Meet our volunteers, Brett and Jasper

Meet our volunteers, Brett and Jasper

Connect Health & Community Volunteers come from all walks of life – even the four-legged kind.

Eight year-old Jasper, a border collie and certified therapy pet, became an instant hit when he joined the Connect Health & Community family, with his human Brett, last November.

The dynamic duo work as a driver/jockey (or assistant) team, collecting Connect Health & Community clients and bringing them to us for a range of services.  With Brett behind the wheel, Jasper assumes the role of host, sitting up front until the first passenger gets in, then welcoming each newcomer with a big smile and soft cuddles, before ‘working the bus’ as it makes its merry way to our Gardeners Rd centre.

“It’s a great trip.  We all sing, Jasper roams the bus with pats and snuggles, and everyone has a great time,” says Brett. “We all love it.”

And as a volunteer who has made a ‘world of difference’, Jasper’s impact was quickly obvious.

“Our clients just love Jasper,” said Brett.  “We had one client who wasn't keen on coming to physio.  Before Jasper, our client would never be ready, and his wife was always trying to get him out the door – but now Jasper is here, that client is always waiting for us and loves getting on the bus,” Brett said.

Brett and Jasper drive for us on Wednesdays when Brett is able, constrained by chronic pain and mobility issues. 

“I’m retired hurt and was in a very bad place, but Jasper really helped turn things around for me,” the former plumber said.  

Jasper’s journey to becoming a therapy pet and volunteer, aligned with Brett’s rehabilitation.  Brett gained a new companion who provided him a positive focus away from his pain and depression, and Jasper learned the essentials to being an impeccably behaved companion and friend who would provide much love and support for many over the years to come.

To become accredited therapy pet, Jasper was on a waiting list for 3 years while Brett provided behavioural training for him that included covert visits to hospitals and nursing homes.

“Patients love seeing Jasper.  They would joke that they would ring the buzzer and never get a nurse, but Jasper would show up and there would be 5 nurses there in a flash,” Brett joked.

Brett said his rewards from volunteering are many.  As well as regaining a connection with the community it has provided him a purpose.

“I love other people and volunteering is a great way to connect with people now that I can’t work.  My bus run is so much fun.  We’re the only bus that sings all the time - many clients say Wednesday is their favourite day,” he said.

“But the best thing is just seeing people so happy.  When they see Jasper it is like they have never seen a therapy dog before.  He just brightens up people’s lives so much, I don’t know how he does it,” he said.

When Brett and Jasper aren’t doing the Connect Health’s Wednesday run, Jasper loves to get out at about in his community, enjoying chats with locals around his home in East Bentleigh, or catching up with his fur-buddies at Mentone Beach.

He also visits nursing homes, mens’ sheds and hospitals and loves to keep Brett company as he works on his amazing wood sculptures or goes camping in the bush.

But wherever they are, it is obvious, Jasper and Brett are making a world of difference.

Thank you, Brett and Jasper. 
And thanks to all our volunteers.