Animals – Wellbeing and Engagement

Resources

Wellbeing and engagement animals risk register

Schools are encouraged to complete the Wellbeing and engagement animals risk register (DOCX) before an animal-assisted wellbeing and engagement program begins.

Wellbeing and engagement animals consent form

A sample wellbeing and engagement animals consent form (DOCX) is available for schools to use with their school community.

School council agreement for animal handlers of school-owned wellbeing and engagement animals

School councils must use the School council agreement – wellbeing and engagement animal handler (school-owned) (DOCX) (staff login required) when entering into an agreement with a staff member to become a dog animal handler for a school-owned wellbeing and engagement dog.

Legal agreement for staff-owned wellbeing and engagement animals

Schools must use the School council agreement – wellbeing and engagement animal handler (staff-owned) (DOCX) (staff login required) when entering an arrangement with a staff member for their animal to work onsite as a school wellbeing and engagement animal.

Dogs in school local school policy template

Schools may choose to implement a local school policy on Dogs in Schools available on the School Policy Template Portal.

Professional development

Access the department’s free 20-minute online module on Implementing animal-assisted wellbeing and engagement programs in schools.

Register for the La Trobe University 10-week course: Implementing Animal-Assisted School Programs.

Assistance animals

Animal Welfare Victoria website:

• Guide dogs, seeing eye dogs and assistance dogs

NDIS website:

• Assistance animals | NDIS
• NDIS participant-trained assistance dogs (DOCX 482KB)
• Key terms for animals in disability assistance roles (DOCX 356KB)
• Assistance animals including dog guides | NDIS