July 21, 2025 • 28 mins
On this episode of the Seeing Eye Dogs Show, Harriet is joined by two guests.
First, we have Carleen Miller, Aboriginal Engagement and Project Coordinator at the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, who is going to talk about the puppies she’s named in celebration of NAIDOC week in the Taungurung Language of her ancestors. We talk about the importance of NAIDOC week, language revitalisation and how recognising Language and culture can help close the gap in healthcare for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.
If you'd like to learn more about NAIDOC week head to their website here: https://www.naidoc.org.au/. The Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural Centre is a great resource for people visiting Melbourne to learn more: https://museumsvictoria.com.au/bunjilaka/.
Then, we'll chat with Seeing Eye Dogs Instructor Genevieve Leonard. Gen is the Seeing Eye Dogs instructor based in Gold Coast, new to Seeing Eye Dogs but with a lot of industry experience we'll hear all about Gen's going to talk about her story, background in the industry and her role.
If you'd like to find out more about Seeing Eye Dogs head to our website: https://sed.visionaustralia.org/
If you're blind or have low vision and are interested in becoming a handler or applying for a Seeing Eye Dog, please email us at info@sed.org.au or call on 1800 037 773 to discuss dog guide mobility, eligibility or assessment.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
S1 (00:19):
On Vision Australia Radio. You're listening to the senior show
with me, your host, Harriet Moffatt. Today I have two guests. First,
I'll be joined by Carlene Miller, Aboriginal engagement and project
coordinator at the Royal Victorian Eye and E hospital, who
is going to talk about the puppies she's named in
celebration of Nidoqueen in the tendering language of her ancestors.
(00:40):
We talk about the importance of NAIDOC week language revival,
and how recognising language and culture can help close the
gap in healthcare for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. Then
I'm joined by Seeing Eye Dogs instructor Genevieve Leonard. Jen
is new to seeing eye dogs, but coming to us
with a lot of experience in the industry and is
based in Gold Coast. So if you're a Queensland client,
(01:01):
keep listening to get to know Jen. Thank you for
tuning in. And now here's my first interview with Colleen.
S2 (01:15):
Hi, Colleen, thank you for joining me on the show today.
S3 (01:17):
My pleasure.
S2 (01:18):
Would you like to start off by introducing yourself?
S3 (01:21):
Well, hello. My name is Colleen Miller, and I work
part time for the Royal Victorian Hospital as an Aboriginal
engagement and project coordinator. I've been in this role for
almost six years and prior to this have worked in
Aboriginal health for approximately 20 years.
S2 (01:39):
What does that role entail?
S3 (01:41):
Oh, it's very vast. Um, I'm involved with all of
our Aboriginal and or Torres Strait Islander clients that come
through the hospital, supporting them to access services at the
hospital and then advocating and supporting them as they journey
through their appointments with us. I also attend one of
our Outreach Health Ears clinic at the Victorian Aboriginal Health Service.
(02:03):
We have a partnership with them and that supports our
Aboriginal clients coming through the hospital for surgeries. I work
doing our reconciliation action plan, supporting and educating our staff
at the hospital. Many, many things. Certainly, the legacy of
Australia's history has meant that there is need for Aboriginal
(02:24):
workers in our mainstream hospitals to support access to the
services there and to help close the gap in healthcare
between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Australians.
S2 (02:34):
So you've also named two of our senior puppies as
part of our NATO week for 2025. What are the
names that you submitted for the puppies?
S3 (02:44):
This year, I have had the honour of being asked
by Vision Australia to name two beautiful seeing eye dog
pups in language. After much thought, I chose the names
Dybbuk and Water for 2025.
S2 (02:58):
And what language do Water and Dybbuk come from?
S3 (03:01):
Both names come from the language of my ancestors. Tangerang
people occupied central Victoria. Our big, which is our country,
expands the upper reaches of the Goulburn River tributaries north
of the Great Dividing Range. Some of the towns that
you may know Harriet include Kilmore, Heathcote, Kyneton, Seymour, Nagambie, Flowerdale, yay, Eildon, Bonny,
(03:30):
Doon and more. So it's a very vast area and
traditionally there were over 15 clan groups. My clan group
is the symbolic meaning the river dwelling people and my
ancestor John Franklin is from the Flowerdale yay area.
S2 (03:49):
It's a really beautiful part of the country that we're on.
I've been a few times to your country and yeah,
would recommend anyone kind of go out and explore the
beauty of the area too.
S3 (03:58):
Yeah, it certainly is.
S2 (04:00):
What do the names that you've picked mean and why
did you pick them?
S3 (04:04):
The buck Means strong, and this aligns with this year's
NAIDOC theme strength, Vision and Legacy. This year's NAIDOC, we
celebrated 50 years of promoting indigenous voices, culture and resilience.
The theme honours our past achievements as we look towards
(04:25):
a bright future, led by our strong youth who hold
the vision for our mobs and carrying on the legacy
of our ancestors. Water means sky, which is incredibly important
to Aboriginal people who have studied and used the night
sky for thousands of years to navigate country, the seas
(04:46):
and the waterways, to predict our weather patterns and understand
seasonal behaviours of plants and animals. In fact, in Warungu language,
we say water, water. We pronounce it twice, meaning that
it's in reference to the vastness of the skies and
(05:08):
the heavenly skies.
S2 (05:10):
I think there really are beautiful names with great meanings.
I do love especially the kind of symbolism of almost
like they're going to be carrying on part of the
legacy of earthquake within those names. So really appreciate your
thought in picking such great names. So what is the
connection to? I was going to say the names, but
I guess in terms of almost really it's the language
(05:32):
to your culture and country. Why is it so important.
S3 (05:35):
That the on air. My colleague and I, Natalie Terry,
we've been involved with Vision Australia with their NAIDOC week,
naming a Seeing Eye dog pup for quite some time
now for several years. And we feel it's a wonderful
initiative and we're very privileged to be involved with this initiative.
To us, Aboriginal language revival is critical to Aboriginal and
(06:00):
Torres Strait Islander identity and culture. Prior to colonization in
Australia alone, we spoke over 200 Aboriginal languages and 38
approximately in Victoria. Much of our language was lost, particularly
in Victoria, which we refer to as the Kulin nation,
(06:20):
as we were mostly impacted by colonisation. The Stolen Generations
period in Australia's history occurred between 1910 and the 1970s,
when many Aboriginal children were forcibly removed from their families
due to government policies and they were placed in missions.
