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Master Independent Travel: Guide Dogs Queensland Mobility & Night Classes

January 27, 2026

Foundations:

For people wanting to learn the long cane, protective techniques, pre-cane techniques and Human Guide. This program will build on skills from sensory, orientation and cane skills. Participants will stay on-site at Bald Hills, will have 2 Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialists working with them both individually and in a group to develop good travel and orientation skills. This is for people who are not able to travel using their vision alone any longer.

Areas covered:

Human Guide Training

Trailing techniques both in familiar and indoor settings

Orientation strategies to assist with where you are in space

Long cane skills – including several different techniques using a cane; indoor travel; outdoor travel; quiet residential travel; busy or crowded area travel skills, introduction to quiet road crossings.

This program is best suited for people who are able to walk for up to 90 minutes at a time 3-4 times a day.

The goal is to build your confidence in your abilities and teach you how to use the long cane safely and successfully as well as give you the confidence to travel independently if you choose.

Advanced:

This program begins once a participant has had basic long cane training and is wanting to expand their skills and environments. The focus of this class is to review previous skills/strategies and build on them in more dynamic environments, including several forms of public transport travel.

Areas Covered:

Introduction and practice on buses, trains, ferries and the airport, depending on the participants needs.

Introduction and practice of journey planning. This gives you an introduction to navigational apps and strategies to assist with both your travel and orientation skills.

Busy road crossings and multiple travel in busy congested areas, including the CBD.

Travel in busy indoor areas, such as large shopping centres, including travel to and from with public transportation.

This program is best suited for people who are able to walk for up to 90 minutes at a time 3-4 times a day.

This program is for participants who are already confident travellers in their home environment and want to expand their skill set to be able to feel confident and safe in busier and more urban areas.

Night Class:

This program is for anyone who finds travel during the dusk/twilight and evening most difficult. It is for participants who are already long cane or guide dog users during the day but are not confident travelling independently in the evenings/nighttime.

Areas Covered:

Simulated travel during the day to build up skills/strategies for evening travel.

Travel on public transport to areas in the early evenings.

Travel in residential areas in the evenings.

Build up to final evening with a journey to a café/restaurant via walking and public transport and returning to Bald Hill campus.

This program is best suited to people who have field loss and are comfortable long cane or guide dog users during the day. Anyone who feels less confident travelling at night is welcome to apply though.

These programs are offered to any participant living in Queensland. They are covered under NDIS Capacity Building, as well as other options. Travel to Bald Hills and back will be discussed individually to maximise the opportunity for people to come and participate in our programs.

Information on meeting point will be distributed once final numbers are in.

To request interest or more information for any of these classes or walks please contact Brenda Harris, COMS ROMSA, Discipline Lead for Orientation and Mobility at clients@guidedogsqld.com.au or call 3500 9060.