School Programs
The AWL's School Programs span the entire educational spectrum and offer learning opportunities for students in Prep right through to year 12. Developed by qualified, experienced and passionate teachers who make up the AWL's Education Team, our programs are continually revised to ensure relevance to the school curriculum and current teaching trends. Our Education Programs are a vital resource for all educators in the teaching of contemporary companion animal issues. Our Education Team therefore encourages an open dialogue between the AWL and teachers in order to assist the continual development and improvement of our programs. If you wish to offer feedback or development assistance for our programs, or for further information about any of our programs, please contact the Education Division.
BACK TO MAIN EDUCATION MENU An AWL Education Officer will visit your classroom with a dog and cat from the Refuge (optional) and do a presentation about the responsible care of animals and how AWL helps animals in the community. It provides students with an opportunity to get up-close with AWL animals and learn about caring for their needs and how they can help reduce the number of unwanted animals in their community. The presentation usually runs for 30-40 minutes and structured according to the learning level of the students. To view the lesson plans for each level, click on either Lower Primary; Middle Primary; or Upper Primary. Our Education Officer is also available to visit High School classrooms and guest speak on topics such as the Effects of Pet Overpopulation and the role of AWL within the Community. We strongly encourage teachers to take a Gold Coin Donation collection from students, in order to assist the AWL in covering the costs of the visit. The AWL also welcomes donations of dog and cat food for our Refuge animals. A ‘Pet Food Drive' is often a good way to get students excited about a visit from the AWL and encourages them to think about the animals in need. For more information or to book a visit, please contact the AWL Education Division. BACK TO SCHOOL PROGRAMS If you are an educator, help us promote our Excursion Programs at your school by downloading and printing off our School Excursions Promotional Flyer and passing it on to people at your school that may be interested. Excursion Programs are also available for Holiday Care Groups and Community Groups. For more information or to book an Excursion, please contact the AWL Education Division. Below is a basic outline of each Program: BACK TO SCHOOL PROGRAMS The AWL Education Centre is now open to TAFE and College student groups, and International student groups for Excursions. We offer tailored Excursion Programs at the Education Centre for College and TAFE students who are engaged in animal related studies. For more information or to book and excursion, please contact the AWL Education Division. Tafe and College Excursion Programs The programs are designed to give students hands-on experiences and learning opportunities within a ‘real-world' Animal Industry context. Students can learn about caring for refuge animals, including hands-on hydrobathing, dog walking and enrichment, dog training skills, cat care and socialization. Students are able to tour the refuge facilities including both AWL vet clinics and have the opportunity to learn about the AWL's role within the community and issues related to pet overpopulation. The Excursion Programs is tailored in consultation with the TAFE or College teachers and range in durations from 2 hours to full days. The cost of the Excursion is $10 - $30 per student (with a minimum of 15 students), depending on the duration and content of the program. International Student Excursion Programs The Education Centre is open to International students and study groups who are engaged in animal related studies who wish to gain real-world learning experiences. The excursion program is tailored to suit the learning needs of the individual group, but will generally focus on caring for refuge animals in our rehoming centre and two vet clinics and includes a tour of the facilities as well as hands-on activities and a presentation by an AWL Education Officer. The cost of Excursion programs for International students is $10 - $30 per student (with a minimum of 10 students), depending on the duration and content of the program. BACK TO SCHOOL PROGRAMS The committee promotes AWL and helps their ‘Best Friend' animals through; The Best Friends Project costs students nothing to become involved, but they will gain so much from the experience of helping animals in need and in turn their community! Download the Best Friends Information Sheet to learn more or to apply, email our Best Friends Coordinator - bestfriends@awlqld.com.au BACK TO SCHOOL PROGRAMS In small groups of 6 - 10, students work through a range of hands-on and theory components. Those who demonstrate the outcomes required for each component receive a Certificate of