Currently we have over six hundred Pet Partners (trained volunteers and their Delta accredited pet dogs) visiting children's and adult hospitals, nursing homes, hostels, rehabilitation centres, mental health units, hospices, children with special needs and disabled residents in supported care every week.
They visit more than 300 health aged and supported care facilities in Adelaide, Hobart/Devonport/Launceston, Melbourne, Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo, Mildura, Wagga, ACT, Sydney (including Wollongong and the Central Coast), the Hunter/ Newcastle region, Central West (Orange and Bathurst), Brisbane and Townsville on a regular weekly basis.
We have developed protocols for quality assurance which make Delta the leader in the field of Animal Assisted Interventions in Australia. Volunteers are asked to attend an induction session at which their dogs are assessed for temperament and suitability. They then undertake a weekend training seminar and, on successful completion of this program, Pet Partners are issued with Delta accreditation, including photo ID of the volunteer and the dog, and matched to a facility in their area.
Increasingly, selected Pet Partner teams will receive additional training to participate in demonstration projects in selected hospital wards and units. They will work with rehabilitation specialists, psychologists, physiotherapists and occupational therapists on a one-to-one basis with patients to achieve defined goals and objectives in patient rehabilitation or treatment.
Pet Partner Program Volunteer Application
http://www.deltasocietyaustralia.com.au/documents/DeltaPPPLeaflet.pdf
We would love you to consider helping Delta and our therapy dogs. You can:
