Calming Remi boosting College wellbeing

A FRIENDLY, gentle, and cuddly employee has joined Damascus College’s team of staff this term.

The school now has its own wellbeing dog in seven-month-old English pointer Remi.

Supporting those in years 7 to 12, Remi’s important job is to reduce anxiety amongst students, and enhance broader wellbeing, especially amongst those with diverse learning needs.

Damascus’ diverse learning coordinator of years 8 and 9, Trish Brown, is Remi’s owner.

“Remi came into our family last year and has the perfect personality to be a therapy dog,” she said.

“She has completed an intensive week-long assistant animal program, learning basic obedience, and how to sit or drop next to somebody who is reading.

“With the pandemic, there’s a lot more anxiety amongst the students, so even just patting the dog can decrease bad hormones and increase the feel-good hormones.

“We’re introducing Remi to school, greeting students of a morning, and in the afternoon. She recently saw the year 7s off to camp, and went out to camp each night, and will come into school to lessen anxiety during events like immunisation days.”

During her visits to the Mount Clear-based school, Remi is very popular, receiving lots of pats in the corridors and yard from excited young people at recess and lunchtime.

“She loves to walk around. Dogs can sense things, and she will quite often find somebody who needs a bit of a cuddle, and go over to them,” Ms Brown said.

“Remi gets a special treat, and an ear rub, from Dan in the office at the start of the day, too. She loves it.”

In semester two, Remi will become part of some students’ individualised personal learning plans, and will work one-on-one with pupils more often.

Next year, her work will become focused on comforting students with autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit disorder, and language challenges.

Remi will also be part of some English classes, sitting with readers to encourage their engagement.

Much like a weighted blanket, she will also gradually learn how to rest in the laps of students who are soothed by the sensation of weight.

Over the next two years, Remi will start to have a role in the Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning and Hands-On Learning programs, potentially visiting nursing homes and primary schools.

But already in the first few weeks of term one, Ms Brown is receiving lovely glowing reports about the school’s favourite four-legged community member.

“A number of parents have stopped me in the carpark or down the street, saying how happy their student is, coming home and talking about Remi. They’re excited to see her the next day,” she said.

“That’s another benefit of therapy dogs; they can help school refusers come back on site, and encourage attendance.”

Damascus College’s assistant principal student wellbeing Andy Robertson said Remi’s presence is already proving to be wonderfully “calming.”

“Students can relate to her very non-threatening approach, and they feel welcome in the presence of a pet,” he said.

“Remi is someone they can trust, who’s not making judgement, and who’s obviously very affectionate.

“With the year 7s commencing at the start of the new year, having Remi here to assist has been really critical.

“For our students with diverse learning needs, it’s making their transition to our environment much more pleasant.”