(06:40):
Our children, particularly our half caste children, were forced to
assimilate into white community and they were forbidden to practice
their culture or speak their native Aboriginal languages. These children
were usually given Anglo names and adopted out. This was
a very, very dark time in our history, and in
(07:01):
recent years, Aboriginal people have been working together with non-Aboriginal
people towards a reconciled future. Language revival is critical to
our cultural safety for our communities. At the Ion, we
actually name our Aboriginal Health unit mirroring bar wiring, which
in several languages of the Kulin nation means eyes and ears.
(07:25):
We use language in other ways on our email signatures
and wherever possible, we incorporate traditional language into the other
work that we do at the hospital. I feel that
this helps our Aboriginal and or Torres Strait Islander clients
that are accessing our services at the hospital. It helps
them to feel culturally supported and welcome.
S2 (07:47):
It's a hard story to hear and to think about.
I recently went to the Cultural Centre at the Melbourne Museum,
and some of those stories are, ah, you know like heartbreaking.
But it's a really important thing for people to go
and read up and listen and hear from elders about
what's happened. It's. Yeah, it's hard to hear at times,
(08:09):
I think.
S3 (08:10):
I think we need to hear and we need to
learn from our history in order to move forward in
this reconciliation journey. So I think it's incredibly important. As
hard as it is, I think we do need to
acknowledge that this is our history. And, you know, the
Europe Commission, um, that's just recently handed down recommendations to government,
(08:32):
have done a lot of work to support moving forward
and cultural safety for Aboriginal people in this country. And
I do think that language revival is incredibly, as I
said before, it's incredibly important to culture and identity and
keeping that strong and alive.
S2 (08:50):
One of the puppies, named for the year before last,
which was during his carer, works at a preschool where
they teach language to the children on the country that
they're in, which is, I think, quite cool. I think
that one might have been named by Natalie.
S4 (09:05):
Yeah, they're Yorta Yorta.
S3 (09:06):
Names that she gave to the two pops last year,
and we were so pleased when we were attended the
Vision Australia NAIDOC event last Monday that we actually we
saw the pups as they were tiny, and then we've
seen them 12 months later all growing up. So that
was a real pleasure to see them growing up. And
as I said before, we feel really honoured that we
(09:28):
are asked to be involved in this initiative, and I
think it's incredibly important initiative and it will support our
community to access much needed services through Vision Australia. We
do have some clients that we have referred to, Vision
Australia from the Iron Air Hospital as well, and we've
seen really positive outcomes for them. And so I do
(09:49):
think Vision Australia and seeing eye Dogs for all the
hard work that you are doing in this space. As
I said, I think it's all very important. Reconciliation and
to closing the healthcare gap. I do encourage everybody to
take the initiative and learn a little bit about our history.
It is our history and to maybe even learn one
(10:10):
word in language.
S2 (10:12):
And there are so many languages to choose from as well.
Like you said, so many of them. And there's a
map behind you which the listeners will not be able
to see, but the vast numbers of communities across Australia,
all with different cultures. Yeah, there's lots and lots to
choose from and learn about.
S4 (10:27):
So there certainly.
S3 (10:29):
Are. And in the Kulin nation, there's a lot of
similarities with our words, particularly with Tarong and Woiwurrung, people
of the Wurundjeri lands in central Melbourne, and there's a
lot of crossover of those languages.
S2 (10:42):
So is there anything else that you would like to
share about NAIDOC week, your connection to land and country
or the names that you've chosen?
S3 (10:49):
No, other than I would encourage people, where possible, to
engage in an event NAIDOC week. As I said before,
this is our 50th year. It started off as a
day of mourning and has evolved into a week long
celebration of who we are of culture. And I encourage
(11:10):
everybody to access, to try and get involved in one
of those wonderful events that that occurs during NAIDOC week,
and to learn one word in language, whether it be
the language of the traditional custodians of where you live.
But just to learn one word I think is really lovely.
It's really important.
S2 (11:30):
Would you like to share one last word with us today.
S3 (11:32):
Ngungunyane? Which means thank you in Ngungunyane.
S2 (11:38):
Ngungunyane. Thank you for sharing your story and telling us
a bit about your language and your culture.
S3 (11:43):
Thank you so much, Harriet. My pleasure.
S1 (11:52):
You've been listening to the Seeing Eye Dog show on
Vision Australia Radio. I hope you enjoyed my interview with Carlene.
To learn more about language you can head to. Engage
with an event for celebrating culture across the year. Visit
a museum such as the Aboriginal Cultural Centre at the
(12:12):
Melbourne Museum, or read up about Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander history. Wherever your preferred resource is. Now here's my
second interview with Seeing Eye Dogs Gold Coast bass instructor
Genevieve Leonard. Let's get to know her.
S2 (12:34):
Hi, Jen, thanks for joining me on the show today.
Could you please start off by introducing yourself?
S5 (12:38):
I'm Jen, I'm one of the mobility instructor for seeing
eye dogs. I'm initially from Canada, and I've just moved
here to Australia in January to work for Vision Australia. Yeah,
I enjoy hiking, yoga, pilates and just walking along the beach.
Especially living in Gold Coast, I do try to go
to the beach every day and really enjoy the scenery.
S2 (12:59):
You've got to make the most of the place in
the world that you are, and I'm sure your Queensland
clients can appreciate the beaches as well.
S5 (13:06):
Exactly.
S2 (13:07):
So what is your background in this industry?
S5 (13:09):
I initially started in Canada. I worked for an organization
where I started as a training assistant and then moved
up as a guide dog trainer. And then after that
I went to another organization where I became a guide
dog instructor. We do call it a guide dog back
in Canada, which is similar to Seeing Eye Dog. And
then I worked there for almost five years. Then I
(13:35):
came here to Australia as a seeing eye dog instructor.
S2 (13:38):
A bit of a sea change, but I suppose the
role is pretty similar, isn't it? I mean, between the
two things. Same thing. Just different sides of the world.
S5 (13:46):
Yeah, yeah, exactly. Same thing, same kind of apprenticeship that
you go through to get the title. And as well,
I'd say the only really big difference from Australia to
Canada is where I live in Canada we have quite
intense winters. So we do have to train dogs in
different types of climates, such as snowy conditions, very cold conditions.
(14:08):
So it's kind of the same as when it gets really,
really hot in Queensland. We have to mind the weather
of when to work our dogs. The dogs have to
wear booties as well. Uh, here it's for the heat
back home, it's for the salt and the snow and
it gets really cold again. Clients and handlers have to
be mindful of, you know, working dog in a -40
type temperature.
