What We do
The Working Animals Federation of Australia (WAFA) supports the growth, safety, and integrity of the working animal sector. We bring people together, raise standards, and create opportunities for meaningful change. WAFA will:
- Offer voluntary credentials for professionals, including trainers, assessors, allied health professionals and training organisations — promoting trust, recognition, and high standards.
- Maintain a set of professional codes, charters, guidelines, policies, procedures, and professional standards which form the basis of our ethical review system, helping to safeguard both animal welfare and human rights.
- Provide professional tools and guidance, including policy templates, best-practice resources, and training frameworks.
- Support public access testing through a network of WAFA-credentialed professionals to ensure safe and consistent practice.
- Maintain a national database of WAFA-credentialed professionals, endorsed qualifications, continuing professional development (CPD) courses, and qualified supervisors.
- Run sector-wide projects and programs, such as public education campaigns, national events, and community resources.
- Develop and share publications, including fact sheets, discussion papers, and research reports that reflect the diverse voices of our sector.
- Provide opportunities for various professionals, including handlers, trainers, assessors, allied health professionals, and training organisations to share their knowledge and experience through our platform.
- Promote evidence-based practice through data collection, research partnerships, and support for innovation.
- Encourage collaboration, bringing together handlers, professionals, researchers, advocates, and policymakers to build shared solutions.
- Support inclusive, handler-led training pathways, including self-training, hybrid, and community-based models.
- Connect people with supports, including linking handlers to qualified professionals or peer mentors.
- Provide individual and systemic advocacy, helping address discrimination, improve access, and shape better policies.
- Facilitate accessible learning opportunities, including webinars, peer mentoring, and continuing professional development.
- Centre lived experience, especially of people with disability, First Nations communities, and others often excluded from mainstream systems.
- Uphold animal welfare and ethical practice as core values in everything we do.
- Operate transparently and independently, without bias, commercial interests, or political agendas.
- Support sustainability and workforce development, working toward long-term capacity building, training pipelines, and professional recognition.
What We Don’t Do
WAFA supports high standards, ethics, and collaboration — but we also respect individual choice and stay within our role.
- We don’t recommend or endorse specific trainers, assessors, or organisations — we remain independent and impartial.
- We don’t limit support to paid members — our mission is inclusive, and many of our resources are free or low-cost.
- We don’t require anyone to join — our credentials, programs, and tools are 100% voluntary.
- We don’t certify working animals directly — instead, we support standards and professional public access testing through recognised assessors.
- We don’t replace government regulation or legal advice — we complement official systems with professional frameworks and advocacy.
- We don’t interfere in disputes between individuals or organisations unless they involve a breach of our ethical standards.
- We don’t provide direct training services or funding — but we connect handlers with qualified professionals and useful resources.
- We don’t compromise on animal welfare or handler rights — both are central to our purpose.
- We don’t tell people what breed or type of animal to use — we support diverse needs, handler-led decisions, and flexibility in training approaches.
- We don’t police informal, emerging, or grassroots models — we offer guidance and support for those who choose to engage.
- We don’t issue legal identification cards or documents — our credentials are professional, not legal proof of access rights.
- We don’t restrict self-trained or owner-trained assistance animals — we advocate for safe, ethical, handler-led pathways.
- We don’t represent pets or companion animals — our focus is on purpose-trained working animals.
- We don’t make NDIS or funding decisions — but we support individuals through information, advocacy, and referrals.
- We don’t make AHRC or discrimination decisions — but we support individuals through information, advocacy, and referrals.
- We don’t charge hidden fees or create unnecessary barriers — we are a not-for-profit committed to access and fairness.
- We don’t speak over people with lived experience — we prioritise and amplify the voices of handlers, trainers, assessors, and people with disability in all we do.