What are the opening hours?

Monday 9am - 5pm Tuesday 9am - 5pm Wednesday 9am - 5pm Thursday 9am - 5pm Friday 9am - 5pm

mindDog Australia

Home
Australia
Kulnura, NSW
mindDog Australia

mindDog assists mental health sufferers to train and certify psychiatric service dogs. WHO ARE WE? But three big dogs were too much to take to the supermarket.

We began in 2011 when Cath Phillips discovered just how hard it was to find someone who would accredit her dog Buddy. Having bipolar II, Cath realised that she was more stable and relaxed when her three Ridgebacks were with her. Cath decided that Buddy was the best dog for what she needed and downloaded a Public Access Test from the net. She then spent a considerable amount of time trying to find

a trainer who would test Buddy for her. Finally, she found Mali Rolph from See Spot Run and Buddy passed his test with flying colours. In February of 2012, the first two dogs were certified. mindDog operates under the Commonwealth Disability Discrimination Act 1992 which guarantees public access for all dogs trained as assistance dogs. WHAT DO WE DO? A mindDog is a psychiatric assistance dog. An assistance dog (also known as a service dog) is covered by the Commonwealth Disability Discrimination Act 1992. An assistance dog is trained to assist their handler in public and is guaranteed access to all public places including shopping centres, hospitals, public transport and restaurants. According to this Act, an assistance dog is trained to alleviate the effect of a disability and must meet standards of hygiene and behaviour. For individuals with a mental health disorder and a dog, mindDog will test that dog for suitability, oversee the training, test, and certify that dog as an assistance dog. mindDogs assist people with mental health disorders whose lives are often severely compromised by anxiety and fear. With their mindDog they are able to travel on public transport, access public places and take part in social activities which have been closed off to them. HOW DO WE DO IT? Before your dog becomes a mindDog there are some fundamentals you both have to know. How good is your dog at basic obedience? Does she sit on command? Will she drop and stay? If you are in a busy place with lots of distractions, does she come when you call her? Will she walk calmly beside you on a loose lead without pulling or lunging? How is she with kids or other dogs? Does she bark frantically if she’s excited? These are all things you both need to have well under control before she gets her mindDog Trainee vest. If your dog needs more work, your Assessor will let you know during your First Visit and give you a local mindDog trainer to work with. Visit our website for more information: https://www.minddog.org.au/

10/08/2026

Happy

A mindDog is individually trained to perform specific tasks that help reduce the impact of a person’s disability. These tasks are tailored to the handler’s needs and may include:

🐾 Interrupting anxiety or panic attacks.
🐾 Providing grounding during dissociation or flashbacks.
🐾 Creating personal space in crowded environments.
🐾 Reminding their handler to take medication.
🐾 Waking their handler from nightmares.
🐾 Guiding their handler to a safe place when they become overwhelmed.

Remember when you see a team to please give them space and not distract or call the dog and please don’t pat them as they are working. A little kindness and understanding helps every assistance dog team succeed. ❤️

05/08/2026

It’s International Assistance Dog Week! At mindDog, we see every day how these remarkable dogs help people living with mental health conditions regain confidence and independence.

What makes psychiatric assistance dogs so unique is how they support their handler, including:
🐾 Interrupting anxiety or panic attacks.
🐾 Providing grounding during periods of distress or dissociation.
🐾 Waking a handler from nightmares or night terrors.
🐾 Reminding a handler to take medication.
🐾 Conducting room checks to help reduce hypervigilance.
🐾 Retrieving a phone, medication, or other essential items.
🐾 Guiding a handler to a safe or quiet place during periods of distress.
🐾 Providing deep pressure therapy when appropriate.
🐾 Assisting their handler to navigate situations that may otherwise feel overwhelming.

Every mindDog team represents thousands of hours of training, trust, patience, and teamwork. Behind every vest is a story of resilience, partnership, and lives changed.

This week, we also ask everyone to help assistance dog teams by respecting working assistance dogs.
💙 Please don’t pat, call out to, or distract a working assistance dog.
💙 Give the team space to work safely.
💙 Remember that not all disabilities are visible.

To every handler, trainer, volunteer, supporter, and, of course, every amazing mindDog, thank you for making a difference every single day.

Happy International Assistance Dog Week 2026! 🩵🐾

03/08/2026

Happy

Every mindDog team is unique because every person’s disability is different. What one dog is trained to do may be completely different from another, and that’s okay. Their training is based on the individual needs of their handler.

By understanding the role of a mindDog, we can help create a more inclusive community and support people living with invisible disabilities.

💙 Awareness leads to understanding, and understanding leads to acceptance.

27/07/2026

Happy

Every mindDog team you see started somewhere.

Behind every confident assistance dog is countless hours of training, patience, and teamwork. From learning basic manners to navigating busy public places, every new experience is introduced gradually and at the dog’s own pace.

Training isn’t about expecting perfection overnight, it’s about building confidence, resilience, and trust.

20/07/2026

Happy

💙🐾 Before my mindDog, even the thought of leaving the house could feel overwhelming.

Simple things that many people take for granted going to the shops, attending appointments, or just stepping outside often felt impossible. Agoraphobia can be incredibly isolating, and there were times when fear seemed bigger than the world around me.

Then my mindDog came into my life.

Having that constant, reassuring presence by my side has made such a difference. On the difficult days, they help ground me when anxiety starts to build, provide comfort when I feel overwhelmed, and give me the confidence to take those small but important steps forward.

Some days, success might be a short walk or a quick trip out. Other days, it’s simply knowing that I’m not facing it alone. My mindDog doesn’t make the challenges disappear, but they make them easier to manage and remind me that progress doesn’t have to be perfect, it just has to be one step at a time.

Because sometimes the bravest journeys begin with four paws beside you. 🐶💙

13/07/2026

Happy

A mindDog is an assistance dog that can help interrupt anxiety or depressive episodes, provide grounding during times of distress, encourage routine and independence, and offer reassurance and confidence in everyday life.

A mindDog is not a cure, but they can be an important part of a person’s support network, helping them navigate life with greater confidence and improving their quality of life.

06/07/2026

Happy

Living with an anxiety disorder can make even ordinary moments feel overwhelming, but having a mindDog by your side can make the world feel a little less daunting.

These incredible offer comfort during difficult moments, help their handlers feel grounded, and give them the confidence to face everyday life with greater independence and hope.

A mindDog doesn’t take anxiety away, but it can help turn fear into courage, isolation into connection, and uncertainty into possibility. Sometimes, the greatest support comes with four paws, a wagging tail, and an unconditional belief that you can get through today.

30/06/2026

🐾 Today is the final day of the End of Financial Year! 🐾
There’s still time to make a difference and support the life-changing work of mindDog.
mindDog assistance dogs help people living with mental health conditions by providing support, confidence, independence, and companionship, enabling their handlers to participate more fully in everyday life.
💙 If you’ve been thinking about donating, now is the perfect time. Make your EOFY donation today and help change lives, one paw at a time. All donations over $2 are tax deductible.
🐶 Thank you for your support and for helping mindDog create brighter futures.

22/06/2026

Happy

As the end of the financial year approaches, we’re asking for your support to help mindDog continue changing lives. 🐾💙

For people living with mental health challenges, a mindDog assistance dog can provide vital support, helping their handlers navigate daily life with greater confidence, independence, and hope.

Every donation, big or small, helps us continue providing education, resources, and support to assistance dog teams across Australia. Your generosity can make a meaningful difference to someone’s wellbeing and quality of life.

If you’re looking for a way to give back before June 30, please consider making a tax-deductible donation to mindDog.

Together, we can help more people access the life-changing support of an assistance dog.

Thank you for being part of our community and helping us create brighter futures.🐶💙

16/06/2026

Happy

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can make the world feel overwhelming. Hypervigilance, panic, flashbacks, anxiety, and exhaustion can turn everyday moments into invisible battles.

For many people living with PTSD, a mindDog can make a life changing difference providing grounding during distress, creating a sense of safety in public, interrupting escalating anxiety, and offering constant companionship through the hardest moments. 🐶

Sometimes support looks like a paw on your lap, quiet reassurance in a crowded space, or simply knowing you are not facing it alone.

Today we recognise the incredible strength of those living with PTSD, and the amazing mindDogs who stand beside them every step of the way. 💙

Address

Kulnura, NSW

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm

Telephone

+61490850993

Website

http://www.minddog.org.au/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when mindDog Australia posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to mindDog Australia:

Want your organization to be the top-listed Non Profit Organization in Kulnura?