National Principles for the regulation of Assistance Animals – Consultation Questions Step 1 of 9 11% The Department of Social Services (the department) would like to know your thoughts about the National Principles for the regulation of Assistance Animals. Your feedback will help improve the Assistance Animal Principles and guide our future work. If you have not read the consultation paper, you can access it here: Consultation paper. There is an Easy Read version and an Auslan translation available. Background The draft Assistance Animal Principles were developed based on public consultation that took place in 2021. We are asking some questions about the Assistance Animal Principles to make sure we got them right. These questions will ask you about each principle and what you think of it. We will also ask some questions about you, like if you have a disability and which state you live in. This information helps us understand the sort of people who have answered and are interested in the Assistance Animal Principles. You can skip any of these questions if you want to. Written submissions If you would like to attach a written submission or other supporting information, you will be able to add it at the end of these questions. You can decide if the written submission should be private or public. Privacy Notice I understand that by completing this questionnaire, I consent to the Department of Social Services (DSS) collecting and handling my personal information in accordance with the Privacy Notice.Do you agree to the Privacy Notice(Required) Yes About you Please do not provide information about another individual who is identified (or reasonably identifiable) without first getting their informed consent. Informed consent means that the consent must be current, specific, voluntary, and be given by a person with capacity to consent. More information about consent can be found on the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner’s website.Which state or territory do you live in? New South Wales Queensland Victoria Western Australia South Australia Australian Capital Territory Northern Territory Tasmania How would you describe the area you live? City area Regional Rural or remote Do you identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander? Yes No Prefer not to say Do you identify as Culturally or Linguistically Diverse (CALD)? Yes No Prefer not to say Are you responding as an individual or on behalf of an organisation? Individual Organisation What is the name of your organisation? Which best describes you? (select all that apply) Person with disability Carer, family member or friend of a person with disability Advocate for people with disability Disability peak body Disability service provider Assistance animal trainer Assistance animal training organisation Assistance animal peak body Animal welfare organisation Government employee / public sector worker Private sector business owner or employee Other (please specify) Other Do you personally use an assistance animal? Yes No What type of assistance animal do you use? A guide dog or seeing eye dog A hearing dog A different assistance dog A different animal (please specify) Other How did you obtain your assistance animal? Funded by NDIS plan Funded by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs Psychiatric Assistance Dog program Funded by another government program (please specify) Provided by a charity / non-profit organisation Personal / private expense Other (please specify) Other What kind of accreditation does your assistance animal have? (select all that apply) Completed a Public Access Test International accreditation (such as Assistance Dogs International) Formal state / territory accreditation (such as Queensland’s Guide, Hearing and Assistance Dog requirements) Other state / territory recognition (such as an access card for public transport) Informal evidence of meeting requirements (such as letters or supporting documents provided by your doctor or an animal trainer) – please provide more information (please specify) Trained by you or a trainer to meet the requirements of section 9(2)(c) of the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 Other In the last 12 months, have you experienced any of the following challenges in relation to using an assistance animal? (select all that apply) Access to transport – public transport, taxis, ride share, air travel Access to accommodation Access to public spaces Assistance animal registration is not recognised in another state or territory Limited education in relation to assistance animals Other (please specify) Other If you feel comfortable to do so, please describe the kind of challenges you have experienced? What was the outcome? Questions about the National Principles In this section, we will ask what you think about each draft principle. You can say how much you agree or disagree, and you can also provide any other thoughts, ideas or feedback you have. 1. Nationally consistent accreditation requirements for assistance animal trainers and/or training organisations Nationally consistent accreditation will ensure that trainers (and the assistance animals they train) are recognised and accepted across Australia. Accreditation requirements should recognise the complexity of animal training. This includes the need for a good match between the animal user and the animal, considering the user’s needs. Without national consistency, assistance animal trainers may be inclined to operate only in some areas based on their preferred training criteria. While mainstream businesses may seek to only recognise animals trained to higher standards. Animal users may also get an animal in good faith only to learn that it does not meet requirements in their area.Do you agree or disagree with having nationally consistent accreditation requirements? Strongly agree Agree Neither agree nor disagree Disagree Strongly disagree Unsure/prefer not to answer What do you think the accreditation requirements should be?Do you have any additional views on this principle? 