We all know puppies make us feel happy, and there is now plenty of evidence to support their use to improve mental health.
The Petbarn Foundation has been supporting therapy puppies through Empower Assistance to enter into schools to help kids feel better and more engaged at school. The results are staggering!
Since our therapy dog program started at Hymba Yumba school in QLD, behavioral incidences have dropped 95%!
About the school
Hymba Yumba, (Bidjara Language) a Listening and Learning Place, is an innovative education and community building initiative. Hymba Yumba offer jarjums a Prep-Year 12 education grounded in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.
Jarjums build strong and proud Indigenous identities in a nurturing and inspiring learning environment. The contribution of knowledge and wisdom by Elders, families, staff and community is at the core of the education process at Hymba Yumba.
Hymba Yumba, based in Springfield prides itself on providing opportunities for jarjums to excel now and into their futures.
Hymba Yumba says:
The Dog Therapy program is an integral aspect of our wellbeing approach at HYIS. Since its introduction in 2020, jarjums have progressively become more settled and engaged with attendance and learning (as seen in the data). Anecdotally, any behavioural issues have de-escalated in nature compared to historical presentations. Additionally, discussions post negative behaviours (when jarjums have made some poor choices, as all children do) have become more restorative and/or ownership of behaviours increased when a dog has been present. Further, when a jarjums has been upset emotionally, such as was evident when our Prep students attended their first day this year, the presence of the dogs redirected behaviours to be more positive and reduce anxiety. Tears disappeared! The introduction of the Cert II Animal Services to support the program in the senior years means that this program is connected to not only real-world application, but also career and pathway opportunities. This partnership with Empower Assistance Dogs has been life-changing for so many jarjums and extremely impactful for First Nations community of Hymba Yumba Independent School.
