Therapy/Assistant Dog Trainer at Cornerstone Companions

Company Overview:Cornerstone Companions is a leading organisation dedicated to raising and placing fully trained therapy/assistance dogs in educational settings. We are committed to promoting the transformative power of the human-animal bond and positively impacting our community.

Job Title: Therapy/Assistant Dog Trainer

Location: Macarthur

Job Type: Casual – NSW School Term Time

Job Description:

Cornerstone Companions is seeking a passionate and experienced Therapy/Assistant Dog Trainer to join our team. In this role, you will be responsible for training and socialising puppies and dogs for therapy and assistance work, collaborating with our team to ensure successful placements, and participating in community outreach events.

Responsibilities:

• Train and socialise puppies and dogs for therapy and assistance work using positive reinforcement techniques.
• Develop and implement individualised training plans for each dog based on their strengths and the needs of their future handler.
• Collaborate with puppy raisers, volunteers, and staff members to ensure consistency in training methods and practices.
• Evaluate and test dogs to determine their readiness for advanced task training and placement.
• Match trained dogs with compatible applicants based on individual needs and personalities.
• Provide ongoing support and guidance to dog handlers, ensuring successful partnerships between Cornerstone Companions' therapy/assistance dogs and their handlers.
• Participate in community outreach events, educating the public about assistance dogs and the work of Cornerstone Companions.
• Maintain accurate records of each dog's training progress and accomplishments.

Qualifications:

• Certification as a Therapy/Assistance Dog Trainer, or equivalent.
• Minimum of 2 years of experience training dogs for therapy or assistance work.
• Strong understanding of positive reinforcement training methods and animal behaviour.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work collaboratively in a team environment.
• Passionate about the mission of Cornerstone Companions and dedicated to making a difference in the lives of our clientele.

Desirable:

• Certificate IV in Animal Behaviour and Training Assistance Dog Stream
• Certification - Animal-Assisted Services Skill Set.

If successful a willingness to undertake further training and study, including Animal Assisted Therapy for Trainers, Assistance Dog Foundation certification, and Assistance Dog certification, is essential. This will be provided by Cornerstone Companions.

Join Our Team: If you are enthusiastic about the power of canine animal-assisted therapy and are committed to making a positive impact on students' lives, we invite you to apply for the position of Canine Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT) Teachers' Aide at Cornerstone Companions.

Application Process:

Only those applicants who provide the items on the application checklist will be reviewed and considered. Please email your application to **********@cornerstonecompanions.com.

Application Checklist:

1. Include your current WWCC Clearance number and expiry date.
2. Attach a covering letter outlining your skills and experience relevant to the advertised position.
3. Include a copy of your resume.
4. Include copies of your academic transcripts (if successful in gaining an interview, please bring the originals to the interview for verification).
5. Include 100-point photocopied identification with your application.
6. Save all documents in one file, clearly labelled with your first and last name.