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Karlee and Isla: Navigating new beginnings in the big city.
When Karlee moved from the South Coast to Sydney recently, she wasn’t just moving out of home for the first time; she was taking a giant leap into the unknown. Leaving behind her quiet coastal life in Nowra for the hustle and bustle of the big city was no small feat for Karlee, who was born legally blind due to a condition called Leber’s congenital amaurosis. But by her side through the transition was someone incredibly special—her Guide Dog, Isla.
In her early twenties, Karlee made the big decision to move to Hornsby after switching her Bachelor of Medical Science studies to Macquarie University. “It’s definitely been an adjustment trying to get used to living in a city where there’s so many people, and it’s such a different dynamic compared to what it was like on the South Coast,” Karlee says.
Karlee and Isla had to do a lot of training together with a Guide Dog Mobility Instructor to familiarise themselves with their new surroundings. They began by learning to get to key places around Hornsby like the train station, bus stop, and the gym. Then they tackled the metro and navigating the university campus, including how to find their classrooms. It hasn’t been easy.
“It’s been a little bit like overwhelming at times when there’s just so much cognitive load trying to learn all the new places,” Karlee says.
One of their challenges after the move was escalators. It was an obstacle Karlee hadn’t encountered much on the South Coast—but in Sydney, they were everywhere. While she found them scary at first, Isla loved heading straight for them.
“She’s so excited to show me the escalator,” says Karlee. “It kind of helped me in a way, because I’m like, ‘Okay, she’s really excited to do it. I can do it then.’”
Karlee’s parents were initially hesitant about her moving to Sydney on her own, concerned about how she’d manage in a busy new city. But as they’ve seen her settle in, their confidence has grown too. Karlee credits Isla, her friends, and the team at Guide Dogs NSW/ACT, for helping her through the adjustment. “Moving up here, away from all my family, it’s been really nice to have Guide Dogs as that support network. They’ve honestly been like a second family,” she says.
Karlee and Isla have gotten into the rhythm of their new life together and discovered a whole new level of independence. They attend lectures and tutorials together, meet up with friends for lunch, and Karlee works for Guide Dogs NSW/ACT as a Lived Experience Presenter. As part of this role, she is involved in various fundraising events, delivers industry training sessions with Transport NSW on making future station developments more accessible, and regularly visits schools to educate students. Through it all, Isla remains her constant companion. “I’m so happy we moved, and I feel like we’ve just grown so much together,’ she says.
One perfect match, one unstoppable team.
Guide Dog Isla, aged three, was matched with Karlee in July 2023. She was Karlee’s second Guide Dog after her first dog had to retire early. Karlee had dreamed of having a Guide Dog since she was six, and as a teenager, she had the chance to try a Guide Dog experience through Guide Dogs NSW/ACT—which gave her a real sense of freedom. When she finished school and started university, she was finally able to turn that dream into reality.
While Isla in harness is the ultimate professional, off duty, it’s a different story. “When she’s off harness, she is such a crazy girl. Honestly, she has so much energy; I can’t even express how much energy this girl has. She runs around like crazy. She really loves her squeaky toys, and she’s such an affectionate dog. She’s always wanting to lick me, lean against me, and is so cuddly,” Karlee says.
Isla will happily go wherever Karlee goes, but there’s one place she’s not a fan of—the gym. Isla can walk at a fast pace but tends to dawdle on the way to the gym. While the staff adore having her around and let her lie behind the counter while Karlee works out, Isla is “kind of bored” because she has to supervise instead of participating.
Luckily, Karlee is often out and about catching up with friends, which Isla loves. “Guide Dogs NSW/ACT couldn’t have done a more perfect job of matching personalities because Isla’s exactly the same as me in dog form. She’s very social and loves being around people and other dogs—just like I do,” Karlee says.
It took time for Karlee to become the person she is today. Growing up, she was a shy, quiet kid. When she began attending Guide Dogs NSW/ACT programs and camps, she made friends, bonded over shared experiences, and felt less alone. But before having a Guide Dog, she was still anxious about going out and navigating with a cane. The night before she needed to go somewhere, she often couldn’t sleep—worried she might run into something. While the cane helped her detect obstacles and move around them, it didn’t give her the confidence she needed, and that lack of confidence limited her independence.
But once she was matched with Isla, Karlee started doing things she never dreamt of—like moving to Sydney. “I’m in awe of Isla every single day because of what she does, how much she helps me, and how she’s changed my life. I’ve grown so much as a person from having Isla by my side. We’ve been able to really live life and find new opportunities. I’ve never loved anything more than Isla.”
So, what’s next for this dynamic duo? Karlee is focusing on her studies and considering a future in the healthcare sector, possibly in a role where she can talk to people and help them, like psychology or genetic counselling. She would also love to travel around Australia with Isla, explore more of Sydney, and continue to share her story at Guide Dog events. Whatever Karlee sets her mind to, there’s no doubt that with Isla by her side, she’ll achieve it.
