Tasmania's trauma survivors are cut off from adequate mental health resources by more than just the Bass Strait, a mental health expert has said.
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Emotional assistance dogs have been widely recognised as hugely beneficial to those recovering from post-traumatic stress disorder, but in Tasmania they are not yet afforded the same freedoms guide dogs have long held.
Launceston psychologist Bev Ernst said Tasmania simply does not have legislation in place to recognise emotional assistance dogs unless they are accredited with specific organisations - which can cost about $35,000.
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Ms Ernst said that without that legislation, trauma survivors' ability to live their lives with their dogs at their side is limited.
Currently, guide dogs and other service dogs are able to visit national parks and be present in restaurants and in the cabin of airplanes, but most emotional assistance dogs are not.
"If we had proper legislation around that there could be an education campaign that emotional assistance dogs are equal to guide dogs," Ms Ernst said.
"There is a perception in the public that emotional assistance dogs aren't equal."
She said if there was the appropriate legislation in place, a public education campaign could be mounted to ensure the community is aware of the importance of emotional assistance dogs.
She also said there are many avenues for training emotional assistance dogs and it need not be prohibitively expensive.
"It shouldn't matter where the dog gets the training from, as long as they have the proper vest."
Burnie PTSD survivor Grant Parke trained his own emotional assistance dog Loui through a European organisation, and said he has been lobbying the state government to change the legislation.
"Tasmania lacks the post-traumatic stress dog laws and there are no assessors for them, so we have to go to the mainland to get it done," Mr Parke said.
He said the issue becomes even more complex when attempting to travel to other states where the laws differ again.
Disability services minister Roger Jaensch said he is aware of the issue and the Department of Communities will undertake a review of the legislation.
"I certainly appreciate... the importance of emotional assistance dogs for those who need them," Mr Jaensch said.
"This work will be framed in the context of broader work being undertaken nationally and will thereby inform Tasmania's response to the national framework."
To read more about Mr Parke's journey with Loui and PTSD, read this week's Weekender Cover Story.