Wednesday, 29 November 2023

Therapy dogs

Georgie PURCELL (Northern Victoria) (18:12): (640) My adjournment matter this evening is for the Minister for Agriculture, and the action I seek is for her to investigate a streamlined process and regulation that makes the licensing of therapy dogs for supporting mental health more accessible in Victoria. Therapy dogs, also known as wellbeing dogs and support dogs, are best friends and family members that support individuals in multiple aspects of their lives. It is common for us to come across seeing-eye dogs throughout daily life in society, but less so dogs that support people with mental health challenges. The Victorian Department of Health states that nearly one-quarter of Victorian adults report being diagnosed with depression or anxiety by a doctor in their lifetime.

The process in Victoria is convoluted and difficult to access. Private organisations like mindDog in Queensland are certifying dogs in Victoria as psychiatric assistance dogs due to a lack of local understanding and awareness of this process. Australia-wide assistance dogs, also known as service dogs, are covered by the Commonwealth Disability Discrimination Act 1992. An assistance dog is trained to assist a human in public and is guaranteed access to all public places, including shopping centres, hospitals, public transport and restaurants. According to this act, an assistance dog is trained to alleviate the effect of a disability and must meet standards of hygiene and behaviour. Certified mindDogs are able to travel on public transport; access public places, such as supermarkets and even the pub; and take part in social activities which have otherwise been closed off to their individual minders who experience mental ill health. While the Commonwealth Disability Discrimination Act guarantees public access for all dogs trained as assistance dogs and so does the Equal Opportunity Act ‍2010 in Victoria, there is no specific legislation that regulates the certification or treatment of these animals. The certification is left up to the rules of private organisations, who may unfairly take issues with specific breeds of dog, such as greyhounds.

The Equal Opportunity Act in Victoria only covers the discrimination of people with an assistance dog, defined as a dog that is trained to perform tasks or functions that assist the person with a disability to alleviate the effects of their disability. But assistance dogs are so much more than a dog trained to perform tasks for those with a disability. They can provide comfort, support and confidence to the many of us who suffer from mental health, including anxiety. Other states, such as Queensland and Western Australia, have long had specific legislation for assistance animals, and I hope that the minister recognises animals as providing emotional support, companionship and relief from symptoms related to mental and physical disabilities or illnesses and considers the same for Victoria.