Luke & Rollo, Keith, Scott and Digger
23/10/2019
AUSTRALIAN SPIRIT LEGACY
Art Studios Co-operative is very proud to announce that due to the overwhelming success of the Australian Spirit Project and its concluding event, we have secured an Assistance Dog for a Central Coast Veteran and are assisting another Veteran to elevate his own dog to Assistance Dog status.
A pilot program has been put in place, thanks to the collaborative efforts of Ben Johnson - Integra Service Dogs Australia (ISDA), Keith Mitchell - Topdog Training School, and Leasha Craig - Art Studios Co-operative/Australian Spirit Project. This program will provide the means for the services provided by Integra Service Dogs Australia to become more accessible for both our Veterans and First Responders suffering from PTSD on the Central Coast.
“This is a great achievement and is the result of the generous in-kind and financial support that Central Coast businesses, community groups, creatives, Veteran Associations, Central Coast Council, Central Coast and Regional Veteran communities RSL Sub Branches and their affiliated clubs have shown throughout the 4 years of the Australian Spirit Project.The project brought many things to the surface, not only the personal stories and memories of the participating veterans, it also highlighted the need for ongoing support for our Veterans and their families and the recognition of past and present services to our country.” - Leasha Craig
Keith Mitchell has been working with dogs for 26 years, he was a police dog handler/trainer in the New Zealand Police Force. He studied canine behavioural science through Massey University. He also won the prestigious Commissioners Cup twice for his expert dog training skills. Since leaving the Police force in 2007 Keith has ran his own company for the past 13 years training civilian dogs. Now, with the assistance of ISDA, Keith is working towards becoming an accredited Assistance Dog Trainer. Part of this process for Keith is working with the two Veterans nominated, training the dogs and the handlers with the goal of both dogs successfully undertaking the Public Access Test (PAT).
“Having been a first responder for 18 years with the New Zealand Police, the last 13 of those as a dog handler/trainer, I fully understand the pressures and highly stressful situations that Scott and Luke have been put in during their time in the military. To have people like Leasha go above and beyond to raise money to fund a program that allows these guys to have assistance dogs is truly invaluable. It is my job to assist with the training of both dogs and handlers. All have progressed well to the point where it will not be long before they are assessed by way of a Public Access Test. These dogs are a great asset to the handlers and the difference in the teams since day one is very noticeable and also pleasing to be part of.” - Keith Mitchell
Central Coast Afghanistan Veteran, Scott, and Assistance Dog in training, Digger, were united 4 weeks ago. Digger, a reclassified Labrador, was sourced from ISDA. Both Scott and Digger are settling in nicely getting to know one another and developing a bond. Luke, an East Timor Veteran, is working with his own dog Rollo, a 5-year-old Australian Shepherd. Their bond is already in place, Rollo is now learning his new role as a working dog, not the family pet.
Scott, Digger, Luke and Rollo are currently in training with Keith, learning both the basic and advanced skills required to achieve the Assistance Dog status. ISDA training program takes approximately 6-12 months to complete. The program has been designed to ensure that Veterans and First Responders successfully achieve their goals, while strengthening the team bond.
“Having my dog trained as an Assistance Dog will help me in many ways. Not only will my dog assist me at home by keeping me company, but he will also be able to assist me in the community when shopping or other crowded situations. Keith from Top Dog training is providing the training and Integra Dogs are supporting this process. Special thanks to Leasha for giving me the opportunity to have my dog trained as an assistance dog. Already there has been a big difference to the quality of my life." - Luke
“I’m an Afghanistan Veteran who has been trying for an Assistance Dog for 5 years till I was put into contact with Integra Service Dogs Australia, who have provided me with a companion named Digger. I now have the reassurance of feeling safe, not alone and a great distraction from my PTSD symptoms. He is not a dog he is my mate, who helps me get out of bed everyday and become more active. Just being able to do normal family things with him by my side, or at home not working, playing with my kids.” - Scott
Integra Service Dogs Australia works with Veterans and First Responders and their families suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) by enriching lives through highly trained canine guardians. They are a private not for profit organisation. They are not government funded and all funding raised from corporate Australia and public donations go to the delivery of exceptional Labrador Assistance Dogs for Veterans and First Responders. If you would like to contribute to this worthy cause, please visit their website - isda.com.au
Art Studios Co-operative would like to thank everyone involved throughout the 4 years of the Australian Spirit Project and the concluding event. This project is a fine example of what can be accomplished and the empowering nature of collaborative community events.
Further Information Contacts:
Art Studios Co-operative/ Australian Spirit Project
Leasha Craig
email: australianspiritasc@gmail.com
m: 0406 539 407
www.australian-spirit.com
Integra Service Dogs Australia
Ben Johnson
email: ben.johnson@isda.com.au
m: 0412547889
www.isda.com.au
Topdog Training School
Keith Mitchell
email: keith@topdogtraining.com.au
m: 0448087592
www.topdogtrainingschool.com
AUSTRALIAN SPIRIT LEGACY
Art Studios Co-operative is very proud to announce that due to the overwhelming success of the Australian Spirit Project and its concluding event, we have secured an Assistance Dog for a Central Coast Veteran and are assisting another Veteran to elevate his own dog to Assistance Dog status.