Achievement at the end of the course, which may be used as a starting point for further training and education in the field. For more information, including course components, structure and fees, download the Companion Animal Certificate Course Information Sheet. A version of the Companion Animal Certificate Course is also available as a School Holiday Program, for those students who are interested but have not had the opportuntity to access the program through their school. BACK TO SCHOOL PROGRAMS Developed by teachers for teachers, the Animal Welfare League's Integrated Units were designed for teachers to use within the classroom at their own pace. Each Integrated Unit features Outcomes Linked learning activities with complementing Black Line Masters. The units have been broken into four levels of learning - Lower, Middle and Upper Primary and Lower/Middle Secondary - however, resources and activities may be used interchangeably between the grades, depending on the teaching purposes. Teachers may choose to use the Integrated Unit as a complete program, or pick and choose activities that best suit the learning context. The AWL's Integrated Units are available free to download below as PDF files. Lower Primary: Companion Animals and their Needs (Years P - 2) Middle Primary: Caring Responsibly for Companion Animals (Years 3 - 5) Upper Primary: Companion Animals and Society (Years 6 - 7) Secondary: Making a Difference for Companion Animals (Years 8 - 10) The AWL's Integrated Units can be ordered in printed book version as part of a Teacher Resource Kit. Our Teacher Resource Kits contain supporting materials for the Integrated Units and include; In order to cover printing and postage costs, we ask for a donation of $20.00 per resource kit. To order a Kit, contact the Education Division or download a Teacher Resource Kit ORDER FORM. BACK TO SCHOOL PROGRAMS Refuge Tours are also available to non-school groups and tour organisations - please Community Education Programs for more information. To book a school tour, please contact the AWL Education Division. BACK TO SCHOOL PROGRAMS The AWL Education Division offers high school students the opportunity to engage in a structured and rewarding work experience program. Students are provided with initial training in workplace safety, animal care and handling procedures and then follow a structured program of volunteering tasks which assist AWL staff in the daily care of our refuge animals. Students are required to submit an application in order to be considered for the work experience program. Contact the Education Division or email our Volunteer Coordinator at volunteering@awlqld.com.au for more information. Download the WORK EXPERIENCE APPLICATION FORM BACK TO SCHOOL PROGRAMS 
Classroom Visits (Years Prep - 12)Excursion Programs (Years Prep - 12)
Teachers now have the opportunity to bring their students to the AWL Education Centre, where they can engage in hands-on learning activities related to responsible companion animal care. We offer three structured Excursion Programs designed according to the learning levels of students. Each program is 2 ½ hours in duration, including a break for lunch or morning tea (lunch not provided). The cost is $4.50 per student (minimum 25 students), which includes an AWL ‘take-home' pack for students and a Resource Kit for each teacher. Level One (P - 3): ‘Companion Animals and their Needs'
Level Two (4 - 7): ‘Responsible Care of Companion Animals'
Level Three (8- 12): ‘Making a Difference for Companion Animals'
TAFE & College Excursion Programs
Best Friends Project (Years 4 - 12)
Best Friends Project is designed to encourage Active Citizenship among Primary students and High School students. The Project involves a group of students forming an Animal Welfare League Committee, who then, through regular contact with the AWL, help rehome AWL animals in special need (their ‘Best Friends') and promote messages of responsible animal care within their school community.
Companion Animal Certificate Course (Years 8 - 12)
The Companion Animal Certificate Course is a 9 - 20 hour course developed for high school students interested in working with animals. Held over a number of days or weeks (depending on the course structure) at the AWL Education Centre, students have the opportunity to gain skills in dog handling and training, cat grooming and training, dog hydro-bathing and grooming, cat grooming, breed identification as well as gain a knowledge of animal control laws, basic health care, specific needs of kittens, puppies and adult cats and dogs. Teaching Resources (Years Prep - 12)
Integrated Units
Teacher Resource Kits
Refuge Tours - School Groups (Years 4 - 12)
We offer guided school group Refuge Tours of the AWL Sanctuary, tailored to the learning requirements and level of the students. Guided tours are charged at $2.50 per student (minimum of 20 students) and take approximately one hour. Each guided tour covers the following topics;
Work Experience Program
