Our Clients.
hours of Client Services delivered including 35,323 hours for regional Clients.
lives positively impacted through our services, including Clients and their support networks.
white canes, tips and accessories provided.
Client programs delivered.
A walk from the heart.
David's story
A walk from the heart.
David was born with Retinitis Pigmentosa, a degenerative eye disease that has decreased his sight over the last three decades, causing him to give up his thriving business, and his 23-year volunteering career as the captain of rural services.
A Guide Dogs NSW/ACT Client for over two years, David undertook an epic 100km walk from Vincentia to Kiama in 2021 to raise funds and show his appreciation.
“When my beautiful wife lost her battle with cancer last year, she left me a letter. She wanted me to keep learning things like my white cane skills so I could be independent. This walk was something I wanted to do to honour her. I used to rely on her for a lot of things. I never had to worry about anything because I had her support, but when it all happened, I had to change.
We enjoyed travelling, so the thought of being housebound would kill me. I had to push through my boundaries; learning, adapting and putting new systems in place. I refuse to surrender any task! You should never say ‘never’ because things are achievable.
When I first started training for the coastal walk – 103km over four days – I thought I had bitten off more than I could chew, but I know if you put your mind to it, you can do it. So, every day I’d do a minimum of four hours, averaging four kilometres per hour.”
David jokes as he recalls his intense training with Orientation and Mobility Specialist Paul:
“After that walk, there’s not much I don’t know about the cane! Paul would encourage me saying ‘you can do it, you can master this’ and because I’m stubborn, I was determined to give it my best shot.
Paul checked out the locations, picking out the problem spots and training me accordingly. Paul recommended I should do most of my walk on the beach as the original plan was going to be too dangerous. We even trained in the rain! And despite some minor accidents during this time, I kept going because I wasn’t going to let anything stop me.
I want to give special thanks to my friend Shane – my companion during the walk – and to my two support workers Patty and Donna who walked with me on training days and drove me between locations.
If anyone thinks things are unachievable, I say give it a go, because you never know!”
Services breakdown by type
- Assistive Technology — 5%
- Guide Dog Mobility Training — 21%
- Occupational Therapy — 6%
- Orientation and Mobility Training — 60%
- Orthoptics — 8%
Karlee's story
A perfect match.
Born with a rare genetic eye disorder that causes severe low vision, eighteen-year-old Karlee has risen against the odds to achieve exceptional results at school, begin a medical science degree and carve out a stellar career in competitive athletics!
Karlee's story.
"With Olympia, I am able to walk much faster and travel independently which is the best feeling."
Born with a rare genetic eye disorder that causes severe low vision, eighteen-year-old Karlee has risen against the odds to achieve exceptional results at school, begin a medical science degree and carve out a stellar career in competitive athletics!
Karlee first came to Guide Dogs NSW/ACT when she was nine years old and just starting to use a white cane. At the age of 11, while at primary school, Karlee began participating in cross-country running and athletics, and started to progress through the ranks, qualifying to compete in national meets.
When Karlee started high school, her Physical Education teacher recognised her talent and encouraged her to take up running again. At the same time she recommenced her running, Karlee started working with Guide Dogs Orientation and Mobility Instructor, Paul, building her skills so that she could work towards being matched with a Guide Dog.
Karlee’s ultimate goal was to get a Guide Dog so she went through an intensive program. Karlee recalls her excitement about being on the Guide Dog waitlist during this time: “I would constantly check for news and updates about puppies being born and Guide Dogs graduating, hoping that one day, one would be my match.”
In February 2021, Karlee received the call she had been waiting for – she had been matched with a beautiful Labrador called Olympia. Karlee spent the next few weeks getting to know Olympia and undergoing intensive training with our Orientation and Mobility Team.
Olympia has already had such a significant impact on Karlee’s life.
“Before I had Olympia I struggled with independence. I had no confidence and struggled emotionally as I felt trapped and isolated. I dreamt of one day having the freedom and independence everyone around me had.”
“With Olympia, I am able to walk much faster and travel independently which is the best feeling. Olympia is a huge support to me at university and it’s crazy how close we have become. What’s even crazier is Olympia‘s name! Imagine my surprise at being matched with a dog called Olympia when I am aspiring to compete in the Paralympic Games! Not only is Olympia my eyes, she is my confidence, best friend and baby girl. I am so immensely grateful for Olympia‘s Puppy Raisers, Trainers and my Guide Dog Instructors for giving me this beautiful, clever girl.”
Karlee currently holds the T11 100 metre open Australian record as well as the 200 metre, 400 metre and 800 metre under-20 Australian records. Her goal in athletics is to qualify to compete in the 2024 Paralympic Games as well as future World Para Athletics Championships.
Centre for Eye Health
Guide Dogs NSW/ACT, in collaboration with The University of NSW, funds the Centre for Eye Health (CFEH). CFEH provides eye-disease assessment, management and treatments to patients at no cost. CFEH also undertakes world-class research and educates Optometrists to help decrease low vision and blindness within our community.
