<h2>Queensland&#8217;s Department of education announced recently that &#8220;many of our schools have enrolled new and very popular students — students who quickly becomes everyone&#8217;s best friends. Friends who provide calm support in stressful times, welcome with joy and are happy just to sit in silent friendship&#8221;. Those friendly faces are therapy dogs, and they are working wonders on school grounds. </h2>
<p>The names vary from school to school but the love and support does not. Theodore, Woody, Solo and Hugo are just a few of the special dogs who spend time in our state schools.</p>
<p>Theodore is a therapy dog who attends Helensvale State High School. His owner and trainer, Tania Craig, is a teacher at the school.</p>
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<p>&#8220;Theodore&#8217;s main role is to enhance social and emotional wellbeing. His presence can de-escalate behaviour and stress in our students,&#8221; Ms Craig said.</p>
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<p>Theodore proudly wears his school uniform each day, attends assemblies and among many other duties, distracts anxious students during immunisations.</p>
<p>Group therapy dog Woody attends Bremer State High School with his owner and trainer, Sally Campbell, SEP Deputy Principal.</p>
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<p>&#8220;Woody has been trained to work with many students rather than just one. Students embrace him as part of their &#8216;calm down strategy&#8217; which involves them taking Woody for walks and being involved in his training and daily care,&#8221; Mrs Campbell said.</p>
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<p>Like many students Hugo loves a game of football at lunchtime reveals Nicole Sherlock, Rosewood State High School Principal.</p>
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<p>&#8220;As a therapy dog Hugo works in a range of classrooms provoking laughter and joy and reducing the symptoms of anxiety,&#8221; she said.</p>
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<p>After 20 years working in special education, Benowa State High School&#8217;s Director of senior students, Lieve Rimbaut, understands how well students with disabilities relate to animals. She introduced Solo as a puppy, supporting students in the special education program (SEP).</p>
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<p>&#8220;While Solo was introduced with the SEP students in mind, he has reached so many more kids. Our mainstream students love it when he&#8217;s out and about at lunch. Students who are lonely or struggle to make friends are our main focus. Solo draws the other students in, creating relationships between students,&#8221; Ms Rimbaut said.</p>
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<p>Education support dogs provide many benefits within our schools, proving that sometimes the simplest solutions deliver the best results. Perhaps the greatest benefit is unconditional friendship.</p>
<p>As one student with a difficult home life revealed, &#8220;he makes me feel wanted&#8221;.</p>

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