Courthouse Facility Dogs in Australia
Courthouse facility dog Lucy and her handler, Julie Morrison.
Courthouse facility dog Lucy, trained by Assistance Dogs Australia, works for the Office of Public Prosecutions in Melbourne.
Before initiating this Courthouse Dog Program, the first in Australia, handler Julie Morrison traveled to the US and Canada to study successful programs. This work was funded by the Churchill Foundation.
Read Julie’s 2019 report to the Churchill Foundation:
Dogs in Court Supporting Victims and Witnesses Giving Evidence
As of March 6, 2024, these agencies in Australia have certified facility dogs working:
- Office of Public Prosecutions, Melbourne
- Child and Youth Witness Service, Melbourne
- The Sexual Assault and Family Violence Centre, Geelong
- Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia, Melbourne
For more information, please see Justice Facility Dogs Australia, a handler association.
