Animals in Queensland state schools
Queensland Teachers' Journal, Vol 128 , 21 July 2023, page no.20
Animals, and particularly dogs, can play a variety of important roles in schools. Here is a summary of the rules governing their use.
Assistance dogs
Assistance dogs, sometimes called service dogs, help people with a range of conditions, including physical disability, autism, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). They help people feel safe, calm, and confident in public spaces, and may have been trained to do certain tasks, such as opening doors or drawers, using body pressure to calm down a distressed human, or barking in case of emergencies.
The rights of a person with an assistance dog are protected under federal law through the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (DDA). This recognises that a trained assistance animal is a tool facilitating the functioning of a person with a disability (whether physical or psychosocial), just as a wheelchair is. The DDA allows assistance dogs to accompany their handler into all public spaces, with the exception of specific clinical settings, surgically sterilised areas, food preparation areas, or quarantined areas.
Emotional support dogs
While assistance dogs are medical aids, emotional support dogs are considered pets. Because of this, they are not recognised by law. While pets can make us feel better, give us unconditional love and improve overall quality of life, it takes years of training to become an assistance dog. Emotional support dogs are not taught specific skills to alleviate conditions.
Reading dogs
Reading dogs and their handlers work with students reading in class. Reading aloud to a “non-judgemental” audience such as a dog has been shown to give students extra confidence and motivation, especially those who struggle with reading.
There are three procedures governing the use of animals in Queensland state schools: the Animals in Queensland State Schools Procedure, the Agistment of Livestock Procedure, and the Assistance Animals in Schools Procedure.
Firstly, all animals in schools are covered by the Queensland Department of Education Duty of Care for Animals Procedure, as well as current animal welfare legislation. This ensures animals in schools have freedom from fear, distress, pain, injury, disease, discomfort, hunger, thirst, and can express normal behaviour.
The Animals in Queensland State Schools Procedure outlines legal obligations, responsibilities, and processes for the responsible care, use and protection of animals in state schools, which covers the duty of care, but also outlines biosecurity and ethical requirements for animals.
The Agistment of Livestock Procedure outlines the administration processes and legislative requirements for the care of livestock in state schools.
The Assistance Animals in Queensland State Schools procedure has been under review for some time, however if you have any questions about students or staff in your school using an assistance animal, refer to the legislation, or contact QTAD on 1300 11 7823 or qtad@qtu.asn.au