Counselling and Support

For many of our clients, their first encounter with Guide Dogs Queensland is with our full-time psychologist who helps them and their families adjust to life with vision impairment.

Contact can be done by way of self-referral or through health professionals, community agencies, family members and friends – and all of our services, including counselling, are provided free to clients.  Our counselling services; Low Vision Clinics and support groups are designed to not only increase a person’s independence in mobility bu, just as importantly, overcome the isolation that can often come with losing sight. These services also promote social, emotional and physical well-being.

Rehabilitation Counselling is provided to help clients and their families understand and adjust to life with vision loss. It can also improve client’s personal and social development.
Counselling retreats at Bald Hills are also offered throughout the year, with clients staying in our Client Residence at Bald Hills.

Low Vision Support Groups

GDQ helps establish and promote support groups for people with vision impairment.
Currently, Guide Dogs Queensland assists more than 29 support groups throughout the State, by providing up-to-date information, services and advice.
Some of the Brisbane groups also use Guide Dogs Queensland’s Client Services as their meeting base.
These Support Groups provide people, who have experienced vision loss, with an opportunity to meet and share thoughts and ideas with others who are blind or vision impaired.

For more information please contact Rehabilitation Services on 07 3500 9060.

Low Vision Clinics

The association participates in a variety of multi-disciplinary teams associated with Low Vision Clinics.
The teams often include our O&M Instructors, Optometrists, Occupational Therapists, Social Workers and Ophthalmologists and occur throughout the State.

The Low Vision Clinics can provide advice on a wide range of new technology and practical aids that assist in the home, at work or out shopping. The clinics are a perfect opportunity to trial this new technology in a comfortable environment, with no obligation to buy – and to take your time to find the best tool to meet your needs.

For more information about our Low Vision Clinics please contact Rehabilitation Services on 07 3500 9060.

Education/Awareness/Advocacy

Guide Dogs Queensland conducts a variety of community and professional education workshops about vision impairment. These can be adapted to medical and paramedical professionals, vision impairment program staff, carers, HAAC workers and school teachers.

Our expert staff members also consult for and advocate on behalf of Queensland’s blind and vision impaired community in a number of government, educational and public sectors.
A Mobility Expo, in the GDQ Client Residence, is held every year during Disability Action Week to help promote and educate on the wide range of services available to people with low or no vision.