assistance dog is responsible for the dog’s behaviour and any messes it causes. However, if the dog has an accident or leaves a mess, it may be helpful to offer assistance with clean-up, if the handler is comfortable with this. Always ask first and get clear confirmation before helping.

How to Behave Around Assistance Dogs

When an assistance dog is working, it should not be approached or petted. These dogs are concentrating on staying alert and focused to support their handler and to ensure safety. Engaging with the dog (talking to it, making eye contact, attempting to pet it) can distract it or interfere with its work, which may endanger the handler.

It's best to treat the dog as you would a mobility aid, such as a wheelchair. If you would not touch or distract a person’s wheelchair, you should not touch or distract their assistance dog.

You are welcome to speak with the handler directly, many people appreciate the interest and enjoy talking about their dogs, but some may prefer discretion or decline a conversation.

How a Dog Qualifies to Be an Assistance Dog in Australia

To qualify as an assistance dog, a dog must be trained to help a person with a disability, and must meet high standards of hygiene and public behaviour.

In parts of Australia a formal training and certification process exists. This includes a formal assessment known as a Public Access Test (PAT). The PAT confirms the dog is safe, behaves well, and that the handler can maintain control, even in public environments with distractions.

As part of that process, many accredited organisations require the dog to:

Be fully trained in basic obedience;
Be able to perform at least three defined tasks or disability-related functions that help mitigate the handler’s disability;
Meet hygiene and behaviour standards appropriate for public settings;
Demonstrate reliable and controlled behaviour in public under the PAT.

Once a dog and its handler pass all requirements, they are typically issued a handler ID card (or other official recognition) that confirms their legal status as an assistance dog.

It’s worth noting that while some Australian states and territories have formal registration or accreditation schemes (for instance under the Guide, Hearing and Assistance Dogs Act 2009), this is not universal. In some states, assistance dog accreditation or registration is voluntary or absent.

Nevertheless, under federal law (the DDA), a properly trained assistance dog still has public access rights, whether or not the handler has gone through a formal registration process