The Transport Canberra and City Services Directorate (TCCS) has introduced a new voluntary accreditation system for assistance animals to further clarify the existing rights of Canberrans living with disability.
Announced by the Minister for City Services, Chris Steel the new accreditation system introduces registration for accredited assistance animals to reflect the important role the animals play in helping their handlers go about their day-to-day activities.
“The ACT’s assistance animal framework was introduced through amendments to the Domestic Animals Act 2000 (the Act),” Mr Steel said.
“Following the laws being passed, comprehensive consultation with industry experts was conducted over six months through a working group to develop standards,” he said.
“The framework is similar to those in Queensland, Western Australia and South Australia and includes a standardised public access test for the animal and handler which was developed in close consultation with industry representatives.”
Mr Steel said that after an animal passed the test, the handler could register their assistance animal to be issued with an ID card which demonstrated to businesses, public transport operators and the broader community that the animal was safe accessing public spaces.
“We’ve seen the positive impacts of this new accreditation system in other jurisdictions,” he said.
“Which is why we have implemented this revised system to ensure that Canberrans living with intellectual, psychosocial or physical disabilities can access animal assistance supports more easily.”
He said the accreditation system was not mandatory, but designed to clarify existing access rights protected by Commonwealth law and give certainty to both businesses and persons with disability who relied on an assistance animals.
Further information on the accreditation system can be accessed at this PS News link.
