Wednesday, 31 August 2022

 Mr GRIMLEY (Western Victoria) (09:55): I rise today to inform my Legislative Council colleagues of the rebarkable work done by the team at Story Dogs to improve child literacy. Kids with reading difficulties often have a ruff time of it, falling into a cycle of failure. Story Dogs seeks to help such kids reach their full pawtential by providing a suppawtive learning environment so they do not fall behind as they otherwise might. For these kids there is nothing like having a fur-riend by their side. Story Dogs have a pawsome tail to tell. They first trialled the program in New South Wales in 2009. From the very start it has been a barking success, and they now lead the pack, with the program in place in over 300 schools in and around Australia, including in Western Victoria. Ultimuttly the success of the program depends on resources. Story Dogs receives no government funding and operates on sponsorships, donations, school fundraising and a network of devoted volunteers. I have suppawted the program myself by donating my pollie pay rise, and I appawd their work and ask others in this place and in the broader community to pawse and reflect—and if they too might suppawt this pawsome organisation.