Lead The Way Therapy Dogs and Guide Dogs Victoria Wellbeing Dogs

Tier: Tier 1: Positive mental health promotion
Category of intervention: Wellbeing animal programs
Strength of evidence: Level 2: Supported by expert opinion or evidence for practice
Geographic location: Statewide

Program description

Lead The Way and Guide Dogs Victoria support schools to access therapy/wellbeing dogs to improve student wellbeing, engagement and connection. Schools are provided with a range of options:

clinical programs delivered by animal assisted therapists and their therapy dogs
training and certification of a therapy/wellbeing dog
purchase of a school wellbeing dog from Guide Dogs Victoria.

Clinical programs are delivered in school by two facilitators (including a qualified mental health professional) and their certified therapy dog(s). The sessions can involve small group programs or single session larger groups.

Training and certification options using a mix of online and in-person training are available for schools who wish to train their own dog to work as a wellbeing/therapy dog in the school.

Purchasing a suitable wellbeing dog from Guide Dogs Victoria is an option available to schools, which may be trained using the Lead the Way Therapy Dog program, provided that the relevant agreement and policies are complied with, as outlined in Purchasing a wellbeing dog on PAL and below in Factors to Consider (under Implementation considerations).

Programs focus on the following areas:

student wellbeing
social skills
stress management and mindfulness
safe interactions with dogs at school.

Intended outcomes

Increased engagement, trust and sense of connection
Lower physiological stress
Reduced anxiety, distress, pain, fear and anti-social behaviour
Improved mood, motivation and pro-social engagement
Development of safe and healthy relationships as a context for change (trauma-informed practice)
Increased sense of belonging and improved school culture
Improved relational skills including empathy, caregiving, kindness and social awareness

Program details

Target audience	Primary school students – all Secondary school students – all Primary school staff – capacity building Secondary school staff – capacity building
Program provider	Lead the Way Clinics Pty Ltd in partnership with Guide Dogs Victoria
Delivery mode	Clinical programs: face-to-face Training: combination of face-to-face and online

Implementation considerations

- All students in schools
- School staff wishing to be trained as a certified therapy dog handler
Clinical programs
Programs are adaptable and flexible, with alternative plans available for primary, special and secondary schools. Training and Certification offers both in person and online components, increasing accessibility. Timeframes and inclusions are flexible in line with school needs.
Programs can be adapted to meet the needs of:
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students
- LGBTIQA+ students, asylum seeker and refugee students
- culturally and linguistically diverse students
- students with a disability
- neurodivergent students.
Purchase of suitable wellbeing dog
Guide Dogs Victoria’s Therapy Dog Specialist invests time in understanding each dog, school and prospective guardian, considering multiple factors for personalised matching of a Wellbeing Dog to the specific school’s needs
Clinical programs
Programs may require backfill for the school staff member in attendance.
Training and certification
Staff backfill may be required for training sessions if run during school time, or support for staff to attend training after hours/school holidays.
All programs
The Menu provider and its personnel must not be alone with any school student or group of school students in the classroom or in any other place at the school’s premises without another educator, teacher or teacher’s aide present at all times.
Training and certification
- Access to computer with internet access, camera and microphone is required for online training.
- For schools wanting to train a dog onsite, equipment and resources for a dog to be onsite are required, e.g. bedding, water bowl, cleaning or spill kit, enclosed crate/yard for safe resting, outdoor area and bin for waste as well as consideration of living expenses, grooming, training, and veterinary care for a school-owned dog.
Purchase of suitable wellbeing dog
A suitability assessment must be completed to be eligible to purchase a Wellbeing Dog from Guide Dogs Victoria.
Clinical programs
Programs are for 6-8 participants (small group) over approximately 8 sessions. Single session incursions can accommodate up to 30 participants.
Training and certification
Schools who wish to train a dog require a staff member with a suitable dog who is willing to participate in training.
Purchase of suitable wellbeing dog
Schools may purchase a suitable dog from Guide Dogs Victoria in accordance with the requirements outlined in Purchasing a wellbeing dog on the department’s Policy and Advisory Library. The supplier must provide a warranty to the school that the dog is fit for purpose.
Schools must comply with the school’s and department’s policy, procedures and guidelines including the Animals – Wellbeing and Engagement: Policy and the Mental health Fund and Menu policy.
Please contact the Schools Mental Health Fund and Menu team at mentalhealth@education.vic.gov.au if you require any assistance with these agreements.

