Donating time to people with Disabilities

Certificate of Service Dog Registration for Amber, confirming her registration with the SDRA as a service dog, issued to Colleen Kelly.
A letter from Susan Seipel, an Australian Paralympian and three-time world champion, dated March 11, 2025. The letter discusses her career, experiences, and her connection with Colleen Kelly, highlighting Kelly's contributions to sports biomechanics and her assistance to riders with disabilities.

For 40+ years I have never charged athletes with disabilities for lessons, and was so honoured to be, even just a tiny part of these remarkable people who chose to do sport and over-ride their disability. Let me know if I can help with fundraisers or donated lectures.

Promotional graphic encouraging pet care pledge featuring a dog and a cat, highlighting commitment to safe, respectful, and low-stress care for pets and their owners.
A close-up of a flat-faced dog, possibly a French Bulldog, receiving care at a veterinary clinic, with a focus on its snout and a veterinary technician's hand in the background. The image promotes the 'Love Is Blind' campaign for healthier dog breeding.
An older woman sitting at a table using a laptop in a cafe, with a dog resting beside her wearing a service dog vest.
A step-by-step guide for dog training with an elderly man in a wheelchair, featuring five training commands: Touch, Find it, Bring it to me, Spin, and Settle. Each command includes an illustration and instructions.
Certificate of registration for a service dog named Amber, issued by Service Dog Registration of America, certifying her registration by Colleen Kelly as of January 4, 2015.
Promotional materials highlighting services for clients with disabilities, including animal-assisted support and community engagement programs.
Promotional materials highlighting services for clients with disabilities, including animal-assisted support and community engagement programs.
Infographic promoting specialized support for NDIS participants involving their dogs, focusing on safety, independence, community participation, and wellbeing.

Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) uses trained animals to help people to achieve specific physical, cognitive, or mental health goals. Common types include canine therapy for motor skills and emotional regulation, equine therapy for psychological trauma, and therapeutic visitation for stress relief

I have been an expert witness, and provided expert opinions, both on large disability and injury related cases, with relationship to horses, including one of the largest animal related injury and injury/disability cases in Australia

Community access & Functional Support Dog Training

Science-based behavioural training for NDIS, community access, confidence and daily living support.

Services

  • Public access readiness
  • Confidence & stability training
  • Community participation support
  • Behaviour & emotional regulation
  • Task-based assistance training
  • Loose lead & calm walking
  • Dog & cat behaviour
  • Handler confidence coaching
  • Vet, carrier & transport training
  • Fear & reactivity support

Professional Background

40+ years animal training and behavioural experience.

Retired Adjunct Professor in Sports Biomechanics with international lecturing and risk-management experience.

Experience in movement analysis, injury prevention, behavioural shaping and safe community participation.

Training Philosophy

Calm. Functional. Safe. Reliable.
Training focuses on neutrality, recovery, emotional regulation and real-world public behaviour — not just obedience commands.

An older woman petting a small dog while seated at a table in a communal dining area, with several elderly people and caregivers visible in the background.
Colleen Kelly Judging Riding for Disabled
Para Equestrian Class at Equitana Asia Pacific Dressage, Melbourne

IN BRIEF:

Become connected

No matter if you’re dealing with the NDIS, the PIP program, or the USA’s Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) it is easy to get bogged down in government paperwork.

That’s on top of whatever physical issues you might be dealing with, so, in my experience my best advise is: GET CONNECTED.

I am happy to donate free time to clubs and groups including help with advice with fundraising,

After 40+ years teaching train the trainer courses at Riding for Disabled and therapeutic riding centres around the world – help me get you connected. Let me know if you need help. You’re not alone.

A poster titled 'The Secrets of Champions' featuring text and images of various champions and riders who overcome disabilities in horse riding.
Four individuals stand together with a horse in a therapy center, smiling and waving. Colleen Kelly, the president of the International Society of Rider Biomechanics, is on the right, alongside Brooke Waldron and two others.

Technology

A woman smiling and posing with her hands raised, wearing a white quilted jacket, in a room with a mirror and door in the background.
Good Luck to beautiful friend Kim Jones for Rio Paralympics!

I started studying Psychology at Deakin University in the mid 1980’s part time off campus. I only did a couple of semesters and changed my studies and my interests back to exercise physiology and sport science and with my own sport as horse riding, and training trick dogs and cats just for fun, I put it all together to bring animals and people together.

I have recently completed some amazing University short technology-related courses to help understand assistive technology from specific website design for low vision to step design for people with motor or muscular issues, or those in wheel chairs.

It’s amazing the new AI based technology coming forward, however the simplest things like a rubber band that can save a disabled rider from injury, to input into a range of prosthesis from simple wrist braces to simply helpful safety things like LED light up dog collars so you don’t trip over your dog at night. I have worked in literally every area of equipment to get riders mobile and riding – including being invited to input into the full body support of the one amazing quadriplegic rider, which previously was unheard of.

I continuously research apps and websites relevant to those outside of funded support, and workshops partnering with Universities around the world. I am retired, so I don’t accept NDIS-like positions, however, I am happy to provide free advice via zoom, or at public events, clubs and therapeutic sports and riding centres for free.

Certificate of completion for the LinkedIn Learning course 'Connecting Engagement and Inclusion to a Culture of Performance', completed by Colleen Kelly on April 2, 2025. The course covers skills in Organizational Culture and Diversity & Inclusion.
A certificate of membership for the Neil Andersen Fellowship awarded to Colleen Kelly, featuring a logo and illustrations of dogs and paw prints. The certificate expresses gratitude for contributions to Animal Welfare League Queensland and is dated 19/5/2022.