How to become a Guide Dog Mobility Instructor
Guide dog mobility instructors train dogs to guide people who are blind or vision-impaired. They also train these people to use and care for a guide dog.
Personal requirements for a Guide Dog Mobility Instructor
- Good health, hearing and eyesight
- Full mobility and a good level of physical fitness
- Desire to work with people who are vision-impaired
- Flexible and adaptable
- Able to work both independently and as part of a team
- Love of, and aptitude for, working with dogs
Education & Training for a Guide Dog Mobility Instructor
To become a guide dog mobility instructor you usually have to complete a relevant degree, followed by a cadetship with the guide dogs association in your state or territory. This cadetship includes completion of a postgraduate qualification in orientation and mobility.Relevant degrees include those majoring in social sciences, disability studies, human services, psychology, nursing or education. To get into these courses you usually need to gain your Senior Secondary Certificate of Education. Prerequisite subjects, or assumed knowledge, in one or more of English, mathematics, biology, chemistry and physics are normally required. Entry to postgraduate courses usually requires completion of an appropriate bachelor degree. Universities have different prerequisites and some have flexible entry requirements or offer external study. Contact the institutions you are interested in for more information.
Additional information
Depending on your state or territory, you may need a drivers licence and a Provide First Aid Certificate.Many guide dog schools in Australia are members of the International Guide Dog Federation (IGDF), which is made up of approximately 80 guide dog schools from around the world. A qualification obtained from an IGDF-accredited school is recognised internationally by member schools.
Duties & Tasks of a Guide Dog Mobility Instructor
Guide dog mobility instructors:
- Work with a team of specially chosen dogs that have undergone initial socialisation through the Guide Dogs Association of Australia's puppy-raising scheme
- Over a period of four to six months, put the dogs through an intensive assessment and training program
- Train the dogs to guide people with little or no sight through all likely independent travel situations
- Conduct interviews and assessments of all applicants for guide dogs
- Conduct a matching meeting, whereby guide dogs are matched to clients on the waiting list
- Train a person who is vision-impaired to use a guide dog at either a residential training facility or within the person's home area. Training is conducted over a period of three to six weeks. For people trained in the centre-based program, additional follow-up instruction of three to five days is provided upon the person's return home.
Tasks
- Teaches animals to obey verbal and non-verbal commands and addresses behavioural problems.
- Trains animals to perform in competitions.
Employment Opportunities for a Guide Dog Mobility Instructor
Guide dog mobility instructors are employed by guide dog associations around Australia and internationally.Job opportunities depend on the incidence of visual impairment in the community and the availability of funds for associations. There is a high level of competition for available positions.
Specializations
Guide Dog Mobility Instructor
Guide dog mobility instructors train dogs to guide people who are blind or vision-impaired. They also train these people to use and care for a guide dog.
Average age
40 years
Future Growth
Strong
Gender Share
59% female
Average full-time
48 hours
Weekly Pay
$986
Skill level rating
Medium skill
Unemployment
Lower unemployment
Full-Time Share
59% Full-Time
Employment Size
1,100 workers
Employment by state
ACT: 1.0%
NSW: 29.3%
NT: 0.6%
QLD: 21.8%
SA: 7.1%
TAS: 1.4%
VIC: 27.6%
WA: 11.1%
Age brackets
15-19: 2.8%
20-24: 7.9%
25-34: 26.2%
35-44: 24.1%
45-54: 23.4%
55-59: 7.8%
60-64: 4.7%
65 and Over: 3%
Education level
Advanced Diploma/Diploma: 14.4%
Bachelor degree: 15.3%
Certificate III/IV: 30.5%
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate: 3.9%
Year 10 and below: 15.2%
Year 11: 3.9%
Year 12: 16.9%
