Exciting new career opportunity with Guide Dogs - August 2009

For the first time in its 49-year history, Guide Dogs Queensland is accepting applications from the general public for the exclusive, highly skilled and rewarding career opportunity as a cadet Guide Dog Mobility Instructor.

Until now, this much-sought-after career, which involves more than five years of study and on-the-job training, has been a long-term pathway only available to staff already employed in the Guide Dog industry.

Guide Dog Mobility Instructors (GDMIs) oversee the final training and assessment of Guide Dogs, the process of matching Guide Dogs with a person who is blind or vision impaired, and provide ongoing support and training to the working Guide Dog team.

GDMI Cadet Jodie Inglis started at Guide Dogs Queensland 10 years ago as a volunteer, while completing a Criminology degree and with aspirations of a career in the police force.

However, when the opportunity to start as a paid kennel attendant came about, Jodie jumped at the chance to work full-time with the people and dogs that had become a big part of her life. In 2010, Jodie will graduate as a qualified Guide Dog Mobility Instructor, since starting the cadetship four years ago.

Demand for Guide Dogs Queensland’s (GDQ) services is growing, and as a result the association aims to expand its Rehabilitation Services, breed and train more Guide Dogs and grow its staff numbers.

GDQ Guide Dogs Services Manager Marc Lyell said by opening applications for the GDMI cadetship the association aimed to “grow our own” highly experienced team ready to meet all future service demands.

“Guide Dogs Queensland currently employs four Guide Dog Mobility Instructors, including one cadet. We’re very excited about further growing our own dedicated and skilled Guide Dogs Services team, from 2010,” Mr Lyell said.

“This is a very unique cadetship. The training component will take about 4 to 5 years to complete.”

The first step is a 12-month fast-tracked Masters degree majoring in Orientation and Mobility, through Griffith University. This includes a practical on-the-job component with GDQ’s Rehabilitation Services department.

At the end of the first 12 months cadets are a qualified Orientation and Mobility Instructor. The second stage is a two-year cadetship in Guide Dog training, combining on-the-job training with a mix of theory and exams, managed in-house.

At the completion of the 2nd stage, cadets will be a qualified Guide Dog trainer and able to move into the final stage of training, to become a qualified Guide Dog Mobility Instructor.
“Both the Guide Dog Trainer and Guide Dog Mobility Instructor qualifications are recognised world-wide by the International Guide Dog Federation,” Mr Lyell said.

“This opportunity sees the cadets working closely with our world-class Rehabilitation Services department and with the support of highly specialised instruction from our Guide Dog Services team,” he said.

“It will take time and dedication but our staff and anyone in the Guide Dog industry will tell you that this is truly a career for life, with amazing personal rewards.

“It’s a job where you do make a difference every day by helping blind and vision impaired Queenslanders achieve independence, mobility and freedom.”

Applicants must possess an undergraduate degree, and would suit with degree qualifications in allied health, teaching, nursing or human-services related fields.

Applications close September 14, 2009. For more information go to website www.guidedogsqld.com.au