Lions Assistance Dogs

Lions Assistance Dogs Lions Assistance Dogs provides highly trained Assistance Dogs Australia-wide free of charge.

Each Hearing Assistance Dog costs ALHD upwards of $37,000 to train, deliver and support, and is gifted free of charge, to its deaf or hard of hearing new owner. One in six Australians has some form of hearing loss, with this number expected to rise to one in four by 2050. Severe or profound hearing loss currently affects close to 400,000 people. Whilst hearing loss impacts all ages, the numbers ar

e greater in older Australians. The impact of hearing loss varies for each individual and Australian Lions Hearing Dogs works with each recipient to create a solution that fits them. Many people who wear hearing aids or use assistive technology are unable to depend on these aids in difficult circumstances or after they go to bed. A Hearing Assistance Dog is often a welcome aid for many who suffer from hearing loss or deafness as it provides the companionship they crave in a socially isolated environment, and the safety and security from common dangers around the home. Hearing Assistance Dogs not only increase the quality of day-to-day living, they also help alleviate many of the conditions often associated with deafness and hard of hearing, these being depression, anxiety and communication withdrawal. As reported through a recent Federal Government Senate Inquiry into hearing, these conditions have been shown to contribute to cognitive decline and potentially increase by a factor of five, the likelihood of developing dementia. It’s not just the recipients themselves whose lives are enhanced by their Hearing Assistance Dog, there are also many reported benefits for family, friends and community.

Say hello to Toby — our newest recruit! 🐾Toby is a gorgeous Labradoodle who has just stepped into full-time Assistance D...
02/06/2026

Say hello to Toby — our newest recruit! 🐾

Toby is a gorgeous Labradoodle who has just stepped into full-time Assistance Dog training, after spending the past 10 months in our Puppy Program. He’s ready to take on this next stage of his journey, full steam ahead. 🧡

We would like to thank his dedicated Puppy Carers, Vanessa and her family, for raising Toby into the confident, calm and capable Assistance Dog he is today. Their love, guidance and dedication have given Toby the strong foundation he needs as he begins this exciting next chapter. We would also like to thank Kate and Simon for finishing of Toby's last few weeks in the Puppy Program, continuing on with his foundational skills 💙

Toby was generously sponsored and lovingly named by the We thank them for their ongoing support and look forward to keeping them updated as Toby progresses through his training. 🦁

Thank you to everyone involved in his journey so far, we’re excited to see Toby progress through his full-time Assistance Dog training 🥰

Finishing the week off with the cutest introductions! Please join us in welcoming our newest additions to the Puppy Prog...
29/05/2026

Finishing the week off with the cutest introductions! Please join us in welcoming our newest additions to the Puppy Program, Deakin and Connie! 🐾

These puppies are from Amity Labradoodles and are already thriving in their new puppy carer homes. Over the next 10–12 months, they'll be learning all the foundational skills needed with their dedicated Puppy Carers before beginning full-time training to become Assistance Dogs. 🥰

Deakin was proudly sponsored and lovingly named by the Melbourne Deaf and Hard of Hearing Lions Club, and Connie was sponsored and loving named by Karen.

We are so grateful for their support and are excited to share these puppies journey's with them as they grow and progress through the Puppy and Training Programs. 💙

Our monthly supporters help us to raise and train incredible, life changing Assistance Dogs like Harley 🧡🐾 MEET KERRY AN...
28/05/2026

Our monthly supporters help us to raise and train incredible, life changing Assistance Dogs like Harley 🧡

🐾 MEET KERRY AND HEARING ASSISTANCE DOG HARLEY 🐾

Life before Harley looked a bit different for Kerry. Due to a health scare from an undiagnosed tumour – Kerry’s hearing loss was declining rapidly and became very limited.

“I cannot discern where a sound is coming from or at times, what the sound is.” Kerry says.

Even after acquiring implants, her social and physical well-being still began to decline, and she felt very isolated with minimal social contact.

“Venturing out to the shops was a challenge. People can be quite cruel when they cannot see an obvious disability and I have been accused of being ‘stupid’, ‘dumb’, and some other nasty words.”

After visiting our National Training Centre, Kerry decided to apply for a Hearing Assistance Dog—and soon, Harley arrived. Since then, the pair have become inseparable, with Harley alerting to sounds, improving Kerry’s confidence and safety, and even helping her return to daily walks. Whether at home or in public, Harley’s presence has been life-changing—earning him both praise and a bit of local celebrity status.

