Therapaws: A partnership between students, staff, and therapy dogs on a university campus

Authors

  • Rebecca Johinke University of Sydney
  • Karen Walker Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Student Affairs and Engagement, University of Sydney
  • Freia Kirkaldy Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Student Affairs and Engagement, University of Sydney
  • Caitlyn Sinclair Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Student Affairs and Engagement, University of Sydney
  • Wing Lam Cheng Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Student Affairs and Engagement, University of Sydney
  • Brian Tran Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Student Affairs and Engagement, University of Sydney
  • Emerald Williamson Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Student Affairs and Engagement, University of Sydney
  • Grace White Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Student Affairs and Engagement, University of Sydney
  • Sara Sri Pillai Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Student Affairs and Engagement, University of Sydney

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15173/ijsap.v2i2.3575

Keywords:

students as partners, dog therapy, student wellbeing, student mental health

Abstract

Partnering with students in action research and asking them how and why they would like to work with staff and other students to improve campus culture and student wellbeing is the cornerstone of this case study. Investment in student mental health and wellbeing is increasingly recognised as a priority in higher education, with novel approaches such as dog therapy programs being introduced in universities around the world. This case study highlights a project where staff and students partner to co-design, co-implement, and co-investigate a mental health and wellbeing program that combines dog therapy with students-as-partners principles. The student-led dog therapy program (Therapaws) provides a practical, evidence-based example of how the principles of SaP can be employed to create an effective intervention into student mental health and wellbeing. This multi-authored case study is also an example of a collaborative writing process—a true partnership.

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References

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Published

2018-12-04

How to Cite

Johinke, R., Walker, K., Kirkaldy, F., Sinclair, C., Cheng, W. L., Tran, B., Williamson, E., White, G., & Pillai, S. S. (2018). Therapaws: A partnership between students, staff, and therapy dogs on a university campus. International Journal for Students As Partners, 2(2), 96–105. https://doi.org/10.15173/ijsap.v2i2.3575

Issue

Vol. 2 No. 2 (2018)

Section

Case Studies

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