A pilot program has been put in place, thanks to the collaborative efforts of Ben Johnson - Integra Service Dogs Australia (ISDA), Keith Mitchell - Topdog Training School, and Leasha Craig - Art Studios Co-operative/Australian Spirit Project. This program will provide the means for the services provided by Integra Service Dogs Australia to become more accessible for both our Veterans and First Responders suffering from PTSD on the Central Coast.
“This is a great achievement and is the result of the generous in-kind and financial support that Central Coast businesses, community groups, creatives, Veteran Associations, Central Coast Council, Central Coast and Regional Veteran communities RSL Sub Branches and their affiliated clubs have shown throughout the 4 years of the Australian Spirit Project.The project brought many things to the surface, not only the personal stories and memories of the participating veterans, it also highlighted the need for ongoing support for our Veterans and their families and the recognition of past and present services to our country.” - Leasha Craig
Keith Mitchell has been working with dogs for 26 years, he was a police dog handler/trainer in the New Zealand Police Force. He studied canine behavioural science through Massey University. He also won the prestigious Commissioners Cup twice for his expert dog training skills. Since leaving the Police force in 2007 Keith has ran his own company for the past 13 years training civilian dogs. Now, with the assistance of ISDA, Keith is working towards becoming an accredited Assistance Dog Trainer. Part of this process for Keith is working with the two Veterans nominated, training the dogs and the handlers with the goal of both dogs successfully undertaking the Public Access Test (PAT).
“Having been a first responder for 18 years with the New Zealand Police, the last 13 of those as a dog handler/trainer, I fully understand the pressures and highly stressful situations that Scott and Luke have been put in during their time in the military. To have people like Leasha go above and beyond to raise money to fund a program that allows these guys to have assistance dogs is truly invaluable. It is my job to assist with the training of both dogs and handlers. All have progressed well to the point where it will not be long before they are assessed by way of a Public Access Test. These dogs are a great asset to the handlers and the difference in the teams since day one is very noticeable and also pleasing to be part of.” - Keith Mitchell
Central Coast Afghanistan Veteran, Scott, and Assistance Dog in training, Digger, were united 4 weeks ago. Digger, a reclassified Labrador, was sourced from ISDA. Both Scott and Digger are settling in nicely getting to know one another and developing a bond. Luke, an East Timor Veteran, is working with his own dog Rollo, a 5-year-old Australian Shepherd. Their bond is already in place, Rollo is now learning his new role as a working dog, not the family pet.
Scott, Digger, Luke and Rollo are currently in training with Keith, learning both the basic and advanced skills required to achieve the Assistance Dog status. ISDA training program takes approximately 6-12 months to complete. The program has been designed to ensure that Veterans and First Responders successfully achieve their goals, while strengthening the team bond.
“Having my dog trained as an Assistance Dog will help me in many ways. Not only will my dog assist me at home by keeping me company, but he will also be able to assist me in the community when shopping or other crowded situations. Keith from Top Dog training is providing the training and Integra Dogs are supporting this process. Special thanks to Leasha for giving me the opportunity to have my dog trained as an assistance dog. Already there has been a big difference to the quality of my life." - Luke
“I’m an Afghanistan Veteran who has been trying for an Assistance Dog for 5 years till I was put into contact with Integra Service Dogs Australia, who have provided me with a companion named Digger. I now have the reassurance of feeling safe, not alone and a great distraction from my PTSD symptoms. He is not a dog he is my mate, who helps me get out of bed everyday and become more active. Just being able to do normal family things with him by my side, or at home not working, playing with my kids.” - Scott
Integra Service Dogs Australia works with Veterans and First Responders and their families suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) by enriching lives through highly trained canine guardians. They are a private not for profit organisation. They are not government funded and all funding raised from corporate Australia and public donations go to the delivery of exceptional Labrador Assistance Dogs for Veterans and First Responders. If you would like to contribute to this worthy cause, please visit their website - isda.com.au
Art Studios Co-operative would like to thank everyone involved throughout the 4 years of the Australian Spirit Project and the concluding event. This project is a fine example of what can be accomplished and the empowering nature of collaborative community events.
Further Information Contacts:
Art Studios Co-operative/ Australian Spirit Project
Leasha Craig
email: australianspiritasc@gmail.com
m: 0406 539 407
www.australian-spirit.com
Integra Service Dogs Australia
Ben Johnson
email: ben.johnson@isda.com.au
m: 0412547889
www.isda.com.au
Topdog Training School
Keith Mitchell
email: keith@topdogtraining.com.au
m: 0448087592
www.topdogtrainingschool.com
A NEW Art Prize at Bay Gallery in 2020!!
The Jocelyn Smith Philosophy Art Prize is a new annual art prize honouring the memory of Jocelyn Smith. It will be held at the Bay Gallery, with entries now open until January 21, 2020, and finalists will exhibit in March 2020. It is open to all, and prizes are awarded in two categories: 2D artworks (excluding photography) and 3D artworks. The patron of this prize is Victoria Bilger.
READ MORE for the story behind the prize, entry criteria and more...
READ MORE for the story behind the prize, entry criteria and more...
WORKSHOPS COME TO THE GALLERY!
You asked - We listened!
The first of our workshops in the gallery will be run on August 24 with Karen Bloomfield. 'The Art of Eyes' is a popular half-day charcoal workshop for anyone looking to improve their drawing skills or sample charcoal as a medium.
Karen is well known for her charcoal skills - here's your chance to learn her method. There are ONLY 4 SPACES AVAILABLE for this first workshop & at only $70 each they will fill up very quickly. Grab your spot via Trybooking.
