Become a volunteer
Registered charity · Bathurst NSW · since 2012

Dogs helping people.

Volunteers and their own dogs bring calm to hospitals, aged care and classrooms across NSW. Team up with your best buddy and be the reason someone smiles today.

Volunteer with your dog Request a visit
570+teams trained
62ksmiles a year
14years
Two PAWS volunteers kneeling with their own dogs, smiling

Volunteer

Training, uniform, insurance and a placement near you. Seven quick questions to see if you and your dog are a pawsitive match.

Take the quiz →
A hand resting on a PAWS therapy dog during a visit

Receive a visit

Hospitals, aged care, schools, libraries, offices. Insured, police-checked teams, rostered to suit you.

Request a visit →
Hugo, a golden retriever in his PAWS vest, close up

Donate

Like our dogs, donations come in all sizes. Gifts of $2 or more are tax deductible.

Give now
More people are asking for visits than we have teams

Your dog already has the job. We give you both the training.

A one-off $275 covers the course, the assessment day, your uniform, your dog's vest and lead, insurance and a placement near you. Seven questions tell you if you're a match.

Take the 7-question quiz How volunteering works
  • Any breed, any size. Rescues welcome. Calm with strangers is the only must.
  • One visit a week or fortnight. 1 to 1.5 hours, weekdays, near where you live.
  • Never alone. Training in person or on Zoom, then the office is a phone call away.
Six PAWS therapy dogs, mostly goldens and labradoodles, sitting in a row on the grass
Coming up

Events

All events →
Purple and yellow flowers on a PAWS lunch table

A Dash of Purple

Our fundraising gala. Dress code: a dash of purple.
A cake iced with Thank you Volunteers

Volunteer Appreciation Lunch

The Zep Award for volunteering excellence is presented here each year.
A long lunch table set with purple sashes

Training and Assessment Day

New teams graduate every eight weeks. In person or over Zoom.
A PAWS volunteer smiling with her doodle on the grass
Latest stories See more stories →
Children reading on the floor beside a PAWS dog
Six programs for children and young people

Reading with PAWS'n'Tales, courage at the school gate, calm before a vaccination, a study break before the HSC. Plus ponies, with PAWS'n'Hooves.

See the programs →
PAWS for Applause

Gallery

See the gallery →
Three PAWS therapy dogs relaxing together indoors
PAWS dogs sitting in a row on a garden wall
Four PAWS volunteers kneeling with their dogs
A PAWS group with their dogs on a grassy hillside
Two fluffy PAWS dogs lying on the grass
Three PAWS dogs sitting on the lawn
PAWS volunteers relaxing with their dogs on the grass
A golden retriever PAWS dog lying on a blanket in the sun
A golden retriever in a PAWS vest and a yellow lei
A chocolate labrador PAWS dog lying on the grass
A joyful PAWS therapy dog on a visit, getting a treat
Volunteer with your dog

We need you.

Hospitals, aged care homes and schools are asking for more visits than we have teams. If your dog is calm with strangers and you have an hour a fortnight, you are most of the way there.

Become a volunteer Seven questions. Two minutes. No commitment.
With a little help from our friends

Supporters who keep the vests on

HospEquipWollondilly Shire CouncilSimplotFeel Good Dog FoodMainline DynoLog Dynamometers