Service Vest Policy

Stylish Dogs Australia

Assistance Animal Access Policy

Effective Date: 11 July 2025
Version: 1.0

 

1. Purpose

Stylish Dogs Australia is committed to providing equitable and lawful access to our services for customers who rely on certified assistance animals. This policy outlines the requirements for recognising assistance animals in accordance with Australian law and affirms our commitment to respectful, inclusive service delivery.

 

2. Scope

This policy applies to all customers, staff, contractors, and any other individuals interacting with Stylish Dogs Australia services, both online and in person.

 

3. Legal Compliance

This policy is guided by and complies with the following legislation:

  1. Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth)
  2. Relevant State and Territory laws concerning assistance animals, equal opportunity, and anti-discrimination
  3. Privacy Act 1988 (Cth)
  4. Australian Human Rights Commission guidance on assistance animals


 

4. Definition of an Assistance Animal

Under section 9 of the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth), an assistance animal is defined as:

“a dog or other animal that is trained to assist a person with a disability to alleviate the effect of that disability; and that meets standards of hygiene and behaviour appropriate for a public place”


To qualify under this policy, an assistance animal must:

  1. Be a dog
  2. Be trained to assist with the effects of a disability
  3. Have passed a recognised Public Access Test (PAT)
  4. Be certified by an accredited training organisation or individual
  5. Meet current public hygiene and behaviour standards

 

Accredited organisations include, but are not limited to:

  1. Guide Dogs Australia
  2. Assistance Dogs Australia
  3. Seeing Eye Dogs
  4. State or Territory-based schemes such as those in Queensland, the ACT and WA

 

5. Acceptable Documentation

Customers may be asked to provide reasonable evidence that their animal qualifies as an assistance animal under the above definition. Acceptable documentation includes:

  1. A letter from a registered medical or allied health practitioner confirming the person has a disability requiring assistance
  2. A valid PAT certificate from an accredited training organisation
  3. Proof of registration or certification under a State or Territory-based scheme
  4. Identification materials (e.g., assistance dog jacket, harness, ID card)

We will not request sensitive medical details beyond what is necessary to verify legal compliance.

 

6. Access Rights

Customers accompanied by certified assistance animals will have equal access to all Stylish Dogs Australia services and locations. We will not:

  1. Refuse entry or service
  2. Charge additional fees
  3. Require separation from the assistance animal

 

Reasonable limitations may apply if:

  1. The animal is not under effective control
  2. The animal displays behaviour or hygiene issues that pose a safety risk
  3. The customer cannot provide evidence of certification when reasonably requested

 

7. Behavioural Standards

Assistance animals must:

  1. Be toilet trained
  2. Be clean and well-groomed
  3. Be under effective control (leash, harness, or verbal command)
  4. Not display aggressive or disruptive behaviour

We reserve the right to request temporary removal of an assistance animal that does not meet these standards. In such cases, services will be offered to the handler in an alternative way where possible.

8. Privacy and Confidentiality

All personal or medical information collected in relation to this policy will be handled in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and used only for the purpose of confirming eligibility for access.

 

9. State and Territory Legislation

This policy aligns with relevant State and Territory legislation, including but not limited to:

  1. NSW: Companion Animals Act 1998, Anti-Discrimination Act 1977
  2. VIC: Equal Opportunity Act 2010, Domestic Animals Act 1994
  3. QLD: Guide, Hearing and Assistance Dogs Act 2009
  4. WA: Dog Act 1976, Equal Opportunity Act 1984
  5. SA: Dog and Cat Management Act 1995, Equal Opportunity Act 1984
  6. TAS: Dog Control Act 2000, Anti-Discrimination Act 1998
  7. ACT: Domestic Animals Act 2000, Discrimination Act 1991
  8. NT: Animal Welfare Act 1999, Anti-Discrimination Act 1996

 

10. Complaints and Enquiries

If you have any questions, concerns or complaints about this policy or your experience, please contact us:

Stylish Dogs Australia
Unit 3 / 21 Yentoo Drive
Glenfield Park NSW 2650
Email: info@stylishdogs.com.au
Phone: 0421 017 489


 

If your concern cannot be resolved internally, you may contact the Australian Human Rights Commission at www.humanrights.gov.au or your relevant state anti-discrimination authority.

 

11. Orders for Service Dog Equipment

To ensure that service-identifying equipment is only provided for legitimate use, Stylish Dogs Australia reserves the right to request certified documentation before fulfilling orders for service dog jackets, vests, or patches.

We may request:

  1. A certified copy of your animal’s PAT certificate
  2. Evidence from an accredited organisation or State/Territory scheme
  3. A letter from a medical or allied health practitioner confirming your lawful need for an assistance animal

All documents will be used only for verification and handled in compliance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth). Orders may be declined where satisfactory evidence is not provided.

12. Review

This policy is reviewed annually or as required by legislation.

Policy Owner: Legal and Compliance
Next Review Due: July 2026

 

Copyright ©  2025 Stylish Dogs Australia. All rights reserved


This policy may be reproduced for lawful compliance and education purposes with attribution.