Access Dog Guidelines

A number of visitors to Hastings are vision or hearing impaired, and to improve their independence, have an access dog (also referred to as guide dogs) by their side.

To raise awareness of access dog rights, below are some points from Guide Dogs Victoria to help shop owners and assistants identify access dogs, as well as the rights of customers with access dogs.

Legal obligations

In accordance with Victorian State Laws, a person who is blind, vision or hearing impaired accompanied by an Access/Guide Dog is permitted to:

• Travel on any form of public transport including taxis, buses, trams and trains (Access/Guide Dogs are trained to sit quietly at their handler's feet and will not disturb or lick the driver)
• Enter any public place;
• Visit any theatre, and;
• Eat in any restaurant, and shop in any store (including supermarkets and food stores).

It is generally discriminatory and unlawful for anyone to:

• Attempt to deny these rights to a blind, vision or hearing impaired person solely because he or she is accompanied by an Access/Guide Dog or to treat a person with an impairment less favourably because of the fact they possess or are accompanied by an Access/Guide Dog

The laws also apply to people training Access Dogs and Guide Dogs, but not to Access/Guide Dog puppies.

The Relevant Laws

The rights of Access/Guide Dog users are covered under Section 7 of the Domestic Animals Act 1994 and Section 9(1) of the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 - both of which override the Health Act which prohibits dogs from entering food premises. Compliance with these laws will ensure that owners/managers of public facilities will avoid prosecution and/or embarrassment resulting from refusal of Access/Guide Dog access.

Identifying an Access/Guide Dog

Access Dogs and Guide Dogs are trained in a variety of breeds, but all will have some form of visual identification you can check for.

Visual identification
If you're not sure that a dog brought into your store is a guide dog/assistance dog, look for the following identification:

• An assistance dog badge or medallion (displayed, for example, on its harness, collar, lead, coat, cape or vest);
• An assistance dog harness;
• A coat, cape or vest clearly identifying them as an assistance animal;
• An assistance animal identity card, pass, or permit (displayed, for example, on its harness, collar, lead, coat, cape or vest).

More Information

For further information please visit http://www.guidedogsvictoria.com.au.