Organisations providing trained Assistance Dogs include

1. Assistance Dogs Australia (Victoria)
for more information CLICK HERE

• Assistance Dogs Australia train and place unique dogs with Australians in unique situations
• Places Assistance Dogs with people with disabilities free of charge
• Offers a lifetime of support to their clients
• Ensures that Assistance Dogs are trained to the highest standard to offer the most help they can
• Is accredited by Assistance Dogs International

2. A.W.A.R.E. Dogs Australia Inc (Qld)
for more information CLICK HERE

• is a non-profit charitable organization which has as its mission to train, organize, and administer volunteers and professionals alike
• they seek to coordinate and manage these human resources into various teams of sanctioned bodies, each with a goal to supply and implement programs that develop the co-relationship existing between humans, animals, and the environment and gain mutual healthy benefits
• Their first project is the aim of making Assistance Dogs accessible for individuals with invisible disabilities which are often declined this service by other organizations

3. Canine Helpers for the Disabled Inc (Qld)
for more information CLICK HERE

• Canine Helpers is a community support organisation that provides assistance to people with a disability through the training and placement of different types of assistance dogs, including:
• They provide Assistance/Service Dogs for people with physical disabilities
• They provide Therapy Dogs for people with many other types of disabilities
• Canine Helpers is the first non-profit organisation accredited under the new Queensland Legislation as a Certified Assistance Dog Training Organisation

4. Guide Dogs (each State &Territory)
for more information CLICK HERE

• Guide Dogs are trained to help their handler navigate their daily environment and beyond
• Thanks to their unique skills, Guide Dogs can recognise obstacles, cross busy roads, move through large crowds with ease, board public transport, and get their handler almost anywhere they need, or want, to go
• Every Guide Dog is carefully selected to match the handler’s personality and specific needs, and they’re always on hand to help recipients achieve their goals
• Guide Dogs provide constant support and companionship throughout their partnership, with the average partnership lasting from eight to ten years

5. Integra Service Dogs Australia (ACT)
for more information CLICK HERE

Integra Service Dogs Australia works with Veterans and First Responders and their families suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) by enriching lives through highly trained canine guardians.

• Their reclassified Labrador dogs have been sourced from our established partnerships with organisations such as Guide Dogs Victoria, Australian Border Force Detection Dog Program and Seeing Eye Dogs Vision Australia and private registered breeders
• All their dogs have been temperament tested, have had they eyes, hips and elbows certified. They have been spayed or neutered and vaccinated
• The Integra program teaches their dogs to become emotionally tuned to their Veteran or First Responder and their unique triggers
• Integra dogs are able to ground their handler from a hyper-aroused state and provide unconditional support through the trauma and stresses of everyday life.

6. Lions Hearing Dogs (SA)
for more information CLICK HERE

• Hearing Assistance Dogs not only increase the quality of day-to-day living, they also help alleviate many of the conditions often associated with deafness and hard of hearing, these being depression, anxiety and communication withdrawal
• These conditions have been shown to contribute to cognitive decline and potentially increase by a factor of five, the likelihood of developing dementia
• It’s not just the recipients themselves whose lives are enhanced by their Hearing Assistance Dog, there are also many reported benefits for family, friends and community

7. Lions Medical Alert Dogs (SA) – program in development
for more information CLICK HERE

• The dogs will alert their owner when their blood glucose level is outside a specific target range, which will then prompt them to check their level and treat accordingly
• Diabetic Alert Dogs are trained to recognise the scent of chemicals released by the body during these events. This training begins from a young age to ensure the scent recognition is strong
• The dogs will be trained to do some other helpful tasks such as retrieving a kit to help treat a low blood glucose event, sitting next to their owner and barking if they fall unconscious and need help when out in public and pressing a button to call emergency services if their owner falls unconscious when they are home alone

