Service Dogs Definitions
Is any organisation or person listed hereOpens in a new tab or window. If an organisation or person is not on the list of Approved Training Organisations, they may make an application to be added as an Approved Training Organisation. For more information about this process.
An Assistance Dog is a Service Dog that assists a person to alleviate the effects of a diagnosed disability (including physical, sensory or psychological disabilities), other than a vision or hearing impairment.
All Assistance Dogs must be approved by Qantas to be carried in the aircraft cabin.
Is any organisation or person listed hereOpens in a new tab or window. If an organisation or person is not on the list of Foreign Approved Training Organisations, they may make an application to be added as an Approved Training Organisation. For more information about this process, contact Qantas Special Handling.
A Guide Dog is a Service Dog that assists a person to alleviate the effects of a vision impairment including a person who is blind. A Guide Dog may also alleviate the effects of another disability (e.g., a mobility impairment), as well as alleviating the effects of a vision impairment.
A Guide Dog that has been trained by an Approved Training Organisation or a Foreign Approved Training Organisation has 'standing approval' to travel in the aircraft cabin, subject to any additional conditions that may be imposed by Qantas.
A Guide Dog that has not been trained by an Approved Training Organisation or a Foreign Approved Training Organisation must be approved by Qantas to be carried in the aircraft cabin.
Is the person with a disability who relies on the Service Dog to alleviate the effects of their disability.
A Hearing Dog is a Service Dog that assists a person to alleviate the effects of a hearing impairment including a person who is deaf. A Hearing Dog may also alleviate the effects of another disability (e.g., a mobility impairment), as well as alleviating the effects of a hearing impairment.
A Hearing Dog that has been trained as a Hearing Dog by an Approved Training Organisation or a Foreign Approved Training Organisation has 'standing approval' to travel, subject to any additional conditions that may be imposed by Qantas.
A Hearing Dog that has not been trained by an Approved Training Organisation or a Foreign Approved Training Organisation must be approved by Qantas to be carried in the aircraft cabin.
Means a proof of identity document as follows:
- for the Handler – a handler's identity card issued by an Approved Training Organisation or Foreign Approved Training Organisation, or State Authority or Statutory Body as acceptable to Qantas (e.g. the Queensland Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services (Queensland Department of Communities); and
- for the Service Dog - an identifying document issued by an Approved Training Organisation or Foreign Approved Training Organisation that identifies the dog as a Service Dog and demonstrates that the Service Dog has attained the appropriate level of training and if applicable, has passed the PAT (e.g. the Queensland Department of Communities).
For a Trainer and Service Dog Under Training
Means a proof of identity document as follows:
- for the Accompanying Trainer – a trainer's identity card issued by an Approved Training Organisation; and
- for the Service Dog Under Training – an identifying document issued by an Approved Training Organisation that identifies the dog as a Service Dog Under Training and that has attained the appropriate level of training and, if applicable, has passed the PAT.
Is a test accepted by Qantas that is conducted to establish that a Service Dog is safe and effective in a public place, and is able to be controlled by the Handler of the dog or the Accompanying Trainer for a Service Dog Under Training. Qantas accepts the following PATs:
- the PAT published by the Queensland Department of Communities;
- the PAT published by Assistance Dogs International (ADI); or
- other PATs of a substantially equivalent level as determined by Qantas in its discretion.
The PAT must be current. A current PAT is considered to be less than one year old
Service Dog is a dog individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability.
Is a dog being trained to be a Service Dog.
A service dog ceases to be ‘under training’, and becomes ‘trained’, when:
- it is placed with its Handler; and
- the Handler is issued with a proof of identity document issued by an Approved Training Organisation, showing that the dog has attained the appropriate level of training and/or passed the PAT.
Is a person who has been accredited by an Approved Training Organisation as being able to select and train Service Dogs to perform identifiable tasks and behaviours to alleviate the effects of a person's disability.