00:11S1
On this episode of the CGI dog show on Vision Australia Radio, I'm joined by Senior Dogs mobility instructor Katie Farrell. We're going to talk about the role of the mobility instructor and Katie's journey to being an instructor, from her orientation and mobility background, as well as the instructor traineeship. We're also going to talk a bit about client services and how clients are supported, from application two matching to the retirement of the dog. If you're blind or have low vision and are interested in finding more about applying for a senior dog or eligibility, head to our website or listen on for more. And now, here's my interview with Katie. I hope you enjoy. Hi, Katie, thank you for joining me on the show today.
00:58S2
Hello, Harriet. Thanks for having me.
00:59S1
It's quite cool to have you here in person. You've worked for seeing artists. For how long and how long has it taken me to get you on the show?
01:06S2
Well, I have been with Vision Australia. This year will be seven years around August. It's probably taken you seven years. Seven years? No, I think, um, certainly since I transferred over to seeing eye dogs. So probably 2 or 3. Sorry about that.
01:24S1
It's become a bit it's definitely a bit more relevant to the show, however, you know, I mean any Vision Australia stuff at any point, you know, is welcome to come along. It's just that you have to have some sort of at least, you know, conversation about dogs, you know, like you have to know how many legs they have, like what kind of ears our Labradors have. You know...
01:39S2
How any heads they've got?
01:40S1
Yeah. How many stuff do you read out... So could you please start off by introducing yourself and, you know, any kind of hobbies and interests you do, and then your role at Seeing Eye Dogs?
01:51S2
Sure. So. Well, my name is Katie Farrell. So I started off at Vision Australia, yeah, sort of six and a half, seven years ago. As an O and M and I studied on M through the Vision Australia course, uh, in 20 1617. And then I got a job up in Maroochydore as the O and M up there and absolutely loved it. And so I was the owner there for about four years, and then the opportunity to, uh, become an instructor at Senior Dogs came up and I jumped at it, even though I was very sad to leave O&M. But, you know, this was always the dream. So I've just graduated as an instructor. And so that process took me about two and a half years. So that's my work story. But geez, outside of work I play, I try to play a lot of sport. I'm really into squash. I want to say I'm a surfer, but I'm not. I try to go surfing, but yeah... and it took me moving down to Melbourne to like, really find the passion to try and do that. So yes, I'm a surfer in the making.
03:00S1
Shouldn't that be, like, kind of reverse? It's like you go to Queensland. Which is the better place for surfing?
03:04S2
Absolutely. Yeah. I actually lived near the beach and I just never did it. So it's always the way, isn't it? But, um, yeah, I try to keep active. Um, I do like food, so I go out a lot to restaurants and I try and, you know, the occasional wine bar or so. Um, but yeah, I just, I don't know where the time goes.
03:26S1
I was busy, and when you work full, full time, you know, kind of travelling on Australia too, you have to keep all of that kind of. Yeah, keeps, keep resting where you can as well I try.
03:36S2
Yes, I'm very good at that too.
03:38S1
So you kind of said that you started off as, as oh. And that was your, uh, I guess, background before starting the traineeship. Actually, just for anyone that's not aware, what is the kind of, um, I guess, common commonality between, like, the GDI kind of role and O and M, so there's both there's kind of mobility in both, right?
03:57S2
Yes, definitely. So, um, the an, O and M stands for orientation and mobility. So when you're an O and M your orientation and mobility specialist. So OEMs, uh, work with um, people from, you know, 0 to 100 plus, uh, who have lost, lost their vision or are losing it. And, um, they, they work to help people get out, out and about safely using, um, mobility aids, like a support cane, ID cane, long cane, um, or or without. So we teach just safe travel techniques if you have low vision or a blind, um, and it's a very diverse job, you're giving a lot of, uh, information about eye conditions. Um, you know, you're really you're getting into the homes of, of people and getting to know them and what their goals are. So, um, it is it is about mobility. And then, um, I guess being at seeing eye dogs as an instructor, the mobility side of things is, um, using a dog as that primary mobility aid instead of a white cane, for example. But we're still very similar. It's all about, you know, safely getting from A to B, how to cross roads safely and catch public transport just with a different mobility aid.
05:15S1
I think you said to me as well that it's kind of interesting because O&M is probably more as more the first touch point sometimes that's probably potentially one of the first services that someone might receive. Um, whereas potentially the single dog route is a little bit further down because you do need that, that background in. Yes, the mobility skills first.
