Connections Program

Co-designed by Happy Paws Happy Hearts (HPHH) and Assistance Dogs Australia (ADA)

Build real life-management skills, make connections & train future Assistance Dogs

The Connections Program is a unique and innovative program offering people with disability, mental health challenges or other vulnerabilities the chance to develop life skills, confidence and independence through the rewarding experience of training and socialising Assistance puppies in training. Participants connect with others, strengthen their communication and teamwork skills, and enjoy being part of each puppy’s journey toward becoming a future Assistance Dog.

The program welcomes people with disability who access the NDIS, SLES or other support schemes; or self-funded.

An Inclusive Pathway to Confidence and Community

What’s involved?  

In this 12-week program, participants will join a weekly, small group session where they will learn the foundational skills to train, socialise and prepare puppies in advancing toward their roles as Assistance Dogs, while equipping participants with social and vocational skills that aims to support them on their journey of change.

Why join? 

  • Work with adorable ADA puppies in training through the above modules

  • Build confidence, teamwork, and valuable life-management skills 

  • Learn the foundations of puppy training as ADA’s puppies prepare for their crucial roles assisting individuals with disabilities, veterans with PTSD, and children with autism 

  • Be part of a structured, supportive program designed for long-term impact 

This program fosters a dual impact—enhancing participants' wellbeing while helping puppies advance toward becoming life-changing Assistance Dogs. 

Enquire today

What you can expect to learn!

  • Introduction to Happy Paws Happy Hearts, Assistance Dogs Australia and each other!

  • Introduction to learning theories and using games

  • Grooming and Handling of puppies

  • Nutrition and Feeding

  • Canine health assessments - understanding what a normal healthy pup looks like.

  • Training games for obedience

  • Therapeutic Play and the T-Touch

  • Controlled play and training recall

  • Simulated public scenarios

  • Swapping puppies around to work with new handlers/participants

  • Real world excursion to put learnings into practice

  • Graduation Week - for participants and puppies!

I'm Interested to join!

Paws-itive Participant Experiences

Interested to find out more?

 

This course is suitable for participants who are:

  • aged 12+ with various abilities* and support needs. 

  • located in the Southern Sydney Shire to attend the Waterfall facility (see map).

  • part of the NDIS, SLES or other disability support schemes, or self-funded. 

  • interested in capacity building, goal setting, learning specific tasks related to animal care and training, and working in a team! 

Places are limited. If you know of someone who might be the “pawfect” fit for our Connections Program, please get in touch as soon as possible to enquire about joining our next upcoming program.

*While our programs and facilities across our Happy Paws Happy Hearts sites and locations are designed to be inclusive and welcoming to individuals of all abilities, we acknowledge that the current setup of the new Connections Program with Assistance Dogs Australia (ADA) at our Waterfall facility in Southern Sydney presents some accessibility limitations. Due to the program’s hands-on nature—requiring participants to regularly enter and exit kennel areas—the experience is unfortunately not yet suitable for individuals who use wheelchairs or mobility devices. Although the training room and general facilities remain accessible, we recognise that full participation in the kennel-based components of the Handle program is essential to the experience. We understand this is not ideal and are actively working towards making future iterations of the program more accessible as we expand our offerings in partnership with ADA.

About Assistance Dogs Australia (ADA)

ADA is a national for purpose organisation that trains Assistance Dogs to internationally accredited standards for people with physical disability, severe PTSD and complex autism. Their purpose is to empower connection, inclusion and independence for people with disability and this program allows them to broaden the impact of their dogs. 

Puppies in the Connections program will go on to support individuals with physical disabilities, veterans and First Responders with severe PTSD, and children with complex autism. From this, participants will gain foundational skills in animal training while improving their independence, confidence and social skills by working with others in a team.  

  • "I didn't anticipate just how much learning and skill development would be embedded into each session"

    —Former Participant’s Support Worker

  • "I feel more excited about what I will get to do in life than I did before. I'm excited to see what else I can do."

    —Former particiapant

  • I was pleasantly surprised by the strong sense of community that develops throughout the term, and the connections participants build with one another by the end of the program."

    —Former Participant’s Support Worker

  • "Her increased independence has led to Eden being more open to getting a part-time job because she's learned that once she gets used to a place, she feels comfortable and that she can do a good job."

    —Former Participant’s Parent