Seeing Eye Dogs is excited to host the first ever Living with your ageing Seeing Eye Dog workshop on Saturday, July 19.
This free event is open to anyone who is blind or has low vision and currently has a dog guide and will feature advice about caring for your retiring or ageing dog guide from both experts and those with extensive lived experience.
Clinical experts
Dr Nicola Cotton
Dr Nicola Cotton is the Veterinary and Reproduction Manager at Vision Australia Seeing Eye Dogs, where she leads the organisation’s breeding program and veterinary services, overseeing the health and wellbeing of Seeing Eye Dogs’ breeding colony, over 200 puppies born annually, and the wider population of dogs in training and work across the country.
With a background in general practice, emergency medicine, and welfare-focused roles at the RSPCA, Nicola brings over 14 years of veterinary experience to her work.
She is passionate about data-driven improvement and how animal welfare and program success go hand-in-hand.
Nicola has led the development of the Seeing Eye Dogs Animal Welfare Strategy, represents the organisation in the international working dog community, and contributes to several industry committees focused on breeding standards and animal welfare.
She values the human-animal bond and collaboration between Seeing Eye Dogs, clients, and other organisations to advance the quality of dog guides world-wide.
Dr Sue Mae Chua, Veterinarian, Vision Australia Seeing Eye Dogs
Dr Sue Mae Chua is a compassionate and experienced veterinarian who graduated from the University of Melbourne in 2011. She spent the first 10 years of her career at a large not-for-profit animal hospital, where she developed a strong foundation in veterinary care and community service.
For the past seven years, she has been part of the team at Seeing Eye Dogs, where she particularly enjoys caring for puppies during their early development and empowering and supporting staff, foster carers, and handlers in providing the best possible care for future Seeing Eye Dogs.
Dr Chua is deeply committed and passionate about helping everyone strengthen their human-animal bond through education and compassionate care.
Outside of work, she shares her home with three rescue cats and Seeing Eye Dog breeder Keitha. In her downtime, she enjoys playing pickleball and exploring new café’s.
Louise Pearson, grief and bereavement counsellor and Gestalt Psychotherapist
Louise Pearson is a grief and bereavement counsellor and Gestalt Psychotherapist with over 25 years’ experience in mental health.
Based in Melbourne’s Northeast, she works in private practice as a Mental Health Social Worker, providing trauma-informed support to individuals facing grief, loss, and major life transitions.
Her work is shaped by years supporting people with chronic illness, disability, and life-limiting conditions such as epilepsy and MS, fostering a deeply empathetic and inclusive approach.
Louise’s practice is grounded in the belief that healing begins when we feel truly heard. Committed to inclusive practice, she draws on both professional training and lived experience, creating a safe, non-judgmental space where clients can explore their stories with compassion and clarity. Her work centres on helping people feel seen, supported, and empowered through life’s most difficult times.
Louise holds a Bachelor of Social Work and a Bachelor of Arts (Social Sciences) from La Trobe University. She has completed advanced training in Gestalt Psychotherapy and holds a Graduate Certificate in Grief and Bereavement Counselling from the Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement.
Dr Jessica and Dr Gretchen, veterinarians with advanced training in canine musculoskeletal health, Melbourne Veterinary Rehabilitation
Melbourne Veterinary Rehabilitation is a dedicated veterinary rehabilitation clinic focused on pain management and improving mobility in companion animals. With a belief in multi-modal and holistic approaches in lameness issues, the clinic combines traditional pharmaceutical treatments with complementary therapies such as prescribed exercises, manual therapies, environmental modifications, and supportive devices. The goal is to restore pain-free movement by exploring both conventional and innovative treatment pathways.
The clinic is led by Dr Jessica and Dr Gretchen, both experienced veterinarians with advanced training in canine musculoskeletal health.
They are Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioners (CCRP) through the University of Tennessee and hold memberships in Canine Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation with the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists (ANZCVS).