05:32S2
That's that's true. And it's, uh, you know, part of getting a dog and the application process that people go through is where we are looking at how people are getting from A to B and, um, are they doing it safely and independently usually. So O&M um, you know, sometimes I'd be the first person, um, in someone's house. After they'd just gotten a diagnosis, um, you know, glaucoma or any eye condition. And I'm, I did often find myself that, you know, the first person that the clients were talking to about what it is, what it means, um, and, and the options out there for them to, to, you know, start achieving what they want to achieve. So...
06:16S1
Yeah, very, very different. So what, what did kind of draw you to O&M before you started that?
06:22S2
It's a fairly long story. So do you want the long or the short version?
06:27S1
How long is the long version?
06:29S2
I guess we'll we'll find out. I'll try and condense it. But uh I suppose the background for me wanting to get into this profession, um, the passion behind what I do comes from growing up... my grandma had macular degeneration, and she was legally blind at the age of 50. She was, like, my best friend growing up. We were really, really close. I was always the one that wanted to help her, you know, get around. I didn't know what I was doing, but, you know, I was it was my job to to go and help Nan. And so that was really, you know, I guess, the passion behind it.
07:05S1
But. And that was even when you were, like a child. Yes.
07:09S2
Yeah. She passed away when I was about 19. So around my university years. But so I didn't know about the profession at all. But I went to uni straight out of school, just did a health science nutrition degree, which I did not enjoy, but I just stayed in it because I didn't know what else to do. Um, and after I got my degree, I went, I went and travelled to um, the UK. So I lived in London for two years, and one day I was going to work there and my visa was expiring and I had to come back to Australia. And I was thinking, what am I going to do with my life? Like what career should I go into? And a lady, I remember she stepped onto the tube, the tube. I was on air with her saying, well, guide dog, seeing eye dog. And I just remember looking at them and thinking, how on earth did they navigate the tube network and get on to the tube? And I just thought that would be a really rewarding thing to do. I always loved dogs, but it was more looking at the lady, and I wanted to help her and work with work with people. And then the dogs were definitely a plus. So yeah, I got back to Australia and started googling how to become a guide dog trainer. And that path led me to finding out about O&M and that it was, you know, looked at favourably to be an instructor. If you had that qualification.
08:31S1
Which kind of worked out for you in the end, really. I mean, I think that's kind of the proof is in the pudding in this particular instance. Yeah.
08:37S2
Well, definitely. Yes. Um, it was always the intention to be an instructor, but when I started studying O&M and actually and doing that job, I fell in love with that as, as a whole, like, and it was very hard to leave that profession. And I actually kind of say goodbye to the idea of working as an instructor and with dogs. But just years later, the the opportunity came up and, and I thought, oh, better. I'd probably always regret it if I didn't go for it. And now that I'm here is the best job ever. So...
09:10S1
And because given that you were already kind of at a Vision Australia, you'd, you'd ended up back here where that just happens to be a whole division devoted to seeing dogs.
09:19S2
It worked out really well for me. So yeah, they go on my course. When I was in it, it was actually run from Seeing Eye Dogs just randomly. They had a spare classroom here at Seeing Eye Dogs. And so I was familiar with the area. So yeah, I went back to Maroochydore to be in on. But then I came back to be a trainee and I've stayed, haven't gone back.
09:41S1
Sometimes it's kind of like all roads lead to here. Really.
09:44S2
Something like that. Yeah. I'm very lucky it's not. Not the easiest career to get into and to find, but I guess I was in the right place at the right time.
09:53S1
Yeah. And with the with the right kind of background that led you to an understanding of blindness and a vision, even from a quite young age. Yes.
10:02S2
Well I tried yeah. So a lot of, a lot of people come to this career, um, sort of down the dog road as, as you could say. So, you know, volunteering in kennels and working your way up through the kennels or getting a job at seeing eye dogs and then just waiting for an opportunity to come up. So I was a little bit weird that I came in without any dog experience. But I did have the client experience behind me, and I think that's worked in my favor.
10:29S1
Yeah. So what was the traineeship like for the GDI qualification and what is the role like?
