Assistance animals can provide essential physical, emotional, and social support for people with disabilities. For eligible NDIS participants, funding for assistance animals may be available if the animal is deemed “reasonable and necessary” to meet specific disability-related needs. This guide outlines the steps to request an assistance animal, the requirements for approval, and how to justify the need for an assistance animal in an NDIS plan.

What Is an Assistance Animal?

An assistance animal is trained to perform specific tasks to aid a person with a disability. These animals are not pets; they are service animals with specialised training to support their handlers’ functional needs. Assistance animals can provide a range of supports, including:

• Physical Support: Helping with mobility tasks, retrieving items, opening doors, or providing balance.

• Sensory Support: Assisting individuals with sensory processing difficulties, such as alerting to sounds or providing deep pressure therapy for emotional regulation.

• Mental Health Support: Providing grounding techniques, reducing anxiety symptoms, and assisting with routines.

• Medical Alert Assistance: Notifying their handler of medical issues, such as detecting early signs of seizures or low blood sugar levels.

To be eligible for NDIS funding, the assistance animal must be trained to meet a specific disability-related need, and the participant must demonstrate how it aligns with their goals and improves daily functioning.

The NDIS and Assistance Animal Funding

The NDIS funds supports that are deemed “reasonable and necessary” for disability-related needs, but assistance animals must meet strict criteria for approval. Funding is more likely to be approved if the assistance animal is required to achieve one or more NDIS goals, such as increasing independence, improving mobility, or supporting social interaction. Additionally, the animal’s role should be well-documented as essential to the participant’s daily life and goal attainment.

Key Requirements for Funding an Assistance Animal

The NDIS assesses several factors before approving funding for an assistance animal. These include:

• Disability-Related Needs: The animal must address specific disability-related limitations and support functional improvement.

• Goal Alignment: The participant’s NDIS goals must reflect how the assistance animal will help achieve desired outcomes.

• Evidence of Effectiveness: Documentation should show that an assistance animal is an effective intervention for the participant’s needs.

• Consideration of Alternative Supports: The NDIS requires evidence that alternative or less expensive supports have been explored and found inadequate.

The NDIS typically expects participants to consider supports like assistive technology, personal care assistance, or community access before requesting funding for an assistance animal.

Steps to Request Funding for an Assistance Animal

The process of requesting an assistance animal through the NDIS involves multiple steps, including providing detailed evidence and justifying the need. Here is a step-by-step overview:

Step 1: Establish a Need in the Planning Meeting

• Define Goals Requiring Assistance Animal Support: During the planning or review meeting, clarify the goals that would benefit from an assistance animal’s support. Examples might include enhancing mobility, reducing reliance on caregivers, improving mental health, or promoting community participation.

• Provide Documentation of Limitations Without Assistance Animal Support: Specify any challenges or limitations you experience without the assistance animal and how the animal will uniquely address these issues.

Step 2: Obtain Professional Assessments and Reports

• Medical and Allied Health Assessments: Evidence from a healthcare team, including occupational therapists, psychologists, or physiotherapists, is critical. These assessments should outline how an assistance animal will specifically improve your ability to function, increase independence, and support your goals.

• Animal Trainer and Certification Documentation: The assistance animal must be trained by an accredited organisation or trainer. Documentation should confirm that the animal is trained to meet your unique needs and provide details about ongoing training and certification.

Step 3: Submit Evidence to Justify the Request

• Detailed Professional Reports: Submit reports from your allied health professionals that detail your need for an assistance animal, why other supports may be inadequate, and how the assistance animal will help you achieve your goals.

• Cost and Maintenance Estimates: Include cost estimates for acquiring, training, and maintaining the assistance animal. Also provide estimated costs for ongoing veterinary care, food, equipment, and necessary training updates.

• Demonstrate ‘Reasonable and Necessary’ Criteria: Highlight how the assistance animal will improve your independence, quality of life, or capacity to engage in community and social activities.

Step 4: Approval and Support Funding

• Plan Approval and Funding Allocation: If your request is approved, NDIS funding may cover the purchase, training, and certification of the assistance animal, as well as ongoing maintenance costs.

• Using Funding Effectively: Coordinate with the animal training provider to manage funding and schedule ongoing training and support, if needed, to maintain the assistance animal’s effectiveness in supporting your needs.

Evidence and Documentation Requirements

To support your application for an assistance animal, the following documentation is typically required:

• Functional Assessment Report: Outlines the ways the assistance animal will mitigate the participant’s disability-related limitations.

• Medical and Psychological Evidence: Statements from medical professionals, mental health providers, or allied health specialists regarding the participant’s need for assistance animal support.

• Animal’s Training and Certification: Documentation from an accredited training organisation, including details on the animal’s specific tasks, certifications, and ongoing support needs.

• Cost Analysis: Detailed breakdown of anticipated costs for the animal’s acquisition, training, upkeep, and any other required expenses.

Ensure these documents clearly explain why an assistance animal is a necessary, effective support that aligns with NDIS funding criteria.

Potential Benefits and Challenges of an Assistance Animal

Assistance animals offer substantial benefits, but challenges and responsibilities are also associated with their upkeep and management.

Benefits

• Enhanced Independence: Assistance animals enable people with disabilities to perform tasks they may struggle with alone, improving autonomy in daily activities.

• Emotional and Mental Health Support: They provide companionship, emotional grounding, and can help reduce anxiety or symptoms of depression.

• Social Engagement: Assistance animals can increase opportunities for social interaction, breaking down barriers to participation in the community.

• Increased Safety: Trained animals can assist with balance, alert others to medical needs, and provide support during challenging situations.

Challenges

• Cost of Ownership: Ongoing expenses include food, grooming, medical care, and periodic retraining.

• Maintenance and Time Commitment: Assistance animals require regular exercise, care, and commitment from the participant, which may be challenging depending on individual circumstances.

• Potential Limitations in Funding Approval: Not all requests for assistance animals are approved. The NDIS has strict criteria, and funding is only granted when the animal’s role is clearly demonstrated as a “reasonable and necessary” support.

Tips for Justifying the Need for an Assistance Animal

• Link the Animal’s Support to Specific Goals: Clearly explain how the animal will help you meet your NDIS goals and improve functional outcomes.

• Demonstrate Attempts at Other Solutions: Show that you’ve considered alternative supports, such as assistive devices or personal care, and why they are insufficient.

• Highlight Long-Term Benefits: Illustrate how the animal’s support will reduce reliance on other NDIS-funded supports, such as personal care assistance, over time.

• Document the Unique Training Requirements: Explain how the animal’s specialised training uniquely meets your needs, making it an essential addition to your NDIS plan.

Assistance animals offer invaluable support to NDIS participants with specific disabilities, fostering greater independence and improving overall well-being. Although accessing funding for an assistance animal can be a detailed process, thorough planning, evidence, and professional input can help make a strong case. By following the guidelines above, you can navigate the NDIS process for requesting an assistance animal and ensure that your application meets the criteria for successful approval.