“Harley has restored a lot of my confidence and faith in other people. He makes me smile every day. And he’s so wonderfully cheeky! My woolly mate has given me back a sense of hope and joy and confidence in life.” 🧡

If you'd like to know more about joining our community and becoming a monthly supporter, click the link below:
👉 https://lionsassistancedogs.com.au/membership/

Our next introduction is Ayla, a gorgeous Labradoodle from Rusty Amber, who has settled in nicely to her full-time train...
27/05/2026

Our next introduction is Ayla, a gorgeous Labradoodle from Rusty Amber, who has settled in nicely to her full-time training and is already impressing her trainer. 👏

A heartfelt thank you goes to Megan and Peter for proudly sponsoring Ayla’s journey. Their generosity ensures that dogs like Ayla can progress through training and go on to provide life-changing support to their future recipients. 🐾

Ayla spent 10 months in the Puppy Program with Jenn, one of our dedicated Puppy Carers, who took Ayla in when she was just 8 weeks old and raised her into the eager, confident dog she is today. From providing daily love and care to guiding her through vital socialisation and early training, Jenn has given Ayla the very best start. 💙

👉 If you’d like to be part of a puppy’s journey just like Ayla’s, you can learn more about becoming a puppy carer here: www.lionsassistancedogs.com.au/volunteer-with-us or call 08 8388 7836.

Our May newsletter is almost here! 📰✨ Sign up now to get all the updates straight to your inbox and be the first to hear...
26/05/2026

Our May newsletter is almost here! 📰✨

Sign up now to get all the updates straight to your inbox and be the first to hear about our amazing pups, dogs and community milestones. 🧡

👉Sign up here: https://lionsassistancedogs.com.au/news-events/

We have some very special introductions to our training team this week! 🐾First up is the very handsome Fred, who last we...
25/05/2026

We have some very special introductions to our training team this week! 🐾

First up is the very handsome Fred, who last week began his full-time training journey. 😍

Fred was proudly sponsored and named by the Blacktown Ponds Lions Club Inc. We hope they have enjoyed following Fred’s journey through the Puppy Program, and we look forward to keeping them updated as he continues through his training. 🦁

We would also like to thank Fred’s dedicated Puppy Carer, Marcia, for raising such a confident and eager-to-learn boy. Through her dedication, love, and commitment, Fred has mastered his basic obedience, socialisation, and manners - meaning he is now ready to begin the next stage of his journey. 💙

Thank you to everyone who has helped Fred along the way. We’re excited to continue sharing his progress as he moves forward in his training journey. 👏

Yesterday marked a significant milestone in Lions Assistance Dogs history, with our official sod-turning ceremony held a...
22/05/2026

Yesterday marked a significant milestone in Lions Assistance Dogs history, with our official sod-turning ceremony held at our existing and future site in Verdun.
We welcomed leaders, supporters, corporate partners, volunteers, recipients, friends, and neighbours of the organisation to celebrate this exciting next step towards the future of Lions Assistance Dogs.

This project represents a significant and carefully planned milestone in the long-term future of our organisation, and our ongoing commitment to enhancing the training, welfare, and support provided to our assistance dogs and the individuals who rely on them.

As we approach the commencement of construction in June/July, we are entering a transitional period during which a number of operational adjustments will take place. This includes preparations for the relocation of certain functions to a temporary training location, ensuring continuity of programs and uninterrupted support throughout the build phase.

We are working closely with our team and stakeholders to ensure this transition is managed safely, efficiently, and with minimal disruption to our services and the care of our dogs.

Further detailed information regarding operational changes, including timelines and what this means for our programs, will be communicated in the coming weeks.
We acknowledge and sincerely thank our community, partners, and supporters for their continued understanding and support as we progress through this important stage of development.

Together, we are moving closer to delivering a purpose-built facility that will support the next generation of assistance dogs and the people whose lives they transform 🧡🐾

🌟 National Volunteer Week | Your Year to Volunteer 🌟 Volunteer Spotlight – Yeppoon Lions 🐾“I am constantly amazed at t...
22/05/2026

🌟 National Volunteer Week | Your Year to Volunteer 🌟

Volunteer Spotlight – Yeppoon Lions 🐾

“I am constantly amazed at the wonderful variety of uses for which dogs can be trained - and how well they do it.” Elizabeth, member of the Lions Club of Yeppoon

The Lions Club of Yeppoon has supported Lions Assistance Dogs since 2005, beginning after members visited our training program at a Lions National Convention. 🦁

In 2025 and 2026, Club members have been actively supporting the follow up training of two Hearing Dogs, Mackie (Border Terrier) and Harvey (Labradoodle), assisting with structured training sessions several times a week over a 12-week period for each dog.

Their hands-on support helps build confidence, reinforce training, and prepare dogs for real-world environments as they progress toward accreditation. 🐾

For the Club, volunteering in this way has been both rewarding and meaningful -strengthening community connection while witnessing the impact these dogs have on people living with hearing loss.

“Volunteering in this way has been very rewarding and has strengthened our connection to the community.” 🧡

Pictured is the club with Mackie (Border Terrier) and Harvey (Labradoodle) on their accreditation days.

Thank you to the Lions Club of Yeppoon for your long-standing commitment and continued support.👏

Address

793 Mount Barker Road
Verdun, SA
5245

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Thursday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Friday 8:30am - 4:30pm

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