Due to the continuing strong demand for our successful assistance dog program, Integra has currently paused accepting new applications until later in 2024. Please keep checking this website page for updates.
Apply.
Join our community for news and pup-filled content.
Integra Service Dogs Australia provides Veterans and First Responders with highly trained Labrador assistance dogs.
Integra provides Service Dogs to Veterans and First Responders. We do not provide Service Dogs to the general public.
Integra Dog Training is a reward-based core skills training program, which takes around 6-12 months to complete (this may vary depending on the level of support required by the individual Veteran or First Responder for the assistance dog that they are the handler for). Our Program is designed to provide Handlers with the placement and training towards a fully certified Service Dog that provides them with the tools to reclaim their place in the community and rebuild their lives. Integra Dog Training builds the foundation necessary to successfully undertake the Public Access Test (PAT) which assesses both the dog’s and Handler’s suitability for accessing public spaces.
Integra aims to ensure that its services are available to Veterans and First Responders that need it. As a charitable organisation we contribute significantly to funding so that costs to access our program are minimal at around $3,000 – $5,000 per applicant.
Applicants may wish to seek the financial support (from insurers, local businesses, or other potential sponsors) to help them meet the costs of joining the Integra program. ADF Veterans may wish to apply for support through the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) Psychiatric Assistance Dog (PAD) program. Information on the DVA PAD program can be found at http://www.dva.gov.au/dogs. First Responders and those not eligible or not wishing to apply through the DVA PAD may apply directly to Integra.
Want to know more?
How to apply.
The application process to enter the Integra Program requires you to:
- Discuss with your family, partner and immediate friends whether you have the capability to take on the responsibility of caring for and training of an Assistance Dog. This includes considering whether you:
- Have a safe home and yard or space to house the dog inside to secure it from theft or loss
- Have the time to commit to the training of your Labrador dog
- Are emotionally and physically resilient enough to take on the responsibilities of providing for the welfare of your dog, and
- Are in a financial position to contribute to the costs ($3,000 – $5,000) towards this program
- Complete an application form. The application form that you complete will depend on whether you are applying directly to Integra or applying through the DVA PAD program (see Application Forms). The DVA PAD program may refer you to Integra or another DVA Approved PAD Supplier contracted to DVA.
If applying directly to Integra you will need to:
- Be a current Veteran or First Responder.
- Provide a letter of support from your Psychiatrist, Psychologist or treating Clinician to confirm that, in their opinion, you are able to take on the responsibilities of caring for and training an Assistance Dog. The referring letter must be on the clinician’s letterhead and state the following three items:
- That you have a PTS diagnoses.
- That you have the capability to enter the program.
- How long you have been a client and the frequency of appointments.
- Allow a visit to your home by an Integra assessor to discuss your application and to participate in an interview with an Integra Program Manager.
- Receive approval from Integra and your sponsor (if any) to proceed.
Following approval to proceed, it generally takes 6 months to match you with a suitable Labrador dog and nominate a local Integra trainer/mentor to help you through the process of training and caring for your Assistance Dog.
Give today.
Integra aims to ensure that its services are available to all Veterans and First Responders (not funded through the DVA PAD program) who need them at minimal cost. Integra provides all dog and travel-related expenses for the program. This support includes dog food, veterinary treatments, training and home support equipment, identification cards and other support documentation.
While Veterans and First Responders are asked to make some contribution towards these costs, it takes between 6-12 months and between $30,000-$40,000 a year for an Integra team to develop and train a dog and Handler and prepare it to complete the Public Access Test. Please consider donating If you’d like to support us in meeting these costs.
Integra is a registered charity, approved by the Australian Charities & Not For Profit Commission. Donations from the public and our corporate partners cover the costs of providing dogs to First Responders and those Veterans who are not funded through the DVA PAD program. Donations to Integra are tax deductible as approved by the Australian Taxation Office.
To donate to Integra please click here:
Our Service Dog Training Program provides Veterans and First Responders with renewed purpose, confidence and unconditional support.
Want to know more?
There are two application form pathways.
If you are an ADF Veteran, you may wish to consider applying for The Commonwealth Department of Veterans Affairs’ Psychiatric Assistance Dog Program.
OR
To apply directly, please complete the Integra Application Form (PDF) and submit the Application Form to enquiries@lifeunleashed.org.au for review.
Want to know more?
Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) Psychiatric Assistance Dog Program.
DVA’s Psychiatric Assistance Dog Program provides veterans with a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with a trained assistance dog. Assistance dogs are provided to veterans to help support their treatment for PTSD. Veterans involved in the Program are encouraged to continue contact with their treating mental health professional.
Integra are one of the dog training providers contracted to assist DVA to support veterans nationally.
What is a psychiatric assistance dog?
