Paw Pause

01/03/2026

🐾What a weekend🐾
Thanks to everyone who stopped by to say hi
Please contact us if you have any questions that weren’t answered as we understand how busy expo’s can be 🐾

28/02/2026

25/02/2026

Ever wanted to understand how Animal Assisted Therapy could support a child you know?
Are you an allied health professional who is interested in starting your own Paw Pause business?

Come and talk with us in person at:

Source Disability Expo for kids & teens
Adelaide Convention Centre
Sat 28th Feb & Sun 1st March

We’ll be there with Eddie the Golden Retriever demonstrating just how a trained therapy dog can support children and teens to thrive at school.

24/02/2026

Ever wanted to understand how Animal Assisted Therapy could support a child you know?
Are you an allied health professional who is interested in starting your own Paw Pause business?

Come and talk with us in person at:

Source Disability Expo for kids & teens
Adelaide Convention Centre
Sat 28th Feb & Sun 1st March

We’ll be there with Eddie the Golden Retriever demonstrating just how a trained therapy dog can support children and teens to thrive at school.

If you cant make it to the expo, my dm’s are always open for any questions 🐾

23/02/2026

Paw Pause super star Daisy loving her work🐾

23/02/2026

New year…new flyers!🐾

13/02/2026

We’re so happy to be at The Neuronurture Con 2026, sharing the magic of animal-assisted therapy and how we can support children with autism and their families. It’s a privilege to be part of this neuroaffirming space, sharing information to support children and teens to thrive. And Eddie the therapy dog is on hand for free pats for people at the Festival Centre, of course!

10/02/2026

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Who Works in Animal-Assisted Services?

Animal-assisted services are delivered by a diverse, multidisciplinary workforce, supporting people across health, disability, education, justice, community and aged-care settings.

Professionals working ethically with animals may include:

🔹Health practitioners – psychologists, occupational therapists, speech pathologists, social workers, counsellors and physiotherapists integrating animals within their professional scope.

🔹 Education professionals – teachers, special educators and learning support staff integrating animals to support engagement, regulation and inclusive learning.

🔹 Disability & community support professionals – disability support workers, youth workers and case managers supporting participation and wellbeing through structured animal-assisted activities.

🔹 Animal-assisted practitioners – practitioners with specialist training in animal-assisted programs, operating within ethical and welfare frameworks.

🔹 Health, aged-care, justice & first-responder settings – nurses, lifestyle staff and practitioners supporting wellbeing, trauma recovery and social connection.

Across all settings, best practice requires:
✔ Appropriate human qualifications
✔ Animal welfare and species-specific training
✔ Clear scope of practice
✔ Insurance, risk management and ethical delivery

Animal-assisted services are not one profession — they are a collaborative field centred on human wellbeing and animal welfare.

06/02/2026

In some schools, support animals are thoughtfully integrated to help create calm, inclusive learning environments where students feel safe, regulated, and ready to learn.

Support animals may be present during structured wellbeing programs, learning activities, or regulated quiet spaces. Their role is to support emotional regulation, engagement, motivation and positive behaviour — not to replace teachers or specialist supports, but to complement them.

When integrated appropriately, support animals in schools may help:
• Reduce stress and anxiety
• Support emotional regulation and self-calming
• Improve engagement and attendance
• Encourage empathy, responsibility, and connection
• Create inclusive, supportive learning environments

Successful school-based programs are underpinned by clear policies, parental consent, safeguarding procedures, staff training, and a strong focus on student safety and animal welfare.