Dr Jessica has completed a Bachelor of Science, then a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Melbourne in 2018.
Dr Gretchen has a Bachelor of Science, a BVSc from the University of Melbourne in 2002, a MVS from Murdoch University and a Certificate in Canine Hydrotherapy.
Their extensive qualifications, including degrees in veterinary medicine and additional certifications in hydrotherapy and rehabilitation, support a collaborative, evidence-based approach to patient care alongside pet owners and referring clinics to achieve the best possible pain and mobility management outcomes.
Seeing Eye Dogs client panel
Nadia Mattiazzo
Nadia has been a Seeing Eye Dog handler since 2008 and has worked with four guide dogs over the years. Her current Seeing Eye Dog is Abbie.
In addition to being a handler, Nadia actively volunteers at the Seeing Eye Dogs kennels, demonstrating her ongoing commitment to the organisation and its purpose to support people who are blind or have low vision.
Nadia has been a recent member of the Vision Australia Client Reference Group, contributing valuable lived experience and insight to enhance client services.
Most recently, Nadia has taken on a new professional role at Seeing Eye Dogs as Community Engagement Officer, where she primarily supports the volunteer community. Her journey reflects a deep passion for advocacy, accessibility, and community connection.
Colleen Ashby
Colleen is a passionate and resilient individual whose journey with vision loss began following major health challenges. As she shares, "I lost 95% of my sight eight years ago after complications of a heart transplant. I have no usable vision in my left eye and no central vision in my right. I have 5% peripheral vision."
In 2018, Colleen began working with her first Seeing Eye Dog guide, Xian, who recently retired. She welcomed her new Seeing Eye Dog, Inca, in early April.
"Having a dog guide has certainly made the world of difference and gives me all the confidence I need to be able to get around confidently by myself."
Colleen lives with her husband and two adult sons and worked in a high school as a special need’s education assistant until 2020. Beyond her professional and family life, she is also a published author.
"I have written and published two books, one being my memoir and the other a book on anecdotes and doing things since losing sight. The third is a self-published book of photos I have taken and my inspirational quotes."
A committed athlete, Colleen swims and competes in the Australian and World Transplant Games and has taken up tandem cycling for leisure.
“We can’t control what happens to us, life is just too big for that. We can however choose what we do with it.” Colleen Ashby
Dr Katie Butler
Dr Katie Butler is a dedicated academic and practitioner in the field of equity, diversity and inclusion with a strong focus on creating accessible and inclusive environments for all. With both lived experience and professional expertise, Katie brings a unique and powerful perspective to her work.
Katie has recently started working with her fourth Seeing Eye Dog Quinnie who is always by her side. Katie has been a dog guide handler since the age of 17 building lifelong partnerships with two of her dog guides through to their retirement.
Katie continues to lead by example - both in academia and in the community -demonstrating the importance of independence, representation, and meaningful change.
Marion Chapman
Marion Chapman is a Seeing Eye Dogs client based in Brisbane, where she lives with her husband Damo, their two Seeing Eye Dogs, and two beloved cats. Her current Seeing Eye Dog is Taurus, a seven-year-old black Labrador x Golden Retriever, who is always by her side as she navigates her busy life.
Marion works at NAB (National Australia Bank), which sees her traveling frequently around Brisbane city. Despite her busy schedule, she makes the most of her downtime. Marion and Damo love exploring Australia in their caravan, spending weekends camping, enjoying good food at local restaurants, and visiting family and friends across the country.
Seeing Eye Dogs team members
Paul Adrian, Advisor Strategy and Change. Vision Australia Seeing Eye Dogs
Justin Marshall, senior instructor, Vision Australia Seeing Eye Dogs
Brooke Anderson, senior instructor, Vision Australia Seeing Eye Dogs
Join the workshop
You can join the workshop on Saturday, July 19 either online or in person:
If you have any questions, please email [email protected].