A graduation with a difference was held today (12 October) at Queensland's Parliament House to celebrate Queensland's eight newest Seeing Eye Dog Teams.
The teams, each comprising a newly trained Seeing Eye Dog and their handler, are now ready to head out confidently and independently into the community.
Disability Services Minister Craig Crawford said the wonderful connection between a handler and their Seeing Eye Dog is life-changing.
"Many people have supported these Seeing Eye Dog teams along the way to where they are today," Minister Crawford said.
"From the volunteer puppy carers who foster potential guide dogs, to the skilled trainers who get them ready to work with their new handlers, and the many other staff and volunteers that keep organisations like Vision Australia running.
"These dogs have learned tasks that are far more complex and nuanced than most other dogs ever have to perform to keep their handlers safe, but they do something even more important than perform on command.
"They support some of the more than 1700 people in Queensland who are blind or have low vision to live independently and participate fully in the community."
Held in the week of World Sight Day, the graduation celebrates the life-changing bond between assistance animals and people who are blind or have low vision.
"Training can take up to two years and $50,000, but it's worthwhile when you see the impact it has," said Seeing Eye Dogs client services manager Lester Chraim.
"It's amazing how a Seeing Eye Dog can help handlers reclaim their independence and be so much more active and confident in the community," Mr Chraim said.
