Kicking goals in the Connections Program

From Farewells to Fresh Starts: Celebrating Group B and Welcoming Groups C & D

Rounding out the year with two new groups

Last week, Assistance Dogs Australia (ADA) and Happy Paws Happy Hearts (HPHH) launched not one but two new groups for the Connections Programs at the ADA Puppy Kindergarten headquarters.

We’ve welcomed five participants into our Intro to Handle stream and four into our Brand-New Handle stream. Over the course of 12 weeks, each group will learn tailored lessons that will help train puppies that have only just started their Assistance Dogs training journey.

Participants in our Intro to Handle stream will learn the basics of animal handling, care, enrichment and socialisation, working in a hands-on environment with the puppies both on and off campus. The Brand-New Handle group members will study animal handling and training with simulated assistance experiences and real-world scenarios to establish a solid foundation of understanding from which to build on.

Along the way, participants will gain confidence, build connections, and develop new skills – all while shaping the future of these pups who will one day support Australians with disability as internationally accredited Assistance Dogs.

Group B celebrates a paw-some milestone

We marked a wonderful milestone in November as we concluded the second round of our Connections Program, held at ADA’s Puppy Kindergarten in Waterfall. Six remarkable participants took part in this intake, each bringing enthusiasm, curiosity, and a genuine commitment to learning alongside the young puppies in training.

From those first warm introductions when participants met the lively, tail-wagging puppies to the steady weeks of building confidence, communication skills, and independence, this cohort truly came into its own. Throughout the program’s 12 weeks, participants not only explored the core principles of Assistance Dog training but also uncovered new personal strengths. Many formed meaningful friendships, discovered fresh layers of resilience, and celebrated the sense of pride that comes with achieving consistent, small wins that eventually lead to big breakthroughs.

To close out the program, the group embarked on an exciting excursion to Miranda Fair shopping centre. Here, they joined several Assistance Dogs already progressing through Advanced Training, which gave everyone a valuable opportunity to practice public handling skills in real-world settings. Participants navigated simulated scenarios, applied techniques learned throughout the program, and worked closely with trainers to understand how Assistance Dogs are supported as they prepare for their future roles. A big thank you goes to Chris, ADA’s Senior Instructor, and Penelope, HPHH’s Program Trainer, for their guidance, patience, and encouragement during this memorable outing, which was an inspiring way to wrap up the experience.

Celebrating the achievements of our graduating participants was an absolute highlight. Penelope shared her admiration for the group and their willingness to step outside their comfort zones.

“Watching the participants learn so much and grow in confidence with the dogs and together as a group over the past 12 weeks has been so rewarding to watch. There has been so much laughter, challenges have been overcome individually and together, new skills have been developed with the ADA puppies and friendships have been made. The Group B participants amazed me with their abilities, their support and kindness towards each other and willingness to give everything a go! They left with their heads held higher and a spring in their step!” — Penelope, Connections Program Trainer

We’re so grateful to Penelope and Jo from HPHH and the ADA Puppy Kindy team for cultivating a supportive, uplifting learning environment for both the participants and the puppies. As for our participants, thank you for helping these young pups move one step closer to becoming life-changing Assistance Dogs. We’re so excited to see where your paths lead from here!

For those interested in learning more about the program and future intakes, follow this link: