Lead The Way

28/05/2026

We couldn't agree more... Ethical Animal Assisted Services begin with recognising animals as sentient beings - not tools, but valued participants whose wellbeing matters too.

When we model respect, consent, safety and care for the animals in the room, we also help create safer, more compassionate therapeutic spaces for the humans 🩵

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What if the therapy animal in the room isn't just a tool for healing — but a participant with their own rights and interests that matter just as much?

A new commentary published in Human-Animal Interactions (Tedeschi, Leslie & Drescher, 2026) makes exactly that argument. Grounded in the 2025 Global Declaration of Animal Sentience in Animal-Assisted Services — now adopted by IAHAIO — the authors call for a shift from human-centric AAS to sentience-centered practice: one that formally recognizes animals as conscious, feeling beings, not instruments of therapeutic intervention.

The authors draw on the Cambridge Declaration on Consciousness and the 2024 New York Declaration on Animal Consciousness, both of which affirm subjective experience across a wide range of species. Their argument: current US animal welfare law still treats animals as property, and frameworks like the Five Freedoms fall short of what modern science — and ethical practice — actually demands.

The practical implication is striking: when a therapist models that the animal's sentience and wellbeing matter in the room, the client learns through that experience that their own does too.

For practitioners in AAS, this is a call not just to do better by the animals they work with — but to recognize that doing so deepens the therapeutic work itself.

📖 Read the full commentary: https://doi.org/10.1079/hai.2026.0014

How does your practice account for the animal's experience? Share your thoughts below.

26/05/2026

Our latest 1.3 teams took on one of their biggest challenges yet - their first on-site training day surrounded by this many dogs, handlers and distractions. And honestly? We think they did incredible. Calm, focused and learning how to work confidently in busy environments.

These teams will now keep building and consolidating their skills before moving into their ‘Learner’ stage, where they’ll begin practicing in real workplaces and community settings 🐾

25/05/2026

Enrolments are still open for Level 2… but not for long! 🐾

If you’ve completed Level 1 and have been thinking about taking the next step with your dog, this is your sign to keep moving forward.

Our Level 2 Day 1 course is running next Monday 1st June and there are still a few places left.

A few things to know:
• Day 1 includes online theory + practicum
• Dogs are NOT assessed on Day 1
• Dogs and handlers must still meet suitability requirements to participate

Many teams pause after Level 1 because they’re waiting until they feel “ready” — but progression comes from continuing to learn, practice and grow together.

If your goal is full certification, now is the time to keep the momentum going 💙

Enrolments close soon! If you would like to discuss your suitability and readiness, please contact us and our trainers will be happy to assist 🤗

22/05/2026

We often think about the role animals play in moments of crisis or support… but what about the quiet, everyday moments? 🐾

The dog waiting at the door after a hard day. The pet that gets us outside for a walk. The calm presence beside us while we work, rest, grieve, grow, or simply exist.

The human-animal bond is so deeply woven into daily life that we often forget just how much it shapes our routines, relationships, emotions, and wellbeing.

Maybe that’s what makes it so powerful — it doesn’t always feel like “support.” It just feels natural 🥰

🌿 Healthy Minds, Happy Animals, Stronger Together.

Reflecting on Mental Health Month and National Pet Month together gives us a chance to look beyond the individual — to ask not just how pets help us, but how they might transform the systems we all rely on.

The question: What role do pets play in transforming public health?

Research in Human-Animal Interaction shows that animals can play a measurable role in emotional regulation, stress reduction, and overall wellbeing. Therapy dog programs, for instance, are increasingly integrated into healthcare settings to reduce loneliness and improve patient outcomes.

But what's most interesting is the scalability.

Pets don't just support individuals — they exist within homes, neighborhoods, and daily routines. That makes them one of the most accessible, community-embedded forms of support we have.

Unlike many clinical interventions, the human-animal bond is already woven into millions of lives. The infrastructure is, in a sense, already there.

To learn more about the documented benefits pets bring to quality of life, explore HABRI's research hub: https://habri.org/research/mental-health/quality-of-life/

As demand for mental health services continues to grow, it raises an important question: 💬 How can we better integrate the human-animal bond into schools, workplaces, and public health strategies? We'd love to hear your thoughts.

21/05/2026

For some kids, connecting with a dog can feel safer than connecting with the world around them. Offering calm, comfort, and a gentle space to simply be themselves 💙

19/05/2026

Many schools recognise the positive impact Therapy and Wellbeing Dogs can have on student engagement, emotional regulation, connection and wellbeing. However, not every school has access to their own wellbeing dog.

