Brauer College students will become leaders of the pack in a new program that uses dogs to build their confidence and leadership skills.
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The students will in-turn become mentors to Warrnambool West Primary School students in a Read to Dog program.
The animal-assisted intervention program, which began this week at Brauer College will be delivered by Kim Pringuer from Pawfect Communities.
Leaders of the Pack is designed to help improve student engagement, participation and concentration.
It received $20,000 funding from the Department of Education following a successful application submitted by South West Local Learning and Employment Network.
Students learn about dog handling, self-care, peer mentoring, healthy relationships, self-reflection, assertiveness, effective communication and leadership.
They then complete literacy training sessions to enable them to facilitate the reading program. “It helps with their life skills and caring for their dog helps with their own pathways,” Ms Pringuer said.
The school nominates students for the program.
Brauer College principal Jane Boyle said the program was important, especially for students having difficulty staying at school. “It’s through programs such as this that we’re able to ensure engagement and through that they go back into mainstream schooling,” Ms Boyle said.
“Dogs offer unconditional love and students respond to that.”
South West LLEN senior partnership broker Helen Bayne said it used animal interaction to empower teens. “These students are likely to respond positively to opportunities similar to Hands on Learning, where they are in a supported environment to develop practical skills and other important life and enterprise skills,” Mrs Bayne said.
“There is strong evidence that students respond positively to working alongside a dog and Read to Dog supports students to practise the skill of reading in a relaxed, interactive, fun and friendly environment.”
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