- Tier:
- Tier 1: Positive Mental Health Promotion
- Tier 2: Early Intervention Cohort Specific Support
- Tier 3: Targeted Support
- Category of intervention: Therapeutic programs
- Strength of evidence: Registered professional
- Geographic location: State-wide
Program description
Animal-assisted therapists use animal interactions to encourage social participation and communication skills, emotion and sensory regulation, self-care and activities of daily living, and fine motor, gross motor and coordination skills.
Animal-assisted therapists are fully insured health professionals registered with their peak body who work within the scope of practice in their profession alongside animals.
Providers of animal-assisted therapy services need to hold a minimum qualification in a health field with additional Animal Assisted Therapy training and a trained therapy animal assessed as suitable by a qualified animal trainer and assessor with the relevant species-specific expertise. Professional Membership registration is available through Animal Therapies Ltd but not required to practice.
Animal-assisted therapists can include the following professionals:
- physicians
- occupational therapists
- physical therapists
- certified therapeutic recreation specialists
- nurses
- social workers
- speech therapists
- developmental educators
- mental health professionals.
Animal-assisted therapy can be provided to individuals or groups, in varied formats developed in consultation between the animal-assisted therapist and the school.
Intended outcomes
- Improved mental health and wellbeing, including emotional and sensory regulation, self-esteem and self-confidence
- Improved social participation, empathy and communication skills
- Improved fine motor, gross motor and coordination skills
- Increased self-regulation, self-care and ability to attend to the activities of daily living
Program details
| Target audience |
|
|---|---|
| Program provider | Qualified therapist as outlined in Skills Checklist with additional Animal Assisted Therapy training and a suitable trained therapy animal |
| Delivery mode |
|
Implementation considerations
- Target population: Students of any age that may benefit.
- Program adaptability: Each program is developed by the animal-assisted therapist in consultation with the school, specifically for the needs of the client(s); programs are modifiable and the time commitment can be as long or short as required for an individual or group.
- Staffing: Not applicable.
- Training requirements: Not applicable.
- Australian experience: Animal-assisted therapists are trained and registered in Australia.
- Factors to consider: Schools should provide a safe space for students to participate in animal-assisted therapy.
Cost
Minimum cost
From under $1,000
Detailed cost
Costs will vary depending on which professional body each qualified animal-assisted therapist is registered with.
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