Empower Assistance Dogs

09/10/2026

A Place Where Love, Warmth and Compassion Shine Through 💜

There are some places that touch your heart from the moment you walk through the doors, and Sandcastles Children's Hospice in Western Australia is certainly one of them.

From the moment you enter, you are surrounded by a beautiful sense of warmth, kindness and genuine compassion. There is something incredibly special about the atmosphere, a feeling of being welcomed, supported and cared for that is difficult to put into words.

Sandcastles is a place where children and families can feel safe, valued and supported through some of life's most challenging moments. Behind the doors is an extraordinary team of people whose dedication, empathy and kindness make such a meaningful difference to the families they support.

At Empower Assistance Dogs, we understand the incredible power of connection, comfort and unconditional love. It is these very qualities that make places like Sandcastles so special.

We are incredibly proud that our beautiful Bella, raised and trained by Empower Assistance Dogs trainer Lynne Browne, is now part of the Sandcastles family, bringing her own special kind of love, comfort and companionship to the children, families and staff around her. 🐾❤️

Bella's placement was made possible through the generous funding and ongoing support of the Petbarn Foundation, whose commitment to making a meaningful difference in the lives of people and pets continues to create extraordinary opportunities. We are incredibly grateful for our longstanding partnership and their belief in the important work these very special dogs do.

Seeing Bella become part of such a compassionate environment is a beautiful reminder of why we do what we do. It is about so much more than training dogs, it is about creating connections, bringing comfort and making a difference when it matters most.

Sometimes the most extraordinary places aren't defined only by their buildings, but also by the beautiful people within them and the way they make others feel.

Sandcastles is certainly one of those places.

08/10/2026

04/10/2026

🕊️ In Loving Memory of Mandy 🕊️

It is with very heavy hearts that we share the passing of our beautiful friend and Empower handler, Mandy.

Mandy was so much more than a member of the Empower family. She was a fierce supporter and champion of our charity, a familiar face at our events and training days, and someone whose presence, determination and strength will be deeply missed.

Mandy lived her life with incredible independence and determination. She knew what she wanted, she stood up for what mattered to her, and she faced life with a strength that those who knew and loved her could not help but admire.

At the very centre of Mandy’s world were those she loved. Her beloved assistance dog Reba and her cat Mia were truly the loves of her life, and the bond she shared with them was incredibly special. We know they will feel her absence just as deeply.

Mandy had made her wishes for Reba and Mia clear, and we want those who loved her to know that both Reba and Mia are being cared for in accordance with those wishes, surrounded by love and with their wellbeing at the forefront.

Our hearts are also with Mandy’s family, particularly her mum Alison and sister Sabrina, who have lost someone completely irreplaceable. We send our deepest love and condolences to them and to all of Mandy’s family and friends as they navigate the enormous sadness of losing someone so deeply loved.

For us at Empower, this loss is personal. We haven’t simply lost one of our handlers or one of our greatest supporters, we have lost a friend.

There will be an empty space at our events and training days where Mandy would normally be, and we know there will be many moments ahead when we will expect to see her there, with Reba faithfully by her side.

Mandy, thank you for believing in Empower, for championing what we do, for sharing your journey with us, and most importantly, for allowing us to call you our friend.

You will always be part of the Empower family, and you will be very, very missed.

Rest peacefully, Mandy. Your fierce independence, your determination, your love for your family, and the extraordinary bond you shared with Reba and Mia will remain part of your legacy.
Alison Kunz

03/09/2026

We think our dog and handler teams have some of the best dogs in Queensland! Do you want to enter with your dog? Check out below and enter today :-)

612 ABC Brisbane Afternoons with Kat Feeney is mustering local dogs and their humans for an afternoon of fun.

On Wednesday the 9th of September, a live broadcast and dog show will kick off at 12:30pm from the Springwood Dog Park in Logan.

Register your dearest dog for it's chance to be crowned Grand Champion Ultimate Supreme: https://www.abc.net.au/brisbane/afternoons-mutt-muster/107051548

If you can't attend on the day, you can enter the People's Choice Competition by sending a photo of your dog to 0467 922 612. Please include the words "Community Champion" and a description of why your pooch is the best.

28/08/2026

🎉🐾 Happy Birthday, Carla! 🐾🎂

Last week, Carla celebrated her birthday in the best possible way, surrounded by some of her favourite doggy friends who came together to spend the day celebrating with her! 🥳🐶🦮

There were plenty of wagging tails, happy faces and four-legged friends enjoying the chance to catch up. What a beautiful way to celebrate another trip around the sun! 💕🎈

One of the things we absolutely love about Empower Assistance Dogs is seeing the friendships along the way. Our trainers, puppy raisers and handlers regularly come together outside of training, supporting one another, celebrating milestones and sharing in each other’s journeys.

