Last week Maldon Primary School received the first of four visits from two very special guests: therapy dogs Archie and Mo, two members of the PAWS in Schools Program.
The school was able to access the program after a recent state government investment of $217.8 million (over a four-year period), to support student mental health and wellbeing (including $200 million over four years and $86.9 million ongoing funds to create a Schools Mental Health Fund).
Rural and regional schools are the first to receive the funding, and they have been given a list of evidence-based programs and initiatives designed to give schools confidence in identifying programs, staff and resources that will improve mental health and wellbeing outcomes for their students.
Maldon Primary School Acting Principal Alisa Burdett said she loves the idea of having a therapy dog in the school, “However, there can be unplanned costs and additional responsibilities with having our own school dog.
“By having the PAWS in Schools program come out, it allows us to still have therapy dogs visit the school without the associated requirements of having our own school dog.
“The children have enjoyed the time with the therapy dogs, and we look forward to our next three days with Archie and Mo,” said Alisa.
Evidence shows that the use of therapy dogs in a school setting can contribute towards improving the overall well-being of students. It allows for meaningful opportunities for social and emotional learning in both whole class and small group settings.
The use of therapy dogs in schools can assist children to re-engage with onsite learning, help with emotional regulation, social skills and coping strategies. Therapy dogs can also help children to recover from trauma, help cope with mental health and understanding boundaries and consent.
PAWS in Schools Educator Melanie Rundle said, “The scope of our PAWS in Schools program is flexible, ranging from a supporting role in the classroom for specific students to running support group sessions (relaxation, predominantly hands-on animal therapy) as well as more structured explicit workshops and presentations.
“We really enjoyed our visit to Maldon Primary School. The school has a lovely atmosphere, and the children were so well behaved and polite,” said Melanie.The PAWS in Schools program is delivered by Therapy Animals Australia who provide programs to support individuals, workplaces and schools.
“A well-trained, confident and happy therapy dog can be an invaluable resource for supporting the social and emotional needs of individuals, as well as fostering a sense of community spirit and overall wellbeing.”
(Therapy Animals Australia).
This article appeared in the Tarrangower Times, 2 September 2022.
