About | Wildside WL site

About us

Hi there, I'm Jess,

I am a registered Social Worker with the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW), graduating from

James Cook University, Cairns in 2013. I am a trauma-informed, person-centred practitioner with more than a decade of experience working with young people, children and adults.

At the heart of my work is the understanding that meaningful therapeutic work comes from safe and authentic relationships that foster growth, learning and healing.

Alongside relational work, I draw on a range of evidence-based therapeutic interventions, to ensure my practice is grounded in evidence and responsive to each person's individual needs.

Running an animal assisted therapy farm, has been my dream for many years. I wanted to create a place where people felt safe, accepted and supported, whilst experiencing the profound connections that can exist between humans and animals.

In choosing this property, it was important for me that this felt like home. It needed to be warm, a little rough around the edges, and just a little wild. A peaceful natural place, where birds fly overhead and the noise of the wind through the pine trees is comforting. For me, it's the combination of a place that helps you feel grounded by the quiet presence of nature, and the non-judgemental connections that creates a sense of safety. From that place, my hope is that people can explore their experiences, gain a deeper understanding of themselves, reconnect with their values, and move forward with renewed confidence and purpose.

How I got here

Being in nature, and around animals has always been an important part of my life. I remember holidays spent at my grandparents dairy farm, sitting on the back of the quad bike with my Pop, collecting the cattle, feeding the calves and lambs, playing with the dogs and avoiding Molly the free roaming ewe, who'd charge you for the fun of it.

Growing up in the United Arab Emirates, I did horse riding lessons, and dreamed of one day, having my own

horse, and dogs. We came back to Australia in 1997, living in Cairns where we were able to adopt two dogs,

and a few years later, get my first horse, Charlie.

In year 11, I decided to do my work experience at Youth Empowered Towards Independence (YETI), which is a youth drop-in centre in Cairns. I loved this work, and realised that this was what I wanted to do.

Whilst at University, I got together with a few women, and we started a committee that turned into North Qld Animal Rescue (NQAR). A foster care based rescue organisation that fostered, vetted and rehomed pets that would have otherwise been put to sleep.

It was during this time that I met one of my best friends, Linda from Canine Training School (CTS). I began

bringing dogs to her Wednesday and Saturday classes, and eventually became a trainer with CTS. I was

always fascinated with troubleshooting behavioural problems for dogs coming through the training school.

In 2012 I pursued a long-term goal and travelled to Victoria with my dog Bear, to gain certification as an

Animal Assisted Therapist.

I graduated from James Cook University in 2013, and went into a photography job at Blazing Saddles. I had lost my father to cancer in 2010, and was finding it hard to pull myself out of grief and into in a 'helping

profession', however in reflection, being outdoors, with the horses gave me space to breathe and find myself again.

A year later, I was successful in gaining employment with the Cairns Youth Justice Service Centre, as a Case Worker. I was given permission to bring Bear into work as a Therapy Dog and the benefits were immediate, not only for the clients, but also for the staff. When Bear retired and started spending more time at home, 'Chips' came into our lives and we too flew down to Victoria to re-certify and complete the advanced handler certification.

Just after I started at Youth Justice, my friend Linda called me and spoke to me about a program where we would be taking NQAR foster dogs into Lotus Glen Correctional Centre. For two years we ran a volunteer program '4 Paws on the Inside', but due to costs, this wasn't sustainable and the program had very unfortunately come to an end.

Bear has since passed, and Chips is now getting old, but I am so privileged to work beside them and see the benefits of their presence to others in my places of work, at nursing homes, kindergartens, and correctional centres.

Qualifications and Training

Qualifications

- Bachelor of Social Work from James Cook University (2012)

- Animal Assisted Therapy certification - Lead The Way Institute (2012 & 2017)

- Equine Interaction Experience Practitioner certification - Sheez Like the Wind (2024)

Trainings

Therapeutic Modalities and Interventions