Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) services are generally offered to participants who have an interest in engaging in a rural/natural setting and learning alongside animals. This increases the level of engagement in the learning process. EAL is experiential learning with horses, where participants learn about themselves and learn valuable life skills with the support of horses. Removing the need for in-depth cognitive processes, makes this approach much more effective for a wider range of people with disabilities as they are able to learn in a way that is relevant for their capabilities. EAL providers offer social-emotional skills building services and programs that focus on increasing clients’ quality of life, through the development of skills in key areas such as relationships, social and communication skills, motor skills, executive functions, emotion management and independence.
From a NDIS perspective, we are providing social-emotional learning, psychoeducation, life skill development, human services, with horses as supports and assistants. These services are targeted interventions, that systematically address participant goals in a way that is accessible, meaningful and engaging for the NDIS participant, and builds their skills, so they can increase their capacity to manage more independently in relationships and out in the community.
We provide ‘Social-emotional learning and Capacity Building with horses’
We provide ‘Specialised social-emotional learning, psychoeducational, personal or professional development, skills building, capacity building and support services with horses as an adjunct, support and specific mechanism to deliver social-emotional learning (SEL), skills building and psychoeducational services.
The Support items and relevant NDIS codes are related to the following service-areas:
Core – Assistance with social, economic and community participation
Community, social and recreational activities
Capacity Building - increase social and community participation :
Development of daily care and life skills,
Innovative community participation
Community participation activities
As an EAL service provider, we are providing “social-emotional learning, psychoeducation, life skill development” human services, with horses as supports and assistants. These services fall inside the scope of practice of ‘education’ and ‘psychoeducation’.
We would require a current service agreement in place for each NDIS participant, that is -
a) signed by the participant/participant’s representative
b) sent to the Plan Manager after being signed to ensure funds are available and the support categories agreed to are in the participant’s plan.
The Service Agreement is to include the following;
The start and finish date of the service agreement.
An outline of the supports being provided (as described above)
Our service agreement may include “social-emotional learning, psychoeducation, life skill development”
The cost of the supports
Details of the cost per hour of the support being provided, including a breakdown of direct support to the participant and ‘non face-to-face’ support.
Detail the total number of hours of support and the total cost of the support, for the duration of the service agreement.
Details of the responsibilities of the provider and the participant in the service agreement and how the participant can cancel the service agreement
The dispute resolution process.