DVA Psychiatric Assistance Dog (PAD) Services Program

This procurement will establish a panel of Contractors who will support delivery of the DVA’s Psychiatric Assistance Dog (PAD) Program. The services include the supply of a Dog/Puppy trained to support the specific needs of an eligible Veteran and ongoing training and support to maintain the Veteran/PAD team public access accreditation.

DVA is here to support those who serve or have served in the defence of our nation and commemorate their service and sacrifice. Some veterans, experience mental health conditions, including Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The PAD Program is offered to eligible veterans diagnosed with PTSD as an adjunct to therapy and in support of recovery toward a better quality of life.

DVA provides PADs to eligible Veterans as an adjunct to the treatment and management of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PADs are trained to perform tasks that contribute to the clinical recovery goals of their Veteran handler. This could include detecting signs of distress in their Veteran handler and performing specific tasks to help alleviate those symptoms. For example, waking a veteran experiencing a night terror, or nuzzling their Veteran handler to distract them from emotionally disabling symptoms.

DVA requires the provision of Psychiatric Assistance Dog Services to be provided to eligible Veterans located in Australia. The Service is provided under the Rehabilitation Appliances Program (RAP) – Psychiatric Assistance Dog Program (PAD Program) within DVA’s legislation: the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 (VEA) and the Rehabilitation Compensation Act 2004 (MRCA).

This procurement activity will establish a panel of contractors to deliver the program. DVA currently has contracts with three Contractors who have supported the successful placement of more than 200 psychiatric assistance dogs with eligible Veterans across Australia. These contracts cease at the end of April 2024. The intention is to attract and contract with additional Contractors to broaden the reach of the Program and provide capacity to meet increasing service demands.

The Service DVA is seeking is comprised of the following deliverables:

• Veteran suitability assessment for the supply of a Psychiatric Assistance Dog (PAD)
• Training of the PAD and the Veteran handler
• Periodic Veteran Handler/Psychiatric Assistance Dog checks
• An annual Public Access Test (PAT) for the Veteran/PAD team
• Ongoing training and support services to maintain the Veteran/PAD team accreditation.