10:36S2
I guess the yeah, the traineeship is full on. It was sort of anywhere between um, 18 months to three years typically. So I think I got it done in about two and a half, even with my, um, O&M background. So, yeah. With the with the traineeship you... there's a lot, a lot to cover. So I had the on side of things already done but in terms of dog training. So I had to learn everything about it, you know for four legs, one head tail you know that's. Yeah. So basic basic healthcare. And then you learn about training and sort of animal, um, animal welfare and you know how to. Yeah. So absolutely everything. And then as a requirement you need to train, um, about 6 to 9 dogs at a minimum. And keep in mind that one dog can take five for 4 to 5 months to train. And so if you if you don't get many through, then that's 4 or 5 months. Yeah. You know, not down the drain because you learn so much from the ones that don't quite make it. But, you know, then you've got to get another, another batch of dogs and that's 4 or 5 months again.
11:49S1
So and sometimes it's just a bit of the luck of the draw too. It's like there's nothing you can do. It's just that some dogs want to do it or can and others can't.
11:56S2
Yeah. So but no, I can't fault the traineeship. It was really fascinating. Very hard work. But you sort of you're inserted into the team from day one and you've got support along all along the way and you're fully supported. And then when you, you know, your knowledge and experience grows, you the support backs off and you're able to, you know, try your own way of doing things. And and then eventually, once you hand in all your assignments and have all the, the dog background and client background all sorted, then you, you graduate. It takes a while.
12:33S1
So now that you have kind of graduated, what is the kind of day of the life of an instructor? And I think there are kind of I'm mind standing there kind of two, two separate parts, which is, uh, training cycles. So like doing the dogs and then the client services. Is that correct?
12:49S2
That is correct. Yes. So, especially for the instructors in Melbourne. So as you know, we're a nationwide company. We have, um, you know, an instructor called Matt in WA and Brendan in Queensland. They, we don't have kennels there. So it's fairly rare that they'll train dogs and then work with clients they primarily work with, with clients. Um, and then we've got Mickey and Luca, um, on the Central Coast in New South Wales, and they have a small cohort of dogs that they train and, but mostly work with, with clients. So but because I'm based in Melbourne, where we've got the kennel facility, um, that's sort of the typical, I would say, the routine of an instructor here would be you would be allocated a group of dogs. So mine this year, for example, is coming up in February. I'll stay with those dogs and train them for 20 weeks. And then there's usually a little bit of extra stuff at the end of that. So, you know, 4 to 5 months. And then after that it, you know, as you're training the dogs, you're thinking about who they could be matched with, from our client base.
14:03S1
And that's like through, throughout the kind of training to wasn't just that one. You don't kind of get to them at the end of the finished dog and be like, well.
14:09S2
No, no, you're actually really from day one, you're, you're you've got an idea who the clients are. And, and then you have a look at your dogs, you get to know them. And then you sort of get, get to understand who might fit well with who. So then once I've finished with with my dogs, I move into the client services cycle. And that could be I'm coming off about six months of working with clients and and then in that time, I could be doing a number of things. I could be assessing people to see if they're suitable for seeing our dog mobility. I could be placing a newly trained dog with somebody and spending weeks, you know, 3 or 4 weeks with that person to make sure that they know how to work their dog and everything's going well. And that's called class. And then, I could be doing any number of follow ups just seeing any client who maybe needs to touch base with an instructor or learn a new travel route, um, just.
15:09S1
Even just the kind of standard like, hey, everything's track along okay.
15:13S2
Yeah, yeah. So, uh, and this clients, you know, all over. So I do travel up to Queensland as well. And look, uh, go visit clients in Brisbane and on the Gold Coast and or just wherever they need me. It's quite fun if they send me somewhere I've never been, I'm like, all right.
15:29S1
Somewhere nice, fun, maybe sunny, uh, good weather, you know?
15:33S2
Yep. No, that's. We try. So yeah, that's probably my favourite bit about the job, just how diverse it is. And, by the time I'm finished dog training, I'm really ready to work with people again. And then, you know, by the time I've finished with client services, I can't wait to have dogs around me again. So it's like it's a really nice mix.
15:54S1
And so the kind of dog training side of things too, that's a very it's very much kind of like so doing the same like training the dogs from, you know, really like 12 months old. So they're kind of pretty fresh. They don't really know a whole lot other than being kind of nice citizens roughly. And then are you training, what, like six potentially dogs the whole way through. What is that like?
