"I thought NDIS stopped equine therapy?"

Not quite, let me explain:

NDIS now differentiates between: "Animal Therapy" (Not allowed)

and "Animal Assisted Therapy" (Allowed)

Animal-assisted therapy is fundable under the NDIS when it aligns with the participant’s plan goals, and delivered by a qualified therapist.

According to the NDIS website:

Animal-assisted therapy can be an NDIS support.

Therapeutic support Animal-assisted therapy is not the same as ‘animal therapy’.

Animal-assisted therapists may use an animal to play a role in a goal-directed, structured intervention which will assist the therapist and the participant to engage in therapy.

Animals can be used as therapy tools, just like a board game, Lego, or a swing could also be used as a tool in a therapy session.

For example, a psychologist or counsellor may use an animal in therapy sessions to assist a participant to calm, focus or regulate whilst the counselling/psychology session is undertaken.

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As a qualified counsellor (Member of the Australian Counselling Association) I use horses to assist the client with the therapy session.

This is what we do at Berkman Academy, The Centre for Equine Assisted Therapy in Bayswater Melbourne.

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