SUPPORT US
ATL is a registered Health Promotion Charity with full DGR status. Donations over $2 are tax deductible.
DONATE
ATL is a registered Health Promotion Charity with full DGR status. Donations over $2 are tax deductible.
DONATEA wonderful national movement that is enhancing so many symbiotic human/ animal partnerships that produce enormous benefits.
On 20 November 2014, Animal Therapies Ltd director Wendy Coombe went to work like any other day as a senior manager for a large ASX-listed corporation. However, that afternoon – with no memory of how she got home – her life took a dramatic turn. A critical path for Wendy’s recovery came in the form of an Assistance Dog called Jack.
The wide-reaching therapeutic benefits of animal-assisted services are now well documented, but Wendy’s personal experience identified some major gaps in the sector within Australia.
Until now, there has been no national organisation advancing health through animal-assisted services as a whole.
Animal Therapies Ltd, a registered Health Promotion Charity, was established on 21 February 2018. It offers an impartial lens creating linkages, partnerships and joint initiatives between recipients, the private, public, education & community sectors.
Brian has 30 years’ experience in the financial services industry, providing strong leadership over the course of his career. Brian was awarded with lifetime membership of the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA) & has an extensive network of corporate relationships throughout Australia.’
Holding an MBA, Wendy has held board roles and senior management positions across a number of industries, including CEO of a not-for-profit business advisory service which held contracts with the NSW government. Wendy also held a Board position with a counselling service funded by the Attorney General, specialising in supporting parents and children, strengthening families through respectful relationships. Wendy’s passion is making a positive difference to the lives of others.
In March 2018, Alex completed a successful 30 years career in the federal public sector, working in agencies such as the Australian Federal Police, the Department of Workplace Relations and the Department of Defence. Alex was selected for the Senior Executive Service within the Department of Veterans Affairs in early 2012. Alex joined FearLess as CEO in October 2018 and was responsible for delivering its first National Conversation on Post Traumatic Stress in August 2019.
Supply Nation (Certified) Registered, Fran Dobbie, a Yuin woman from the South Coast of NSW, is the Director of Earthstar Productions, a diverse company that presents awareness and inner strength through the medium of film, television and interactive leadership and cultural awareness workshops. Fran is also a teacher and educator who can navigate the correct processes and protocols to ensure cultural sensitivity.
Professional Services Consultant and Subject Matter Expert for a leading Business Management Platform provider, delivering advisory type services for new implementation and upgrade projects to both internal and external stakeholders. David is also involved with the development of both new compliance and functional related areas of the platform. Fully qualified accountant with a Graduate and Master’s degree in accounting.
Scott has comprehensive experience in governance. He presently acts for many of Australia’s largest private and public sector institutions. Scott has previously worked as an in-house counsel at Legal & General and ING, is a regular speaker at conferences, has designed key training programs for boards and responsible managers and has received a number of awards.
Carolyn has an extensive background in marketing, fundraising & communications in both the corporate and not-for-profit (NFP) arenas. The sectors she has worked in include: disability, blindness/low vision, family violence, animal welfare and emergency services sectors. She’s had a career long love for volunteering, currently with the Country Fire Authority (CFA) and Volunteer Fire Brigades Victoria. Her passion is for furkids, German Shepherd rescue Rory, and feline rescue Nala.
Carolyn brings considerable experience and is excited to be part of the ATL team.
Janette is a researcher at the University of South Australia whose research focuses on the intersections of human health and animal lives in particular companion animals. She has had a varied career starting out as a Social Worker in community aged care, then policy and planning work and then academia.
