General News
9 March, 2026
Luna brings cheer to Kurrajong Lodge
Kurrajong Lodge had an extra staff member on rounds, with Luna, the therapy dog, turning up to work with a wagging tail and a talent for brightening faces. Luna visited residents at the Horsham facility on March 3 under the direction of Paws on Wards director Kath Phillips and two volunteers, Jo Filippe and Marg Phillips.
Kurrajong Lodge's meaningful life coordinator, Hayley Mercer-Alexander, helped escort the team to residents’ rooms.
One of the lodge residents, Nancy, said the visit made her day.
"It is so lovely, I had a miserable morning, but I'm feeling way better now after seeing the dog," she said.
"It just made my day."
Paws on Wards director Kath Phillips said the initiative aimed to reduce stress and bring comfort to people in care.
“We’re trying to relieve the stress of any of the residents, and it’s amazing how a dog can really de-stress a person who’s either going for a procedure, or is getting a little bit old, and a little bit lonely,” she said.
“The presence of a dog can really, absolutely relieve that pressure, and they actually smile for the first time in ages, which is great.”
Grampians Health extended its pet therapy program to the Horsham campus after a positive response from patients and nursing staff in Ballarat and Stawell.
Ms Phillips said the program began in Ballarat and expanded as Grampians Health asked Paws on Wards to move into more sites.
“Yes, we started in Ballarat, and now we’re branching out,” she said.
“They asked us to do some other areas, and that’s exactly what we’re doing, which is fantastic.”
“Previous results were amazing, and they just love it.”
She said the volunteer base had grown across the three locations.
“I think we have about 25 volunteers now, and that’s across Ballarat, Stawell, and Horsham now,” she said.
Ms Phillips said the program used local dogs in each area rather than moving a single dog between towns.
“They’re all separate dogs, and they live in the area,” she said.
“It’s just so much easier because they’re close, living as close as possible.
“That’s what we really need.”
She said the timing of future visits would depend on the facility.
“It’s up to the nursing home, like it might be fortnightly,” she said.
“We just discussed that with them at the time.
“And sometimes it takes about an hour, sometimes a bit longer, sometimes a bit less.”
Ms Phillips encouraged people who loved their dogs and wanted to volunteer to consider animal-assisted therapy programs.
“If they enjoy their dogs and they want to do something very special, I couldn’t recommend this highly enough,” she said.
“It’s all just so lovely, and the fact that they allow it now is just particularly wonderful.”
Delivered through Grampians Health Volunteer Services and supported by Ballarat-based organisation Paws on Wards, the program aims to enhance emotional wellbeing and comfort in a clinical setting.
Ms Phillips said that they might visit the other facility, Wimmera Nursing Home in Horsham, in the upcoming days, as the first session in Horsham has already shown positive results.
Now extended to Horsham, the activity had a huge success across wards and care communities in Ballarat and Stawell, bringing animal-assisted therapy benefits to patients, residents, staff and visitors.