Assistance dog registration scheme

Assistance dogs are now exempt from local council registration after legislative changes.

The Domestic Animals Act 1994 (DA Act) requires every dog and cat aged three months and older to be registered with the local council it resides in. While guide dogs have been exempt from registration fee requirements under the DA Act for some time, this exemption has not previously been extended to other types of assistance dogs.

The Victorian Government recognises the important role that assistance dogs play in the lives of Victorians and their families. A Governor in Council (GiC) Order has now been made under the DA Act to exempt assistance dogs from council pet registration fees, provided certain eligibility criteria are met.

To be eligible for a registration fee exemption, the assistance dog must meet the Equal Opportunity Act 2010 (EO Act) definition, being “a dog that is trained to perform tasks or functions that assist a person with a disability to alleviate the effects of his or her disability”. Additionally, the owner of an assistance dog is required to make an application to their council, in the form approved by that council, providing reasonable evidence that:

  • the applicant has a disability that necessitates an assistance dog
  • the assistance dog has been trained to alleviate the effect(s) of the disability
  • the assistance dog has completed obedience training, as defined in the GiC Order
  • the assistance dog is at least 12-months old
  • the assistance dog is microchipped
  • the assistance dog is desexed.

An applicant is not eligible for free registration of their assistance dog if:

  • not all eligibility criteria are satisfied
  • the applicant has been found guilty of two or more offences under the DA Act with respect to the same assistance dog
  • the assistance dog has been declared menacing or dangerous
  • the assistance dog is a restricted breed dog.

Public access rights for persons using assistance dogs are not affected by the GiC Order. Public access is granted to assistance dogs via the federal Disability Discrimination Act 1992 and the EO Act, which together recognise assistance animals and protect the rights of all people with a disability.

Animal Welfare Victoria has developed these Q&As to assist in better understanding the scheme. To find out more, including if you are eligible to receive free registration for your assistance dog, please contact your council.

What is the assistance dog free registration?

To acknowledge the important role assistance dogs play in the lives of Victorians and their families, a Governor in Council Order has now been made under the Domestic Animals Act 1994 to exempt eligible assistance dogs from council pet registration fees.

What are the eligibility criteria?

To be eligible for free registration, the owner of an assistance dog must demonstrate that:

  • they have a disability as defined under the Commonwealth Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (DDA Cth)
  • the assistance dog is trained to perform tasks or functions that assist to alleviate the effect(s) of that disability (as per the definition of assistance dog under the Equal Opportunity Act 2010).

In addition to the above, an assistance dog must also:

  • be desexed
  • be microchipped
  • be at least 12 months of age
  • be proven to have completed obedience training provided by a dog trainer.
    Note: The obedience training can either be completed separately, or as part of the training undertaken to perform tasks or functions that assist the person with a disability to alleviate the effects of their disability.
  • not be a dangerous, menacing, or restricted breed dog.

How do I apply to receive free registration for my assistance dog?

To apply for free registration, make an application to your council providing evidence that:

  • you have a disability and require an assistance dog
  • your assistance dog has been trained to alleviate the effects of your disability
  • your assistance dog has completed obedience training, as defined in the Governor in Council Order
  • your assistance dog is at least 12 months of age
  • your assistance dog is microchipped
  • your assistance dog is desexed.

What evidence do I need to provide regarding my need to be accompanied by an assistance dog? Why?

Evidence of a disability (as defined under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992) necessitating you to be accompanied by your assistance dog may include a:

  • declaration from a health professional as part of a registration application form, or
  • a written recommendation from and/or a declaration by the relevant treating medical practitioner to verify that you have a disability and will require the assistance of an assistance dog.

The requirement to provide this evidence ensures that only dogs that fit the definition of assistance dog receive free registration.

Isn’t it discriminatory to ask for evidence that I require an assistance dog?

No. Under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992, a person may request that a person with a disability produce evidence that an animal is an assistance animal. Given that an assistance animal – in this case an assistance dog – is distinguished by being trained to alleviate the effect of a disability, it is appropriate to ask for evidence that the animal is required for this purpose.

What evidence do I need to provide regarding my dog’s training and suitability to be recognised as an assistance dog?

You will need to provide evidence that your dog meets the definition of an assistance dog under the Equal Opportunity Act 2010.

Specifically, this requires that the dog has been trained to perform tasks or functions that help to alleviate the effects of your disability.

Your assistance dog must also have completed obedience, including assessment in the following skills:

  • heeling or walking with a handler, without sniffing, marking or wandering
  • sociability with other dogs
  • responsiveness to a handler’s commands, including staying on command (known as a stay test) and coming to a handler on command (known as a recall test)
  • absence of aggression towards humans or other animals
  • absence of anxiety, stress, fear, or undue excitement when in public places, and
  • standard of hygiene appropriate for a public place.

This training needs to be completed by a dog trainer and be evidenced by an obedience certificate and a declaration by the relevant dog trainer.

Can any dog trainer conduct the obedience training?

No, the obedience training will need to be provided by a person who either:

Why does my assistance dog need to complete obedience training?

Obedience training requirements are in place to protect public health and safety.

What different types of assistance dogs are there?

Assistance dog is an umbrella term that describes dogs trained to provide disability support for certain conditions. Common types of assistance dogs in Australia include those trained to assist with mobility impairments, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and sudden medical alerts.

Mobility assistance dogs

Mobility assistance dogs support people with physical disabilities and reduced motor skill, including those who suffer from cerebral palsy, spina bifida, multiple sclerosis, and those injured in serious accidents. The dogs can be trained to retrieve and carry items, open and close doors and drawers, turn lights on or off, help pull a manual wheelchair, and provide support to their handler for other everyday tasks such as dressing or undressing.

ASD assistance dogs

ASD assistance dogs are trained to keep children with ASD safe and assist them to learn skills that aid in their ability to interact in the community. The dogs can be trained to touch or nudge the child to interrupt repetitive, disruptive or distressing behaviour. These interactions can also help prevent a child’s emotional reaction from escalating. They can also assist in the development of a child’s social, verbal and cognitive skills, and improve confidence and independence, and emotional and environmental understanding.

PTSD assistance dogs

PTSD can cause feelings of panic, extreme fear or helplessness that foster social isolation and an inability to work and interact with the wider community. PTSD assistance dogs are trained to detect signals of distress in their handler and alleviate those symptoms. The dogs can be trained to create space for the person in public places, improving the handler’s sense of safety and security when out in the community, and engage in eye and body contact to comfort their handler and divert their attention.

Medical alert dogs

Medical alert dogs are trained to predict oncoming episodes or medical issues, such as seizures or low blood sugar, and respond accordingly. A response may include alerting the handler or a carer of the impending issue, retrieving necessary medication or preventing the individual from moving.

I have already paid for my assistance dog’s registration on 10 April this year. Can I get a refund?

Under the DA Act, councils are empowered to provide a full or partial refund of registration fees depending on the circumstances, and proportion of the year for which the dog has been registered. If you are interested in seeking a full or partial refund, please contact your council.

Will more comprehensive frameworks for assistance dogs be introduced across Victoria?

A national working group is actively considering standards for assistance animal recognition and accreditation.

If you would like to remain informed of developments regarding assistance dog policies, or participate in future consultation processes, we encourage you to subscribe to the Animal Welfare Victoria newsletter.

Page last updated: 22 Dec 2023