Eligibility and your role as a handler
To be eligible for a guide, hearing or assistance dog, you must:
- have a disability as defined in section 5 of the Guide, Hearing and Assistance Dogs Act 2009
- rely on a guide, hearing or assistance dog to reduce your need for support
- be able to physically control your dog, or if you can’t physically control your dog, have an alternative handler that physically controls the dog for you
- have your dog pass the Public Access Test and be certified by an approved trainer.
Handler role
A handler of a certified guide, hearing or assistance dog can be the:
- primary handler, a person with a disability who relies on the dog to reduce their need for support.
- alternative handler, an adult, who supports the primary handler of the dog to physically control the dog (e.g. a family member or carer).