Assistance animal organisations operate within diverse communities where staff, professionals, volunteers, handlers and advocates may hold a wide range of cultural, religious and spiritual identities.

Culture, religion and spirituality can influence how people understand:

• identity;
• family and community;
• health and wellbeing;
• disability;
• relationships;
• animals;
• professional interactions;
• ethical decision-making.

Creating an inclusive professional environment requires recognising that people may have different beliefs, traditions and values while still working together respectfully.

Cultural, religious and spiritual diversity does not mean that everyone within a group shares identical beliefs or practices.

Every person’s relationship with culture, religion and spirituality is individual.

Understanding Culture, Religion and Spirituality

Culture

Culture refers to the shared beliefs, values, practices, traditions, knowledge and experiences of a group of people.

Culture may influence:

• communication styles;
• family structures;
• celebrations;
• food practices;
• approaches to authority;
• relationships;
• understandings of wellbeing.

Culture may be connected to:

• nationality;
• ethnicity;
• ancestry;
• language;
• community;
• family history.

A person may identify with multiple cultures.

For example, someone may identify as:

• Australian;
• Welsh Australian;
• Aboriginal Australian;
• Chinese Australian;
• Lebanese Australian;
• Indian Australian;
• part of a multicultural family.

Cultural identity can be complex and may change throughout a person’s life.

Religion

Religion refers to organised systems of belief, practice and community connected to understandings of existence, meaning, morality and spirituality.

Religions may include:

• beliefs;
• sacred texts;
• rituals;
• traditions;
• places of worship;
• community practices.

People may actively practise a religion, identify culturally with a religion, or have a personal interpretation of religious beliefs.

For example, a person may identify as culturally Christian because of their family heritage while not actively attending church.

Spirituality

Spirituality refers to personal beliefs and experiences relating to meaning, purpose, connection and values.

Spirituality may or may not be connected to organised religion.

Some people find spirituality through:

• nature;
• relationships;
• meditation;
• creativity;
• cultural traditions;
• personal reflection.

Spiritual beliefs are personal and should not be assumed based on appearance, culture or background.

Why Culture, Religion and Spirituality Matter in Assistance Animal Organisations

Culture, religion and spirituality can influence how people understand:

• disability;
• support services;
• independence;
• animals;
• human–animal relationships;
• professional relationships.

For example:

A person’s cultural background may influence how they view asking for assistance.

A person’s religious beliefs may influence their relationship with animals.

A person’s spiritual beliefs may influence their understanding of wellbeing and connection.

Professionals should approach these differences with respect and curiosity rather than judgement.

Major Religious Traditions

The following provides an overview of some major religious traditions. This list is not exhaustive, and individuals within each tradition may have diverse beliefs and practices.

Christianity

Christianity is one of the world’s largest religions, centred on the life, teachings, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Major Christian traditions include:

Catholic Christianity

The Catholic Church is one of the largest Christian denominations globally.

Catholic traditions may include:

• the sacraments;
• Mass;
• prayer;
• connection to saints;
• the authority of the Pope.

Eastern Orthodox Christianity

Eastern Orthodox Christianity includes churches with traditions originating from early Christian communities in regions such as:

• Greece;
• Eastern Europe;
• the Middle East.

Practices often include:

• liturgy;
• icons;
• ancient traditions.

Protestant Christianity

Protestant Christianity includes many denominations that developed during the Reformation.

Examples include:

• Anglican;
• Lutheran;
• Baptist;
• Presbyterian;
• Methodist;
• Pentecostal;
• Reformed churches.

Anglican Christianity

Anglican Christianity developed from the Church of England.

In Australia, Anglican communities remain present through the Anglican Church of Australia.

However, people may also identify with Anglican traditions through family heritage even if they are not currently connected to an Australian Anglican community.

For example:

A person with Welsh ancestry may identify with traditions connected to the Church in Wales, which developed from the broader Anglican tradition, even if that specific church structure is not part of their current Australian community.

Cultural and family religious identity can continue across generations and migration.

Other Christian Traditions

Other Christian communities include:

• Seventh-day Adventist;
• Quaker (Religious Society of Friends);
• Salvation Army;
• Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS/Mormon);
• Jehovah’s Witnesses;
• Coptic Orthodox;
• Assyrian Church of the East;
• Armenian Apostolic Church;
• Uniting Church;
• Churches of Christ.

Islam

Islam is a monotheistic religion centred on belief in Allah and the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad.

Major branches include:

Sunni Islam

The largest branch of Islam globally.

Shia Islam

A major branch with distinct historical and theological traditions.

Islamic practices may include:

• prayer;
• fasting during Ramadan;
• charitable giving;
• community practices;
• dietary considerations.

Muslim communities are culturally diverse and include people from many regions and backgrounds.

