{"id":273925,"date":"2025-07-03T13:52:58","date_gmt":"2025-07-03T03:52:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.petcloud.com.au\/d\/?p=273925"},"modified":"2025-08-31T16:44:04","modified_gmt":"2025-08-31T06:44:04","slug":"emergency-pet-boarding-ndis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.petcloud.com.au\/d\/blog\/emergency-pet-boarding-ndis\/","title":{"rendered":"Including Pets in Crisis Planning and Transitional Supports"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

As of March 31, 2025, the NDIS supports 717,001 people<\/strong> with a disability in Australia, according to the NDIS<\/a>.  There are around 4 million people who live with a disability of some kind in Australia.  Assuming pet ownership rates among NDIS participants are roughly similar to the general population approximately 494,730 NDIS Participants own pets. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, only 23% of Participants have paid employment according to the NDIS<\/a>.  If a Participant is hired for a job, but makes over $204 per week, Centrelink deducts 50% of every extra dollar. So if a NDIS Participant needs hospital treatment, they have no financial capacity to privately pay for pet boarding \u2013 even though its their legal duty of care<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Participants who receive the Disability Support Pension may receive $1,002 dollars per fortnight.  Rent might be $1000 per fortnight.  This means they still have no money left over from the DSP to be able to afford to care for a pet.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Should Participants have pets?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Solution isn’t to prevent Participants having pets. Multiple studies and research have proven that Pets -coupled with support, can achieve powerful outcomes for Participants such as increased confidence and independence, social participation and inclusion, and can also lead economic participation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So What is the Solution?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When preparing for NDIS Plan Reviews, Health Professionals, Local Area Coordinators, and Support Workers diligently assess needs around housing, therapy, assistive technology, transport, and informal supports. However, Pet Boarding<\/strong> needs to be factored in as an Ancillary to a major NDIS funded support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Two<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Oversights can result in unnecessary trauma, service disruption, and even NDIS participant disengagement. For many Australians living with disability, pets aren\u2019t just companions \u2014 they are a lifeline and for some Participants – their only family<\/strong>. When life circumstances abruptly change \u2014 whether due to a hospital admission, change of housing, respite stay, or crisis intervention \u2014 knowing their pet is safe can significantly ease a participant\u2019s mental load.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is it Allowable under the NDIS?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yes under certain circumstances – In the context of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) Rules<\/a>, (Part 5, Section 5.2 (b) General criteria for supports include: \u201cCosts that are ancillary to another support that is funded or provided under the participant\u2019s plan.\u201d It does require LAC pre-approval.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is not always free community pet support available, and Participants don’t always have family or friends they can rely on.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Request a free quote through PetCloud today<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Scenarios where Pet Boarding must be included as an Ancillary Support<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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  1. Hospital and Mental Health Admissions and Discharges
    <\/strong>Pets can\u2019t accompany participants into care facilities.     PetCloud<\/a> ensures they are looked after in private homes with compassion and at low cost.
    <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Transitional Housing or Crisis Accommodation<\/strong>
    <\/strong>When housing is disrupted, temporary boarding keeps pets safe and reduces stress during transitions.
    <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Respite or STA (Short-Term Accommodation)<\/strong>
    <\/strong>Many respite services are unable to cater to pets. Including boarding support allows participants to access respite without compromising pet safety.
    <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Domestic & Family Violence Situations<\/strong>
    <\/strong>Emergency boarding can be a key support that enables a participant to leave a harmful environment safely.
    <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
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    \"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Avoid Stress by factoring in Pets<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    All Pet Owners have a legal duty of care<\/a>, including Participants. Pets provide emotional regulation, social connection, routine, safety, and therapeutic comfort for many participants. In fact, many mental health treatment plans now formally recognise their pet as part of a person’s psychosocial environment and emotional support. Yet, when a Participant must suddenly relocate or is admitted for urgent psychiatric care, the question is often asked too late:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201cWhat will happen to my pet?\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    This uncertainty can lead to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n