Turn your love of dogs into a career that matters
Become a licensed Paws 4 Change facilitator and run your own evidence-based canine-assisted learning service... with everything you need to start, grow, and thrive.
Done-for-you
business setup & materials
1-on-1
mentorship from the team
12+
years evidence based outcomes
Is this you?
You don't have to choose between a career and a calling.
The Paws 4 Change facilitator pathway is for people who feel a pull toward doing something more meaningful... and who happen to love dogs. You don't need a background in therapy, counselling, or clinical work. You just need heart, a willingness to learn, and a dog who's ready to change lives alongside you.
We've designed this program to meet you wherever you are.
🧑⚕️ Health & allied health professionals
Nurses, OTs, psychologists, social workers looking for a new direction
👩🏫 Educators & support workers
Teachers, SSOs, youth workers, disability support professionals
🐾 Dog lovers & career changers
Anyone who wants to build a purpose-led business from the ground up
💼 Existing wellness practitioners
Add canine-assisted learning as a powerful new modality to your current practice
What's included
Everything you need. Nothing left to figure out on your own.
This isn't just training. It's a complete, done-for-you framework to launch a credible, sustainable practice... built on 10+ years of proven outcomes.
📘
Full Certified Program
The complete Paws 4 Change curriculum, session plans, and facilitator guides... developed from the award-winning WAGS methodology.
Evidence-based, peer-reviewed framework
Session-by-session facilitator guides
Participant workbooks & resources
Outcome measurement tools
🏢
Business Setup Support
You won't be starting from scratch. We hand you the tools, templates, and systems to launch your service with confidence.
Branded marketing materials
Intake & consent documentation
Pricing & packaging guidance
NDIS pathway support
🎓
Certification & Licence
Graduate as a fully certified Paws 4 Change facilitator with a licensed right to deliver the program under the Paws 4 Change brand.
Nationally recognised certification
Licensed program delivery rights
Use of the Paws 4 Change brand
Annual renewal & ongoing CPD
💬
Mentorship from Sue
Direct, ongoing access to founder Sue... not a call centre, not a chatbot. Real guidance from the person who built this from the ground up.
1-on-1 mentorship sessions
Supervision & case reflection
Ongoing check-ins as you grow
Available for complex client questions
🐕
Dog Assessment Preparation
Not every dog is ready for facilitation work... and that's okay. We help you assess your dog's temperament and prepare them step by step.
Temperament assessment framework
Dog preparation & training guide
Welfare & safeguarding protocols
Ongoing dog wellbeing monitoring
🤝
Facilitator Community
Join a growing national network of Paws 4 Change facilitators. Share wins, ask questions, and find your people.
Private facilitator community group
Monthly group connection calls
Shared resource library
Referral network between facilitators
Your journey
From application to first session in weeks, not years.
We've made the path to becoming a certified facilitator as clear and supported as possible... so you can focus on learning, not logistics.
Week 1
Apply & connect
Fill in a short application so we can understand your background, your dog, and your goals. Every application is reviewed and the team follows up with a warm discovery call... no gatekeeping, no judgment. Just a real conversation.
Week 2-6
Complete your certification training
Work through the Paws 4 Change facilitator training at a pace that suits your life. The program is designed to be flexible... you don't need to put your life on hold to complete it. Training is a mix of self-paced learning and live sessions with the team.
Week 6-8
Set up your services
With your certification in hand, we work through your business setup together... your pricing, your niche, and your client intake process. By the end of this stage, you're not just certified... you're ready to see clients.
Ongoing
Launch, grow & stay supported
You're never left to figure it out alone. Ongoing mentorship from the Paws 4 Change team, access to the facilitator community, and monthly group calls mean you always have somewhere to turn when questions come up... which they will, and that's completely normal.
Your investment
A career change. A calling answered.
Pricing is available on enquiry... because every facilitator's situation is different, and we'd rather have a real conversation than quote you a number that doesn't account for where you're starting from.
Facilitator Certification Program
Your investment
The one-off investment:
$2,495 one-time certification & setup payment.
Everything you need to become a certified Paws 4 Change facilitator... your training, business setup support, compliance guidance, dog assessment framework, and licensed right to deliver the program.
The monthly fee:
$295/month Ongoing facilitator support.
Your monthly fee covers continued access to mentorship, done-for-you marketing and lead generation in your region, the facilitator community, and all business assets... so you're never building or marketing alone.
Most facilitators need just 3 enrolled clients to cover their initial investment... and with advertising activated in your region from Week 9, those clients typically arrive before the 90 days are up.
Full certified program curriculum & materials
Licensed right to deliver under the Paws 4 Change brand
Done-for-you business setup support, lead generation, and ongoing marketing assets
Access to the national facilitator community
Do I need my own dog?
Yes... your dog is your co-facilitator. Most well-tempered, people-friendly dogs make great candidates.
Do I need prior qualifications?
No formal qualifications in therapy or counselling are required. What matters is your values, your communication, and your willingness to show up for the people you'll serve.
Can I run this alongside my current job?
Absolutely. Many of our facilitators start part-time and grow from there. The training is flexible enough to work around a busy life.
Is this available outside Queensland?
Yes. The program is open to facilitators Australia-wide. Some elements are delivered online, and the team works with you to navigate any state-specific considerations.
How much can I earn as a facilitator?
Earnings vary based on your hours and niche. We'll talk through realistic income expectations on your discovery call.
From our facilitators
They made the leap. Here's what they found.
"I left a 15-year nursing career because I was burnt out and desperate for something different. Six months after completing the program, I'm working fewer hours, earning more, and I actually look forward to Mondays. The dogs do what no amount of training ever could."
Karen R
Former RN, now Certified Facilitator... Victoria
"The support from Sue has been genuinely different to anything else I've experienced in professional development. She's not handing you a manual and wishing you luck... she's in it with you."
David M
Certified Facilitator... Queensland
"I was already working as a support worker and thought canine-assisted learning would be a nice add-on. It's become the heart of everything I do. My clients respond to Bella in ways they never responded to me alone."
Amanda L
Disability Support Worker & Certified Facilitator... NSW
A note from Sue
I built this because I couldn't find it anywhere else.
"I spent years watching the difference dogs made... not just for participants, but for the facilitators who got to show up to this work every day. And I thought: more people need to be able to do this."
The Paws 4 Change facilitator program was built out of a simple belief... that the right methodology, in the right hands, can change lives. I've poured everything I know into creating something that gives facilitators a real chance to build a practice that's both meaningful and financially sustainable.
When you join the program, you're not just buying training. You're getting a partner. I'm invested in your success because every new facilitator means more people in their community getting access to something that works.
If you're on the fence, let's just talk. No pressure, no pitch. Just a conversation.
Sue Cooper
Founder, Paws 4 Change
Apply now
Ready to take the first step?
Click the button below, complete your details and a team member will be in touch to arrange your discovery call.
Paws 4 Change
Evidence-based canine-assisted learning for children, adults, and communities across Australia. Built on the award-winning WAGS program.
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