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 oversees the breeding program, veterinary services, reproductive medicine, and neonatal care.
Nicola has previously worked as a veterinarian with the RSPCA, in private practice, and in emergency hospitals.
Passionate about data-driven improvement in dog-guide breeding and welfare, she has contributed to the wider industry through membership in the International Guide Dog Federation Animal Welfare and Ethics Advisory Panel and Standards Committee. She also sits on the Assistance Dogs International Breeding Co-operative Steering Committee.
Nicola believes in the power of collaboration and looks forward to sharing with others the successes and challenges involved in developing the Seeing Eye Dogs Animal Welfare Strategy.
Plus more experts to come!
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 (VACRG), 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.
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].