Meet Amber

What's up dog?

Hi friends, Amber here!
This year has been paw-some! Some might even say it was a rebarkable year. My list of jobs at EAC is long but most of the time I can't tell if I am working hard or hardly working. I love my job! This year I have been able to:
- Help students going through a ruff pooch. When I cuddle and sit still with them we can acknowledge our worries but let them keep walking by. OH I LOVE WALKIES!
- Greet my friends in the morning who come past my paw-ffice to say Hi. I'm paw-sitive it's the best way to start my day.
- Visit my friends in the library who seem to have this reading thing down pat (all pats welcome!)
- Hang out in the Finance paw-ffice with Sharon & Julia who always treat me like a queen! They crunch the numbers while I crunch the liver treats. It's the perfect combo.
- 'Dress up' as Genevieve from Madeline for Book Week. They even let me show off in the primary parade. I think I was born for the stage!
- Help my highschool friends do some impaw-tant learning! I repeat, working hard or hardly working?
- Celebrate my friends who finished their highschool journey in my academic cap. My brain is so big. I am so smart.
- Hold my friends' paws to give them some courage to do tough things. Like that little stick thing the nurses won't throw for me to fetch, but for some reason they use it instead to poke my friends in the arm. Weird flex, but okay.

I'm definitely not barking up the wrong tree when it comes to living the good life at EAC! I'm thankful that the pup-arazzi have snapped some of my favourite moments, so I can look back at the year that was and smile for all the paws-itive memories we've shared. At leashed I get to do it all again next year!

From our perspective...
Amber is the Wellbeing Wonder dog at Emmanuel Anglican College, Ballina. She supports over 700 students & staff within our College Community. Amber's work has a positive impact on psychological and academic growth while increasing social skills and self-esteem in children and adolescents. She provides emotional support, which positively impacts reading skills, emotional functioning and communication skills.
Amber provides individual support for over 100 students which includes students dealing with family death/grief, trauma, anxiety, panic attack, suicidal ideation. She contributes to children's emotional stability and facilitates learning in relation to responsibility, respect and empathy.
Amber also has a positive impact on social functioning and interpersonal skills. This is particularly true for neurodivergent students.
Other impacts include:
- Supporting students during times of heightened stress (ie. exam blocks, vaccination days)
- Promoting wellbeing through whole school events like book week
- Morning greetings for students (particularly helpful for students with separation anxiety, school refusal behaviours)
- Spreading her love amongst staff which supports emotional/mental health and promotes productivity
- Promotes academic engagement and reading skill in classroom and library visits.
She is easily the most loved staff member on the roster and her role in promoting positive wellbeing is enormous.


See evidence of her impact in a video of student testimonials using the link below:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1x35Z8WNcOGM-8aIHDlZi77ZfrFnwndSE/view

Amber is the most loved staff member. Her role in promoting positive wellbeing is enormous.

How is this award decided?