Information Pack

About Us

 

Since 2014, Happy Paws Happy Hearts (HPHH) has been delivering programs that connect socially isolated Australians with animals in need to create positive change. 

Our focus is to help participants on their journey from social isolation to social inclusion and wellbeing. By helping animals in need, participants gain confidence, social skills and connections, and improve their overall quality of life.

Our programs and locations

HPHH offers unique, small-group animal care and training sessions across Australia at the following locations:

  • RSPCA Brisbane Animal Care Campus (QLD)

  • RSPCA Toowoomba Animal Care Centre (QLD)

  • RSPCA Dakabin Animal Care Centre (QLD)

  • RSPCA Mackay Animal Care Centre (QLD)

  • Hunter Valley Animal Facility & Rehoming Centre (NSW)

  • Assistance Dogs Australia (ADA) - Waterfall, Southern Sydney (NSW)

  • RSPCA Darwin Regional Branch (NT)

  • Ten Lives Cat Centre, Hobart (TAS)

  • Dogs’ Homes of Tasmania, Hobart (TAS)

Our programs give individuals the opportunity to participate in weekly sessions, learn about animal behaviour, animal care, and positive training techniques and help prepare animals for their future, either being adopted from the rescue shelters into forever homes; or as assistance dogs with ADA. Depending on the location and program, participants work with a range of animals, including dogs, cats, wildlife, reptiles, and farm animals (excluding Dogs’ Homes of Tasmania and Assistance Dogs Australia which work exclusively with dogs and puppies, and Ten Lives Cat Centre who work exclusively with cats). 

Groups do not exceed more than eight participants and are facilitated by compassionate and skilled Trainers.  

Each participant’s individual strengths and development needs are incorporated into the program, which uses well-established animal interaction methods to build confidence and social skills.  

As well as the opportunity to spend time with animals, a key benefit of HPHH is that it provides everyone involved with a strong sense of purpose. In turn, the animals who participate in HPHH sessions are given the opportunity to experience positive interactions with people! 

What courses are on offer?

Today, HPHH has 7 group programs that offer tiered, skills-based sessions starting from basic animal interactions through to advanced training.

Basics: Highly tactile sessions to learn the basics of animal care. 

Care: Lessons designed to teach participants about both animals and themselves. 

Intro to Handle: Strong focus on listening skills and following instructions in a workplace.  

Handle: Mastering different sections of a rescue or conservation organisation, in smaller teams. Our ADA programs at Southern Sydney are designed as a Handle course which focuses on the foundations of training puppies on their journey to assistance dogs.

Train: Driving pathways to independence through volunteering and employment skills.

Train – Intensive for Veterans, First Responders & Injured Workers: Training shelter animals while developing a sense of purpose, routine, self-value, and community engagement. 

Explore (entry by invitation): Group sessions to build vocational skills, with 1:1 support to transition to meaningful volunteer work, further study and/or employment. 

HPHH Online: A 2-year structured online program that provides weekly content and a platform to connect with the HPHH community wherever a participant may be.

Course Dates and Timing

 

HPHH programs are conducted over 4 terms per year - each term is 12 weeks.  Our programs run all year round with a short break over the Christmas and New Year period.  

There is no set commencement date - you can join our courses anytime throughout the year*.  Our Enrolment Team will pop you into the first suitable session – as soon as we have a place available and your paperwork completed. 

Regular programs run Monday to Friday with AM and PM sessions offered, and some locations offering Saturday sessions.  Sessions are 2 to 3 hours long, commencing at 9:00 am (10am for Basics) or 1:00 pm. 

Please note, HPHH partners with Rescue Shelters and Animal Care Facilities, which are busy places, especially on the weekend.  Our weekend sessions are subject to change, depending on room availability at each location.  You will be advised in advance if any changes to your session are scheduled. 

*There are a few HPHH programs such as Explore, Defence Families Programs and our Southern Sydney programs at Assistance Dogs Australia which have set start and end dates throughout the year. Any enquiries for these programs which are received while programs are running will go into a waitlist for the next upcoming program.

