Stephen getting out and about with one of the assistance puppies on their journey to becoming fully accredited assistance dogs. Photo: Supplied.
When Shellharbour animal-lover Stephen joined a training program with assistance puppies, he expected to learn about caring for dogs.
Instead, he found new friendships, confidence and a renewed belief in himself.
The Connections Program has spent the past year helping people with disabilities build independence and life skills, while also supporting assistance puppies on their journey to becoming fully accredited assistance dogs.
Co-created by Happy Paws Happy Hearts (HPHH) and Assistance Dogs Australia (ADA), it’s now welcoming enrolments for its next two intakes at their Puppy Kindergarten in Waterfall.
Within the first 10 minutes of Stephen’s first session, his carer Jay noticed him quickly relax and gain confidence.
“I was a little nervous meeting new people, but once I met them I quickly felt accepted,” Stephen said.
During the 12-week program, Stephen gained hands-on experience in dog training, canine health, puppy care and enrichment activities – milestones that strengthened his skills and self-belief.
“The first thing that stood out was how amazing PJ [HPHH program trainer Penelope De Clouett] was and how the learning modules were taught and catered for us participants,” he said.
“My favourite parts were interacting with the dogs, and the group. Those interpersonal connections were really special.
“Once I achieved the commands and all the skills I learnt, I felt very proud.”
For Stephen and his support worker Jay, it was an opportunity to grow as a team or, as Stephen put it, “the dream team”.
Penelope said Stephen and Jay were amazing partners for one another and “a true demonstration of ‘it takes two’”.
By the program’s end, Stephen had not only gained new friendships and practical skills but also a renewed belief in himself.
“I feel I’ve developed a lot with things I never thought I could do, and it’s impacted me in a positive way,” Stephen said.
“I’ll always remember the friends I made, the skills I learnt, PJ and everything she taught me, and Irvan — my favourite dog.”
Stephen said he now had a clear goal for his future, hoping to expand on his animal training skills and attend an advanced training course, volunteer at shelters, and one day work in the animal care industry.
Penelope said the program attracted many NDIS participants who had carers or support workers with them.
Stephen during the 12-week puppy training program Connections. Photo: Supplied.
“I think this is an opportunity for them to be the carers and the support workers with the puppies, and it’s incredibly empowering for them, and their confidence just blossoms,” she said.
She said during the past 12 months, they had also attracted a lot of young people experiencing school refusal.
“This has been a really great bridging program to get them back into an educational setting,” she said.
“It’s amazing. It’s real goosebumps kind of stuff when you look at participants from the start of the program to the finish.
“By week 12, they’re just different people.”
Although, it meant it was hard when week 12 rolled around.
“Usually it’s not just tears from me, but tears from them as well,” she said, with a laugh.
“It’s why we have a very high number of participants signing up straight away to join programs.”
She said at other Happy Paws sites they were working on 18-month minimum rolling programs that branched into broader animal topics.
“We do have a lot during the program who realise, actually, I think I want to do something like this as a career,” she said.
Penelope said the program was just as beneficial for the puppies.
“They’re getting to meet such a wide range of people,” she said.
“We’ve had puppies see wheelchairs for the first time with our participants and that’s really great to get them used to being around people every single week who are in a wheelchair or who use a walking aide.”
She said puppies also adapted to participants’ abilities, such as when participants without full movement in their hands were rewarding the puppies.
“For the puppies, it’s definitely having that ability to change how they feed or positioning based on the needs of participants,” she said.
“So it’s a big part of the social element.”
To learn more about The Connections Program, contact HPHH on 1300 077 984 or email [email protected]. For those interested in joining, head to the website to submit an enquiry.
