• Advertise
  • About us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Contact us
Tuesday, August 16, 2022
Australian Times News
  • News
    • Weather
    • Sport
    • Technology
    • Business & Finance
      • Currency Zone
    • Lotto Results
      • The Lott
  • Lifestyle
    • Entertainment
    • Horoscopes
    • Health & Wellness
    • Recipes
  • Travel
  • Expat Life
  • Move to Australia
No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Weather
    • Sport
    • Technology
    • Business & Finance
      • Currency Zone
    • Lotto Results
      • The Lott
  • Lifestyle
    • Entertainment
    • Horoscopes
    • Health & Wellness
    • Recipes
  • Travel
  • Expat Life
  • Move to Australia
No Result
View All Result
Australian Times News
No Result
View All Result
Home News

New four-legged friend to support vulnerable youngsters in court

A ground-breaking Victorian initiative that uses dogs to support children and other vulnerable people testifying in court is being expanded.

Mike Simpson by Mike Simpson
08-02-2021 06:50
in News
Generic photo of a two-year-old Black Labrador. Photo credit: Kreuzschnabel via Wikimedia Commons

Generic photo of a two-year-old Black Labrador. Photo credit: Kreuzschnabel via Wikimedia Commons

A program in Victoria that uses a four-legged friend to help vulnerable people when they are required to give evidence in court has been expanded, with the addition of a second dog.

Kiki, a two-year-old black Labrador is from today (Monday) joining her Labrador partner, Suzie-Lucy, who was the first dog in Australia to be allowed on the witness stand as a person gave evidence.

Kiki has now joined the Child Witness Service

Loving and gentle Kiki is based at the Child Witness Service to support children and young people under 18 who are required to give evidence.

Since the Court Dog Program commenced in May 2017, dogs have supported almost 300 witnesses across 250 cases – nearly half of which have been children.

Kiki and Suzie-Lucy are provided by Assistance Dogs Australia and will accompany a witness and lie quietly next to their feet during court proceedings.

The pair is able to perform a range of tricks

The pair is able to perform a range of tricks, such as playing tenpin bowling with the witness and turning the pages in a book. The aim is to help provide calming support and reduce the likelihood of further traumatisation.

Victoria is currently the only state running a full-time program with an accredited dog working in both remote witness rooms and on the witness stand in courtrooms.

AlsoRead...

May's Weather Forecast

Weather Forecast 16 August 2022

16 August 2022
May's Weather Forecast

Weather Forecast 15 August 2022

15 August 2022

Both Kiki and Suzie-Lucy finished their advanced training at the Southern Queensland Correctional Centre, as part of the Pups in Prisons program. The wellbeing and rehabilitation program allows prisoners to train and care for dogs in partnership with Assistance Dogs Australia.

Many witnesses suffer trauma giving evidence

“The Court Dog Program is a wonderful initiative that helps make the court system more sensitive to the trauma many victims and witnesses have suffered,” said Victoria’s Attorney-General, Jaclyn Symes   

“Kiki’s calming influence will be welcomed in more court hearings across the state – providing emotional support to help minimise the particular distress and anxiety child witnesses can feel.”

Abbey Hogan, Solicitor for Public Prosecutions, added: “The Victorian Office of Public Prosecutions is proud to have started this remarkable program, which has proven so beneficial in helping ease the stress of witnesses giving evidence in the courtroom.”

Tags: child protectionchildrenCourts and crimeCrime and courtsdogsVictoria
DMCA.com Protection Status

SUBSCRIBE to our NEWSLETTER

[mc4wp_form id=”2384248″]

Don't Miss

Weather Forecast 16 August 2022

by Adamu
16 August 2022
May's Weather Forecast
Australia Weather

Be prepared for any weather with our daily weather forecast for Australia.

Read more

Horoscopes: 15 August 2022 – Monday

by Adamu
15 August 2022
Free Daily Horoscope - Astrology
Horoscopes

Keep your karma positive with these daily free horoscopes!

Read more

Weather Forecast 15 August 2022

by Adamu
15 August 2022
May's Weather Forecast
Australia Weather

Be prepared for any weather with our daily weather forecast for Australia.

Read more

Horoscopes: 14 August 2022 – Sunday

by Adamu
14 August 2022
Free Daily Horoscope - Astrology
Horoscopes

Keep your karma positive with these daily free horoscopes!

Read more

Weather Forecast 14 August 2022

by Adamu
14 August 2022
May's Weather Forecast
Australia Weather

Be prepared for any weather with our daily weather forecast for Australia.

Read more

Horoscopes: 13 August 2022 – Saturday

by Adamu
13 August 2022
Free Daily Horoscope - Astrology
Horoscopes

Keep your karma positive with these daily free horoscopes!

Read more

Weather Forecast 13 August 2022

by Adamu
13 August 2022
May's Weather Forecast
Australia Weather

Be prepared for any weather with our daily weather forecast for Australia.

Read more
Load More

Copyright © Blue Sky Publications Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
australiantimes.co.uk is a division of Blue Sky Publications Ltd. Reproduction without permission prohibited. DMCA.com Protection Status

  • About us
  • Write for Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact us
  • T&Cs, Privacy and GDPR
No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Weather
    • Sport
    • Technology
    • Business & Finance
      • Currency Zone
    • Lotto Results
      • The Lott
  • Lifestyle
    • Entertainment
    • Horoscopes
    • Health & Wellness
    • Recipes
  • Travel
  • Expat Life
  • Move to Australia

Copyright © Blue Sky Publications Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
australiantimes.co.uk is a division of Blue Sky Publications Ltd. Reproduction without permission prohibited. DMCA.com Protection Status