Fee Structure

 

HPHH is an approved fee-for-service program and operates as an unregistered NDIS provider. This means that we can service NDIS participants who are Self or Plan Managed and clients who are privately funded, funded by the Department of Veteran Affairs OR funded through a work cover or insurance arrangement.  

Unfortunately, we cannot invoice NDIA Agency-managed participants through the NDIA portal but we may be able to assist you in setting up an alternative payment arrangement.  

Generally, NDIS participants start in either Basics, Care or Introduction to Handle - this is ascertained at the enrolment appointment. 

Fees are determined by the course you are enrolled in.  

Here is an overview of our current session prices*:  

URBAN — Wacol | Dakabin | Southern Sydney (Waterfall)

    1. Basics = $73.00 per week (1 x 2 hour session @ $36.50p/h) 

    2. Care = $135.00 per week (1 x 3 hour session @ $45.00 p/h)

    3. Introduction to Handle = $160.50 per week (1 x 3 hour session @ $53.50 p/h)  

    4. Handle = $171.00 per week (1 x 3 hour session @ $57.00 p/h)  

    5. Train = $190.50 per week (1 x 3 hour session @ $63.50 p/h)  

    6. Train Intensive = $127.00 per week (1 x 2 hours session @ $63.50 p/h).   

    7. Explore = price on invitation. 

    1. Basics = $110.00 per week (1 x 2 hour session @ $55.00p/h)  

    2. Care = $204.00 per week (1 x 3 hour session @ $68.00 p/h)  

    3. Introduction to Handle = $243.00 per week (1 x 3 hour session @ $81.00 p/h)  

    4. Handle = $258.00 per week (1 x 3 hour session @ $86.00 p/h)  

    5. Train = $288.00 per week (1 x 3 hour session @ $96.00 p/h)  

    6. Train Intensive = $192.00 per week (1 x 2 hours session @ $96.00 p/h).

    7. Explore = price on invitation. 

REGIONAL — Toowoomba | Mackay | Hobart | Darwin | Hunter Valley

    1. Basics = $75.00 per week (1 x 2 hour session @ $37.50 p/h)  

    2. Care = $138.00 per week (1 x 3 hour session @ $46.00 p/h)  

    3. Introduction to Handle = $163.50 per week (1 x 3 hour session @ $54.50 p/h)  

    4. Handle = $177.00 per week (1 x 3 hour session @ $59.00 p/h)  

    5. Train = $196.50 per week (1 x 3 hour session @ $65.50 p/h)  

    6. Train Intensive = $131.00 per week (1 x 2 hours session @ $65.50 p/h).   

    7. Explore = price on invitation. 

    1. Basics = $114.00 per week (1 x 2 hour session @ $57.00 p/h)  

    2. Care = $207.00 per week (1 x 3 hour session @ $69.00 p/h)  

    3. Introduction to Handle = $246.00 per week (1 x 3 hour session @ $82.00 p/h)  

    4. Handle = $267.00 per week (1 x 3 hour session @ $89.00 p/h)  

    5. Train = $297.00 per week (1 x 3 hour session @ $99.00 p/h)  

    6. Train Intensive = $198.00 per week (1 x 2 hours session @ $99.00 p/h).   

    7. Explore = price on invitation. 

ONLINE

    1. Online Program = $84.00 per week (1 x 2 hour session @ $42.00 p/h)  

    2. Intensive Online Program = $84.00 per week (1 x 2 hour session @ $42.00 p/h)  

*These prices are subject to change. Please note weekend prices may vary.

Next Steps

Following your enquiry one of our friendly Enrolment Team members will contact you to book you in for an Orientation Session.  

They’ll be asking some background questions to understand your interest in the program and make sure you have the support you need to move forward.  

Contact Us

If you can’t wait to “hop in” to our programs or have any questions about HPHH please give us a call on
1300 077 984 or email us at hello@hphhfoundation.org