Conduct-Ed behavioral therapist Bec Carmichael usually brings Daisy, an 18-month-old golden retriever, to Ararat West Primary only part of the week.

The team is now posted to Ararat College, where Ararat West has set up a school within a school for its pupils as contractor work to restore services to the surviving classrooms.

“We’re a team, we work together, and Daisy’s job is to provide mitigation of stress and anxiety for children and adolescents,” Ms Carmichael said.

“We work in counselling sessions and in classrooms, that sort of thing

“Daisy’s training through the ‘Lead the Way’ organisation is extensive. When she is in a drop position she won’t move until I tell her to. I could walk off and get a coffee and come back and she’ll still be in that position.”

Ararat West Primary School pupils Harvey and Milla said they enjoyed petting Daisy.

Ms Carmichael said Daisy also helped to promote social engagement among pupils.

“Obviously, therapy dogs provide a soothing effect for some kids that have sensory or motor deficits, if they have balance issues they can walk with her for support.

“She’s really good with children who are on the autistic spectrum. If they are in the throes of distress she can go and lean against them and the sensation will help them to calm down.”

Ms Carmichael said pupils could experience huge stress when they had to change their whole school environment because of an emergency.

“Daisy can do in a minute what would take me half an hour to do in terms of calming a child,” Ms Carmichael said.

“The children like to pet her and they can read to her as well. 

“Research has shown that when children read to animals, as there’s no judgement or social expectations involved in the activity, it increases fluency without compromising accuracy.”