Assistance animals can support veterans in everyday life. They can help with daily tasks, routine, confidence and feeling safe.  

They are specially trained to help a person with injury, illness or disability.   

Pets are different from assistance animals.  

What assistance animals do  

An assistance animal is trained to help a person with disability or other health needs. The help it gives depends on the person’s needs and the animal’s training.  

Support can include:  

• Moving around and doing physical tasks  
• Helping with mental health conditions such as PTSD  
• Feeling safer in public or new places  
• Reducing stress and helping someone feel calm  
• Building routine and confidence in daily life  

Not all assistance animals do the same job. Not every animal is legally recognised as an assistance animal in Australia.  

Mental health support  

Some veterans may be able to get a psychiatric assistance dog. These dogs are trained to help people living with conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder.  

These dogs can help by:  

• Interrupting distressing thoughts or actions  
• Help their handler feel more grounded in stressful moments  
• Help with sleep and daily routine  
• Build confidence to get out and be part of the community   

There are rules about who can get an assistance animal, how they are assessed, and how the animal is trained. An assistance animal may not be right or available for everyone.  

Things to think about   

Getting an assistance animal is a big decision. Before you apply or commit, think about:  

• Whether an assistance animal is right for you  
• What training, care and responsibility are involved  
• The difference between assistance animals, therapy animals and pets  
• Your rights and responsibilities in public places and housing  

 The support you can get may depend on your situation, where you live, and the programs available to you.  

How to get support  

If you want to learn more about assistance animals or other wellbeing support, you can:  

• Look at trusted wellbeing and support services  
• Talk to your healthcare provider about whether this is right for you and if you may be eligible  
• Contact support services for help with mental health, disability or family wellbeing  

You do not have to figure this out on your own. Help is available.