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).