Cost

Minimum cost

$1,000+

Detailed cost

Lead the Way Therapy Dogs provides a range of different options with associated costs.

Clinical group program incursions (delivered by Lead The Way)

- Qualified mental health practitioner and a certified therapy dog for $500 per hour (including GST)
- Certified dog handler with topic expertise and a certified therapy dog for $350 per hour (including GST)

Train and certify the school’s therapy dog options (delivered by Lead The Way)

For $1,880 (including GST). Includes 15 hours self-paced online theory and 28 hours in-person or online practicums for one handler.
- Additional handler fee for Level 1 is $1,175 (including GST).
- Level 1 package for $2,810 (including GST) includes the above, plus up to 12 hours support from supplier, unlimited dog training membership and 5hours in-person or online dog training classes and one hour online implementation consultation with school leadership team.
For $1,230 (including GST). Includes 6 hours self-paced online theory and 21 hours in-person or online practicums for one handler.
- Additional handler fee for Level 2 is $1,010 (including GST).
- Level 2 package for $2,770 (including GST) includes 10 hours self-paced online theory and 21 hours in-person or online practicums for one handler, 3 hours intervention support of group coaching/mentoring, 5 hours in-person or online dog training classes and 2 hours whole school incursion.
For $1,200 (including GST). Includes 21 hours in-person or online practicums for one handler.
- Additional handler fee for Level 3 is $600 (including GST).
- Level 3 package for $1,780 (including GST) includes the above, plus 4 hours intervention support of group coaching/mentoring, 5 hours in-person or online dog training classes and 2 hours whole school incursion.
For $1,230 (including GST). Includes 24 hours in-person or online practicums for one handler.
- Level 4 package for $1,755 (including GST) includes the above, plus 4 hours intervention support of group coaching/mentoring and 5 hours in-person or online dog training classes.
For $1,040 (including GST). Includes 25 hours self-paced online theory and exam, and 7 hours in-person or online masterclass for one handler.
- Certification assessment: 7 hours bi/annual re-certification (6 or 12 months as needed) for $430 (including GST).
- Dog training membership for 1 handler to access lifetime member rates for $260 (including GST).
- Group supervision (90min) for 3+ participants in-person or online for $120 (including GST).
- Individual supervision (60min) in-person at the supplier’s location for $250 (including GST).
- Professional development seminar, workshop or consultation for $650 (including GST) per hour.
- Dog training pre-scheduled group class (one hour) for up to 15 participants in-person or online for $37 (including GST) member’s rate per person or $60 (including GST) non-member’s rate per person.
- Dog training private lesson (one hour) in-person or online for $250 (including GST) per person.

Lead the Way travel costs are additional to the above program fees and calculated at $275 (including GST) per team, per hour for in-person delivery from Ferntree Gully, Victoria.

Purchasing a wellbeing dog from Guide Dogs Victoria

Schools may purchase a suitable dog from Guide Dogs Victoria in accordance with the requirements outlined in Purchasing a wellbeing dog on the department’s Policy and Advisory Library.

The supplier must provide a warranty to the school that the dog is fit for purpose.

Schools must comply with the school’s and department’s policy, procedures and guidelines including the Animals – Wellbeing and Engagement: Policy and the relevant school council as outlined above in Factors to consider (under Implementation considerations).

- Assessment for suitability (5hrs) for $1,100 (incl. GST), which includes an online application, online interview, phone interview/assessment, site visit and guardian site assessment
- Supply of a dog for $22,000 (incl. GST) which includes:
  - supply of a trained dog, matched for suitability by GDV
  - dog matching visit.

Education

Updated 22 April 2025