16:19S2
Yes. So when we get so I can use February for example. So I'll get a group of dogs come in. There could be up to maybe 13 or 14 dogs come in. And then we spend about two weeks assessing that group. And and from that group we might get maybe eight, eight dogs through would be a good, good number of suitable candidates. And, but, you know, it could be six. It could be, could be five, but generally around eight. And we so then I take that at those eight and just begin. So yeah. Basic obedience walking nicely on the lead. A lot of the stuff that they do as puppies and the puppy development trainers oversee a lot of that, and they do an awesome job. So a lot of the time the dogs have really great obedience by the time they get to us instructors. But we just sort of, I guess, refine their obedience. And that'll take a few weeks, and then we'll start to put the harness on them and introduce them to, you know, the guiding role.
So and that takes, you know, months. And so we're, we're teaching them all sorts of things. Um, how to stop it curbs, how to avoid obstacles, how to walk in the center or center left of the footpath, speed control, asking them to walk faster, slow down, find things like chairs, find lifts, find escalators, you know, points of interest. And we can essentially teach the dog to target anything. We just have to show them what we want them to target and teach them and repeat, repeat, repeat. So it's a lot of walking.
18:06S1
Is there something like, isn't it like, is it like 2020 K's a day sometimes? Yeah.
18:11S2
Is that can be 20 KS a day. I usually I, I use my fitness watch. I checked my steps. And so a typical day would be 22 to 25,000 steps a day. So it's cool because you get paid to lose weight, I think. But you're, yeah, you're absolutely right by the end of the day. But it's worth it. It's fun. You know, you have you have a good time with the dogs and. Yeah, definitely have hard days, but it's certainly it's worth it.
18:42S1
So what is your favorite part about being an instructor?
18:46S2
Oh, there's a lot it I really love the ability to kind of write my own calendar to the flexible. It's a very flexible job. You can work, um, you know, flexible hours, sort of, between, you know, still do your typical day, but you can start early, finish early, start late, finish late. But I just love the variety in my whole year, so I can kind of plan out. All right. I've got dogs for this, this amount of time. So, you know, I'll have a holiday after after that or, um, and it's just really nice. I always knew I wanted a career where I wasn't sitting at a at a computer all day, like, that's not me. And I struggle with that. So you just. You're out. You're out walking, you're driving, you're talking to people working with dogs. So that, yeah, the variety. And then you have really, really lovely, rewarding moments when, you know, clients can have even little, little wins and you just see it on their faces and. Yeah. So that side of things, if you're, you know, making a positive impact in someone's life. Yeah, it's very powerful and it's makes you, you know, even if you're really tired, you can have a lovely moment. Yeah.
20:12S1
Your feet are sore, but, like, you've got a smile on your face regardless. Yes. So is there anything that surprised you about the role, um, or that you didn't know before you started?
20:25S2
I think it's probably more full on than I thought it would be. I always knew it would be challenging, but it's very physically demanding. So I think I've got a bit of a rude awakening with that. Just the amount that you're on your feet and you're moving.
20:42S1
Your body, and then you realize.
20:43S2
Yeah, exactly. I thought I was fit. I'm not. So there is that element and then, you know, you've got just because you've got dogs that you're training doesn't mean that you aren't still in contact with the clients that you work with. And so that can be on your mind if you know, they they need assistance and you know they're in Queensland and I'm training a dog, but we can you know, we can work around those things and I can drop the dogs and go, but someone else can do it. But it's...
S1
Absolutely, you want to do it yourself. Yeah.
21:12S2
So your mind's in a lot of places, a lot of the time. But, you know, that means no day is dull. And yeah., and I think when I was a student really learning, you know, the beginnings about what a dog guard is and how they learn and what they are capable of. I think a lot I think I had a bit of a mindset, like a lot of the community, that these dogs are like magical beings that can do anything. And they just are robots essentially. So learning about the mistakes that they can make and, um, that they are in fact not perfect and they can get distracted and they can forget things and they can turn them right instead of left. And they, you know, they make mistakes quite often. So that was a rude shock. I was like, oh, okay. You know, not.
22:07S1
Not often that we're the yeah, that it's dangerous for the clients that they actually get that finished product. But, uh, but it happens at times.
22:13S2
Yeah, yeah. No, it, you know, they are they are dogs at the end of the day, but we, you know, that that 3 or 4 weeks that I mentioned, when we place a dog with someone, we're giving the client all the tools, that they need to manage their dog and learn how to read their dog. And so, you know, those things are rare. It's just I used to think people, you know, held on to the dog and got to Woolworths, but in fact, you know. Yeah not quite. There's a weeks, weeks of work that the client needs to put in, for the dog to learn a travel route.