S2 (14:27):
Oh my gosh. That's yeah.
S5 (14:29):
It can get very cold. Um, and then if as
a dog trainer where you work dogs all day when
it's this cold or even when it gets hot again,
we have to be mindful. And where we train the
dogs going to malls and indoor environments. So those things
are added, things that we have to think of.
S2 (14:47):
The idea of, just like existing in negative weight. Is
that 40 Fahrenheit or is that degree? That's crazy.
S5 (14:58):
Yeah. It doesn't get -40 every day, thank goodness. But
there are days where it's just very cold that we
do have quite a lot of humidity as well. Back
in Ottawa, where is where I'm from? And usually even
during the summer, we can be having a temperature of,
let's say 24 degrees. But with the humidex it becomes
plus 40 in the summer and in winter as well,
(15:20):
it can be -22. But then with the humidex it
feels like it's -30 and up and then it just
feels wet.
S2 (15:28):
Does it feel cooler if it's more humid as well?
So it's like either end it feels hotter or cooler. Oh.
S5 (15:34):
In the summer with the humidity, it just feels kind
of feels wet actually. But it just feels like, you know,
like in Queen for clients from Queensland. They know you
just feel with the humidity.
S2 (15:42):
Just everything is, like, sweaty and sticky.
S5 (15:44):
Yeah, sweaty. Sticky. And just like you can't, you know,
just gross. In winter, it's even colder. But then you
feel wet as well. So it doesn't matter how many
layers you put on. It just kind of like hits
your bones almost. And then that's what makes it colder,
is that there's there's not really it's very hard to
get yourself warm when there's that much humidity, because it
(16:06):
adds kind of the wetness to it, if that makes sense.
S2 (16:09):
That does not tempt me to live in Canada like
it's so beautiful. And I've seen photos and I'm like, wow.
And that that's just set me right back to us. Yeah,
it is beautiful.
S5 (16:20):
And it is. It is good weather some days, but
there are some days where it's extreme and the snow
does make it beautiful when it is snowing and it's
an ideal day and it's not too cold. It is
absolutely beautiful to walk in snow, you know, and having
doing snowing activities and stuff like that, that's really nice
to do. But yes, when it's that cold it's not
as good.
S2 (16:42):
Yeah.
S5 (16:42):
But again it can it depends where you live in
Canada as well. Where I lived in Ottawa, it gets
a bit all of the extremes. But if you live
a bit more to the West Coast, I think it's
a bit drier and they don't get to the extremes
of -40. So usually I know a lot of Australians
since moving here, they've all told me they've been to
the West Coast because that's the closest Australia, the winters
(17:04):
not too too bad compared to if you go more
towards Ontario.
S2 (17:09):
I mean, I spent a bit of my childhood in
England and I felt like that was cold, but I
just think that's probably not comparable.
S5 (17:15):
No. Probably not.
S2 (17:17):
So back to the work that you have done, which
I feel, I don't know. I feel like probably in
your Australian winter is probably a lot more manageable. Anyway,
I'm going to stop talking about the weather now. I
just am thinking about -40 and I can't get out
of my head. So I know you did start as
a training assistant. What I guess inspired you to start
(17:38):
working within the guide dog industry.
S5 (17:40):
I always want it to be a beautiful story, but
it's actually just quite a coincidence story. I would say
for me, I initially went to uni for um, Pre-vet medicine,
so I wanted to be a veterinarian and when I
went to I went to one university in French because
I am French Canadian. And then when I transferred to
an English university, I kept seeing a lot of seeing
(18:02):
eye dog puppies come into my class, and then kind
of intrigued me in seeing all these dogs. And I
kind of got more information, and I tried to actually
become a puppy carer for that organization where I was
doing university, because they really were advertising to us students,
because we were doing so much, we could socialize the
dog really well and bring it everywhere. Fortunately, it was
such a popular thing that there were no longer looking
(18:24):
for students when I applied, but it just got me
to get a bit more information about the Seeing Eye
dog world, because I think if you not a lot
of people know about it or know that you can
actually get a career in it. That was my case.
I didn't really know much about it until I saw
those puppies in school. And then when I moved back home,
(18:44):
my parents neighbor told me about this organization that was
hiring a training assistant, or I think you guys called
them cadets an apprentice to become a dog trainer because
initially while I was in university, I also worked at
a dog rescue and no kill shelter, where we rehabilitate
dogs with behavioral issues and try to get them adopted.
(19:06):
And we took on a lot of dogs. So I
always had a passion for training dogs and getting the
best of them. So that's why my parents, neighbors, they said, oh,
this organization is is looking for a training assistant. And
I was intrigued. And it was a guide dog organization
and I got the job. And that's kind of how
I got into the Seeing Eye dog world.
S2 (19:26):
I can imagine it would be a very different set
of tasks that you're kind of training or working on,
and just even like the types of dogs like like
the raw material, so to speak, that you're given is
so different. Like between, you know, a Labrador bred for
purpose and, you know, the shelter dogs you're working at.
I can't imagine how different those two experiences would be
despite kind of having some similar skills.
S5 (19:46):
Yes, they're very different, both of them, because like you said,
some are bred for it. Um, with the rescue is
more of, you know, behavioral, more specific behavior trying to
remove a behavior or at least improve it. But it
did give me a lot of skills for when training
dogs in the dog world, because when we do have
a dog with a specific behavior kind of helps me
(20:07):
know what to do and how to train them and
then just problem solving. It gave me a lot of
problem solving skills that I could transfer to the guide dogs,
and I think that's where it was beneficial. And then
my passion, well, my passion for dogs and training dogs
is is the same all around. Yeah, yeah, that's always
been there.
S2 (20:25):
To some degree. It probably give you a bit of
appreciation too, for the different types of dogs that you've
met and then kind of working with, you know, even
the kind of most low probability, for example, seeing eye
dog puppy that we meet, you know, has had such
a different start than another dog that hasn't been quite
as fortunate.
S5 (20:41):
It definitely has. And, um, I think it's taught me
a lot as well, is dogs don't mean to be
bad or do something bad. Like their intention is not
to be bad. You know what I mean? It's it's
usually genetics environment. Um, and it's our job to communicate
or understand the dog on why they're doing a certain behavior.
