Animals Helping Humans
To: Committee Secretary, Senate Standing Committees on Community Affairs
Submission:
Community Affairs Legislation Committee
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment
(Getting the NDIS Back on Track No. 1) Bill 2024
12 July 2024
To: The Hon Bill Shorten, Minister National Disability Insurance Scheme of Australia Chair Community Affairs Legislation Committee and Members
Issue Summary
The removing of “animal-assisted therapy” or “animal-assisted learning” or “animal-assisted education” or “animal-assisted activities” from NDIS funding without adequate research into the professional and effective service being provided to NDIS clients is a misunderstanding and needs a professional review and inquiry.
ATL believes this Bill could have a detrimental impact on the lives of people with disability and undermine the original intent of the NDIS. We are also fearful lives will be lost.
Many animal-assisted service clients reach out as a “last resort” after struggling with traditional room-based therapies. They are not thriving and their capacity is low. The benefits of incorporating animals and nature into goal-directed programs designed to support people with intellectual, physical, sensory, cognitive and psychosocial health conditions are embedded into research. Services are directed and/or delivered by a practitioner with specialized expertise within the scope of practice of their profession.
Background
Animal Therapies Ltd (ATL) is the national peak body for the animal-assisted services sector.
Animals Helping Humans
To provide context of our role, ATL represents a range of professionals and practitioners who work alongside animals as a key part of their service delivery.
The type of service being delivered depends on the qualification of the person delivering it and includes fully insured psychologists, psychotherapists, occupational therapists, counsellors, speech therapists, teachers, educators and others working within the scope of their practice.
Animal-assisted services support people with disability, and those experiencing mental health conditions including, trauma, complex trauma, post-traumatic stress, domestic and family violence, and/or other physical, neurological or psychological conditions.
Over 80% of the recipients of animal-assisted services are people with a disability due to the nature of their disability. It is their disability itself that often makes them reach out to animal-assisted practitioners.
The work undertaken by animal-assisted services professionals and practitioners is underpinned by ATL’s Code of Ethics and Code of Conduct. (attached for your reference)
ATL is eminently known for its work and has received support from numerous government agencies including the Department of Social Services and QLD Mental Health Commission. The NDIA and the head of mental health for the Department of Veteran Affairs (DVA) have all presented at ATL’s national conferences.
Our work in the sector, has led to a leading national life insurance provider, to develop and undertake a pilot of equine-assisted rehabilitation for long term claimants under income protection insurance claim. A researcher has been embedded into this initiative. This is an extraordinary achievement.
As part of its organisational purpose, ATL offers a fully funded mental health outreach program for those unable to financially access animal-assisted mental health support.
Professional Animal-Assisted Service Providers
ATL has the largest Australian National Directory of fully insured animal-assisted practitioners, providing transparency of practitioner qualifications, training and who they are qualified to work with. These practitioners agree to abide by the ATL Code of Ethics and Code of Conduct.
Animal-assisted therapists are registered health professionals who work alongside various species, primarily horses and dogs. Animal-assisted practitioners are fully qualified trained and qualified as psychologists, psychotherapists, counsellors, social workers etc and are eligible for membership with a professional body such as PACFA, ACA. OTA etc.
Animals Helping Humans
Equine Assisted Learning practitioners do very valuable work in assisting NDIS participants to learn capacity building and social skills. This includes teaching additional needs children skills including core curriculum.
Animal-assisted activities don’t necessarily involve a qualified animal handler however their animals have been assessed as safe and suitable for various programs such as Riding for The Disabled (RDA).
Conclusion
The animal-assisted services sector is underpinned by research and is evidence based.
On behalf of the animal-assisted services sector, ATL urges the Minister and the Committee to understand the definition and benefits of animal-assisted services including the training and qualifications of practitioners.
Animal Assisted therapies are highly regarded worldwide and have existed for many years and have had undeniable benefits for so many people.
ATL asks in the strongest possible terms that the Minister and the Committee continue to make animal-assisted services accessible for NDIS participants.
Should NDIS participants be denied access to these vital services, 80% of the animal- assembled services sector made up of small business we will have to close their doors leaving people unemployed and those in need without affordable services.
We have requested an online meeting with Minister Bill Shorten to answer any questions and to be able to further demonstrate the effectiveness of the work delivered by the animal- assembled services sector. ATL invites the Committee Chair and other members to participate in this meeting, or arrange another time to do same. To do so, please refer to the contact details provided in this submission.
Yours in wellness
Wendy Coombe | Founder www.animaltherapies.org.au Advancing the understanding, acceptance and accessibility of animal-assisted services for those in need.