Autism Assistance Dog Program

Applications will open to individuals residing in Sydney at 12pm on Monday, 28 April 2025

Assistance Dogs Australia has been on the front line of training and placing assistance dogs, free of charge, with children and young adults with Autism in Australia.

Once placed with their new Assistance Dog, individuals with Autism show remarkable improvement across their social, verbal and cognitive skills as well as the ability to learn routines and structures that aid development, communication and community interaction.

An Autism Assistance Dog has full public access rights meaning they are allowed in any public place (with limited exceptions) and on all public transport. It is illegal to refuse entry to a service dog.

Recipients of an Autism Assistance Dog are provided with a public access licence as proof of Assistance Dog status and a service jacket for the dog. The hander must carry the public access licence with them when in the community with the Assistance Dog.

Applications open: 12pm Monday, 28 April 2025
The Expression of Interest form will be available on our website.

Applications close: 5pm Monday, 12 May 2025 (or earlier if capacity is reached)

We will be accepting a limited number of applications, within a specific geographical region, to allow us to place dogs in a timely manner.

Special criteria: Applicants must reside within 50kms of Orchard Hills, NSW (2748)

Our applications have been closed for some time now as we continued to place dogs with the very deserving people on our waiting list. Accepting a limited number of applications will not only allow us to place dogs in a timely manner, but it will also ensure we maintain our commitment to our successor dog teams. We anticipate we will open applications more frequently, and in the same way, moving forward.

How to apply

All applicant handlers are required to attend two online Information Sessions on our Autism Assistance Dog Program in order to proceed with an application for an Autism Assistance Dog. These Information Sessions provide attendees with further detail on our program, the potential benefits and challenges of having an assistance dog and is an opportunity to ask questions of our staff.

Autism Assistance Dog Program Information Sessions
Session 1 – 12.00pm-1.30pm, Monday, 19 May 2025
Session 2 – 12.00pm-1.30pm, Monday, 26 May 2025

Next steps

Read more about our Autism Assistance Dog program on this page

Check your eligibility against our criteria (including your postcode)

Register to attend our Information Sessions when applications open

An Autism Assistance Dog can provide support in the following areas:

Communication skills
Confidence and independence
Empathy to new situations
Emotional understanding
Social relationships
Tactile perception
Reduce anxiety
Provide routine and stability
Environmental understanding
Self-esteem
Family relationships
Behaviour patterns

Criteria

✅The applicant must have an accepted diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder.
✅The applicant must be five years of age or older.
✅The applicant must be currently engaged in treatment with an appropriate clinician and have been doing so for at least three months.

All Applicants and/or primary dog handlers must meet the following general criteria:

Be aged 18 years or older. If under 18, the applicant must have a legal guardian aged 18 years or older who will become the nominated ‘primary handler’ of the dog, is living with the applicant, and will be responsible for the dog at all times.
Complete our Health Professional form.
Be deemed suitable by ADA after completing the assessment process.
Accept the financial responsibility and provide the resources to care for the dog (ie. meet vet bills, premium food and equipment) throughout the dog’s life.
Provide the dog with a secure home, with a commitment to maintain the quality of the dog’s training, health, wellbeing, exercise and mental stimulation.
Have current stable living arrangements to house an Assistance Dog.
Have a consistent safe outdoor area for toileting and exercise.
Nominate at least two suitable adults who will, if required, provide immediate care of the dog in an emergency or unforeseen circumstances (eg. hospital stays).
All people living in the household must support the application.
No members of the household have a history of, or current behaviours relating to, abuse, neglect or non-sanctioned violence towards humans or animals
If any member of the household has an allergy to dogs, it must be manageable.
All existing pets in the home must be appropriately vaccinated, on correct preventative medications (heartworm, flea, tick and intestinal worms) and will be assessed on a case-by-case basis for temperament. Pet dogs must be desexed and over the age of one year.