What we have had to say

  National Assistance Animal Framework

A number of organisations, led by the Australian Autism Alliance, release a joint statement calling for critical reform through the establishment of a National Assistance Animal Framework to meet the needs of people with disability, and remove inequitable access barriers.

We welcome the draft National Principles for the Regulation of Assistance Animals released by the Department of Social Services (‘DSS’) for consultation on 7 March 2025.

We are calling for the co-creation of an overarching National Assistance Animal Framework that embeds, implements, and actualises the National Principles. This will enable the National Principles to operate together with state/territory policy and practice, thereby enabling a whole-of-government and cross–jurisdictional approach.

The Assistance Animals National Principles is open for consultation until 1 June 2025 11:59 AEST

Joint Statement calling for a National Assistance Animal Framework

For more information please visit https://engage.dss.gov.au/assistance-animal-national-principles/