Since being brought home as a pup, Toby has completed hundreds of training hours through psychiatric assistance dog association Mind Dog Australia.
While Sally has no doubts about Toby’s effectiveness, she was met with scepticism when she requested funding for the dog’s training and upkeep through the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
The agency that administers the scheme knocked back Sally’s request, but she appealed, leading to a two-year legal battle.
Sally’s lawyer Lucy Geddes, from the Public Interest Advocacy Centre, said the case highlighted “significant problems” with the National Disability Insurance Agency’s (NDIA) guidelines for psychiatric assistance dog funding.
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