It reminds us that Empower really is so much more than a dog training program, it’s a little community of like-minded people who genuinely care about one another and are all working together towards a very special cause. 🥰🦮

We think that’s something pretty special. 💙

Happy Birthday, Carla! We hope your day was filled with lots of love, laughter, treats and, of course, plenty of puppy cuddles! 🎂🐾🎉

24/08/2026

What an amazing birthday bash for Betty! Was wonderful to see the different schools that have our wonderful dogs come together to celebrate Betty's birthday 😍🐾
Thank you to Redbank Plains State High School handlers with therapy dog Jack and Springfield Central State School handler with therapy dog Essie for joining in the celebration.
Big thanks to the Centenary State High School community who once again have combined Betty's birthday with an amazing fundraiser for Empower Assistance Dogs 🦮🥳
Your efforts will directly impact our current assistance dogs in training and will definitely change lives. Thank you all so much, we truly appreciate your fantastic donation 🧡
So glad you had a very happy birthday Betty!

19/08/2026

Early Birds Could Win $10K

Grab a ticket by 11.59pm AEST Wednesday 2 September for the chance to win the $350K First Prize Pack AND you will also be entered into the Early Bird Bonus Draw to win a $10K Flight Centre voucher!

Each ticket you buy is an entry into the $10K Early Bird Bonus Draw, PLUS the $350K Raffle First Prize Pack featuring a Lexus RX 450h+, valued at $138,087.76, an shopping vouchers valued at $36,912.24 and $175,000 in gold bullion!

Buy tickets here to support Empower: https://www.playforpurpose.com.au/empower-assistance-dogs

Promoter is 50-50 Foundation Ltd. Permits and T&Cs at playforpurpose.com.au/empower-assistance-dogs/terms.

23/07/2026

Another wonderful Tea and Tails event has come to an end as we prepare to farewell our current litter of beautiful puppies on the next stage of their journey. 🐶🐾

A heartfelt thank you to our incredible volunteers, supporters and community who came together to make the day such a success. You truly are the heart and soul, the engine room of our charity. It takes a village to breed, raise, train and place hearing, assistance and therapy dogs, and we are so grateful to have such an amazing one.

To everyone who helped with catering, setting up, welcoming guests, caring for our dogs throughout the day, and the countless jobs behind the scenes—thank you. There are simply too many wonderful people to mention individually, but please know that every contribution is valued and deeply appreciated. 🥰🦮

A special thank you to Community Bank Logan for their ongoing support of Empower Assistance Dogs and to the incredibly talented Kylie Williams from KWP Studios Flagstone for capturing these beautiful memories. These stunning photographs are Kylie’s gift to everyone who attended, and we know you'll treasure them. 📸😍

We'd also like to sincerely thank Bec and Leigh from La Casetta Italian Kitchen for generously supplying the chairs for the event, and our Patron, Mayor Jon Raven, and Mayoress Ali Raven , for joining us and supporting our mission.

To everyone who attended, volunteered, donated, sponsored or simply cheered us on—thank you for believing in what we do. Together, we're changing lives, one extraordinary dog at a time. ❤️🐾

03/07/2026

A great post from the City of Logan Charitable Trust about Community Bank Logan!

Community is stronger when people invest in people. 💙

Empower Assistance Dogs are incredibly proud to be one of the many local organisations supported by Community Bank Logan. Their latest reel is a wonderful reminder of how every dollar banked locally is reinvested into initiatives that make a real difference across our community.

Thanks to their support, Empower Assistance Dogs is able to continue changing lives by training and placing life-changing assistance dogs with people living with disability, creating greater independence, inclusion and opportunity.

Thank you, Community Bank Logan, for believing in local organisations and the people we serve. Together, we're building a stronger, more connected community.

Please take a moment to watch their reel and see the incredible impact they're making across our region. 👏💙

30/06/2026

🐶☕ TEA AND TAILS IS HAPPENING!
Eight puppies are about to embark on the adventure of a lifetime, and we want YOU there to cheer them off! 🎉
Join us Sunday 19th July, 11am–2pm for morning tea, puppy cuddles, and a chance to learn about the incredible work we do at Empower Assistance Dogs.
Fair warning: leaving without falling in love is basically impossible 🐾

🎟️ ticket link in comments ⬇️

Photo credit: Kylie Williams - Photographer