autism
For Alberto Alvarez-Campos,
being part of an organisation like
Assistance Dogs Australia and
watching well trained assistance
dogs go on to improve people’s
quality of life is “the best”.
Huge rewards
A
lberto is General Manager,
“Over the past two years we have
Operations, of the national provided, with our occupational two years’ work by our team, a lot of
organisation which places therapists, our Animal Assisted people and our volunteers; it’s huge.”
assistance dogs with people with Intervention program for children and
autism, post-traumatic stress disorder young adults with autism,” he said.
(PTSD), physical and mobility
“We are also involved in quality
diversities, as well as education research programs with different
support dogs for schools. universities looking at the benefits our
He said all dogs are placed free of
PTSD and autism dogs and Animal
charge, despite the fact it costs up to Assisted Interventions are having on
$35,000 to train a dog, educate the individuals and their families.”
client and look after the dog for the
rest of its working life.
Alberto has worked with assistance
every year, with about 10 to 15 of those
dogs being autism assistance dogs.
Alberto said there are long waiting
lists across the organisation’s services.
“We don’t allow our waiting list
to get higher than 50 applicants,
because that would create a lot of
disappointment for people, as people
years and said there’s a “compelling would have to wait more than two
sense of satisfaction” that goes with years for a dog,” he said.
“There is a constant reward, when
“As an accredited organisation
with Assistance Dogs International,
you are able to support the quality we work in close relationship with
of training, support the breeding the most innovative programs in
program and support the ways we the world, exchanging experiences
deliver our services,” he said. and procedures. I am happy to say
“But the most important moment
autism
Assistance Dogs Australia trains
between 30 and 35 assistance dogs
dogs overseas and in Australia for 36
the job.
26
“It’s the encapsulation of nearly
that Assistance Dogs Australia also
is when you see a happy dog, well contributes internationally with our
established with someone for whom own service delivery innovations.”
the dog improves their quality of life Assistance Dogs Australia is
… when they are walking away and I a registered charity and does not
see the dog with its tail high and it’s receive government funding, instead
nice and relaxed, and I see the person relying on public donations to provide
smiling, that’s the best. its services.
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