Australian occupational therapists' knowledge of the purpose, scope, and funding of assistance dogs

Abstract

Background Assistance dogs, considered a form of assistive technology within Australia's National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), can support scheme participants to achieve greater independence. To receive funding, an allied health assessment report (most often from occupational therapists) is required to justify the animal as a reasonable and necessary support. Objectives Examine Australian occupational therapists' knowledge and perceptions of assistance dogs; NDIS funding of animal supports; and resources considered useful to guide occupational therapy assessment and report writing. Method An online anonymous survey was developed and distributed via social media channels, an email listserv, and professional association newsletters to Australian occupational therapists. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Inductive content analysis of open‐ended question responses provided additional insights regarding occupational therapists' knowledge, experiences, and information needs in relation to animal supports. Results One hundred forty‐five completed surveys were received. A majority of participants had limited knowledge regarding the purpose, scope, and funding of assistance dogs. Only 14 participants had made a referral for an assistance dog for an NDIS participant. For the 36 participants who self‐identified as having good or excellent knowledge of one or more types of assistance dogs, benefits included increasing users' independence, confidence, and quality of life. Although participants agreed they had suitable skills to prescribe assistance dogs, greater clarification regarding their role in the NDIS assessment, advisory, and application process was seen as necessary. Conclusion This research highlighted the need for increased information for occupational therapists regarding the various types of assistance dogs and NDIS funding rules. The provision of NDIS reporting templates, practice guidance, and professional development resources—as well as occupational therapy curriculum for near‐graduate therapists—could enhance knowledge, clinical reasoning, and practice when considering the most appropriate support and whether an assistance dog is both reasonable and necessary based on the person's goals and needs.

‘Having the dog as part of our family gives us hope’: Experiences of the impact of assistance dogs on the occupational engagement of children with autism and their families

“…The Agency also provided a template for funding requests for assistance animals, aimed at improving the quality of requests from NDIS participants, providers, and assessors (NDIA, 2020(NDIA, , 2022. This template requires a health professional report-most often from an occupational therapist-justifying that the animal support is both reasonable and necessary; that is, it is related to the person's disability, outside normal living costs, cost-effective, and effective for the desired outcome, accounting for other supports and services in place (Iong et al, 2022;NDIA, 2020).…”

“…This indicates a skilled assessment is needed by an allied health professional, such as an occupational therapist, for an assistance dog to be included as part of capacity building support funding within a participant's NDIS plan. As part of this role, the allied health professional may be required to assess and support the effective of an assistance dog (Iong et al, 2022). To further guide this practice, there is a need to continue to increase the evidence on the application and partnership with an assistance dog by children with autism and the role of a multidisciplinary allied health team approach for assistance animal assessment and interventions.…”

“…In Australia, the independent review by the NDIA found inadequate evidence of the efficacy of assistance dogs, beyond guide dogs (Howell et al, 2016). To facilitate the process of recommending and applying for funding of an assistance dog, occupational therapists would benefit from increasing awareness of the opportunities and challenges of being partnered with an assistance dog for children with autism and their families (Iong et al, 2022).…”