Animal Therapies Ltd Podcast

Mar 05 2024 2

Animal Therapies Ltd Podcast artwork

Paws for Thought is a podcast about animals changing human lives for the better. Anecdotally we know about the therapeutic powers of animals but the science and research are now validating those beliefs.

Animal-assisted services is a recognised field worldwide and through this podcast we hope to educate, entertain and raise awareness among listeners about the countless ways that animals are helping humans.

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Medical alert dogs for diabetics

Mar 05 2024 19 mins

Australian Lions has been training hearing assistance dogs for 43 years, pairing more than 690 dogs with hearing-impaired people over that time.More recently, they have branched out to train medical alert dogs for people living with type 1 diabetes, a chronic condition that affects more than 120,000 Australians and over 8 million people worldwide.Laura Harris is a project co-ordina

How horses help us heal and experience joy

Dec 19 2023 21 mins

Vanessa (Ness) Hawkins is a self-confessed horse nut, who was riding ponies in England before she could walk. Emigrating to Australia as a young child and growing up in rural Victoria, where her British accent made her a target for bullies, Ness found solace in pony club, eventually competing at State Championship level and then overseas.A desire to care for others led her into nur

Teaching old dogs (and children) new tricks

Oct 18 2023 19 mins

Like many new teaching graduates, Sarah Macdonald started her career full of promise and hope for the potential impact she could have on a child’s life. But she soon realised that a great curriculum and a supportive environment were not enough. Children who weren’t in the right headspace and who were battling mental health issues - anxiety, depression and stress - were not open

Neurodiverse students thrive in outdoor setting on horseback

Aug 22 2023 21 mins

If not for the Dunalley bushfires in 2013, Tasmanian teacher Cheri Allanby may still be delivering lessons to her students in the same way that millions have done before her - standing in a classroom, whiteboard behind her, explaining simple concepts to children and hoping that the sea of young faces before her are taking it all in. Fast forward 10 years and that classroom has move

How dogs are helping first responders cope with trauma

Jun 06 2023 16 mins

Karen Hollings is a highly experienced paramedic who has been employed by St John Ambulance in Western Australia since 2003. She loves her job and has been awarded several commendations over the course of her career, but it has also come at a high cost.Like so many other first responders, she is confronted with trauma on a daily basis. She sees people at their best, their worst, an

When life gives you lemons, make lemonade

Apr 07 2023 21 mins

Wendy Coombe's world came crashing down in November 2014 after years of buried trauma and corporate conflict led to a nervous breakdown.Overnight, a successful career as a high-functioning executive collapsed, leaving her floundering without a 'safe place' (her professional life) and a shattered identity.Describing the next few years as "a Forrest Gump-like alte

What horses can teach us about leadership

Feb 05 2023 19 mins

Not many people can put their hand on their heart and say their job makes their heart sing. Vicki Macdermid counts herself among the lucky few.The executive business coach and chartered accountant has established a model for leadership that accesses the power and wisdom of horses.Her workshops are a little different to the leadership courses that most CEOs sign up for. "When I

Love and attachment: two words that define the human:animal bond

Dec 03 2022 22 mins

Why do animals play such a pivotal role in helping humans to heal? And how can we ensure this powerful bond is taken seriously by governments and the community? Child psychologist Dr Aubrey Fine has spent 50 years working in the field of animal-assisted therapy and will deliver the keynote address at the 2023 Animal Therapies Ltd annual conference in Brisbane. Ahead of his visit to

Veterinarians in crisis

Sep 27 2022 13 mins

Seventy per cent of veterinarians know at least one colleague who has taken their own life and almost the same number are experiencing mental health issues within their practice. Long hours, low pay, high stress, unrealistic client expectations, financial pressures and a lack of mentoring and support for young veterinary graduates have created a crisis for the industry, with many v

A little equine magic in Australia's Top End

Jun 28 2022 20 mins

Northern Territory resident Rashida Khan wears many hats: animal nutritionist; horse, cattle and miniature mule breeder; equine assisted therapist; and corporate and personal coach; not to mention full-time carer for her 82-year-old father. There’s not much downtime juggling four businesses from her base at Red Rocks Stud in the Top End, but she wouldn’t have it any other way.