Harnessing the power of rescue animals to learn business skills
Jax is an autistic man with a love of animals, especially dogs. So, looking for social connection and activity to fill his week, he decided to join Happy Paws Happy Hearts. Three years later, he always attends his two weekly sessions – Train and Explore – and is one of the OG members of the tight-knit crew in Hunter Valley.
“I needed something to do on Thursday, and I don't currently own a dog myself. So, this is my dog therapy,” Jax says.
“(My favourite animals are) dogs because they’re fun to be around.”
Jax was selected for the employment pathway program, Explore – for participants ready to take the next steps into volunteering, work or further study in the animal care industry and beyond. In an invite-only selection process, Jax is one of the first Hunter Valley participants to progress through the program.
One of his favourite things about Explore is learning how to grow his business. Jax is an aspiring leather worker; his business is currently online, but he is gaining confidence with each session, even talking about setting up market stalls and distributing a flyer he worked on with his Case Manager, Abi.
As part of the Explore program, Happy Paws Happy Hearts will secure a work placement for Jax to gain real-life work experience, make connections and practice his skills. He is interested in doing Permaculture - the conscious design and maintenance of agriculturally productive ecosystems with the diversity, stability, and resilience of natural ecosystems.
In Explore, Jax learns concepts such as how to present himself in the workforce. The Happy Paws Happy Hearts team gave him a ‘suit-up’’, ditching his usual casual attire for a more ‘business’ look.
Jax in his new look he picked with help from the Happy Paws Happy Hearts team
Since joining Happy Paws Happy Hearts, Jax says he is "much more chill".
“(I used to find it) hard to de-stress. Now I pat a dog, and I'm good,” he says.
“It makes me feel happy.”
Not only is Jax excelling in the program, but he has also referred a friend of his to join him in his weekly sessions. One of the things he is most proud of is learning how to train dogs.
“(I’ve worked with) lots and lots and lots of puppies. Hundreds, literally hundreds,” he says.
“Especially when there's multiple puppies at once.”