(21:02):
And then what can we do to influence that behavior
or change that behavior? Because I don't think any dog
is born bad or not good enough. It's our job
to really properly understand the dog.
S2 (21:15):
Although I guess I would say some dogs also don't
want to work and that's fine. But um, but but
they're not kind of doing it intentionally. It's just, uh, exactly.
S5 (21:23):
Some dogs are just born to just be pet dogs.
They don't feel like working, and that's perfectly fine. And
I think that's part of our job as well as
as instructors and trainers, is we need to make sure
that dog wants to work, because we don't want to
put a dog out that does not want to work,
because again, it's it should be a choice for the dog,
not not a forced job on them.
S2 (21:42):
So what is it, day in the life of an
instructor or your life particularly? And you know, what do
you do in the role?
S5 (21:48):
Because I'm not an instructor in Melbourne, my day is
a bit different. Client service is based in more kind
of on my own. I don't have, you know, I
have an office, but I don't have the kennels and
the whole staff there. So it's a lot of independence,
a lot of independent work that I do. I'd say yes,
a lot of client services. So just answering phone calls,
emails about clients who are requiring support, who are wanting
(22:12):
to try something different with their dog, wanting to do
a new route. And they'd like my support with that.
Clients who are struggling, a dog's doing something that it
shouldn't do. They're asking for my support. So it's a
lot of me helping clients and supporting them throughout Queensland.
So I do cover from Brisbane to about. Tweed Heads
is kind of my area as well as North Queensland
(22:33):
like Cairns, Atherton, Rockhampton those are my area as well.
I do travel if I need to to go see
these clients, as well as when we do have dogs
that are ready to be matched. I would do some
programs with clients that are waiting in Queensland to get
a dog. I will be doing a program as well. Paperwork.
Paperwork is part of my daily tasks. Unfortunately, I am
(22:55):
not a fan of paperwork. It needs to be done,
but I think I speak for many instructors. We do
not always like the paperwork.
S2 (23:04):
You don't live for it. It's not what you pursue
this role for.
S5 (23:07):
Exactly.
S6 (23:07):
We love the other everything else paperwork.
S5 (23:10):
And again, it's a needed thing, but it is not
our favorite thing. So that's kind of my my daily thing.
A lot of scheduling as well. Yeah. Just talking to
clients and visiting them from time to time. I maybe
will get a dog to go through IFT to see
if they are a good candidate for the program. And
that's kind of where I'm at right now just because
(23:33):
I just started. So we're just easing me into it.
Getting to know all the clients. And I do share
a load with the other instructor here in Queensland where
if one person's away or on on a program, we
help each other out with visiting clients and supporting whoever
needs it.
S7 (23:49):
So what are your.
S2 (23:50):
Favorite parts of that role?
S5 (23:52):
Definitely the problem solving part. I love that every day
is different for me. I don't have a 9 to
5 job where it's, you go into the office and
you work all day. It's every day. It's seeing different people,
different dogs doing different things. And then a lot of
it is problem solving. So whether it's during a program
or a just regular visit with with a handler, whether
(24:12):
or not they're struggling with something or they're not. There's
always questions about how to solve something with the dog.
And it's kind of, I have to think on my
feet because they don't tell me in advance or it's
never the same thing. So every day I'm just constantly
problem solving on how to fix a problem. And then
I have to think on my feet, thinks outside the box.
(24:33):
Because sometimes, you know, dogs, dogs are very, very intelligent.
And after a while, you know, they can't figure out
how to get around things. So it's if we've tried A, B, C,
and D and it's not worked. All right. Well what
else can we try. And then I have to kind
of figure that out with the handler. And handler are
discussing and trying to find that solution. And I really
like that part because I just really like problem solving.
S2 (24:53):
And I guess it's rewarding when the handler and the
dog come up with some new skill or strategy that
works for them.
S5 (24:59):
Yeah, exactly. Especially seeing.
S6 (25:01):
The results.
S5 (25:02):
Of the problem solving and then seeing it work. You're like, ah, yes.
S6 (25:06):
I got success.
S5 (25:07):
It's almost like doing a puzzle. And then, you know,
you finish the puzzle and then it's always satisfying to
finish a puzzle. It's kind of quite similar, which I
really like. And I'd say as well as I get
to meet new people all the time, which I really love,
just meeting new people and as well, you know, traveling
all over Queensland as well is really nice seeing new
places and yeah, just getting to talk to different people
(25:28):
and getting to know their life and and everything is really,
always really fun for me.
S2 (25:33):
What do you find most challenging about the role?
S5 (25:35):
The paperwork?
S2 (25:37):
Yeah.
S5 (25:39):
Uh.
S2 (25:40):
Yeah. And do you have any advice or messages for
any clients who might work with you in the future?
S5 (25:47):
Be open. Know that I'm there to help and I'm
happy to help with anything. So please don't hesitate to
talk to me about anything you want. I'm always there
to just help. And if you have any questions about Canada,
please don't hesitate to ask me. I'm always happy to
talk to you about Canada and our different types of
temperatures that we have. Um, and where the best spots
(26:07):
are to go. If ever you want to visit Canada,
please don't hesitate to talk to me about that. But yeah, really,
just just be open and comfortable and that you can
just talk to me about anything you'd like.
S2 (26:15):
I do like the idea of, um, getting some travel
tips from an expert. I mean, that's quite valuable.
S5 (26:21):
Exactly. Yeah. Yeah.
S2 (26:23):
Maybe if there are any clients who can speak French,
that'll be a nice win.
S5 (26:27):
It would be wonderful. Yes, we could. If anyone wants
to learn French or practice their French, I can definitely
do that with you as well.
S2 (26:34):
So, just to finish off, is there anything that you
think that members of the public should know about the
work of an instructor or about seeing eye dogs?
S5 (26:42):
I think just educating themselves, the public should take the
responsibility on themselves to educate themselves about seeing Eye Dog
on the proper, you know, protocol or procedure, or just
seeing eye dogs and people who have low vision or
are blind. I think simplify a lot of lives. Um,
if they just knew what not to do with when
they see a seeing eye dog, or even if, you know,
(27:04):
then actually listen to them. And because I think a
lot of people know they can't touch a dog, but
they'll still try or they know they can't talk to
the dog, but they'll still talk to the dog. Educating
yourselves and realizing, you know the impact that you have
by just education.
S2 (27:16):
Well, thank you so much for coming on the show
and joining me today.
S5 (27:19):
Well, thank you. Thank you for having me. It was
a great time.