22:50S1
So and I guess that's that thing where for the right client, that kind of work putting it in is worth it. And the kind of pros for them at way some of the challenges let's just say. But um. Oh, absolutely. Interesting. Yes. So just to kind of finish off, is there anything that you would like to tell anyone who either is a handler currently or maybe isn't one yet and would consider applying for one or. Yeah.
23:15S2
I think if anyone is even considering it or wondering, oh, is that for me or I don't think that's, I don't know if I, you know, would qualify or, you know, any of these questions coming up and if you think you would be remotely interested, then absolutely get the information because and even you may get the information and decide it's not for you. But the other thing could happen the way you'll get the information and you'll think, oh wow, I actually am suitable for that. And that would change my life. So I think, especially, you know, when I was in O&M and giving people information even on their eye condition and talking about, you know, how it can impact their life, I, I did see a big change in the power of information. So I think if you're considering it, please, you know, reach out to Seeing Eye Dogs and, and just have a chat with us.
24:11S1
Because it's not exactly even like, you know, you don't have to be locked in. It's not even like, you know, your calling to apply. It's just calling to talk about your circumstances.
24:19S2
Exactly right. And then from there, you know, you can make an educated decision. I wouldn't want anyone sitting out there thinking, oh, I don't think I qualify or I don't think it's for me. And then just deciding that because we can have a really great chat and, and talk about it. And you might be surprised because.
24:34S1
I mean, I've even heard some people with kind of yeah, low vision that's not you know, they think say for example, this is what I've heard, you know, they don't think they're blind enough.
24:43S2
I've heard exactly that sentence before you. I don't think I'm blind enough. But a lot of our, um, a lot of our clients have low vision. And so, you know, and that is absolutely that is okay. It's not seeing our dog. Mobility is not just for people who are totally blind. So, um, yeah, we can talk more in detail about the application process and the assessment process. We have chats with people on the phone all the time. So there's absolutely no pressure.
25:13S1
And it's like, if the time is not right, it doesn't mean that it's not never.
25:17S2
Yeah, exactly. Exactly. And we can even give, you know, tips and tricks for if it's not right now. Well, if you if you'd like to plan out for a year and two years, you know, we can point you in the right direction for other services potentially like O&M, where a mobility specialist can come out and start working with you on travel routes and, and getting sort of independent and confident in navigating when you're blind or have low vision.
25:41S1
So and that and then kind of I guess that sets you up better to actually make use of the dog too, because if that's something that you're I remember watching one of the like, um, pick of the litter, the like American like docu series ones. And I think that was one of the things that they had. One of the clients, I think, started doing their class and they the mobility or the orientation wasn't strong enough. And so the use of the dog was really hard. And then she came back. Yes. Having had that kind of extra work, which is really interesting for me, I think.
26:10S2
Yeah, we hope that we can avoid those situations because of our assessment process. And, um, you know, we come into people's homes and have a long chat and maybe go for a walk together. We ask clients to show us a travel route that they do, or a couple travel routes. Just so we know that when that dog is placed, the idea is that the dog is adding to your life. Sort of not. They don't. They don't know where Woolworth's is. So, you know, it's about the client knowing how to direct the dog to, to get to destinations and doing that independently. And also, you know, it's about care for the dog as well. You know, having having the drive and the ability to care for the dog. They sleep inside, put up grooming.
27:00S1
Things to put up with.
27:01S2
Yeah, diarrhea, you know, vomiting. It happens. Even the best dog. So yeah, it's we're always happy to have chats with people, and I do get pulled over sometimes on the street and people ask me, um, questions. We love questions. So please, give us, yeah, give us a call or email or get in touch if you're remotely interested. And we can we can help.
27:27S1
Amazing. Well, thank you so much for coming on the show and chatting about your, yeah, your story and life and dog handling. And you know, you're most welcome.
27:36S2
Sorry it took me so long to get here.
27:43S1
You've been listening to the Seeing Eye Dogs Show on Vision Australia Radio. I hope you enjoyed my interview with Katie. If you are blind or have low vision and would like to find out more about the application process or chat to a member of our team to find out if dog eared mobility is right for you. Seeing. I would love to hear from you. To inquire about applying or to chat with us, please contact us by calling 1800 and 037 773. That number again: 1800 037 773 or email info at Sedat Wargo. You can also head to our website at visionaustralia-dot-org to find out all things seeing eye dogs. Thank you for listening to the auto show and don't forget to tune in. Same time next week for another episode of the Seeing Eye Dogs Show.
