23/09/2026
🐾 Some exciting new developments are happening at A Dogs Choice!
I’ve been working behind the scenes on several projects designed to make the program more accessible, interactive and useful for our teams — and I’m very excited about where they are heading.
📱 Moving towards Digital Wallet IDs
One of the biggest projects I’ve been trialling is moving our current physical ID cards towards Digital Wallet IDs.
I’ve been working with a developer in the US on a system that can integrate behind the scenes with our existing systems and Members Portal, giving our teams a much more interactive and up-to-date way of accessing their program identification.
There are some very practical reasons why I believe this is an important step forward.
As technology — particularly AI — continues to develop, it is becoming increasingly easy to create or alter very convincing images, documents and identification cards. A physical card or screenshot can only show what has been printed or displayed on it; it doesn't necessarily tell someone whether that information is still current.
A properly implemented digital system gives us the opportunity to link identification back to live program information.
That means we can potentially provide clearer verification of whether a team is current, manage expiry and renewal information more effectively, and reduce the usefulness of copied, altered or outdated identification.
For businesses and organisations, it can also provide greater confidence when a team chooses to present their A Dogs Choice identification because there is the potential to verify current program information rather than simply looking at a physical card.
Importantly, an ID card — physical or digital — is not what creates a person's legal public-access rights. The purpose is to provide our teams with a more secure, convenient and accountable way of demonstrating their connection with the program and their current status.
There is still development and testing happening, and I want to make sure anything we introduce works properly for our teams in the real world before it is rolled out.
💻 Group Zoom Training is also coming back!
I’m also reviving our Group Zoom Training Sessions, bringing A Dogs Choice teams from different locations together online.
These sessions will give teams the opportunity to work through training topics, troubleshoot challenges, discuss task training and public access, ask questions and learn from the experiences of other teams.
Our teams are spread across different parts of Australia, so you may not always have another A Dogs Choice team nearby. Zoom gives us a way to create more connection and support regardless of where everyone lives.
🐕🦺 And there is more happening behind the scenes…
I have several other ideas and developments underway that I’ll share as they progress.
Technology is changing, our teams' needs change, and the way we deliver support should continue to evolve too.
A Dogs Choice has never been about simply putting a jacket on a dog and sending a team on their way. I want the program to provide ongoing training, resources, support, accountability and connection throughout each team's journey.
Most importantly, I’m always listening to what our teams need.
Some improvements will involve technology, some will involve training and education, and others will simply be about finding better and easier ways of doing what we already do.
If something can make the experience safer, easier, more supportive or more useful for our teams, it is worth exploring.
There is lots happening — and I’m looking forward to sharing more with you as these projects develop! 🐾 💙