Judaism

Judaism is one of the world’s oldest monotheistic religions.

Jewish traditions may include:

• Torah teachings;
• community practices;
• festivals;
• dietary practices;
• Sabbath observance.

Major Jewish movements include:

• Orthodox Judaism;
• Conservative Judaism;
• Reform Judaism;
• Progressive Judaism.

Jewish identity may include both religious and cultural connections.

Hinduism

Hinduism includes diverse spiritual traditions originating in South Asia.

Hindu beliefs and practices may include:

• concepts of dharma;
• karma;
• meditation;
• devotion;
• festivals;
• spiritual practices.

Hindu communities are diverse and include many different traditions and interpretations.

Buddhism

Buddhism is based on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha).

Major traditions include:

• Theravada Buddhism;
• Mahayana Buddhism;
• Vajrayana Buddhism.

Practices may include:

• meditation;
• mindfulness;
• ethical living;
• compassion practices.

Sikhism

Sikhism originated in the Punjab region of South Asia.

Sikh beliefs include:

• equality;
• service;
• community;
• devotion to one God.

Sikh communities may include practices such as:

• wearing articles of faith;
• community meals (langar);
• prayer.

Jainism

Jainism is an ancient Indian religion emphasising:

• non-violence (ahimsa);
• compassion;
• self-discipline;
• respect for living beings.

Baháʼí Faith

The Baháʼí Faith emphasises:

• unity of humanity;
• equality;
• peace;
• global cooperation.

Other Religious and Spiritual Traditions

There are many other religious and spiritual traditions worldwide, including:

• Shinto;
• Taoism;
• Confucian traditions;
• Zoroastrianism;
• Rastafari;
• Indigenous spiritual traditions;
• Pagan and modern earth-based spiritualities;
• Wicca;
• Animist traditions;
• Humanism;
• secular spirituality.

Some people may identify as:

• agnostic;
• atheist;
• non-religious;
• spiritual but not religious.

These identities should also be respected.

A person does not need to follow a religion to have meaningful values, ethics or spirituality.

Indigenous Spirituality and Connection to Country

For many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, spirituality is deeply connected with:

• Country;
• ancestors;
• stories;
• community;
• animals;
• land and waterways.

Indigenous spiritual traditions are diverse and vary between Nations.

They should not be treated as a single belief system.

Respectful practice involves recognising the importance of Country, cultural authority and community connections.

Religion, Animals and Assistance Animal Practice

Religious and cultural beliefs may influence people’s relationships with animals.

Different communities may have different understandings of:

• animals in the home;
• cleanliness;
• working animals;
• companionship;
• spiritual relationships with animals.

Professionals should avoid assumptions.

For example:

A person’s religion does not automatically determine whether they are comfortable with an assistance animal.

Individual beliefs and circumstances should always be considered.

Religion and Workplace Inclusion

Inclusive workplaces recognise that employees may:

• observe religious holidays;
• require time for religious practices;
• have dietary considerations;
• dress according to religious beliefs;
• hold personal values influenced by faith.

Respectful workplaces consider reasonable flexibility where possible.

Examples may include:

• accommodating religious holidays;
• providing appropriate spaces where feasible;
• avoiding assumptions about availability;
• respecting religious clothing and practices.

Avoiding Assumptions About Religion and Spirituality

People may experience exclusion when others assume:

• everyone shares the same beliefs;
• a person’s appearance reveals their religion;
• all members of a religion think the same way;
• religious beliefs prevent professionalism;
• non-religious people lack values.

A person’s faith or spirituality does not determine:

• competence;
• intelligence;
• professionalism;
• ability to contribute.

Intersectionality and Religion

Religion and spirituality often intersect with other aspects of identity, including:

• ethnicity;
• culture;
• disability;
• gender;
• sexuality;
• migration history.

For example:

A migrant employee may experience assumptions based on both culture and religion.

A disabled person from a religious minority may experience barriers related to both accessibility and cultural understanding.

Intersectional practice recognises these overlapping experiences.

Creating Inclusive Assistance Animal Organisations

Organisations can support cultural, religious and spiritual inclusion by:

• respecting different beliefs;
• challenging stereotypes;
• supporting respectful communication;
• allowing people to express identity safely;
• recognising diverse perspectives.

Professionals should approach differences with:

• curiosity;
• humility;
• respect;
• willingness to learn.

Key Practice Principle

Culture, religion and spirituality are deeply personal aspects of identity.

Inclusive assistance animal organisations recognise:

different beliefs + different traditions + different experiences = stronger communities.

The goal is not:

“How do we make everyone follow the same values?”

The goal is:

“How do we create professional environments where people with different beliefs, cultures and experiences can work together with respect?”

Inclusive practice is built through:

cultural humility + respect + curiosity + understanding + inclusion.