What counts as an assistance animal
An assistance animal does specific tasks that reduce the impact of your disability, such as guiding a person who is blind, alerting to sounds or seizures, retrieving items, or interrupting distress. It is different from a pet, a companion animal or an emotional support animal that has not been trained for disability tasks.
Under the NDIS Supports Rules, an eligible assistance animal is a dog or other animal that is accredited under a state or territory law, accredited by a training organisation recognised under the Disability Discrimination Act, accredited by a registered NDIS provider of assistance animals, or trained to assist a person with disability and to meet hygiene and behaviour standards suited to a public place.
What NDIS funding can cover
If an assistance animal is stated in your plan, the NDIS supports rules list what can be funded:
- Assessment, matching and provision of an eligible assistance animal
- Dietary needs
- Grooming
- Veterinary services, including flea and worm treatments, medication and vaccinations
- Yearly reviews to maintain accreditation
What is not funded
- Pets and companion animals, and their food, vet bills, boarding or grooming
- The ordinary costs any pet owner pays. The NDIA's guidance is that upkeep funding covers the extra costs of an assistance animal compared with an equivalent pet
- Training for you or others to learn how to train your own assistance animal
- A support worker to feed, exercise or care for the animal for you
- Animal assisted therapy is different again: it can be funded as part of therapy delivered by a qualified allied health professional, not as an assistance animal
How the NDIA decides
An assistance animal is a large, long term commitment, so the NDIA looks closely at whether it is reasonable and necessary and value for money compared with other supports. For example, for a person with vision impairment, the cost of a dog guide, including training and upkeep, is compared with other ways of meeting the same need, such as orientation and mobility training or technology.
Because it must be stated in your plan, you need to ask for it specifically and provide evidence. The NDIA publishes a Would we fund it guide on assistance animals that explains its approach.
Building a strong request
- Get a report from a treating professional, such as an occupational therapist or orientation and mobility specialist, explaining the tasks the animal would do and why
- Show what other supports you have tried, and why an animal is better value for you
- Talk to an accredited assistance animal organisation early. Waiting lists can be long
- Think through your ability to care for the animal day to day, as the NDIS will not fund someone to do this for you
- If your request is refused, you can ask for an internal review within 3 months
What may change
Draft NDIS supports rules released for consultation in August 2026 propose cutting the number of support categories from 36 to 18. Assistance animals stay as their own category, with a similar description that also mentions boarding. These are proposals only, and the current rules still apply.