The Equal Opportunity Act 2010 specifically says its unlawful to refuse to provide accommodation to a person with a disability because they have an assistance dog. Discrimination against people with guide dogs is also legislated under the Disability Discrimination Act.
To assist park owners and staff to easily identify a genuine, and fully qualified, assistance dog that is part of Assistance Dogs Australia’s program, visit the Assistance Dogs Australia website.
As a proprietor you should feel comfortable to request to sight the public access licence of any of Assistance Dogs Australia handler/assistance dog teams. This should be done with sensitivity and respect.
Assistance Dogs Australia’s qualified assistance dogs will wear a blue jacket with Assistance Dogs Australia’s logo on the back and Assistance Dogs International logos on the sides and their handler will have a digital, or plastic, public access licence.
The digital public access licence has security features to combat fraudulence. These include elements that constantly move/change (the star in the bottom left corner changes colour, a circular blue shadow traces the edge of the licence and the time updates).
Find out more about Assistance Dogs Australia
How to identify a qualified assistance dog from Assistance Dogs Australia
