Dog Guide Handlers Australia.

Conference program.
(session topics and times may be subject to change).

Date: Saturday 19 – Sunday 20 June 2021
Venue:
To be held on-line via zoom.

All times are Eastern Standard Daylight Time.

Day 1: Saturday 19 June 2021.
10:30 am – 11:00 am

Title: 		Opening Session:
Chair:	Dr Kevin Murfitt 

Welcome.
Acknowledgement to Country
House-keeping announcements.
Roll Call

Session 1
11:00 am - 11:30 am

Title:		Keynote Address.
Chair:	Dr Kevin Murfitt

Presenter:
Paul Adrian is currently a Training Manager at Seeing Eye Dogs.  Paul Adrian began as a Guide Dog and Orientation and Mobility Instructor in 1984. In a career spanning over 30 years he has worked or completed assignments in Israel, USA, Hungary, Croatia, Bosnia, Norway, Slovakia and Germany.  Paul has a strong interest in animal behaviour and welfare and has presented at a number of national and international conferences.  He has been an Assessor for the International Guide Dog Federation.
(30 minutes)

Quiz question 1:

Session 2
11:30 am - 12:30 pm

Title:		Dog guide agencies Panel:
Chair:	Claudia Stevenson

Presenters: 
Mary Chapell from Stapell Working Dog O and M Services 
Anna Gigliotti-Skret from Forward Thinking Dog Training 
Brooke Anderson from Seeing Eye Dogs 
(60 minutes)

Topics to be discussed:
Dog Guide Training how do you determine what dog would be a good dog guide.
Clicker training
Other breeds

Quiz question 2:

Session 3
12:30 pm – 1:00 pm

Title:		Members Panel
Chair:	John Hardie 

Presenters: 
Nadia Mattiazzo
Sean Tyrell 
Jen Moon
(30 minutes)

Topics to be discussed:
Dog guide refusals how to deal with them as a handler.
Legislation 
Advocacy tips
Recent survey on assistance dog legislation

Quiz question 3:

Break for lunch.
1.00 pm – 1:30 pm 
(30 minutes)
Dog Bytes music to be played during the break. 

Session 4
1:30 pm – 2:15 pm 

Title:		Emerging issues
Chair: 	Erika Webb

Presenters:
Erica Read from Australia Post
Representative from Blind Citizens Australia
(45 minutes)

Topics to be discussed:
Silent vehicles
Ride sharing, and taxi issues
Advocacy tips
What Australia Post is doing around Electric Delivery Vehicles

Quiz question 4:

Session 5
2:15 pm – 3:15 pm

Title:		From the floor 
Chair:	Annette Ferguson

Presenters: 
Melinda Bowden 
Joyce Jones
Members questions from the Floor
(60 minutes)

Topics to be discussed:
Dog accessories
Tips and tricks
Enrichment toys and games for dogs

Quiz question 5:

First day wrap-up 
3:15 pm – 3:30 pm 
(15 minutes)

Day Two: Sunday 20 June 2021

Title:  Day 2 Opening Announcements
10.00 am- 10.15 am

Welcome
House-keeping announcements
Acknowledgement to Country
(15 minutes)

Session 6
10:15 am – 11:15 am

Title:		Panel - a day in the life of a puppy walker
Chair:	Francois Jacobs

Presenters: 
A panel of puppy walkers 
(60 minutes)

Quiz question 6:

Session 7
11:15 am to 12:15 pm

Title:		NDIS and Aged Care
Chair:	Greg Madson 

Presenters:
Pearl and Peter Sumner
Letisha Watson of Seeing Eye Dogs
Lauren Henley
(60 minutes)

Topics to be discussed:
Current update on the NDIS
Current update on My Aged Care 
Human rights and the DDA

Quiz question 7:

Session 8
12:15 pm – 12:45 pm

Title:		Domestic travel
Chair:	Greg Madson

Presenters: 
Nina Smith from Travel Paws 
James (Buck) McFarlane Cocky Guides
(30 minutes)

Quiz question 8:

Lunch 
12:45 pm – 1:15pm 
Dog Bytes music to be played during break 

(30 minutes)

Session 9
1:15 pm – 2:00 pm

Title:		Members Focus 
Chair:	Bronwyn Drew

Presenters:
Louise Pearson

Topics to be discussed:
Dealing with grief 
Mindfulness
Second dog Syndrome
(45 minutes)

Quiz question 9:

Session 10
2:00 pm – 3:00 pm

Title:		Past Presidents Panel
Chair:	Dr Kevin Murfitt

Presenters:
Past DGHA Presidents 
Rowena Dowling 
Greg Madson 
Nadia Mattiazzo
(60 minutes)

Topics to be discussed:
DGHA history 
Future of DGHA 
10-year anniversary birthday cake
Presentation of Golden Harness award

Quiz question 10:

Final Session
3:00 pm – 3:30 pm  

Announcement of Quiz winner. 
Conference wrap-up