DOG DAYCARE PROGRAM A TIKTOK HIT FOR HELPING DISABLED FIND WORK, FRIENDS

It could be the happiest — if not the most chaotic — school bus in Australia.

Every morning, a minibus packed with dogs rolls through Boonah on Queensland’s Scenic Rim, taking them from their homes to a purpose-built adventure park for a day of playing and learning.

“I love watching their faces before they even get on the bus,” said dog trainer Jo Mcvilly, who runs IronBark DogPark.

Jo has 63 dogs on her weekly daycare roster, including working dogs, older dogs, and even “naughty teenagers”, with more than a dozen jumping on her bus each day.

For the dogs, it’s a trip to paradise — but for their human handlers, it’s a pathway to purpose, connection, and new beginnings.

“We’re creating a space where everyone, no matter their background or ability, can thrive in animal care,” says Jo, the founder behind the initiative.

For over a decade, Jo has been offering hands-on opportunities to young people with disabilities or from at-risk backgrounds — and the impact hasn’t gone unnoticed. Her doggy daycare has gone viral on TikTok, amassing over 3 million views.

Jo’s mission is simple: to get young people off screens and into meaningful, real-world experiences.

“Living in a rural area, it can be hard to build connections,” she says. “But when dogs are involved, something changes. Just sitting and patting a dog opens the door to conversation — it’s truly beautiful to watch.”

Friendship and opportunity

For Sage Conway-Keogh, a hearing-impaired staff member, joining the IronBark team has literally been a dream come true.

“I’ve always loved animals, and now I get to work with them every day,” she said.

With the support of NDIS provider Encompass Wellbeing, which offers tailored employment assistance, Sage has transitioned from a participant at IronBark to a trainee groomer — and is now actively studying and working at the dog park to build her career in animal care.

For fellow NDIS participant Amber Kaats, who lives with an acquired brain injury that affects her mobility, smaller dogs like Charchi the chihuahua are ideal companions.

“It’s hard for me with one hand — I trip over,” Amber shared. “But coming here calms me down and helps me relax.”

Amber’s father, Ludy, says their regular visits offer more than just routine — they bring comfort and peace of mind.

“Disability and loneliness often go hand in hand,” he said. “You need something to look forward to. For Amber, it’s this — and I know she’s safe here.”

Finding a ‘happy place’

Jo says a day at the dog park helps her canine customers enjoy being dogs.

“We’ve humanised them a lot, but dogs also need to learn to be dogs,” Jo said.

“If you give them the basics and the boundaries and train them from the beginning, you’re going to have a really happy dog, a really well-socialised dog.”

For Jo, success is all about helping people get “outside and connected.”

“I get emotional seeing the change,” she says. “From someone who’s anxious and withdrawn to someone who’s more confident and open — it’s incredible to witness.”