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Events

Upcoming Makeathon: Create sensory vests for therapy dogs

on 12 August, 2025
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Join us for a hands-on Makeathon where we’ll co-design and prototype sensory dog vests for students with diverse learning needs.

Dates: Saturdays – Nov 8, Nov 22 & Dec 6, 2025
Times: 9.30am – 2.30pm
Location: Our offices 8 min walk from East Richmond train station 

We’re teaming up with Canine Comprehension, an organisation that brings therapy dogs into schools to support student wellbeing, emotional regulation, and engagement. These custom-made dog coats will support fine motor development and emotional regulation through interactive elements like zips, buttons, textures, and more. This Makeathon will include plenty of brainstorming, collaboration, prototyping, and hands-on making.

Key sessions:  

  • Kick-off, discovery & design | Saturday November 8, 9.30am– 2.30pm   
  • Prototyping, testing & development | Saturday November 22, 9.30am– 2.30pm   
  • Making, finalising & wrap-up | Saturday December 6, 9.30am– 2.30pm   

Over the sessions participants will: 

  • Explore and finalise vest designs  
  • Adapt or recreate sewing patterns in three sizes (S, M, L) 
  • Brainstorm and test different sensory elements 
  • Sew and assemble the vests 
  • Attach tactile and interactive features 
  • Document the process to create open-source build instructions

Ideal for: sewers, crafters, learning specialists, educators, makers, and anyone who love good doggies. 

🐾 Therapy dogs may be visiting too! 

Get involved
Interested?  Fill out this quick form
Please note that our event coordinator, Hanna, is on leave until Sept 15, she’ll reply to your application after she returns.
Applications close Oct 3rd.