Meet Iris, the pup changing pupils' lives


Iris works at Wirreanda Secondary School. Her integrity, reliability and non-judgemental companionship helps to create a safe environment where students feel encouraged to express themselves, face challenges and take meaningful steps toward healing and growth.

But Iris isn’t a teacher or a school support officer. Iris is a black labrador trained by Guide Dogs Australia that works as Wirreanda’s Facility Dog. To many students at the school Iris is a special friend, and to a few she’s much more than that.

This is why she’s been named as a finalist for the 2025 OZ Top Dog with a Job award, a national competition that recognises the efforts of some of our most special canine companions.

According to her handler Mandy Sherman, Iris’s unwavering dependability is key to the impact she makes on students.

"Iris's work often involves supporting vulnerable students in emotionally challenging situations, requiring both resilience and courage," Mandy says.

"Iris assists students in confronting environments which are a source of anxiety such as irisinsetnoisy, crowded or distracting spaces. Iris approaches these situations with a sense of calm and confidence."

Mandy, pictured with Iris and Wirreanda Secondary School student Emily, says Iris’s focus, adaptability and professionalism set her apart.

"Iris maintains high standards of assistance, accommodates diverse needs and environments and executes commands with discipline," she says.

"Whether in training or responding to commands, Iris thrives when challenged, making her a truly unique and invaluable member of the school community."

Iris’s jobs at Wirreanda are multiple and varied, from providing deep pressure therapy to help improve the emotional state of vulnerable students with complex backgrounds, including mental health, grief, suicidal ideations and disabilities, going on calming walks with students, responding to anxieties and barriers faced by students who are challenged with everyday tasks, and providing an incentive to attend school and classes.

Recently Iris has supported a student to attend school by providing comfort and a sense of safety within a weekly group session.

The student's parent shared, "I've been homeschooling my daughter for seven years and wondered if I'd ever get her to leave the house again!".

Iris's presence, together with support staff, were a key part in rebuilding the student's confidence to return to school.

And after bonding with Facility Dog Iris, a student with selective mutism and poor attendance began communicating more with peers and engaging in group sessions.

Iris’s presence boosts the student’s confidence at each session and encourages a sense of belonging, leading to improved social connections, greater classroom participation and a marked increase in attendance.

Iris's good work has been recognised by her selection as a finalist in the 2025 OZ Top Dog with a Job competition. There is also a People's Choice award, which can be found here.

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