The Standards of Practice provide a framework of principles to convey a collective principle of professionalism, skills and values in positive reinforcement-based training. The Working Animals Federation of Australia (WAFA) requires that all animals be trained using positive reinforcement methods. 

All accredited members of the Working Animals Federation of Australia (WAFA) agree to abide by the following principles:

Assistance Animals:

• Prior to beginning public access training, an Assistance Animal in Training (AAiT) must pass a preliminary Public Access Test (pPAT). The pPAT provides a standardised level of obedience required for an AAiT to safely begin training in public spaces. 

• Prior to qualifying as an Assistance Animal (AA), a Public Access Test (PAT) must be passed. The PAT provides a standardsed level of disability-specific and obedience training required for an AA to safely work in public spaces. 

• The PAT must be conducted annually, either in person or through continuous video feed. Video feeds may be live or pre-recorded, however, no pauses within the footage as permitted. A handler team who does not complete a PAT within 15 months loses their public access rights until a PAT is completed, except in the case of extenuating circumstances.

• An AAiT must be washed if it is unable to pass a pPAT within 3 attempts, except in the case of extenuating circumstances.

• An AA must be retired if it is unable to pass a scheduled PAT within 3 attempts, except in the case of extenuating circumstances. 

• A handler team must attempt the PAT within 3 years of the beginning of the AAiT stage of training. On average, it takes 18 months of training to reach the PAT standard.

• A Prospect, AAiT or AA must be retired on serious health or behaviour grounds if recommended by a minimum of two veterinarians or two qualified, accredited and experienced trainers. 

• The pPAT and PAT must be conducted by an individual other than the individual who trained the animal, except in extenuating circumstances. Where multiple individuals have trained the animal, this requirement is waived. The person conducting the pPAT and PAT is known as the assessor. 

• Any potential conflict of interest between the handler and the assessor must be declared. Examples of conflicts include the assessor being an employer or employee, colleague, family member or close friend.

• All new handler teams commencing training on or after 1 September 2022 must engage an Occupational Therapist (OT) to assess whether an AA will be beneficial, prescribe the AA and oversee training and placement. OT oversight is highly recommended by for all handler teams, however, this requirement is waived for those teams existing prior to 1 September 2022. 

• All new handler teams commencing training on or after 1 September 2022 must engage a trainer who holds a Certificate IV Animal Behaviour and Training or equivalent level of education. Although highly recommended for all handler teams, this requirement is waived for those teams existing prior to 1 September 2022. 

• All AAiT and AA accredited by the WAFA or one of its self-accrediting organizations must display the handler teams identification number on a vest, leash or bandana when working in public areas. Handlers must carry their WAFA identification card at all times in public when accompanied by the AA. Handlers must present their WAFA identification card upon reasonable request. The WAFA maintains the right to investigate any complaints made about identifiable handler teams, or to pass complaints on to self-accrediting organizations for investigation. These requirements may be waived in extenuating circumstances. 

• WAFA maintains the right to remove the membership or accreditation any individual or organization who fails to abide by the WAFA Standards and Codes of Conduct, or fails to  meet their continuing professional development (CPD) or other requirements. Examples of appropriate CPD opportunities may include:

  • Completion of a nationally accredited course

  • Completion of any relevant workshop, seminar, short course or webinar 

  • Mentoring opportunities

  • Reading of literature

  • Presenting a workshop or developing a reference document for WAFA

  • Engaging with a trainer or other professional throughout the year

Therapy Animals:

• • Prior to beginning therapy access training, a Therapy Animal in Training (TAiT) must pass a preliminary Therapy Access Test (pTAT). The pTAT provides a standardised level of obedience required for an TAiT to safely begin training in public spaces. 

  • Prior to qualifying as an Assistance Animal (AA), a Public Access Test (PAT) must be passed. The PAT provides a standardized level of disability-specific and obedience training required for an AA to safely work in public spaces. 

  • The PAT must be conducted annually, either in person or through continuous video feed. Video feeds may be live or pre-recorded, however, no pauses within the footage as permitted. A handler team who does not complete a PAT within 15 months loses their public access rights until a PAT is completed, except in the case of extenuating circumstances.

  • An AAiT must be washed if it is unable to pass a pPAT within 3 attempts, except in the case of extenuating circumstances.

  • An AA must be retired if it is unable to pass a scheduled PAT within 3 attempts, except in the case of extenuating circumstances. 

  • A handler team must attempt the PAT within 3 years of the beginning of the AAiT stage of training. On average, it takes 18 months of training to reach the PAT standard.

  • A Prospect, AAiT or AA must be retired on serious health or behaviour grounds if recommended by a minimum of two veterinarians or two qualified, accredited and experienced trainers. 

  • The pPAT and PAT must be conducted by an individual other than the individual who trained the animal, except in extenuating circumstances. Where multiple individuals have trained the animal, this requirement is waived. The person conducting the pPAT and PAT is known as the assessor. 

  • Any potential conflict of interest between the handler and the assessor must be declared. Examples of conflicts include the assessor being an employer or employee, colleague, family member or close friend.

  • All new handler teams commencing training on or after 1 September 2022 must engage an Occupational Therapist (OT) to assess whether an AA will be beneficial, prescribe the AA and oversee training and placement. OT oversight is highly recommended by for all handler teams, however, this requirement is waived for those teams existing prior to 1 September 2022. 

  • All new handler teams commencing training on or after 1 September 2022 must engage a trainer who holds a Certificate IV Animal Behavior and Training or equivalent level of education. Although highly recommended for all handler teams, this requirement is waived for those teams existing prior to 1 September 2022. 

  • All AAiT and AA accredited by the WAFA or one of its self-accrediting organisations must display the handler teams identification number on a vest, leash or bandana when working in public areas. Handlers must carry their WAFA identification card at all times in public when accompanied by the AA. Handlers must present their WAFA identification card upon reasonable request. The WAFA maintains the right to investigate any complaints made about identifiable handler teams, or to pass complaints on to self-accrediting organisations for investigation. These requirements may be waived in extenuating circumstances. 

  • WAFA maintains the right to remove the membership or accreditation any individual or organisation who fails to abide by the WAFA Standards and Codes of Conduct, or fails to  meet their continuing professional development (CPD) or other requirements. Examples of appropriate CPD opportunities may include:

    • Completion of a nationally accredited course

    • Completion of any relevant workshop, seminar, short course or webinar 

      • Reading of literature

      • Presenting a workshop or developing a reference document for WAFA

      • Engaging with a trainer or other professional throughout the year
        
        Cannot euthanise (or dump in a pound) without behavior necessity – full life traceability of each animal – problem for some smaller AD orgs

Although not required by law, the TAT is considered to be best practice and is required by the Working Animals Federation of Australia (WAFA) for all handler teams. The Working Animals Federation of Australia (WAFA) requires that all handler teams attempt the TAT within 3 years of beginning training, and that a handler team pass each TAT within 3 attempts unless extenuating circumstances apply. Therapy Animals who are unable to do so must be ‘washed’ or retired. 

The Working Animals Federation of Australia (WAFA) requires that all TAiT be washed if they are unable to complete the TAT within 3 years of commencing training, unless extenuating circumstances apply.

• • • • Mentoring opportunities