Empower Assistance Dogs, a leading Queensland charity based in Logan are dedicated to improving the lives of individuals with disabilities. The City of Logan Charitable Trust have awarded them a $5,000 grant to launch a vital new initiative aimed at tackling mental health challenges in vulnerable communities.
The grant will fund a project that brings professionally trained therapy dogs into schools, aged care facilities, and community groups experiencing trauma, isolation, or emotional distress. Through structured visits, these dogs will offer calm companionship, reduce anxiety, and foster positive social interactions. These visits will create moments of connection and emotional relief for individuals who often lack access to such support.
The initiative is designed to address the growing need for mental health support in settings where traditional services may be limited or inaccessible. Therapy dogs will engage with participants in guided sessions, helping to alleviate symptoms of stress, loneliness, and age-related decline. By removing cost barriers for under-resourced organisations, Empower Assistance Dogs aims to deliver consistent, measurable mental health benefits to those most in need.
Empower Assistance Dogs has long been recognised for its transformative work in training government certified hearing and assistance dogs. These dogs serve as more than companions; they are life-changing partners for individuals with physical, mental, and sensory disabilities. From alerting handlers to critical sounds to assisting with daily tasks, their dogs empower people to live independently and with dignity.
This new therapy dog initiative builds on the charity’s proven success, extending its reach to support broader community wellbeing. The grant will help scale their impact, ensuring that emotional support is not a luxury but a lifeline for those facing hardship.
The ripple effect of this project is profound. Children struggling with anxiety, elderly residents facing isolation, and trauma survivors will all benefit from the healing presence of therapy dogs. These visits offer more than comfort; they restore routine, spark joy, and remind individuals that they are seen, valued, and supported.
To celebrate the grant and witness the charity’s impact firsthand, Board Directors Stewart Fleming, Russell Postle, and Mayoress Ali Raven visited Empower Assistance Dogs’ training facility. During their visit, they met the latest litter of puppies – future therapy, assistance, hearing, and facility dogs – who will soon begin their journey of rigorous training to become life changing companions.
Photos courtesy of Steven Hoare.
