Guide dog graduates take the next step to helping our community
A group of 13 dogs, many assisted by WA Government funding, will soon be serving our community after graduating from their Guide and Assistance Dog training.
The achievement was celebrated at a graduation ceremony at Optus Stadium after the completion of their two-year training course.
The graduates included five Guide Dogs and one Facility Dog that will undertake therapy tasks in facilities such as hospitals, courts and schools.
A further seven graduated as ‘Brood Dogs’ who have been selected for their natural temperament and trainability to breed future generations of Guide, Assistance and Facility Dogs.
Guide Dogs WA has been providing Guide and Assistance Dogs to West Australians for more than 70 years. Today, with the help of more than 240 volunteers, Guide Dogs WA is the only state-based organisation that breeds, raises and trains Guide, Assistance and Facility Dogs for West Australians in need.
The dogs play an important role in empowering people to lead lives of greater independence and inclusion. As well as providing support for people who have low or no vision, they also work with individuals living with other disabilities, including autism, and provide Dog-Assisted Therapy to those experiencing developmental delay or trauma.
The WA Government is helping to produce future graduates when, in 2021, a grant of $5 million was awarded to Guide Dogs WA to expand their world-class breeding and training program to meet the growing community demand for Guide Dogs, Autism Assistance Dogs, Therapy Dogs and Facility Dogs.
Additionally, Guide Dogs WA's Cadet Training Program has been re-established to increase the number of local, highly qualified dog trainers and Guide Dog Mobility Instructors in WA. This will create local jobs and reduce the need to outsource dogs and trainers from interstate and overseas.