The animal-assisted education program from MacKillop Family Services aims to help young people re-engage with their studies and fulfil their potential.
MacKillop is calling on the community to support the Paw Pals program in its current appeal so it can reach more students. The program costs $220 for a one-to-one session or $374 for a school group session reaching up to eight students.
The agency, which specialises in trauma-informed services for children, offers trained therapy dogs and program facilitators to support young people struggling in mainstream schools.
“Children respond to a compassionate wet nose,” laughed Paw Pals Ambassador Lara Shannon, who hosts three canine shows on Australian TV. “The program is trauma-informed and much more than bringing a dog to school, but if you’ve ever melted when looking at a pair of soft brown eyes, you will understand why Paw Pals works. Dogs have an innate sense of responding to human emotion, body language and needs. When children meet MacKillop’s Paw Pals, it’s the start of getting back in touch with their education.”
Operating for six years now, the Paw Pals program has grown to 20 therapy dogs and 15 facilitators supporting students struggling across Melbourne, Geelong, Bendigo and Ballarat schools.
“With the support from the community, we have been able to help over 1,300 kids,” said Brona Walsh, MacKillop’s Education and Engagement Program Director. “With their ongoing support, we hope to be able to meet current demand, which far exceeds capacity, and continue to grow the program.”
For 15-year-old Caleb (name changed for privacy), who lives with trauma and autism, the classroom was a sensory landmine until he met Paw Pal Luna and facilitator Mel. Watching Luna’s body language and what the facilitator did to help her rest and refocus helped Caleb understand how to deal with stress and calm down.
“Paw Pals helps to improve students’ confidence, self-regulation and behavioural management skills,” explained Walsh, “and for them, it begins by interacting with the dogs.”
Last year, Ballarat Community Health funded seven Paw Pals programs in six different schools, tailored to the specific needs of students at each school.
“The Paw Pals program has continuously shown over the years to be effective in addressing student chronic absenteeism and disengagement, essentially with the most vulnerable students,” said Isla Ford, Ballarat Community Health Coordinator. “The dedication of the Paw Pals team, combined with the unique and evidence-based approach, makes this program an invaluable resource for schools and youth services. I highly recommend Paw Pals to any school or organisation looking to enhance student wellbeing and engagement.”
The program counts on community funding through the annual Paw Pals Appeal. Petstock Foundation is a major partner of the appeal, joined this year by supporting partners Catholic Development Fund, Queensland Gives, iCare Staffing and Woolworths at Work.
Those who wish to learn more and support the program can visit pawpalsappeal.org.au.
Read more: Paw Pals shows ‘Pawsitive’ support for kids who struggle with learning
Geraldine is currently the Content Producer for Third Sector, an Akolade channel. Throughout her career, she has written for various industries and international audiences. Her love for writing extends beyond the corporate world, as she also works as a volunteer writer at her local church. Aside from writing, she is also fond of joining fun runs and watching musicals.
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