Psychiatric assistance dogs are trained to perform tasks to help their veteran handler meet their clinical recovery goals. This includes detecting signs of distress and performing tasks to help alleviate the symptoms. It could be things such as:
- waking the veteran if they are having a night terror
- nuzzling the veteran handler to distract them from emotionally disabling symptoms; or
- moving the handler out of stressful situations.
What are the benefits of applying for a psychiatric assistance dog through DVA?
DVA’s Program provides eligible veterans with a trained psychiatric assistance dog tailored to perform tasks to meet their individual clinical recovery needs.
After veterans complete the training process and graduate with their assistance dog, they can contact their dog supplier for ongoing advice and assistance. Veteran handlers also have a face to face check-in with a trainer every 6 months to see how things are going.
Veterans with a DVA provided assistance dog can be reimbursed for some of the costs needed to maintain the welfare of the dog.
Do you want to know more about the DVA Program?
For more information on the Program and how to apply, go to the DVA website Assistance dogs | Department of Veterans’ Affairs (dva.gov.au)
Our program aims to empower Veterans and First Responders with the tools to reclaim their place in the community, and rebuild their lives.
To date, with your support, we’ve helped create bonds for more than 130 Veterans and First Responders across Australia.
Integra Dog Training Program
Integra Dog Training is a reward-based core skills training program, it takes approximately 6-12 months to complete (however, it can take as long as is required to support the handler). The program has been designed to ensure that Veterans and First Responders successfully achieve their goals, while strengthening the team bond. Integra Dog Training builds the foundation necessary to successfully undertake The Public Access Test (PAT). Learn more, about The Public Access Test.
SOCIALISATION & BASIC ORIENTATION
The first stage of Integra’s Dog Training Program is to socialise a potential Handler with our dogs and to take the Handler through an induction program. This program introduces them to the responsibilities of owning and training a Service Dog.
LEVEL 1 – CORE SKILLS
Basic Obedience, Dressing your dog, Sit, Down, Stay, Stand, Heel, Recall, Present, Basic Retrieval.
LEVEL 2 – ESSENTIAL SKILLS
Handler confidence training with obstacles, Automatic sit stay, Take it, Leave it, Accepting a friendly stranger, Politely accepting petting, Door exercises, Come when called, Safe vehicle load and unload, Positioning dog under chair, Reaction to high distraction behaviours, Managing distractions.
LEVEL 3 – ADVANCED SKILLS
Loose dog exercises, Walking through a crowd, Reaction to passing a dog, off leash recall, Stand for examination, Accepting a friendly Stranger, Walking through a doorway with a dog present, Come when called off leash, Meet and greet (dog to dog interactions), Using travelators, escalators and elevators, Requested empathy, Advanced retrieval, Personal space buffering.
We train both Veteran or First Responder and dog as one unified team, creating a powerful bond based on trust and mutual service.
FAQ
- If you are not fully sponsored, either through DVA or an alternate sponsor you may need to contribute between $3,000 – $5,000 for the supply of the dog, training and ongoing support costs.
- Integra, while a small, not for profit organisation, will always endeavour to support Veterans and First Responders in need on a case by case basis.
- If you are a ADF Veteran you can apply through the DVA PAD program.
- If you are a Veteran or First Responder who is ineligible or unwilling to apply for the DVA program you may apply directly to Integra.
- To contribute to your costs you may wish to approach your organisation, insurer or staff associations, in the case of First Responders, or seek corporate sponsorship support.
- Integra is always willing to discuss support options with individuals on a case-by-case basis.
- If you are a Veteran or First Responder that meets the requirements outlined in the ‘How to Apply’ section above, you are eligible to be considered for the placement of an Integra Assistance Dog.
Your commitment is to ensure you:
- have a safe home environment and suitable space for the dog to secure it from theft or loss
- have the time to commit to the structured training of your Labrador dog
- are emotionally and physically resilient enough to take on the responsibilities of providing for the welfare of your dog, and
- if applying without a sponsor, are in a financial position to contribute to the costs ($3,000 to $5,000) of your training fees for the dog and for contributing to the veterinary care and support of your trainee Assistance Dog
- Integra provides Labrador or Labrador x Retriever breeds.
- Integra does not provide non-allergenic dogs or small breed dogs.
- Once your application is approved, it usually takes up to 6 months to provide a suitable dog and a further 6 – 12 months to complete training and the Public Access Test.
- Yes, on occasions Integra has worked with Handlers to assess and train their existing dogs to meet the requirements of an Assistance Dog.
- Integra is unable to train existing dogs under the DVA PAD program.
- Integra’s training involves placing the dog with the Veteran or First Responder (Handler). Our Trainers work directly with the Handler and their dog.
- The program is structured and works through four phases:
- Socialisation and Basis Orientation
- Core Skills
- Essential Skills
- Advanced Skills
- For further details on each phase please go to Our Program