The Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia is thrilled to welcome Bonnie - the first Facility Dog to serve in a federal jurisdiction in South Australia.
Bonnie, who has been expertly trained by Guide Dogs SA/NT, will be sworn in today at a ceremony at the Roma Mitchell Commonwealth Law Courts Building.
Bonnie will provide emotional support and stability in family law proceedings, having a calm temperament, and specialised training required for this important role.
Bonnie will offer comfort and confidence in often challenging circumstances, including sitting alongside people in court or helping children feel safe and calm. As a Court Facility Dog, Bonnie will enhance the legal process, helping to ensure fairness and maintain its integrity.
Guide Dog Mobility and Assistance Dog Instructor Lisa Weil said Bonnie was willing, playful, affectionate and sweet natured, and would be well suited to her new role bonding with children and other vulnerable people within the courts system.
"Every volunteer that has boarded Bonnie says she's the best dog to have in the home. She loves playing with soft toys and getting cuddles in her down time, which will be helpful when she's working with children and other people," Ms Weil said.
"We have taught her how to "bow" for the judge when she is in court. We've also taught her how to play a set of toy drums as a fun icebreaker for the kids."
In the justice setting, Court Facility Dogs are increasingly being used as a trauma-informed support for vulnerable litigants, witnesses and children, and to reduce the stress of engaging with court processes.
Guide Dogs SA/NT CEO Aaron Chia said the organisation was proud to be working with Guide Dogs Australia to deliver such an important program within the nation's courts.
"Bonnie is one of many Guide Dogs SA/NT-trained dogs working with people who have specialised needs, including in schools and at Adelaide Airport, and she will be an enormous support to many people who will feel comforted in her reassuring presence," Mr Chia said.
"Having been home-boarded by one of our team members at Guide Dogs SA/NT, Bonnie is very close to our hearts as she has spent some time in our offices. However, we know she will be well and truly appreciated and much loved in her new role."
The Chief Justice of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia, the Honourable William Alstergren AO, said it was a credit to the Law Society of SA to have funded Bonnie in Adelaide.
"We've been overwhelmed by the positive reception our Court Dog Program has received in Sydney, Paramatta, Newcastle, Melbourne, Brisbane and Hobart, so we're beyond excited to see the impact Bonnie will have in South Australia," Mr Alstergren said. "The National Court Dog Program is an exciting innovation, and Judges and court users alike are fortunate to have the benefit of the experience and expertise brought by Guide Dogs Australia."
Law Society of SA President Marissa Mackie said the proven benefits of specially-trained dogs in a court environment provided a positive step forward for justice and for many people.
"Bonnie will play a really important role in being a reassuring presence for children and other people needing support," Ms Mackie said.
"Lawyers involved in court proceedings rely on their witnesses to give the best evidence possible.
"Court proceedings are already stressful enough, particularly for young and vulnerable witnesses. If people feel less anxious, more comfortable and supported, they are likely to produce more reliable evidence, have better factual recall, speak with more clarity and be less distressed."
Guide Dogs National Court Dog Program Manager Liz Pepper said Bonnie, along with her Court Facility Dog counterparts in Victoria, NSW, Tasmania and Queensland have all been carefully selected for temperaments that thrive in the court environment, along with an innate ability to just know who and how to support each person they met.
"This means Bonnie will offer more than just comfort - she will provide vital emotional support in high-stress settings," Ms Pepper said.
Surveys of people who have spent time with Court Dogs in Australia have found:
- 78% said the dog helped them feel relaxed
- 77% felt less nervous
- 52% felt safe
- 40% said they could think more clearly, and
- 35% said they were better able to express themselves.
"Bonnie will become not just a valued colleague, but a vital support to the community she serves."
Bonnie joins Canine Court Companion Zeb in South Australia, with Zeb serving as a support for vulnerable witnesses and victims within the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions since 2022.
The media is invited to attend Bonnie's swearing-in ceremony, which will be held at 10am in the Federal Court building, 10 Angas St, Adelaide.
If you would like to attend, please register with Verity Edwards at Hughes PR on 0412 678 942.