Impact of CFEH in FY21:
13,600 diagnostic and management eye consultations
8,160 patients examined for Glaucoma
2,720 age-related Macular Degeneration patients examined
1,904 Diabetic Retinopathy patients examined
816 patients examined for other conditions requiring urgent eye care
Our dogs.
hours of dog training sessions.
puppies born.
working Guide Dogs in the community.
Court Companion Dogs in the community.
We matched 126 dogs with their new Handlers including:
Guide Dogs.
Therapy Dogs.
Breeding Stock Dogs.
Collaboration proves crucial during COVID-19.
During COVID-19 lockdowns in Melbourne last year, telehealth practices went a long way towards supporting those who needed Guide Dogs Victoria the most – but what about the dogs? After all, they still needed to graduate on time so they could go on to make a vital difference in the lives of people with low vision or blindness. But COVID-19 restrictions had drastically limited the number of Guide Dog Trainers allowed onsite and this was one group of students who couldn’t be home-schooled.
That’s when the true spirit of collaboration and innovation shared by Guide Dogs Victoria and Guide Dogs NSW/ACT really kicked into high gear, and we stepped in to help their pups progress. Six pups in training were driven up to Guide Dogs NSW/ACT in August 2020 where they were greeted by Guide Dog Trainer, Gina.
Zadek, Zenda, Zosh, Carla, Watson and Volku quickly settled into their new home where they would spend the next three months being cared for – and of course put through their paces – by Gina and the Guide Dogs NSW/ACT team.
In November 2020, five of the pups had taken the next steps towards their new careers with two placed as Therapy Dogs in NSW, and three returning to Guide Dogs Victoria, ready for their final assessment to become fully qualified Guide Dogs. (While enthusiastic and loveable, the sixth pup Zadek didn’t quite have the skills needed to become a working dog and was reclassified and placed into a new home as a beloved pet.)
This was a huge achievement, not only for our Trainers across both states, but for the volunteer Puppy Raisers who had opened their homes and hearts to these pups who then faced an uncertain future once COVID-19 restrictions tightened across Victoria.
Most importantly, the strong bond we share with other Guide Dogs organisations – both nationally and internationally – led to improved outcomes for our Clients amidst some of the toughest times we have experienced as an organisation, and as a country.
Meet Checkers
Meet Checkers, our longest-serving Court Companion.
This much-loved black male Labrador helps to create a friendly environment and reduce stress for court visitors. Guide Dogs NSW/ACT Puppy Raiser and Volunteer Handler, Gabbie, was paired with Checkers at the start of the program in 2018 and has been with him ever since.
Checkers takes on an extra bouncy and friendly persona when he is wearing his court uniform and has converted many court visitors into “dog people”. He enjoys spending time with Police Officers – recognising their distinctive uniform and heading their way for a pat.
The Canine Court Companion Program is a partnership led by Victims Services, NSW Courts and Tribunals and Guide Dogs NSW/ACT.
Our people.
Guide Dogs NSW/ACT wins SafeWork NSW Award.
In October 2020, Guide Dogs NSW/ACT was recognised for excellence and innovation in its work, health and safety response to COVID-19, winning a 2020 SafeWork NSW Award for ‘Outstanding work, health and safety response to the changed working environment due to COVID-19’.
Our people
Guide Dogs NSW/ACT wins SafeWork NSW Award.
Throughout the pandemic our focus has been on protecting the health, safety and wellbeing of our workers, Clients, volunteers, supporters and the broader community. COVID-19 has thrown a range of challenges our way. Our business is diverse which has made many of these challenges quite complex.
At Guide Dogs NSW/ACT we provide life-changing services to people with low vision or blindness, raise and train future Guide Dogs, engage with more than 500 volunteers and hundreds of supporters, and have workers in a mix of regional and metro locations. We’ve had to consider, manage and adapt a lot of moving parts.
But at Guide Dogs, we have always been in the business of overcoming barriers and this attribute is hardwired into the DNA of those who work for, and support us. We’ve demonstrated extraordinary agility to ensure continuity of service for Clients during COVID-19, including the rapid implementation and utilisation of innovative technology to deliver telepractice.
Clients are always at the heart of everything we do, the majority of which are over the age of 65 – a vulnerable category. They also face challenges relating to not being able to appropriately social distance due to a lack of visual cues and accessibility. We couldn’t take the risk of continuing face-to-face services for Clients or workers. We suspended them very quickly in comparison to many other businesses.
The organisation has continued to respond quickly with the help of a dedicated COVID-19 team to changing COVID-19 impacts in the community, enabling all staff to work remotely and establishing online wellness programs and weekly all-staff meetings to keep workers connected.
As one of Australia’s Most Trusted Charity Brands, it is important we maintain the trust so many people put in us every day, especially during this difficult time. To be recognised for the hard work, dedication and commitment it has taken to achieve a COVIDSafe environment for workers, Clients, supporters and volunteers was just wonderful.
employees.
volunteer Puppy Raising hours.
Puppy Raisers.
Guide Dog Centre volunteers.
Canine Court Companion Program volunteers.
Celebrating staff milestones.
30 Years.
Michael Poynting – Guide Dog Program Integration Manager.
25 Years.
Barbara Bonfield – casual Speaker.
