Master of Business Administration (MBA) graduate Zoë Black is forging life-changing outcomes between socially isolated people and animals in need.
People need animals, and vice versa.
Typically, animal rescue shelter and care teams play the role of looking after abandoned pets, while trained animals such as therapy dogs are connected with people who require their support. This system might work well for those who receive the help they need, but it struggles to cover everyone – and that’s the gap Zoë Black, Founder of the Happy Paws Happy Hearts (HPHH) Foundation, is trying to fix.
“On the one hand, there’s a growing number of Australians experiencing social isolation or deep social exclusion,” Zoë says.
“On the other hand, there are tens of thousands of rescue animals waiting in shelters for extra hands-on time and attention.”
With more than 3.2 million Australians experiencing social isolation, and over 77,000 animals in care annually at RSPCA alone, the partnership between HPHH and animal rescue and training centres creates a unique opportunity to address both challenges simultaneously.
Founded in partnership with RSPCA Queensland’s Brisbane RSPCA Animal Care Campus, the foundation brings vulnerable animals and people together to help each other.
“We run our programs from training rooms on-site with our location partners, so we can connect people and animals recovering together,” Zoë says.
Today, the program has scaled, operating across 9 locations from the top to the tail of Australia at a variety of animal training and rescue centres, connecting up to 500 participants each week.
HPHH refers to its humans as hearts and its animals as paws. Zoë feels the foundation’s work makes a remarkable difference for everyone involved – whether on 2 feet, 4 feet or no feet at all (yep, snakes need love too).
“For our hearts, we see improved confidence, social networks and skills that can ultimately lead to vocational pathways, whether that’s work, education or volunteering out in the community,” she says.
“This impact doesn’t just stop with the participant. We hear about how this positive change transcends outside of HPHH and into home relationships and the broader community.”
A big pawprint of positive impact on hearts and paws alike
The foundation seems to change lives daily, so it’s difficult for Zoë to recall a single most memorable participant.
“There are so many, and I’m regularly taken aback by the big hearts and courage of participants and the impact they have not only on the animals they work with but with each other and themselves,” she says.
“One of our participants who has been part of HPHH for more than 4 years has recently transitioned from being a participant, to a confident and independent volunteer, now volunteering with RSPCA Queensland. This is such a meaningful milestone, as volunteering is often a real and tangible goal many of our participants work towards. Over the years, Rebecca has grown not only in confidence, but in her courage to embrace new experiences and challenges. Her recent progression to a Level 1 volunteer with RSPCA Queensland is a wonderful reflection of her growth, commitment and courageous heart.”
“This is just one example of how working with rescue animals is incredibly rewarding and purposeful.”
Zoë frequently observes a creature’s involvement as a wonderful parallel or reflection of the person’s experience.
“The animals are on their own recovery journey and rebuilding their trust in humans,” she says.
“This echoes what many of our participants are doing, so this forms a powerful connection."
The impact for the paws is incredible, too.
“Since 2014, we’ve delivered over 74,000 hours in animal training, enrichment and socialisation time for animals in need. This work makes the animal’s time at a shelter more comfortable, plus it sets them up to be adopted successfully. This work is all thanks to the big hearts our participants bring into the programs each week.”
Alleviating loneliness and finding social connection
In a post-coronavirus world, social connection has been identified as more crucial than ever.
The pandemic highlighted something many may not have fully understood before.
“What the pandemic really showed us was the serious impact social isolation can have on people’s mental health, confidence and overall wellbeing,” Zoë says.
“Even now, in a post-COVID world, we continue to see people struggling with confidence, social connection and stepping into new environments.”
Today, social connection is increasingly recognised as vital to our wellbeing. In late-2023, the World Health Organisation formally elevated loneliness and social connection as a major global public health issue, when it launched the WHO Commission on Social Connection.
Through its programs, HPHH continues to create safe, supportive spaces where people can build confidence to meet new people and form genuine connections, all alongside the support of animals.
“Animals have this incredible ability to break down barriers,” Zoë says.
“They help people feel more comfortable, more at ease, and often make those first conversations or moments of connection feel a little less overwhelming. What we see every day is the incredible positive change that can happen when people feel welcomed, supported and connected.”
Zoë’s ambition is for the foundation to expand nationally and reach 10,000 hearts and paws by 2032.
It’s a big dream, and it’s something she hadn’t even considered prior to studying her Master of Business Administration (MBA).
“It was through my MBA that I first came across the concept of a social enterprise and I thought wow, I can do business with impact,” Zoë says.
With each participant transformed and animal adopted, Zoë is paving the way to her dream and setting an example for those of us with similar ambitions for making a meaningful change in the world.
“It felt like my commercial career and social heart could come together and take me on a really rewarding life path.”
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