The jacket symbolises a dedication to best practice, to continual improvement, to listening and adapting our service, to treating Veterans as individuals, and pairing the dogs with them, as a person - to meet their individual needs. Setting them up as a team for long term success. Providing in person handover, and ongoing online training.

Defence Community Dogs attended the 2023 Australian International Airshow at Avalon in Feb; positioned within the Defence Personnel Tent.
Thank you to the Royal Australian Air Force for your hospitality and helping the program raise awareness amongst ex-service organisations, ADF personnel and the general public.

Excerpt taken from Veterans speech at DCD graduation in October 2022, where he received his DCD Assistance Dog ‘Oregon’; within an 8-day in person handover, alongside Oregon’s inmate dog handler and DCD professional dog training team at Honour House, Bathurst Prison.

You’ll find her in the snow, inside a velodrome, hiking in a forest, walking in the sand dunes, resting atop a mountain or on base at the Australian Navy Offices in the ACT. She’s even spent time in prison. Greet Gigi and her recipient Taryn.

Defence Community Dogs thanks 2bs and BRock Bathurst for another incredible fundraiser in Bathurst. Another incredible year of support by the city of Bathurst.

The Defence Bank Foundation operates and funds the Defence Community Dogs program. We are exceptionally proud to announce that two of the Defence Bank Foundation Board Members have received mentions in the Queen’s Birthday honours list.

The handover entails an eight-day workshop at the prison, where the inmate dog trainer and the dog training team support the individual pairing of the dogs with their Veteran.

COVID gave us limits and lockdowns, but it also gifting us a significant group of graduation ready Defence Community Dogs, ready to be paired with and begin supporting their Veterans mental and physical health, and improve their lives.

COVID gave us limits and lockdowns, but it also gifting us a significant group of graduation ready Defence Community Dogs, ready to be paired with and begin supporting their Veterans mental and physical health, and improve their lives.

Meet this month’s inspiring community crowd fundraiser Sarah in WA - who raised over $3500 in memory of her furry dog friend Shep Kaesler, participating in the 24 hour run/walk loop event, The Lighthorse Ultra 2022, run by Ultraseries WA.

Join us for a review of Defence Community Dogs activities in commemoration of Anzac Day 2022