S1 (27:28):
Keep me listening to the Seeing Eye Dog show on
Vision Australia Radio. I hope you enjoyed my interviews with
Carlene Miller from the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital.
Talking about the 2025 puppy names she suggested and the
importance of language and Dog Week. And then with Genevieve
Leonard Sing instructor based in Gold Coast, talking about her story,
(27:50):
her background and the work she does. If you'd like
to find out more about seeing Eye dogs, the work
We do, how you can help, or becoming a handler,
head to our website at. Thank you for listening to
the show and don't forget to tune in Same time
next week for another episode or head to your preferred
podcast platform for this and other Great Vision Australia radio shows.
On Vision Australia Radio. You're listening to the senior show
with me, your host, Harriet Moffatt. Today I have two guests. First,
I'll be joined by Carlene Miller, Aboriginal engagement and project
coordinator at the Royal Victorian Eye and E hospital, who
is going to talk about the puppies she's named in
celebration of Nidoqueen in the tendering language of her ancestors.
(00:40):
We talk about the importance of NAIDOC week language revival,
and how recognising language and culture can help close the
gap in healthcare for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. Then
I'm joined by Seeing Eye Dogs instructor Genevieve Leonard. Jen
is new to seeing eye dogs, but coming to us
with a lot of experience in the industry and is
based in Gold Coast. So if you're a Queensland client,
(01:01):
keep listening to get to know Jen. Thank you for
tuning in. And now here's my first interview with Colleen.
S2 (01:15):
Hi, Colleen, thank you for joining me on the show today.
S3 (01:17):
My pleasure.
S2 (01:18):
Would you like to start off by introducing yourself?
S3 (01:21):
Well, hello. My name is Colleen Miller, and I work
part time for the Royal Victorian Hospital as an Aboriginal
engagement and project coordinator. I've been in this role for
almost six years and prior to this have worked in
Aboriginal health for approximately 20 years.
S2 (01:39):
What does that role entail?
S3 (01:41):
Oh, it's very vast. Um, I'm involved with all of
our Aboriginal and or Torres Strait Islander clients that come
through the hospital, supporting them to access services at the
hospital and then advocating and supporting them as they journey
through their appointments with us. I also attend one of
our Outreach Health Ears clinic at the Victorian Aboriginal Health Service.
(02:03):
We have a partnership with them and that supports our
Aboriginal clients coming through the hospital for surgeries. I work
doing our reconciliation action plan, supporting and educating our staff
at the hospital. Many, many things. Certainly, the legacy of
Australia's history has meant that there is need for Aboriginal
(02:24):
workers in our mainstream hospitals to support access to the
services there and to help close the gap in healthcare
between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Australians.
S2 (02:34):
So you've also named two of our senior puppies as
part of our NATO week for 2025. What are the
names that you submitted for the puppies?
S3 (02:44):
This year, I have had the honour of being asked
by Vision Australia to name two beautiful seeing eye dog
pups in language. After much thought, I chose the names
Dybbuk and Water for 2025.
S2 (02:58):
And what language do Water and Dybbuk come from?
S3 (03:01):
Both names come from the language of my ancestors. Tangerang
people occupied central Victoria. Our big, which is our country,
expands the upper reaches of the Goulburn River tributaries north
of the Great Dividing Range. Some of the towns that
you may know Harriet include Kilmore, Heathcote, Kyneton, Seymour, Nagambie, Flowerdale, yay, Eildon, Bonny,
(03:30):
Doon and more. So it's a very vast area and
traditionally there were over 15 clan groups. My clan group
is the symbolic meaning the river dwelling people and my
ancestor John Franklin is from the Flowerdale yay area.
S2 (03:49):
It's a really beautiful part of the country that we're on.
I've been a few times to your country and yeah,
would recommend anyone kind of go out and explore the
beauty of the area too.
S3 (03:58):
Yeah, it certainly is.
S2 (04:00):
What do the names that you've picked mean and why
did you pick them?
S3 (04:04):
The buck Means strong, and this aligns with this year's
NAIDOC theme strength, Vision and Legacy. This year's NAIDOC, we
celebrated 50 years of promoting indigenous voices, culture and resilience.
The theme honours our past achievements as we look towards
(04:25):
a bright future, led by our strong youth who hold
the vision for our mobs and carrying on the legacy
of our ancestors. Water means sky, which is incredibly important
to Aboriginal people who have studied and used the night
sky for thousands of years to navigate country, the seas
(04:46):
and the waterways, to predict our weather patterns and understand
seasonal behaviours of plants and animals. In fact, in Warungu language,
we say water, water. We pronounce it twice, meaning that
it's in reference to the vastness of the skies and
(05:08):
the heavenly skies.
S2 (05:10):
I think there really are beautiful names with great meanings.
I do love especially the kind of symbolism of almost
like they're going to be carrying on part of the
legacy of earthquake within those names. So really appreciate your
thought in picking such great names. So what is the
connection to? I was going to say the names, but
I guess in terms of almost really it's the language
(05:32):
to your culture and country. Why is it so important.
S3 (05:35):
That the on air. My colleague and I, Natalie Terry,
we've been involved with Vision Australia with their NAIDOC week,
naming a Seeing Eye dog pup for quite some time
now for several years. And we feel it's a wonderful
initiative and we're very privileged to be involved with this initiative.
To us, Aboriginal language revival is critical to Aboriginal and
(06:00):
Torres Strait Islander identity and culture. Prior to colonization in
Australia alone, we spoke over 200 Aboriginal languages and 38
approximately in Victoria. Much of our language was lost, particularly
in Victoria, which we refer to as the Kulin nation,
(06:20):
as we were mostly impacted by colonisation. The Stolen Generations
period in Australia's history occurred between 1910 and the 1970s,
when many Aboriginal children were forcibly removed from their families
due to government policies and they were placed in missions.
(06:40):
Our children, particularly our half caste children, were forced to
assimilate into white community and they were forbidden to practice
their culture or speak their native Aboriginal languages. These children
were usually given Anglo names and adopted out. This was
a very, very dark time in our history, and in
(07:01):
recent years, Aboriginal people have been working together with non-Aboriginal
people towards a reconciled future. Language revival is critical to
our cultural safety for our communities. At the Ion, we
actually name our Aboriginal Health unit mirroring bar wiring, which
in several languages of the Kulin nation means eyes and ears.
