Assistance Dogs International announces expanded Oceania and Asia Region
September 22 2025 — Assistance Dogs International (ADI), the world’s leading standards-setter and accreditation body for training assistance dogs, is excited to announce expanded regional support for assistance dog organizations across Asia, Australia and New Zealand.
The newly formed Oceania and Asia Regional Council means assistance dog organizations in Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, China and other Asian countries will expand their reach, encourage collaboration, and offer the same high level of support as ADI members across the world.
The newly expanded region brings together 20 accredited and candidate member organizations in five countries, with Japan Service Dog Association and Hong Kong Seeing Eye joining the regional council. The new Oceania and Asia Regional Council will meet in-person for the first time in Melbourne in November, when it will also host a training workshop and discuss new advocacy, membership and marketing strategic priorities.
“The expanded Oceania and Asia Regional Council will boost our efforts to increase membership across the region,” says Oceania and Asia Regional Chair Damian Papps, CEO of See Differently in Australia. “We extend a warm welcome to our colleagues from ADI members in Asia and look forward to working with them to strengthen our work for all assistance dog users across the region.”
“ADI’s expanded presence in the Oceania and Asia region underlines our determination to provide inclusive support for assistance dog teams, trainers, volunteers and staff,” adds ADI Executive Director David Locklin. “Regional councils play an important role in building relationships between member organizations and in advocating on behalf of the clients we serve.”
ENDS
About Assistance Dogs International (ADI)
ADI is the world’s leading standards-setter and accreditation body for training assistance dogs. As a worldwide coalition of more than 200 non-profit member organizations spread across five continents, ADI is the world’s most diverse and inclusive assistance dog certification and standard-setting body. For more information visit https://assistancedogsinternational.org