2. Minimum assistance animal training standards Minimum training standards would: provide the sector with confidence and consistency help ensure assistance animal users can make informed choices about their supports from a range of trusted trainers assure businesses, the public, and assistance animal users that assistance animals are appropriately trained and safe in public.Do you agree or disagree with setting minimum training standards for assistance animals? Strongly agree Agree Neither agree nor disagree Disagree Strongly disagree Unsure/prefer not to answer What should the minimum training standards be?Do you have any additional views on this principle? 3. A single national Public Access Test (PAT) for assistance animals A Public Access Test (PAT) is when an assistance animal must do a number of tasks safely and without distraction. PATs show that assistance animals have been appropriately selected and suitably trained to remain under control and behave predictably in public, such as on trains and in shopping centres. All accredited assistance animals should be able to do a PAT and other training requirements. Assistance animals should be reassessed regularly. This would ensure the animal continues to meet public standards of behaviour. It would also provide an opportunity to identify any animal welfare concerns.Do you agree or disagree with a single national Public Access Test? Strongly agree Agree Neither agree nor disagree Disagree Strongly disagree Unsure/prefer not to answer What situations should PATs cover and how often should they be reassessed?Do you have any additional views on this principle? 4. Evidence of disability and a need for an assistance animal Section 54A(5) of the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 establishes that it is not discriminatory to ask a person with disability to show evidence that the animal is an assistance animal. Currently, there is no guidance on the suitable type of documentation, and each state and territory sets their own requirements. Consistent evidence requirements across Australia will ensure that all assistance animal users can expect equal and fair treatment. Respondents to the 2021 consultation were concerned about businesses asking assistance animal users to provide evidence. To address these concerns, evidence should establish that the assistance animal user has a disability, and that the animal has been trained to support the person. Ensuring that this evidence is only collected once, when the animal is matched with their user, will remove the need for businesses to do any separate check.Do you agree or disagree with this approach to supporting evidence? Strongly agree Agree Neither agree nor disagree Disagree Strongly disagree Unsure/prefer not to answer What forms of evidence should be accepted?Do you have any additional views on this principle? 5. National identity card and logo Consistent national branding will give assistance animal users the confidence that their right to have the animal with them will be recognised and upheld. A single card recognised across Australia will simplify messaging, and help ensure businesses understand and comply with access requirements. By providing a clear ‘official’ indicator, a national card will also help provide certainty that animal users have a right to their animals, counteracting anecdotes of ‘fake’ assistance animals. The national identity card will be available to users who need an assistance animal and provide appropriate evidence that their assistance animal: is trained to the agreed standards has passed the Public Access Test will help them to overcome barriers to access the community.Do you agree or disagree with the idea of a national card for assistance animals? Strongly agree Agree Neither agree nor disagree Disagree Strongly disagree Unsure/prefer not to answer What features are important for a national card? What information should be included?Do you have any additional views on this principle? 6. Animal welfare Assistance animals have the same protections as all animals, set out in state and territory animal welfare legislation. Ensuring positive animal welfare outcomes includes: choosing a suitable individual animal the use of humane, reward-based training and handling practices appropriate care ensuring that the animal is only required to provide help consistent with their abilities and training. Species and breed selection is an important part of assistance animal welfare. An animal must be able to manage all circumstances and public spaces. For instance, a small animal could be in danger in large crowds, or a large animal may not be able to be appropriately accommodated in all public situations. Also, appropriate handling practices could include a limit of one animal per user when travelling on public transport. Nationally consistent messaging about animal welfare will also help ensure that anyone getting an assistance animal has a realistic understanding of their abilities and limits. This would also cover their responsibility to provide an appropriate level of care that meets the physical and mental needs of their chosen animal. This would include preparing for the animal’s welfare when they have come to the end of their life as an assistance animal.Do you agree or disagree with this approach to animal welfare? Strongly agree Agree Neither agree nor disagree Disagree Strongly disagree Unsure/prefer not to answer What do you think are the main risks to assistance animal wellbeing?Do you have any additional views on this principle? Do you have any additional comments about the regulation and recognition of assistance animals?Would you like to provide a written submission? Yes No FileMax. file size: 10 MB.Please see Privacy for email submissions and attach the filled out form with your submission.Please choose how the department should handle your submission Keep it private Publish it online anonymously Publish it online under my/my organisation’s name Please note that for your submission to be published anonymously, you should avoid including identifying information in the submission itself.NameThis field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
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