National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Getting the NDIS Back on Track No. 1) Bill 2024

Submission 143

Submission on the National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Getting the

NDIS Back on Track No. 1) Bill 2024

Name: MR ASCHLEIGH PERRING, Operations Manager, Pets as Therapy Services

Date:11 JULY 2024

I am an NDIS advocate of an NDIS participant/person with disability. I want to respond to the proposed changes to the NDIS Bill. My primary concern lies with the potential exclusion of animals other than assistance animals under the proposed changes for NDIS. Assistance animals play a crucial role in the lives of those with disabilities, but their scope is limited. This exclusion could have a significant negative impact on NDIS recipients. Therapy animals provide a wide range of services in the provision of therapy to some recipients of NDIS, providing opportunities for emotional regulation, re-engagement into school systems, de-escalation and connection. Removing all animals other than those who are deemed assistance animals will also the valuable work is undertaken by organisations such as Riding for the Disabled and those organisations that treat complex PTSD with equine therapy. These providers need to be supported with rigorous guidelines framing their ability to provide services under NDIS and greater regulation/scrutiny applied to all providers across all sectors. Removing therapy animal services from this sector will have significant ramifications for recipients of services and detrimental effects on the welfare of highly trained animals who would be stood down from service. I hope the Committee will take all submissions seriously in preparing its report.