The Process

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• Be 17 years of age or older
• Have a diagnosed physical and/or psychosocial disability
• Have a healthcare professional (e.g. doctor, psychiatrist) willing to complete a section on your application form 
• Willing and able to provide a current National Criminal History Check 
• Willing and able to participate in handler training prior to placement of a dog (online and in-person with us or one of our training partners)
• Fully committed to undertaking a two-week training and handover period to ensure a smooth transition. Usually, this will happen in SEQ, however, we try to do this in your hometown if at the time it is feasible for Endex. 
• Be aware that if you are successful, it may take up to 3 years before a suitable dog is ready for placement. 

• Complete in full and return the application form found on the Forms page to info@endexaustralia.org.au
• Ensure you have had your healthcare professional complete their section in full
• We use this information to understand how a Service Dog may support you and if our program is the right program for you
• Submitting an application does not guarantee a dog will be placed with you

• We aim to advise within 2 weeks of receiving your application form whether or not you will progress to an interview. 
• If your application is progressing to the next stage, we will contact you to schedule a face to face or virtual interview (depending on your location) and you will be asked to provide a recent National Police Check and photo ID, prior to the interview.
• The interview allows us to tell you more about the process and program so that you know what to expect, should you be successful. 
• The interview gives us opportunity to get to know you better and to learn more about your daily life, to ensure the most suitable pairing for both applicant and Service Dog. We encourage the applicant to bring a family member or support person. 

You may be invited to complete additional assessments. This helps us to:

• Understand your lifestyle and daily environment.
• Confirm suitability for an Endex Service Dog partnership. 
• Begin preparing the right training plan for a future match. 
• This is not a guarantee of placement – it’s part of ensuring the best outcome for both applicants and the Service Dogs. 
• We aim to notify within 1 month of the interview of the application outcome. 

There is no waitlist or first-come-first-served approach. Instead, we carefully match each dog to the person they are best suited to assist. This ensures:

• A strong bond between you and your dog
• The right temperament and task training for your needs
• The greatest chance of long-term success and well-being for both handler and dog 
• You will be notified via phone and email if a dog has been identified as a suitable match for you. At this time, you will be given an approximate timeframe for when the 2 week Team Training will occur. We aim to give applicants at least 3 months notice. 

• You will be invited to spend 2 weeks with the Service Dog and the Endex Service Dogs team to participate in a structured training and bonding program. This will give you, the handler, guidance and training on how to work successfully with the dog in public and at home. 
• Toward the end of the 2 week program, you and your Service Dog will complete a Public Access Test. Although your Service Dog will have already passed this test multiple times during training, this final assessment focuses on your ability to confidently handle and communicate with your dog in public settings. It ensures you’re both ready to work as a team in public areas before heading home together.

Regular Check-Ins
Endex Service Dogs will conduct scheduled virtual and/or in-person check-ins to address challenges, celebrate progress, and provide tailored training advice.

Six-Month Review & Ownership Transfer
For the first six months, your Service Dog remains the property of Endex Service Dogs. During this period, we offer comprehensive support and assess the partnership. At six months, a Public Access Test will be conducted in your local area. If the partnership is deemed successful and mutually agreed upon, ownership will be officially transferred to you.

Ongoing Accreditation
To maintain your dog’s accreditation, quarterly self-assessments and videos are required during the first year. Annual Public Access Tests are required for the life of the partnership to ensure public access compliance and effectiveness.

Lifelong Support
We remain committed to supporting every Endex team for the life of the partnership. Whether you need help with training, behaviour, or public access, we’re here to help — always.

Canine Retirement
When retirement approaches, you may choose to keep your dog as a pet or a family member may take ownership of the dog for retirement. If this is not possible or in the best interest of the dog, Endex will gladly welcome them back to enjoy a comfortable, well-deserved retirement as part of our Honoured Service program.