Heathcote Health’s team of volunteer helpers including Koolie Jack

This Australian Koolie is part of the team of volunteers at Heathcote Health, who donate their time and efforts to support patients, residents and staff.

Heathcote Health volunteers Margaret Sullivan-More with Jack the Koolie, Sue Waghorne, Steve Waghorne, Barry Rasmussen, Peter Austin and Sue Pace. Picture: Chloe Smith

Margaret Sullivan-More says she has known plenty of dogs in her lifetime, but none like Jack.

Margaret and Jack, an Australian Koolie, offer their time for pet therapy at the Heathcote Health hospital, with Jack’s visits putting a smile on patients’ faces – and also the staff’s.

“He makes connections with certain people that need that extra smile, the extra warmth in their heart,” Ms Sullivan-More said.

“I just like seeing the happiness he brings to people. There are no gimmicks, just pure connection and it makes you feel good. It is a privilege to be able to witness these connections between ‘just’ an animal and a human being.”

Ms Sullivan-More and Jack are two members of the team of volunteers at Heathcote Health, who donate their time and efforts to support the patients, residents and staff. This came with added challenges last year due to Covid, but Heathcote Health volunteer co-ordinator Michelle Chapman says they took it in their stride.

Volunteers visited or kept in touch with the aged care residents virtually, through “window visits”, letters and phone calls, and Ms Chapman said they learnt “a lot” about infection control and PPE. While Jack was unable to visit during Covid restrictions last year, he has been back in action again since as the face of a community health message.

“Whenever we put Jack up on Facebook we get the most engagements we’ve ever had,” Ms Chapman said.

The Heathcote Health volunteers are a nominee in The Weekly Times Heart Volunteer Awards.

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