Belinda Carroll – Location Lead.
20 Years.
Anthony Woollam – Grounds and Maintenance Coordinator.
Jessie Jiang – Orientation and Mobility Specialist.
15 Years.
Christina Iffland – Supporter Experience Officer.
Kelly Prentice – Research and Project Coordinator.
Nathan Burford – Orientation and Mobility Specialist.
10 Years.
Kerry Chauncy – Puppy Development Advisor.
Our supporters.
raised from 143,471 donations
new Daisy Foundation members
Major Supporters donating more than $5,000
Guide Dog Partners
Instilling the value of giving back.
Inspired to give by the sight loss of his father, Harry, and subsequent support from Guide Dogs, Ron and his partner Louise have extensively supported Guide Dogs’ capital works at Glossodia and dog services support.
Instilling the value of giving back.
Mr. Ronald ‘Ron’ Kaiser has been a dedicated, generous Guide Dogs supporter since 2000.
Inspired to give by the sight loss of his father, Harry, and subsequent support from Guide Dogs, Ron and his partner Louise have extensively supported Guide Dogs’ capital works at Glossodia and dog services support. He has also been a Guide Dog Partner sponsoring three dogs, Louise Ilse, and Harry B. The latter, named after Ron’s late father, has gone on to a life of service as a fully-qualified Guide Dog.
Ron is a low key, humble man, who values Guide Dogs’ work in the community and enjoys involving his family in his philanthropy. A love of animals also clearly runs in the family with Ron’s daughter and son-in-law both trained and working as vets.
Ron said, “We’ve always supported Guide Dogs, but particularly when Dad went blind, Guide Dogs’ cause became even more important to us. It was so special to name dogs in honour of him and Mum, and my partner, Louise.”
“My joy of giving comes from the heart,” he continues. “Eyesight is so important and I treasure mine. I am lucky to be able to continue to support Guide Dogs in memory of my father and I think it’s so important to instil the value of giving back in our wider family.”
In 2021, Ron was made a Life Member of Guide Dogs. Thank you, Ron, for your incredible support.
Top 10 Donation Dogs.
- Coles Supermarkets
- Woolworths Supermarkets
- Gilgandra Services Club
- Merimbula RSL Club Ltd
- Cabra-Vale Diggers Club
- Blacktown RSL Club
- Wests Nelson Bay
- Soldiers Point Bowling Club
- Bondi Junction Veterinary Hospital
- IGA Supermarkets
Support groups.
- Central Coast Support Group
- Dubbo Support Group
- Mudgee Support Group
- Moree Support Group
- Tamworth Support Group
Pro Bono Support.
Thank you for your support.
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Baker & McKenzie
Tower One - International Towers Sydney, Level 46, 100 Barangaroo Avenue, Sydney NSW 2000
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Hall & Wilcox
Level 18, 347 Kent Street, Sydney NSW 2000
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Colin Biggers & Paisley Lawyers
Level 42, 2 Park Street, Sydney NSW 2000
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HWL Ebsworth Lawyers
Level 14, Australia Square, 264-278 George Street, Sydney NSW 2000
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Technology Advisory Panel
Guide Dogs would like to acknowledge the members of the Technology Advisory Panel for their pro-bono contribution. Mr Alex Brak, Mr Scott Byrnes and Mr Daniel Xu.
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Brace168 Ltd
• Guide Dogs would like to acknowledge Brace168 Ltd for the donation of $60,000 of cyber security services during the financial year.
Our National Corporate Partners.
We are proud to partner with the following organisations:
We would also like to acknowledge the generous workplace giving donations received from staff at the following organisations:
- AMP Foundation
- BHP
- Lion
- PETstock Assist
- The Deloitte Foundation
- Viva Energy Australia
- Westpac Group
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ADVANCE™
has provided 93 tonnes of Super Premium Dog Food in the past year to feed our national colony of dogs.
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Boehringer Ingelheim
Animal Health Australia has provided over 4,000 vaccine doses and over 54,000 doses of Parasite protection in the last year alone.
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Coles
Our network of Collection / Donation Dogs in Coles stores have raised over $11.3 million since 1982, including over $934,000 this past year alone.
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IDEXX
performed 870 complimentary pathology tests to support the health of our growing Guide Dog puppies.
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KONG
Over 6,000 toys were donated by KONG to help keep our dogs happy and stimulated over the last 12 months.
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PAW by Blackmores
More than 130 kilos of PAW DigestiCare 60™ was supplied by PAW by Blackmores in the last year to support the health of our pregnant Breeding Stock and young pups.
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PETstock
In June 2021, PETstock Assist’s ‘Guide Dogs Month’ campaign raised over $154,000 through customer and corporate donations, and the sale of participating products in-store and online.
We thank all of our partners.
We thank all of our National Corporate Partners for their ongoing commitment to our important work and their passion for supporting Australians living with low vision or blindness to reach their full potential.
Our reach.
social media impressions across all Guide Dogs Australia social channels.
social media increase year-on-year.
Guide Dogs NSW/ACT website sessions.
website sessions increase year-on-year.
Media reach.
