- Cook Labor Government commits $240,000 to expand Psychiatric Assistance Dogs (PADs) for veterans
- Program will deliver three additional trained assistance dogs, bringing the total to seven
- PADs provide critical wellbeing support for veterans, particularly those experiencing post-traumatic stress
- Cook Labor Government committed to supporting the wellbeing of Western Australians
Three more highly trained assistance dogs will join a groundbreaking program supporting veterans mental health thanks to a significant funding commitment from the Cook Labor Government.
The $240,000 in funding will support the training and delivery of three more Psychiatric Assistance Dogs (PADs).
PADs are highly skilled assistance animals that provide daily support to veterans experiencing mental health challenges, including post-traumatic stress.
This expansion brings the total number of dogs in the program to seven.
Delivered in partnership with the Returned & Services League of Australia – WA Branch (RSL WA) and specialist trainer Kaizen K9, the WA PADs program sources suitable dogs and trains them to provide tailored support to veterans.
RSL WA carefully matches veterans with dogs and supports each pairing to ensure a strong, lasting bond.
The program was strengthened during the COVID-19 pandemic, when access to assistance dogs became more difficult for veterans.
In response, the Cook Labor Government committed $480,000 to establish a local pipeline of trained dogs, ensuring eligible veterans could receive support when they need it most.
To date, three veterans have been paired with PADs and are already experiencing the life-changing benefits of having a trained assistance dog.
This latest investment will enable three more veterans to access that same support, underscoring the Cook Labor Government’s confidence in RSL WA’s delivery of veteran services and Kaizen K9’s expertise in training high-quality assistance dogs.
As stated by Veterans Minister David Michael:
“Supporting the wellbeing of our veterans is a responsibility we take seriously, and this investment ensures more Western Australians who have served our nation have access to tailored mental health support.
“Psychiatric Assistance Dogs can be life-changing, providing constant, practical support and companionship to veterans living with the impacts of their service. This additional $240,000 investment will help deliver more highly trained assistance dogs to veterans who need them most.
“Through strong partnerships with RSL WA and Kaizen K9, we are ensuring veterans are not only matched with the right assistance dog but also supported every step of the way to build a lasting and meaningful bond.”
