Unit 1. Work Health and Safety (WHS) in the Assistance Animal Industry

Workplace health and safety (WHS) is a fundamental component of professional occupational therapy practice and underpins the delivery of safe, ethical and high-quality services. Occupational Therapists (OTs) working with assistance animals encounter diverse practice environments, including hospitals, schools, workplaces, aged care facilities, disability services, community settings and clients’ homes. Each environment presents unique hazards and risks that must be identified, assessed and managed to protect the health, safety and wellbeing of clients, practitioners, assistance animals and the broader community.

For OTs working in assistance animal practice, workplace health and safety extends beyond traditional occupational risks. It encompasses the complex interactions between humans, animals and the environments in which they work together. Effective WHS requires consideration of client factors such as disability, health status and functional capacity; animal factors including behaviour, training, welfare and fitness for work; environmental risks ranging from public access settings to home environments; and organisational responsibilities relating to governance, legislation and quality improvement. Importantly, workplace health and safety should not create unnecessary barriers to participation but instead facilitate safe, meaningful and inclusive engagement in everyday occupations.

This unit provides a comprehensive overview of workplace health and safety principles relevant to Occupational Therapists working with assistance animals. Students will examine the Australian legislative framework, organisational responsibilities, hazard identification, risk assessment, incident management, emergency preparedness, consultation processes and continuous quality improvement. Throughout the unit, emphasis is placed on balancing risk management with person-centred, neuroaffirming and trauma-informed practice, while recognising the welfare of assistance animals as an integral component of safe and ethical service delivery.

By the end of this unit, students will understand how workplace health and safety contributes to effective clinical decision-making, organisational governance and professional accountability. They will be equipped to apply evidence-informed WHS principles across a range of practice settings, promoting safe, inclusive and sustainable assistance animal partnerships while supporting the health, safety and wellbeing of all those involved.