(07:25):
We use language in other ways on our email signatures
and wherever possible, we incorporate traditional language into the other
work that we do at the hospital. I feel that
this helps our Aboriginal and or Torres Strait Islander clients
that are accessing our services at the hospital. It helps
them to feel culturally supported and welcome.
S2 (07:47):
It's a hard story to hear and to think about.
I recently went to the Cultural Centre at the Melbourne Museum,
and some of those stories are, ah, you know like heartbreaking.
But it's a really important thing for people to go
and read up and listen and hear from elders about
what's happened. It's. Yeah, it's hard to hear at times,
(08:09):
I think.
S3 (08:10):
I think we need to hear and we need to
learn from our history in order to move forward in
this reconciliation journey. So I think it's incredibly important. As
hard as it is, I think we do need to
acknowledge that this is our history. And, you know, the
Europe Commission, um, that's just recently handed down recommendations to government,
(08:32):
have done a lot of work to support moving forward
and cultural safety for Aboriginal people in this country. And
I do think that language revival is incredibly, as I
said before, it's incredibly important to culture and identity and
keeping that strong and alive.
S2 (08:50):
One of the puppies, named for the year before last,
which was during his carer, works at a preschool where
they teach language to the children on the country that
they're in, which is, I think, quite cool. I think
that one might have been named by Natalie.
S4 (09:05):
Yeah, they're Yorta Yorta.
S3 (09:06):
Names that she gave to the two pops last year,
and we were so pleased when we were attended the
Vision Australia NAIDOC event last Monday that we actually we
saw the pups as they were tiny, and then we've
seen them 12 months later all growing up. So that
was a real pleasure to see them growing up. And
as I said before, we feel really honoured that we
(09:28):
are asked to be involved in this initiative, and I
think it's incredibly important initiative and it will support our
community to access much needed services through Vision Australia. We
do have some clients that we have referred to, Vision
Australia from the Iron Air Hospital as well, and we've
seen really positive outcomes for them. And so I do
(09:49):
think Vision Australia and seeing eye Dogs for all the
hard work that you are doing in this space. As
I said, I think it's all very important. Reconciliation and
to closing the healthcare gap. I do encourage everybody to
take the initiative and learn a little bit about our history.
It is our history and to maybe even learn one
(10:10):
word in language.
S2 (10:12):
And there are so many languages to choose from as well.
Like you said, so many of them. And there's a
map behind you which the listeners will not be able
to see, but the vast numbers of communities across Australia,
all with different cultures. Yeah, there's lots and lots to
choose from and learn about.
S4 (10:27):
So there certainly.
S3 (10:29):
Are. And in the Kulin nation, there's a lot of
similarities with our words, particularly with Tarong and Woiwurrung, people
of the Wurundjeri lands in central Melbourne, and there's a
lot of crossover of those languages.
S2 (10:42):
So is there anything else that you would like to
share about NAIDOC week, your connection to land and country
or the names that you've chosen?
S3 (10:49):
No, other than I would encourage people, where possible, to
engage in an event NAIDOC week. As I said before,
this is our 50th year. It started off as a
day of mourning and has evolved into a week long
celebration of who we are of culture. And I encourage
(11:10):
everybody to access, to try and get involved in one
of those wonderful events that that occurs during NAIDOC week,
and to learn one word in language, whether it be
the language of the traditional custodians of where you live.
But just to learn one word I think is really lovely.
It's really important.
S2 (11:30):
Would you like to share one last word with us today.
S3 (11:32):
Ngungunyane? Which means thank you in Ngungunyane.
S2 (11:38):
Ngungunyane. Thank you for sharing your story and telling us
a bit about your language and your culture.
S3 (11:43):
Thank you so much, Harriet. My pleasure.
S1 (11:52):
You've been listening to the Seeing Eye Dog show on
Vision Australia Radio. I hope you enjoyed my interview with Carlene.
To learn more about language you can head to. Engage
with an event for celebrating culture across the year. Visit
a museum such as the Aboriginal Cultural Centre at the
(12:12):
Melbourne Museum, or read up about Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander history. Wherever your preferred resource is. Now here's my
second interview with Seeing Eye Dogs Gold Coast bass instructor
Genevieve Leonard. Let's get to know her.
S2 (12:34):
Hi, Jen, thanks for joining me on the show today.
Could you please start off by introducing yourself?
S5 (12:38):
I'm Jen, I'm one of the mobility instructor for seeing
eye dogs. I'm initially from Canada, and I've just moved
here to Australia in January to work for Vision Australia. Yeah,
I enjoy hiking, yoga, pilates and just walking along the beach.
Especially living in Gold Coast, I do try to go
to the beach every day and really enjoy the scenery.
S2 (12:59):
You've got to make the most of the place in
the world that you are, and I'm sure your Queensland
clients can appreciate the beaches as well.
S5 (13:06):
Exactly.
S2 (13:07):
So what is your background in this industry?
S5 (13:09):
I initially started in Canada. I worked for an organization
where I started as a training assistant and then moved
up as a guide dog trainer. And then after that
I went to another organization where I became a guide
dog instructor. We do call it a guide dog back
in Canada, which is similar to Seeing Eye Dog. And
then I worked there for almost five years. Then I
(13:35):
came here to Australia as a seeing eye dog instructor.
S2 (13:38):
A bit of a sea change, but I suppose the
role is pretty similar, isn't it? I mean, between the
two things. Same thing. Just different sides of the world.
S5 (13:46):
Yeah, yeah, exactly. Same thing, same kind of apprenticeship that
you go through to get the title. And as well,
I'd say the only really big difference from Australia to
Canada is where I live in Canada we have quite
intense winters. So we do have to train dogs in
different types of climates, such as snowy conditions, very cold conditions.
(14:08):
So it's kind of the same as when it gets really,
really hot in Queensland. We have to mind the weather
of when to work our dogs. The dogs have to
wear booties as well. Uh, here it's for the heat
back home, it's for the salt and the snow and
it gets really cold again. Clients and handlers have to
be mindful of, you know, working dog in a -40
type temperature.
S2 (14:27):
Oh my gosh. That's yeah.
S5 (14:29):
It can get very cold. Um, and then if as
a dog trainer where you work dogs all day when
it's this cold or even when it gets hot again,
we have to be mindful. And where we train the
dogs going to malls and indoor environments. So those things
are added, things that we have to think of.
S2 (14:47):
The idea of, just like existing in negative weight. Is
that 40 Fahrenheit or is that degree? That's crazy.
