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Paw Pals

Paw Pals is a trauma-informed, animal-assisted education (AAE) program. Paw Pals aims to improve primary and secondary school students’ social and emotional wellbeing and academic outcomes.

On this page

  • Tier: Tier 1: Positive mental health promotion
  • Category of intervention: Wellbeing animal programs
  • Strength of evidence: Level 3: Foundational and emerging evidence for program
  • Geographic location: This program is not available in Goulburn or Ovens Murray (North East region), Inner Gippsland or Outer Gippsland (South East region), Loddon Campaspe (North West region) or Wimmera South West (South West region).

Program description

Paw Pals aims to improve student wellbeing and engagement in education. It uses a trauma-informed approach to animal-assisted education (AAE).

The program promotes students' self-regulation, confidence, social skills, emotional resilience and empathy. It helps to build positive relationships and address issues that affect learning and belonging. These include literacy and numeracy issues as well as stress, anxiety and isolation. Activities include interventions that develop emotional literacy, self-regulation and engagement or literacy and numeracy skills.

Paw Pals is delivered in small groups (up to 8 students) or as 1:1 sessions depending on student needs. Sessions are run by trained, multidisciplinary AAE staff.

Intended outcomes

  • Improved academic engagement.
  • Improved emotional wellbeing and mental health.
  • Increased emotional understanding.
  • Improved social wellbeing.
  • Enhanced empathy skills.
  • Increased resilience.
  • Increased self-regulation.
  • Enhanced self-esteem and confidence.

Program details

Target audience
  • Primary school students – all
  • Secondary school students – all
Program providerMacKillop Family Services
Delivery modeFace-to-face

Implementation considerations

  • Target population: Students between the ages of 5 and 18, particularly those identified as disengaging, or at risk of disengaging from learning.
  • Program adaptability: Paw Pals adapts the program to the specific needs and goals of those students participating. The program can be adapted for diverse cohorts including:
    • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students
    • culturally and linguistically diverse students
    • LGBTIQA+ students
    • neurodivergent students
    • out-of-home care students
    • students with a disability.
  • Staffing: Schools are not required to have backfill in place for participating staff.
  • Training requirements: Prior to implementing the program, schools must complete an intake form, collect signed permission forms from parents/guardians, conduct a phone consultation with Paw Pals and attend a short briefing.
  • Factors to consider: Schools are required to provide a safe space for students to participate in the program. There is no minimum number of participants required. The Paw Pals team can be contacted during business hours to discuss further networking and professional learning opportunities, usually at no cost.
  • Australian context: This program has been developed and applied in Australia.

Cost

Minimum cost

From under $1,000

Detailed cost

The Paw Pals program can be purchased for a small group of up to 8 students (one session for $392.70, 10 sessions for $3,927 (including GST)) or a one-to-one session (one session for $231, 10 sessions for $2,310 (including GST)). This includes:

  • facilitator fees, tailored session materials and resources
  • 60 minutes per session with a facilitator and an AAE dog
  • intake and consultation process
  • analysis of pre- and post-program surveys
  • travel expenses for metro Melbourne, Geelong and Ballarat.

Travel costs for program delivery outside metro Melbourne, Geelong and Ballarat will be charged at ATO rates.

Education

Updated

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