Assistance Dogs 101
Do you have a client asking for an assistance dog and you're not sure where to begin?
Not sure how to assess need, navigate the NDIS criteria or distinguish between assistance animals, therapy animals and pets?
This foundational workshop is designed to give OTs a clear, evidence-informed understanding of how assistance dogs fit within the NDIS and what your role is in assessing, recommending or supporting their use.
Access workshop now
Date:Â Thursday 21st August 2025
Time:Â 12.00pm - 2.00pm AEST
Duration:Â 2 hours
What will you learn?
Assistance Dogs 101 will walk you through the key definitions, assessment criteria and documentation requirements related to assistance dogs in Australia, especially within the NDIS context.
You’ll explore:
- The difference between assistance dogs, therapy animals, emotional support animals and pets
- Legal definitions and the role of Public Access Test (PAT) certification
- NDIS criteria for funding assistance dogs (and how to apply the “reasonable and necessary” test)
- How to determine whether an assistance dog is an appropriate support for your client
- OT assessment responsibilities including functional needs, alternatives and impact on participation
- Case examples illustrating strong clinical justification
- How to collaborate with recognised assistance dog organisations
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Who is this workshop for?
- OTs supporting clients exploring the use of an assistance dog
- Early career OTs unsure about the scope of animal-related recommendations
- Practice owners seeking consistency in animal-related assessments
- Clinicians working in the NDIS space
Why attend?
This practical session will equip you with essential knowledge and tools to confidently support participants seeking assistance dog funding.
You will receive:
- A clear understanding of assistance dog types and their legal status
- Tools to assess functional impact and support needs
- Guidance for documenting and justifying assistance dog requests in NDIS reports
- Clarity on when and how to engage recognised providers
- A downloadable summary sheet to guide your clinical reasoning
About the Presenter
Dr Tilly Clements has worked with individuals with disabilities and their families, using animals for the last 15 years in various capacities as an Occupational Therapist including Hippotherapy and NCAS Accredited Horse Riding Coach and Educator.
Clinically, Tilly primarily works with individuals with complex disability presentations but has previously worked in various clinical fields including early intervention school-aged interventions, adults and community-based settings.
Tilly is the director of Cornwall House OT Services and Chairperson of the Western Australian Assistance and Therapy Dogs Association and has a special interest in Animal-Assisted Therapy and assisting people with navigating the world of Assistance Dogs.
WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING
I have had so many clients ask about assistance dogs and never known where to start. This workshop helped immensely - I feel confident to give clients a clearer understanding of what an assistance dog is (as opposed to a therapy dog) to help them decide if they want to pursue this process further. I feel confident to have a go at this process if I have a client who wants to pursue it.
A huge thank you! So many questions answered for referrals coming in. All new concepts for some of us and a lot to absorb, including the possibilities of what a dog could offer let alone the processes. Super helpful and I feel like I have a lot more direction of what to include in FCA let alone starting AT reports for this. Thank you again.