S5 (14:58):
Yeah. It doesn't get -40 every day, thank goodness. But
there are days where it's just very cold that we
do have quite a lot of humidity as well. Back
in Ottawa, where is where I'm from? And usually even
during the summer, we can be having a temperature of,
let's say 24 degrees. But with the humidex it becomes
plus 40 in the summer and in winter as well,
(15:20):
it can be -22. But then with the humidex it
feels like it's -30 and up and then it just
feels wet.
S2 (15:28):
Does it feel cooler if it's more humid as well?
So it's like either end it feels hotter or cooler. Oh.
S5 (15:34):
In the summer with the humidity, it just feels kind
of feels wet actually. But it just feels like, you know,
like in Queen for clients from Queensland. They know you
just feel with the humidity.
S2 (15:42):
Just everything is, like, sweaty and sticky.
S5 (15:44):
Yeah, sweaty. Sticky. And just like you can't, you know,
just gross. In winter, it's even colder. But then you
feel wet as well. So it doesn't matter how many
layers you put on. It just kind of like hits
your bones almost. And then that's what makes it colder,
is that there's there's not really it's very hard to
get yourself warm when there's that much humidity, because it
(16:06):
adds kind of the wetness to it, if that makes sense.
S2 (16:09):
That does not tempt me to live in Canada like
it's so beautiful. And I've seen photos and I'm like, wow.
And that that's just set me right back to us. Yeah,
it is beautiful.
S5 (16:20):
And it is. It is good weather some days, but
there are some days where it's extreme and the snow
does make it beautiful when it is snowing and it's
an ideal day and it's not too cold. It is
absolutely beautiful to walk in snow, you know, and having
doing snowing activities and stuff like that, that's really nice
to do. But yes, when it's that cold it's not
as good.
S2 (16:42):
Yeah.
S5 (16:42):
But again it can it depends where you live in
Canada as well. Where I lived in Ottawa, it gets
a bit all of the extremes. But if you live
a bit more to the West Coast, I think it's
a bit drier and they don't get to the extremes
of -40. So usually I know a lot of Australians
since moving here, they've all told me they've been to
the West Coast because that's the closest Australia, the winters
(17:04):
not too too bad compared to if you go more
towards Ontario.
S2 (17:09):
I mean, I spent a bit of my childhood in
England and I felt like that was cold, but I
just think that's probably not comparable.
S5 (17:15):
No. Probably not.
S2 (17:17):
So back to the work that you have done, which
I feel, I don't know. I feel like probably in
your Australian winter is probably a lot more manageable. Anyway,
I'm going to stop talking about the weather now. I
just am thinking about -40 and I can't get out
of my head. So I know you did start as
a training assistant. What I guess inspired you to start
(17:38):
working within the guide dog industry.
S5 (17:40):
I always want it to be a beautiful story, but
it's actually just quite a coincidence story. I would say
for me, I initially went to uni for um, Pre-vet medicine,
so I wanted to be a veterinarian and when I
went to I went to one university in French because
I am French Canadian. And then when I transferred to
an English university, I kept seeing a lot of seeing
(18:02):
eye dog puppies come into my class, and then kind
of intrigued me in seeing all these dogs. And I
kind of got more information, and I tried to actually
become a puppy carer for that organization where I was
doing university, because they really were advertising to us students,
because we were doing so much, we could socialize the
dog really well and bring it everywhere. Fortunately, it was
such a popular thing that there were no longer looking
(18:24):
for students when I applied, but it just got me
to get a bit more information about the Seeing Eye
dog world, because I think if you not a lot
of people know about it or know that you can
actually get a career in it. That was my case.
I didn't really know much about it until I saw
those puppies in school. And then when I moved back home,
(18:44):
my parents neighbor told me about this organization that was
hiring a training assistant, or I think you guys called
them cadets an apprentice to become a dog trainer because
initially while I was in university, I also worked at
a dog rescue and no kill shelter, where we rehabilitate
dogs with behavioral issues and try to get them adopted.
(19:06):
And we took on a lot of dogs. So I
always had a passion for training dogs and getting the
best of them. So that's why my parents, neighbors, they said, oh,
this organization is is looking for a training assistant. And
I was intrigued. And it was a guide dog organization
and I got the job. And that's kind of how
I got into the Seeing Eye dog world.
S2 (19:26):
I can imagine it would be a very different set
of tasks that you're kind of training or working on,
and just even like the types of dogs like like
the raw material, so to speak, that you're given is
so different. Like between, you know, a Labrador bred for
purpose and, you know, the shelter dogs you're working at.
I can't imagine how different those two experiences would be
despite kind of having some similar skills.
S5 (19:46):
Yes, they're very different, both of them, because like you said,
some are bred for it. Um, with the rescue is
more of, you know, behavioral, more specific behavior trying to
remove a behavior or at least improve it. But it
did give me a lot of skills for when training
dogs in the dog world, because when we do have
a dog with a specific behavior kind of helps me
(20:07):
know what to do and how to train them and
then just problem solving. It gave me a lot of
problem solving skills that I could transfer to the guide dogs,
and I think that's where it was beneficial. And then
my passion, well, my passion for dogs and training dogs
is is the same all around. Yeah, yeah, that's always
been there.
S2 (20:25):
To some degree. It probably give you a bit of
appreciation too, for the different types of dogs that you've
met and then kind of working with, you know, even
the kind of most low probability, for example, seeing eye
dog puppy that we meet, you know, has had such
a different start than another dog that hasn't been quite
as fortunate.
S5 (20:41):
It definitely has. And, um, I think it's taught me
a lot as well, is dogs don't mean to be
bad or do something bad. Like their intention is not
to be bad. You know what I mean? It's it's
usually genetics environment. Um, and it's our job to communicate
or understand the dog on why they're doing a certain behavior.
(21:02):
And then what can we do to influence that behavior
or change that behavior? Because I don't think any dog
is born bad or not good enough. It's our job
to really properly understand the dog.
S2 (21:15):
Although I guess I would say some dogs also don't
want to work and that's fine. But um, but but
they're not kind of doing it intentionally. It's just, uh, exactly.
S5 (21:23):
Some dogs are just born to just be pet dogs.
They don't feel like working, and that's perfectly fine. And
I think that's part of our job as well as
as instructors and trainers, is we need to make sure
that dog wants to work, because we don't want to
put a dog out that does not want to work,
because again, it's it should be a choice for the dog,
not not a forced job on them.
