The NSW Law Soc funded the purchase of the new facility dogs
Divisions 1 and 2 of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (FCFCOA) have expanded the court dog program to the registries in Sydney, Parramatta and Newcastle.
Guide Dogs NSW/ACT will train and supply three facility dogs. The NSW Law Society financed the purchase.
“It’s a credit to the Law Society of New South Wales and its members that they’ve decided to fund the three new dogs for our registries in Sydney, Parramatta and Newcastle. We’ve been overwhelmed at the positive reception our Court Dog Program has received in Melbourne and Hobart, so we’re beyond excited to see the impact these new additions will make in New South Wales”, FCFCOA chief justice William Alstergren AO said.
The court dog program was first launched in the Melbourne and Hobart registries with facility dogs Poppy and Zoey. The program’s objectives were to help litigants and children to share their testimonies, to improve the trauma sensitivity of the court process for users, and to bolster engagement with the court process.
“Lawyers involved in court proceedings rely on their witnesses giving the best evidence possible. Whether they be adults or children, witnesses who feel less anxious, and more comfortable and supported, are shown to produce more reliable evidence, have better factual recall, speak more clearly and coherently, and exhibit fewer signs of distress”, NSW Law Society President Jennifer Ball said.
The dogs selected for the NSW registries will be “sworn in” early this year. Court dogs are a specific type of therapy dog trained to offer emotional support and comfort to crime victims; such dogs have a calm temperament and personality.
Research revealed that dogs helped restrict the effects of the stress hormone cortisol; they also boosted oxytocin production to reduce anxiety.
“Some dogs have the perfect nature and training to become a Court Dog, where they ease stress, reduce anxiety, provide companionship, emotional support and hugs to those in need. We’re so thrilled to be supporting three new registries with their very own specially trained Court Dogs, who will go on to have a positive impact on the wellbeing of people navigating the court system”, said Samantha O’Keefe, team leader of the Guide Dogs NSW/ACT Therapy Dog Program.
According to a survey conducted by the courts, all court users found the presence of a court dog in the registry to be positive and supportive. Seventy-eight percent of court users felt relaxed with a court dog in the vicinity; 52% felt safe, 40% thought more clearly, and 35% expressed themselves better.
