News
Insights Autumn 2025
Hello and welcome to the Autumn Edition of Insights, Guide Dogs SA/NT’s client newsletter. We hope you enjoy keeping up to date on what’s happening at Guide Dogs SA/NT and reading the wonderful stories and tips for our community. This newsletter is also available in audio format via the audio player below. The playback speed can be increased or decreased by clicking the 1x button on the bar below.
In this newsletter
Client spotlight: Lauren
Try Before You Ride
Peer group sessions
A musical journey around the world
Empowered Living Program June 2025
Public Transport Strategy Survey
Client story: Lauren
Lauren, who is legally blind due to advanced Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP), has faced significant challenges associated with vision loss over the years. Despite this, she has not let her vision loss get in the way of her leading an active life and being of service to others.
Growing up, Lauren developed a keen sense of empathy from her mother who was a primary school teacher’s aide with students with disabilities. This led Lauren and her sister while in their teenage years to help their mother to establish a school holiday program that later became a respite care service for their mother’s students, showcasing their early hardworking and compassionate nature.
After Lauren was married, her and her then husband established and managed two successful businesses in hospitality.
When her RP condition became more advanced, Lauren had to come to terms with the loss of her driver’s license which was “a most painful blow” Lauren recalled. As a way of adapting to her changing circumstances, Lauren decided to undertake a new challenge and successfully obtained a Diploma of Counseling via the Australian Institute of Professional Counselors. With the support of her sister who is fully sighted along with a small committee, Lauren now facilitates a peer support group known as “See With Me” offering invaluable support to individuals facing similar challenges. The group meets monthly for fellowship and information sharing in a supportive setting.
Lauren’s dedication extends beyond formal support groups. She maintains regular peer support contacts with group members through phone calls, ensuring they feel valued, connected and supported. Moreover, Lauren provides peer support services to anyone who needs it free of charge.
“I feel it incredibly important to stay in touch with people. They may not take me up on the offer to chat, but they will know that there is someone out there thinking about them as they might need or want to talk with someone at some stage.”
“A welfare check call can mean a great deal to someone who is going through a tough time.”
“I’m grateful for the supports I’ve received over the years from people. Through See with Me, I relish the opportunity to offer some support to others in return.”
Even in her spare time, Lauren embraces life with enthusiasm, learning to surf and actively pursuing her passion for ballroom dancing. “I have appreciated assistance from orientation and mobility training from Guide Dogs to find safer routes to get to various dance studios.
Lauren’s story is a testament to her resilience, her unwavering commitment to helping others, and her ability to find joy and fulfillment despite adversity.
Try Before You Ride
This June, two free events will be hosted by the Department for Infrastructure and Transport to help you build confidence and skills when using public transport. Adelaide Metro and Keolis Downer staff will guide you through each stage of a public transport journey. Guide Dogs SA/NT Vision Services staff will be present as well to provide support and answer your questions.
The first event will be on 4 June between 1pm and 2:30pm and will focus on the bus experience. The second event will be on 13 June between 10am and 2pm and focuses on both the train and bus experience. Registration is recommended but not required. For more information go to Adelaide Metro website by clicking here: Try Before You Ride
Sessions
Peer group sessions
Do you have a skill, hobby or interest to share?
We invite Clients and people with lived experience to suggest topics or themes for future sessions. This could be something like sharing a performance, running a session of movement, giving a lecture on history, or something else.
Please reach out to Salina if you have an idea or special skill to share. You can reach Salina via salina.shrestha@guidedogs.org.au or 0882038347
A musical journey around the world
Join us for a unique and joyful live musical event as we explore the Different Journeys of Music — a celebration of musical styles from across the globe, spanning from the 1930s to the late 1970s.
Featuring:
Barbara O’bree and her Clavinova
She’ll be guiding us through this unforgettable musical adventure!
Date: 13th June 2025 11 Am
Location: Guide Dogs office, 251 Morphet St, Adelaide
What to Bring:
A plate to share – let’s enjoy great music and good food together!
Your dancing shoes and singing voice – feel free to sing along and dance!
To register your attendance, please email salina.shrestha@guidedogs.org.au or call 08 8203 8347
Empowered Living Program June 2025
We will host a workshop series for insight, connection, and growth on three Wednesdays in June.
The theme for these sessions will be Understanding Emotional Well-Being: Living with Blindness and Low Vision.
Registrations are now open, so please read on for more details!
Vision loss can have a profound impact on emotional well-being. This supportive workshop series explores the thoughts, feelings, and behaviours that can arise from blindness or low vision—many of which may go unrecognised as part of the experience of loss. We are excited to have Jodie Atkinson as a special guest presenter during or June sessions. Jodie brings a unique and powerful perspective to this series. She is the author of Have You Met My Grief?, a deeply personal and impactful book that has also been transformed into a multi-award-winning cabaret show.
You can find full details of this session on our website, click here: https://sant.guidedogs.com.au/events/empowered-living-program-june-2025/
Session details:
Date: Wednesdays, 11th, 18th and 25th June
Time: 1:30 PM- 3:00 PM
Participants are expected to join all sessions.
Location: Guide Dogs Head Office, at 251 Morphett Street – Adelaide.
Our sessions are free and available to join virtually for people residing in NT or regional SA.
Register by 6th of June 2025 by clicking here: Register
Or reach out to Salina on salina.shrestha@guidedogs.org.au or call 08 8203 8347.
Public Transport Strategy Survey
Have your say! The Department of Infrastructure and Transport is developing a Public Transport Strategy to set the vision for public transport in South Australia for the next 30 years. A survey is available to deliver input on what you think public transport in SA should look like in the future. Read about the strategy and how you can get involved in the Strategy Factsheet here: Public Transport Strategy Factsheet. We encourage you to make your voice heard. You can find the survey on their website by clicking the following link: https://engage.dit.sa.gov.au/public-transport-strategy
We hope you enjoyed this version of our client insights newsletter. Stay tuned for the next one!
