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newy.com.au – A program designed to support vulnerable court users through the presence of trained therapy dogs is being extended to Sydney, Parramatta and Newcastle. The Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia has confirmed that three new facility dogs will be stationed at registries in the three cities from early 2025.
The expansion is funded by the Law Society of New South Wales, with the dogs supplied and trained by Guide Dogs NSW/ACT. The initiative follows positive outcomes in Melbourne and Hobart, where the program has already been operating. The dogs are trained to provide emotional support and companionship to litigants and children attending court, helping to reduce anxiety and improve participation in proceedings.
Chief Justice William Alstergren AO said the addition of the new dogs marked a significant step in supporting vulnerable court users. “We’ve been overwhelmed at the positive reception our Court Dog Program has received in Melbourne and Hobart, so we’re beyond excited to see the impact these new additions will make in New South Wales,” he said.
Law Society of NSW President Jennifer Ball spoke about the broader benefits for the legal process. “Whether they be adults or children, witnesses who feel less anxious, and more comfortable and supported, are shown to produce more reliable evidence, have better factual recall, speak more clearly and coherently, and exhibit fewer signs of distress,” she said.
Samantha O’Keefe, Therapy Dog Program Team Leader at Guide Dogs NSW/ACT, explained that the dogs chosen for the program are selected for their calm temperament and specially trained to work in court environments. “We’re so thrilled to be supporting three new registries with their very own specially trained Court Dogs, who will go on to have a positive impact on the wellbeing of people navigating the court system,” she said.
The program aims to create a more trauma-sensitive environment, helping children and litigants to engage more effectively with the legal process. Survey responses from Melbourne and Hobart registries indicated that court users overwhelmingly felt supported by the dogs, with many reporting reduced nervousness and increased feelings of safety and calm.
The new court dogs are scheduled to be formally sworn in before commencing duty in the first part of 2025.
newy.com.au - City of Newcastle welcomed the public back inside the Newcastle Art Gallery today, unveiling the first completed spaces of its expansion at the Laman Street site and offering a preview timed to the opening day of the New Annual festival. The partial reopening gives locals an early […]