At Lead The Way, our qualified mental health practitioners and certified Therapy Dogs visit schools to deliver structured, evidence-informed wellbeing programs tailored to the needs of your students and school community.

We offer both one-off wellbeing sessions and longer-term small group programs, with flexibility to support a range of year levels, cohorts and wellbeing goals across both primary and secondary settings. Programs can be adapted to suit individual school needs, timetables and areas of focus.

Lead The Way is also listed on the Victorian Schools Mental Health Menu, meaning eligible schools may be able to access funding.

If your school is interested in exploring how animal-assisted wellbeing programs could support your students, we’d love to chat with you about what this could look like within your setting.

📧 [email protected]
☎️ (03) 9761 0973

Visit the Victorian School Mental Health Menu 👉 https://www.schools.vic.gov.au/therapy-wellbeing-dogs

15/05/2026

At Lead The Way, our Therapy Dogs are carefully integrated into sessions to support therapeutic goals in practical, meaningful ways.

Depending on the client and their goals, our dogs may help by:
• encouraging anxious clients to enter the therapy space and feel more at ease
• supporting grounding during moments of stress or emotional overwhelm through touch, connection and sensory engagement
• helping children and teens practice communication, boundaries and reading body language in real time
• creating opportunities to build confidence through handling, training and problem-solving activities
• assisting clients to practice emotional regulation, patience and impulse control during structured activities
• helping clients engage in therapy without the pressure of constant eye contact or direct conversation
• supporting gradual exposure work for animal fears and phobias in a safe, controlled environment
• encouraging movement, play and participation for clients who struggle with traditional talk-based therapy alone

Sometimes progress happens while teaching a dog a new skill, brushing their fur, practicing calm handling, walking together, or simply sitting quietly beside them.

For many clients, the presence of a therapy animal may help sessions feel safer, more natural and less clinical, creating opportunities for connection that can complement traditional therapy approaches 💙

All of our clinicians work alongside their own Therapy Dogs. Visit our website to learn more about our team and how Animal-Assisted Therapy may support you or your family.

👉 https://leadtheway.com.au/

13/05/2026

Have you ever wondered how animals are incorporated into schools, counselling rooms, hospitals or allied health settings — and whether your own dog may have what it takes? 🐾

Our Introduction to Multidisciplinary Animal Assisted Interactions (AAI) online course is designed for those who are curious about the world of Animal Assisted Interactions but aren’t quite sure where to start.

Whether you’re:
• considering training your own Therapy Dog
• an educator or health professional wanting to better understand AAI
• a workplace exploring the inclusion of animals
• or simply passionate about the human-animal bond

…this self-paced course provides a realistic, ethical and evidence-informed introduction to the field.

Throughout the course, we explore:
✨ the different types of AAI
✨ therapy vs assistance dogs
✨ how animals may support wellbeing across different settings
✨ safety, welfare and professional boundaries
✨ the importance of standards and certification

📚 100% self-paced online
⏰ Approx. 3.5 hours
🖥 12 months access
🐶 No pre-requisites required

This course is a wonderful first step for anyone wanting to better understand the “why”, “when” and “how” behind working alongside animals in supportive environments.

Check it out here👇
https://leadthewayinstitute.com.au/services/therapy-dog-and-handler-training-and-certification-foundational-courses/

11/05/2026

Sometimes it’s important to pause and remember that training isn’t just about reaching the 'finish line'.

Beyond the assessments, the training plans and the goals, one of the greatest outcomes of this journey is the relationship you create with your dog along the way.

A dog who feels safe with you.
A dog who trusts you for guidance.
A dog who has learned skills that help them navigate the world with greater confidence and clarity.

That connection matters.
And it lasts far beyond the workplace 💙 🐾

08/05/2026

The growing evidence around animal-assisted programs continues to highlight something truly powerful — the calming, connective impact animals can have on emotional wellbeing across so many different settings 🫶

Check it out here 👇
https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/14/2/260?

A major 2026 review confirms what many of us see every day—animal-assisted programs can significantly reduce anxiety and stress across a wide range of people, including children, hospital patients, and individuals with disabilities.

Key findings:
• Consistent short-term improvements in emotional wellbeing
• Strong evidence for reducing anxiety and distress
• Growing support for use in healthcare, education, and community settings

Read more here:
https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/14/2/260?