8. Miracle Assistance Dogs (Qld)
for more information CLICK HERE

• MAD is an approved Training Institution for Hearing Dogs and Assistance Dogs under the Guide, Hearing and Assistance Dogs ACT 2009 (Qld)
• MAD train assistance dogs and match them to children and adults with disabilities including mental health and physical disabilities
• Training is provided to the client to enable them to successfully complete the Public Access Test (PAT) and GHAD certification
• MAD provides an individually tailored program so each client receives an Assistance Dog perfectly suited to their needs
• Clients can purchase a trained Miracle Assistance Dog (provided by MAD) for a fee of $30,000 (in 2023)
• They provide a highly specialized service to the disabled community and it’s the only one of its kind in Brisbane
• While MAD strive to offer their services to those who need them throughout Australia, current funding levels limit them to SE Queensland at this time (2021)

9. Seeing Eye Dogs Vision Australia (Vic)
for more information CLICK HERE

• Seeing Eye Dogs develop and maintain innovative, high quality dog guide services valued by people who are blind or have low vision
• Seeing Eye Dogs is the only national breeder, trainer and provider of dog guides
• Seeing Eye Dogs is a member of the International Guide Dog Federation (IGDF)
• Seeing Eye Dogs enable Australians who are blind or have low vision to retain their independence and mobility
• A Seeing Eye Dog allows a person to move more quickly and navigate obstacles with much more reliability and safety

10. Smartpups Autism Assistance Dogs (Qld)
Smartpups Guiding Assistance Dogs (Qld)
Smartpups Medical / Diabetic Alert Dogs (Qld)
Smartpups Mobility Assistance Dogs (Qld)
Smartpups Seizure Response Assistance Dogs (Qld)
for more information CLICK HERE

• A not-for-profit organisation based on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland
• They provide assistance dogs to children with special needs
• Trained in task-specific skills, Smart Pups improve children’s independence and quality of life
• This unique form of early intervention therapy has a profound effect on the day-to-day lives of children and families… making a positive change that keeps growing. For life.

1. Animal Talent (NSW) CLICK HERE for more information

• Training facility is located in Woy Woy on the Central Coast, NSW
• They offer Assistance Dog training for adults
• They can help people train their own dog to be an Assistance Dog
• They are force-free trainers and only use reward-based techniques
• Your dog will need to pass a Public Access Test which includes the following criteria – be over the age of 6 months, be able to walk on a loose-lead in public around people and other dogs, be calm and relaxed when out and about in public places ignoring people and other everyday distractions, come when called in the event of you dropping your lead

3. mindDog (NSW) CLICK HERE for more information

• mindDog is a not-for-profit organisation that exists to help people procure, train and accredit psychiatric assistance dogs
• A mindDog comes in many different shapes and sizes and many look different to other assistance dogs experiences by the public previously
• mindDog assists mental health sufferers to procure, train and certify psychiatric assistance dogs.  These dogs assist people with mental health disorders whose lives are often severely compromised by anxiety and fear
• With their mindDog a handler is able to travel on public transport, access public places and take part in social Activities which may have been closed off to them
• mindDog endorses force free training only
• mindDog operates Australia wide

4. Miracle Assistance Dogs CLICK HERE for more information

• MAD has an Owner Handler Training Program where they work with both the owner handler and the dog to develop the necessary knowledge and skills required to become certified as an approved GHAD team. This is a 6 month program and costs $2,960 (2023).

5. Revolutionary Assistance Dogs Inc (Vic) CLICK HERE for more information

• RAD’s mission is to not only to support people who choose to train their own Assistance Dogs in their training journey, but to increase public awareness about these amazing dogs and what they can do
• RAD provides support to our teams through instances of disability discrimination, as well as educate Assistance Dog Laws, rights, and etiquette
• RAD Inc. is run by a group of dedicated volunteers, all of whom are Assistance Dog handlers from different backgrounds. They understand the ups, downs, and challenges of life with an Assistance Dog first hand
• RAD wanted to create the opportunity for owner trainers to access further information and resources, a supportive community, trainers and assessors, whilst still having control over their training journey
• RAD supports people who train their own Assistance Dogs throughout all stages of training and working with their dogs
• RAD works with both experienced teams and those new to the community, helping them to feel confident, knowledgeable, and secure in their journey