There are multiple Assistance Dogs organisations and independent trainers available to assist a person in need of an AD. 

• Most organisations can offer a pre-trained dog who the new owner will need work with the dog for a period of time before they are accredited as a team. 

• The AD team will require ongoing assessment to maintain training standard to retain Public Access accreditation. Costs for dogs pre-trained for organisations vary from $25K-60K+ depending on clients needs

• Independent trainers may also offer pre-trained dogs or assist you with training from a puppy to Public Access Test plus offer ongoing support post the initial PAT test. Costs $15K-30K+ depending on clients needs. 

• The minimum age a dog can be accredited as an AD is 18 months however more typically the dog will be achieve PAT accreditation by 2 years of age. 

• An AD who is accredited for public access needs be able to demonstrate a minimum of 3 tasks needed by the handler in public. 

• A person seeking to use an AD to live life better will need a medical letter and other documentation supports the need for an AD in public. The letter does not need to need to identify your physical or psychological/psychiatric condition but you are require to present it when asked for proof of need.

• If a dog is owner/trained a record of training is necessary while the dog is in training (ADiT) and must be presented on request to persons in authority.

• NDIS DO NOT pay for the purchase or training of an AD.

In NSW as of 2025 these are the current regulation regarding AD’s and Therapy Dogs.

An assistance animal is an animal that is trained to provide assistance to people with a disability or mental health issues to help alleviate the effect of that disability. In NSW, an assistance animal is an animal that is either:

·        accredited under a law of a State or Territory that provides for the accreditation of animals trained to assist a person with a disability to alleviate the effect of that disability; OR

·         accredited by an animal training organisation prescribed by the Commonwealth; OR 

·         trained to assist a person with a disability to alleviate the effect of that disability, and, to meet standards of hygiene and behaviour appropriate for an animal in a public place.

The law recognises that a person with a disability is entitled to train their own animal or to have it trained by any handler or organisation. There are no assessment or accreditation framework for assistance animals. In considering an application to register an animal as an assistance animal council is entitled to request reasonable proof that the animal is a genuine assistance animal:

• Medical Certificate – A medical certificate that the person/owner has a disability will be required that an assistance animal that is trained to provide assistance to people with a disability and need recommending an assistance animal to assist the person with a disability.

• Training by Owner –  Importantly, a person with a disability has the right to train their own assistance animal so long as he or she can provide proof that the animal has been trained. The dog need to be train to meet standards of hygiene and appropriate behaviour when in a public. A dog is classed as in training when it becomes an assistance animal as a pup. A person can train the dog themselves by using the public access test form as a guide (attached).  Please note that Council will also require a statutory declaration that the animal is trained to provide assistance to people with a disability or mental health issues to help alleviate the effect of that disability. In addition, any other documents showing completion of a training program that has met the standards.

• Public Access Test – For assistance animal travelling on public transport, you must provide the Public Access Test (PAT) and provide the documents to Council that shows the animal has been assessed and passed by mindDog. Contact details for mindDog – Mobile: 0490 850 993 or E-mail: info@minddog.org.au or website: Home - mindDog Australia

• Behaviour – If Council receives complainants regarding the animal misbehaving in a public place, the assistant animal can be removed on the NSW Companion Animals Register.

• Microchipped – The animal must be microchipped.

• Lifetime Registration – The animal must be registered. Must provide verification of animals microchip details, medical certificate, statutory declaration and/or public access test to apply for $0.00 registration fee. A registration form must be completed for the animal.

• NSW Pet Register Certificate – Council will provide a certificate once all necessary document have been provided.

• Service NSW (Public Transport) – The dog owner can contact Service NSW to require a transport card for use of public transport for an assistant animal. A copy of the NSW Companion Animals Certificate must be provide to Services NSW as proof of being an assistance dog.

Additional information following:

• Therapy Animal - Other companion animals may be used as therapy animals. A therapy animal is an animal that engages in therapeutic activity to improve a person’s general wellbeing and quality of life, or an animal that is used to facilitate counselling or psychotherapy. However, the companion animals legislation does not provide an exemption from the payment of lifetime registration fees for animals being used as therapy animals.

• Public Places - Dogs are prohibited from entering certain public places. These places include areas where food is prepared and consumed, school grounds and childcare centres, play, recreation and bathing areas, shopping areas and wildlife protection areas.

• Access to Building, Place or Transport - The person in charge or control of the building, place or public transport is responsible for deciding, at their discretion, whether the person’s disability and use of an assistance animal meets the provisions of the Commonwealth Disability Discrimination Act 1992. Documentation may be required to verify that the animal has been appropriately trained and is being used to assist or alleviate a disability.

• Access to Public Building - However, a person with a disability is entitled to be accompanied by an assistance animal. They must not, without reasonable cause, be denied access to a public building or place or any public transport if they have a disability and are using the animal to assist them.

• Access to Public Transport - An animal does not necessarily need to be registered as an assistance animal under the Companion Animals Act 1998 to be permitted access to a public place or public transport. Also, registration as an assistance animal under the Act does not necessarily provide proof of training or verify use of the animal to allow entry to a public place or public transport. For further information on travel concessions for assistance animals can be found on the Transport for NSW website at www.transport.nsw.gov.au.

• NSW Pet Certificate of Registration - The certificate of registration from the Companion Animals Register may therefore not provide sufficient documentary evidence for the person in charge of a public place or transport to permit entry under the provisions of the Commonwealth Disability Discrimination Act 1992.