The Centre began Assistance Dogs Australia's `Pups in Prison' program on Friday, which involves inmates, staff and local community volunteers training Labrador and Golden Retriever puppies to be able to assist people with a physical disability.

ADA is a not-for-profit organisation that trains puppies to help enhance the quality of life and improve the level of independence for people with a disability.

Fulham Correctional Centre general manager Troy Ittensohn said the centre's involvement in the program was "an example of what a correctional facility can do for the community''.

Mr Ittensohn welcomed the four puppies, Fever, Friday, Farley and Faren to the centre and said many inmates were keen to be involved in the program.

"Inmates have the dogs with them 24/7 and are in charge of their obedience, grooming and caring for them,'' he said.

"They have a primary and secondary carer, as well as a trained staff member; so each dog has a team of people looking after them and there is a high level of interaction between inmates and staff.''

The puppies are trained by the inmates for 18 months and are then placed with a person in need.

"The inmates seem to have really taken to the puppies already,'' Mr Ittensohn said.

"This is a living thing they are responsible for and having something to care for gives them a sense of accountability.''

ADA chief executive Richard Lord said the program, which began in New South Wales and Queensland, was going well.

He said the dogs were trained to assist people who had had traumatic accidents or who were born with developmental problems and were confined to a wheelchair.

"You could imagine how frustrating it would be in a wheelchair and having to have someone look after you all the time,'' Mr Lord said.

According to Mr Lord, the assistance dogs performed a range of tasks to give people with disabilities back their independence.

"It can help them get back into work, study ... or even just to go down to the shops,'' he said.

"These dogs can do amazing things like opening and closing doors, pick up things and press the button at the traffic lights.

"They are also a great safety device.

"If people don't have a carer at night, the dogs are able to raise the alarm to neighbours or find a phone for the person.

"But mostly they provide companionship.''

According to Mr Lord, each puppy required about a $25,000 investment for their training, but were given away for free to the those who needed them most.