Kiama’s Judi Sandilands Cincotta and her canine companion Ollie have been named community champions by the NSW Mental Health Commission.

The awards, a key part of October’s Mental Health Month, recognise people and organisations dedicated to improving understanding, awareness, service delivery, and the mental wellbeing of communities across NSW.

Wayahead CEO Sharon Grocott says Judi and her therapy dog Ollie won the Commissioner’s Community Champion Individual Award for their work supporting multiple organisations, including high schools, emergency services, paediatric clinics, Lifeline, public libraries and courts.

“One of the many ways Judi her therapy dog Ollie provide comfort to those experiencing trauma and anxiety is through the Canine Court Companion Program at Campbelltown which helps vulnerable individuals manage their anxiety as they prepare to give evidence,” says Ms Grocott.

Judi and Ollie were among dozens of finalists at Wayahead’s 2025 Mental Health Matters Awards.

Judges, who included independent mental health experts and professionals from the sector, awarded Judi and Ollie for the work they do to improve understanding, awareness, service delivery and the mental wellbeing of communities across the state.

“It was a humbling experience to be the winner of the Individual Community Champion,” says Judi, a former clinical nurse consultant in mental health before retiring and dedicating her time to improving the lives of others through volunteering.

“Ollie and I are so grateful to have a small impact on the lives of others in our community.”

Judi is well aware of the benefits of therapy dogs in improving wellbeing through her years working in the mental health sector.

Therapy dogs are an important support for frontline staff, first responders, and school students with research proving that patting a dog can release the feel-good chemicals serotonin and oxytocin, and reduce stress chemicals like cortisol.

“It’s wonderful to see how cuddles with Ollie have such a big impact on a person’s wellbeing,” says Judi.

The pair are part of the Canine Court Companion Program at Campbelltown Court, offering comfort to victims of domestic and family violence. They also pop in to local police and ambulance dispatch stations for ‘fly-in, fly-out visits’ so staff can have a pat, play and cuddle with Ollie.

“It’s a distraction from the difficult things they have to deal with everyday,” explains Judi.

Judi and Ollie have also worked in disaster recovery centres after bushfires and floods, and have provided therapeutic support during catastrophic events like the Bondi Shopping Centre attacks.

“I can read my dogs. You spend hours and hours training them everyday,” explains Judi.

“I knew that having a therapy dog like Ollie outside Westfield Bondi would be so beneficial for so many people. We didn’t speak to anyone about what happened, we were just there for people to come and pat or cuddle Ollie, or for kids to sit with Ollie while their parents spoke to the mental health volunteers on site.

“I just knew in my heart that cuddles with Ollie was exactly what this community needed. When people are at their absolute lowest, that’s when we see the benefit of therapy dogs the most.”

Ollie is now one of the hardest working therapy dogs in the region, supporting people’s mental health across a range of programs since coming into Judi’s life during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Judi began volunteering with Guide Dogs NSW in 2018 and spent thousands of hours teaching and nurturing Labradors as a puppy raiser. But in 2020 when COVID hit, the guide dogs training program went into lockdown.

“COVID was a real shift for me,” says Judi. “Everything shut down at guide dogs and if you’ve ever tried to train a dog on zoom, well it’s just about impossible.”

Ollie was on the Guide Dog Pathways Program with another puppy raiser during COVID, but medical issues meant she was no longer suitable to become a guide dog so Ollie was rehomed with Judi, who soon realised she would make a brilliant therapy dog, due to her gentle, calm, loving nature.

Now Ollie and Judi spend most days visiting schools, court, libraries and first responders to support mental health and literacy.

The dynamic duo even have their own special outfits with Kiama local business owner Esther Keenan, from Known Design & Print, printing the logos on Judi’s uniform free of charge.

“This month is all about celebrating steps that we take towards improving our mental health and wellbeing,” says Ms Grocott.

“The theme ‘Taking Steps on Your Wellbeing Journey’ encourages us to embrace progress, growth, and ongoing self-improvement, while reminding us that wellbeing is not a final destination but a continuous journey. Judi and Ollie are passionate about supporting their communities to do just that.”