Moving people and pups with purpose

Thanks to Hyundai Help for Kids and Lakes Hyundai, Assistance Dogs Australia now has a brand new Hyundai i-Max people mover.

Hyundai Help for Kids has been supporting Assistance Dogs Australia for over four years; sponsoring the training of life-changing pups, and more recently, the Animal Assisted Therapy program. Now a Major Partner of Assistance Dogs Australia and Puppy Sponsor of four month old Nexo, the addition of this new van in Queensland will enable our expert staff to provide far-reaching support within multiple communities.

The iMax will be used on a daily basis by Assistance Dogs Australia’s Queensland team to transport dogs, clients and volunteers. With no government funding, the ongoing support from Hyundai Help for Kids allows Assistance Dogs Australia to sustain our ongoing services that we provide to Australians living with disabilities.

Assistance Dogs Australia CEO, Richard Lord said “It takes two years and $40,000 to train and accredit an Assistance Dog. For the first twelve months Assistance Dogs are cared for by our volunteer puppy educators, like Phil Syms and Pete Forbes and Lorian Graham, who open their hearts and homes to these very special pups. They will work alongside Puppy Education Supervisor, Jacky Harper, to refine and develop their dogs’ skills, and provide ample socialisation.

It’s important that our pups are exposed to lots of new sights, sounds and smells. With regular training sessions being held across Brisbane, the Hyundai iMax will be a great people and dog mover.

We are so very grateful to Hyundai Help for Kids for their ongoing generous support, as these specially bred dogs progress through their training journey and who will go on to be placed free of charge with people living with a physical disability, PTSD or autism improving their quality of life.”

Hyundai Australia’s CSR Manager, Ellenore Ibrahim said “The recent renewal of our Hyundai Help for Kids partnership with Assistance Dogs Australia has seen our support extend to a national level and we’re delighted to be able to assist with mobilising individuals to build stronger communities with the use of the Hyundai iMax here in Queensland”.

Learn more about Hyundai Help for Kids here
Learn more about becoming an Assistance Dogs Australia Puppy Educator here