Meet The Team
Daniel
Mentor
Meet Daniel, committed to helping and inspiring others to be their best version of themselves. Daniel is passionate about being outdoors and connecting with country to gain an appreciation and understanding of the natural world.
Daniel is a father of three and husband, devoted to his family which includes his two fur babies, Digger and Benny. Daniel brings more than 15 years as a teacher and trainer across primary, secondary and tertiary settings in the fields of outdoor education and community services. He has run programs for students of all ages across multiple states in Australia and overseas.
Daniel came to animal assisted therapy after raising an assistance dog to support veterans with PTSD and having seen the impact that the human-animal bond can have on supporting everyday living, engaging in social activity and managing stress.
Daniel is stoked to be part of the canine comprehension team. He’s really grateful for the opportunity to be able to connect people with dogs in order to achieve educational and life goals. Daniel also doesn’t understand why most people put their socks in pairs!
Meet my therapy dog
Benny
Benny is a Golden Retriever cross (yes, that’s right!) who loves attention. He was born on a farm in central Victoria and loves adventures. With his best mate, Daniel, he’s constantly out exploring trails, swimming in dams, crossing rivers or running up new hills, just for the fun of it and to see the world.
Benny loves new experiences but can sometimes take a little while to adjust to his surroundings, especially indoors. His friendly nature makes him a great therapy dog and just having him by your side helps you feel confident that you can grow and achieve more.
Benny loves pats around the ears and under his chin, being brushed and collecting socks (usually odd ones!)