S2 (21:42):
So what is it, day in the life of an
instructor or your life particularly? And you know, what do
you do in the role?
S5 (21:48):
Because I'm not an instructor in Melbourne, my day is
a bit different. Client service is based in more kind
of on my own. I don't have, you know, I
have an office, but I don't have the kennels and
the whole staff there. So it's a lot of independence,
a lot of independent work that I do. I'd say yes,
a lot of client services. So just answering phone calls,
emails about clients who are requiring support, who are wanting
(22:12):
to try something different with their dog, wanting to do
a new route. And they'd like my support with that.
Clients who are struggling, a dog's doing something that it
shouldn't do. They're asking for my support. So it's a
lot of me helping clients and supporting them throughout Queensland.
So I do cover from Brisbane to about. Tweed Heads
is kind of my area as well as North Queensland
(22:33):
like Cairns, Atherton, Rockhampton those are my area as well.
I do travel if I need to to go see
these clients, as well as when we do have dogs
that are ready to be matched. I would do some
programs with clients that are waiting in Queensland to get
a dog. I will be doing a program as well. Paperwork.
Paperwork is part of my daily tasks. Unfortunately, I am
(22:55):
not a fan of paperwork. It needs to be done,
but I think I speak for many instructors. We do
not always like the paperwork.
S2 (23:04):
You don't live for it. It's not what you pursue
this role for.
S5 (23:07):
Exactly.
S6 (23:07):
We love the other everything else paperwork.
S5 (23:10):
And again, it's a needed thing, but it is not
our favorite thing. So that's kind of my my daily thing.
A lot of scheduling as well. Yeah. Just talking to
clients and visiting them from time to time. I maybe
will get a dog to go through IFT to see
if they are a good candidate for the program. And
that's kind of where I'm at right now just because
(23:33):
I just started. So we're just easing me into it.
Getting to know all the clients. And I do share
a load with the other instructor here in Queensland where
if one person's away or on on a program, we
help each other out with visiting clients and supporting whoever
needs it.
S7 (23:49):
So what are your.
S2 (23:50):
Favorite parts of that role?
S5 (23:52):
Definitely the problem solving part. I love that every day
is different for me. I don't have a 9 to
5 job where it's, you go into the office and
you work all day. It's every day. It's seeing different people,
different dogs doing different things. And then a lot of
it is problem solving. So whether it's during a program
or a just regular visit with with a handler, whether
(24:12):
or not they're struggling with something or they're not. There's
always questions about how to solve something with the dog.
And it's kind of, I have to think on my
feet because they don't tell me in advance or it's
never the same thing. So every day I'm just constantly
problem solving on how to fix a problem. And then
I have to think on my feet, thinks outside the box.
(24:33):
Because sometimes, you know, dogs, dogs are very, very intelligent.
And after a while, you know, they can't figure out
how to get around things. So it's if we've tried A, B, C,
and D and it's not worked. All right. Well what
else can we try. And then I have to kind
of figure that out with the handler. And handler are
discussing and trying to find that solution. And I really
like that part because I just really like problem solving.
S2 (24:53):
And I guess it's rewarding when the handler and the
dog come up with some new skill or strategy that
works for them.
S5 (24:59):
Yeah, exactly. Especially seeing.
S6 (25:01):
The results.
S5 (25:02):
Of the problem solving and then seeing it work. You're like, ah, yes.
S6 (25:06):
I got success.
S5 (25:07):
It's almost like doing a puzzle. And then, you know,
you finish the puzzle and then it's always satisfying to
finish a puzzle. It's kind of quite similar, which I
really like. And I'd say as well as I get
to meet new people all the time, which I really love,
just meeting new people and as well, you know, traveling
all over Queensland as well is really nice seeing new
places and yeah, just getting to talk to different people
(25:28):
and getting to know their life and and everything is really,
always really fun for me.
S2 (25:33):
What do you find most challenging about the role?
S5 (25:35):
The paperwork?
S2 (25:37):
Yeah.
S5 (25:39):
Uh.
S2 (25:40):
Yeah. And do you have any advice or messages for
any clients who might work with you in the future?
S5 (25:47):
Be open. Know that I'm there to help and I'm
happy to help with anything. So please don't hesitate to
talk to me about anything you want. I'm always there
to just help. And if you have any questions about Canada,
please don't hesitate to ask me. I'm always happy to
talk to you about Canada and our different types of
temperatures that we have. Um, and where the best spots
(26:07):
are to go. If ever you want to visit Canada,
please don't hesitate to talk to me about that. But yeah, really,
just just be open and comfortable and that you can
just talk to me about anything you'd like.
S2 (26:15):
I do like the idea of, um, getting some travel
tips from an expert. I mean, that's quite valuable.
S5 (26:21):
Exactly. Yeah. Yeah.
S2 (26:23):
Maybe if there are any clients who can speak French,
that'll be a nice win.
S5 (26:27):
It would be wonderful. Yes, we could. If anyone wants
to learn French or practice their French, I can definitely
do that with you as well.
S2 (26:34):
So, just to finish off, is there anything that you
think that members of the public should know about the
work of an instructor or about seeing eye dogs?
S5 (26:42):
I think just educating themselves, the public should take the
responsibility on themselves to educate themselves about seeing Eye Dog
on the proper, you know, protocol or procedure, or just
seeing eye dogs and people who have low vision or
are blind. I think simplify a lot of lives. Um,
if they just knew what not to do with when
they see a seeing eye dog, or even if, you know,
(27:04):
then actually listen to them. And because I think a
lot of people know they can't touch a dog, but
they'll still try or they know they can't talk to
the dog, but they'll still talk to the dog. Educating
yourselves and realizing, you know the impact that you have
by just education.
S2 (27:16):
Well, thank you so much for coming on the show
and joining me today.
S5 (27:19):
Well, thank you. Thank you for having me. It was
a great time.
S1 (27:28):
Keep me listening to the Seeing Eye Dog show on
Vision Australia Radio. I hope you enjoyed my interviews with
Carlene Miller from the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital.
Talking about the 2025 puppy names she suggested and the
importance of language and Dog Week. And then with Genevieve
Leonard Sing instructor based in Gold Coast, talking about her story,
(27:50):
her background and the work she does. If you'd like
to find out more about seeing Eye dogs, the work
We do, how you can help, or becoming a handler,
head to our website at. Thank you for listening to
the show and don't forget to tune in Same time
next week for another episode or head to your preferred
podcast platform for this and other Great Vision Australia radio shows.
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