Susan is Program Coordinator for the BSc(Animal Behaviour) degree at the University of Adelaide teaching animal behaviour, welfare and ethics. Susan is also a Board Member of the Dog & Cat Management Board of South Australia, RSPCA South Australia, and the South Australian Animal Welfare Advisory Committee. She engages internationally through membership of the Animal Wellness and Welfare group of the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) and as a Scientific Advisor for the Centre Companion Animal Welfare at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
Dr. Risë VanFleet, PhD, RPT-S, CDBC, CAEBI, is the President of the Family Enhancement & Play Therapy Center, Inc., in Boiling Springs, Pennsylvania, an organization specializing in the training and supervision of child, family, and play therapy professionals. Dr. VanFleet is a Licensed Psychologist (PA), Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor, Certified Dog Behavior Consultant, and Certified Animal Ethology and Behavior Instructor with 48 years of clinical, supervisory, administrative, and teaching experience. Her specialties include Animal Assisted Play Therapy®, Filial Therapy, play therapy, chronic medical illness in families, disaster mental health, complex trauma and attachment issues, as well as animal welfare and behavior. She has trained and supervised thousands of clinicians internationally.
Dr. Aubrey Fine has been on the faculty at California State Polytechnic University since 1981 and is presently a Professor Emeritus and a licensed psychologist. In 2001 Dr. Fine was presented the Wang Award given to distinguished professor within the California State University system (23 Universities).
Aubrey has been recognized by numerous organizations for his service and dedication to children, animals and the community. In July of 2016 he received the William McCulloch Award for Excellence in HAI Education and Practice from the International Association of Human Animal Interaction Organizations, in Paris, France. Additionally, he was awarded the Educator of the Year in 1990, from the Learning Disability Association of CA as well as receiving the 2006 CA Poly Faculty Award for Community Engagement.
Aubrey’s primary research interests relate to the psycho-social impact of human animal interactions and animal assisted interventions, social skills training and children with ADHD, and resilience in children. He was noted as one of the pioneers in Animal Assisted Therapy in a March issue of the NY Times. Dr. Fine is the chair of the Human Animal Bond Advisory Committee of Pet Partners as well as the past chair of the steering committee on Human Animal Interactions for the American Veterinary Medical Association.
Singer/songwriter Rachael Leahcar’s dynamic range, explosive vocals and powerful performances have stunned audiences across the globe. Rachael smashed Australian television records when 4.1 million people tuned in to watch her Blind Audition on the first season of The Voice (2012). With a career that has seen her release three Top 10 ARIA charting albums, tour her live show to sold out crowds and travel to Italy to sing with Andrea Bocelli’s orchestra, Rachael has shown that she is capable of achieving anything despite being legally blind.
Summer Farrelly is 16-year-old Autistic Advocate, Public speaker, Inclusion & Education Consultant, Artist, Animal Assisted Learning Program Creator & Facilitator, Animal Therapies LTD Youth Ambassador. Summer is a recognised and a valued contributor within the Animal Assisted Learning/Therapy and autistic education platforms. Summer believes their lived experience as an autistic individual and living within a family that consists of multiple autistic members, each with their own complexities, will provide both a relatable and diverse perspective. For the last 6 years Summer has been sharing their personal insight and the benefits of human and animal connection.
Summer recently completed a Certificate IV in Disability and has successfully have been accepted to study a Bachelor of Zoology this year at UNE ( part-time while still continuing their home school journey )
Annette is the go to person for all your Membership & National Directory enquiries. Annette is an experienced graphic designer and communications specialist who is also driving the branding and communications strategy for ATL and produces our beautiful annual “Animals Helping Humans” Calendar.
ATL has established National Interest Based Committees to focus on the specific needs of the different parts of the animal-assisted services sector. Their role is to identify initiatives that can help ATL advance the understanding, acceptance and accessibility of animal-assisted services for those in need.
Chairs of the Committees:
Animal-Assisted Therapy: Claire Dickson and Sarah Munn
Animal-Assisted Education: Amy Hodgkinson
Animal-Assisted Learning: Cheri Allanby
Assistance Animals: Lisa Robinson
Candy Gibson joined UniSA’s news and media team in August 2017 after a four year stint as a senior media officer at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), one of the highest ranked universities in the world. Prior to that Candy worked in the press team at the University of Adelaide for seven years following a career as a print media journalist, editor and publisher.
Send your resume to info@animaltherapies.org.au
