13/02/2026
Who Works in Animal-Assisted Services?
Animal-assisted services are delivered by a diverse, multidisciplinary workforce, supporting people across health, disability, education, justice, community and aged-care settings.
Professionals working ethically with animals may include:
🔹Health practitioners – psychologists, occupational therapists, speech pathologists, social workers, counsellors and physiotherapists integrating animals within their professional scope.
🔹 Education professionals – teachers, special educators and learning support staff integrating animals to support engagement, regulation and inclusive learning.
🔹 Disability & community support professionals – disability support workers, youth workers and case managers supporting participation and wellbeing through structured animal-assisted activities.
🔹 Animal-assisted practitioners – practitioners with specialist training in animal-assisted programs, operating within ethical and welfare frameworks.
🔹 Health, aged-care, justice & first-responder settings – nurses, lifestyle staff and practitioners supporting wellbeing, trauma recovery and social connection.
Across all settings, best practice requires:
✔ Appropriate human qualifications
✔ Animal welfare and species-specific training
✔ Clear scope of practice
✔ Insurance, risk management and ethical delivery
Animal-assisted services are not one profession — they are a collaborative field centred on human wellbeing and animal welfare.
