Fiona & Hedwig
Author, advocate, and Assistance Dog team helping build understanding, inclusion, and awareness through books, school visits, and lived experience.
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Award-Nominated Author
ABLE Golden Book Awards 2026
Hedwig for the Win! Life with a Psychiatric Assistance Dog has been officially nominated for the ABLE Golden Book Awards 2026 - recognising powerful storytelling, lived experience and meaningful impact.
This deeply personal story shares what life is really like with a
Psychiatric Assistance Dog - the challenges, the courage and the quiet, everyday support that makes what once felt impossible ... possible.
You are stronger than you think you are -
especially when you don't have to do it alone.
Official Entrant
SONARR Awards 2026
I'm honoured to be an Official Entrant in the SONARR Awards 2026.
The SONARR Awards (Sound and Narrative) are Australia's premier awards celebrating excellence in audio storytelling, recognising outstanding work across podcasts, radio, audiobooks and voice-over.
My memoir, Hedwig for the Win! Life with a Psychiatric Assistance Dog, has been entered in recognition of its audiobook edition, which I narrated myself. Sharing my story in my own voice was an important part of the project, allowing listeners to experience the journey exactly as I lived it.
Being recognised as an official entrant is an exciting milestone and reflects my commitment to using storytelling to build understanding of Assistance Dogs, disability, inclusion and mental health.
In the News
Featured in The Bunyip - 15 July 2026
It was an honour to share Hedwig's story with The Bunyip newspaper.
The article follows our journey from living with PTSD and becoming isolated from the world, to finding confidence again through the support of an accredited Psychiatric Assistance Dog. It also highlights our mission to educate children and adults about Assistance Dogs through books, school visits and community presentations.
Thank you to journalist Mahala Gainer for telling our story with such care and compassion.
Read the full article below.
More than a dog story - this is a journey of courage, hope, humour
and the partnership that changed everything
Are you considering a Psychiatric Assistance Dog - or simply curious about what life with one looks like? You're not alone. And that's why I wrote Hedwig for the Win! Life with a Psychiatric Assistance Dog.
This is the story of Hedwig, my golden Labrador, and how he turned from 'just a dog' into my lifeline. With honesty, warmth, and a dose of Labrador humour, I share what it's really like to parter with a Psychiatric Assistance Dog - from the practical (Public Access Tests, travel and endless dog hair) to the profound (finding calm in chaos, surviving panic attacks, rediscovering freedom).
This isn't a sugar-coated tale. It's real, sometimes messy, often funny, and always hopeful.
Whether you're considering a Psychiatric Assistance Dog, already on the journey, or just love a good dog story, this book will remind you that courage can be quiet and healing might have four paws.
Hedwig's thought: 'Start every chapter with a snack, end every chapter with a nap. Boom. Bestseller.'
Reader's Thoughts
A beautiful book which really took me on a journey. Thanks for writing it, lots of questions and concerns I've been asking myself were addressed and helped me decide to take another step towards having a new best mate.
Liz
It's a wonderful book! Everything I read sounded like the advice I give my own clients - a true reflection of the challenges and triumphs of life with an Assistance Dog.
Em Wilmot
Founder
Paws for Assistance
This book is a heartfelt and eye-opening look at what it truly means to live alongside an Assistance Dog.
Christine Segaert
Puppy Raiser
Guide Dogs Victoria
Books
Available Now!
A Children's Book Experience
with Fiona & Hedwig
30 min
100 Australian dollars
Fiona delivered an engaging and highly
informative session for our whole school,
with support from Hedwig.
The presentation of When You See a Dog in a Vest
was pitched beautifully for students of all ages,
and the whole school benefited from a unified,
inclusive experience.
The session content was very relevant.
Students were introduced to the role and
importance of Assistance Dogs, as well as the
different types of working dogs.
Mel Balog, Sandy Creek Primary School
I loved how interactive the session was, and how you discussed an inclusive and important topic.
Bethany Materne - Miss M
Wasleys Primary School
The presentation of When You See a Dog in a Vest was pitched beautifully for students of all ages, and the whole school benefited from a unified, inclusive experience.
Mel Balong
Sandy Creek Primary School
The story was engaging, informative and enjoyed by students and staff like.
We all learnt so much from this special experience.
Courtney Pace
North Ingle School
Author Bio
Fiona Kuilboer grew up in Geelong, Victoria and has lived a life defined by resilience - from the Australian military, to marriage to motherhood, and navigating the challenges of PTSD and hidden disabilities.
For nearly three decades she has shared her life with Anthony, a RAEME soldier in the Australian Army, raising two children along the way.
In 2024, Fiona was partnered with Hedwig, a golden Labrador Psychiatric Assistance Dog, who quickly became her anchor and teammate. Through humour and honesty, Fiona shares her lived experience to shed a light on what life with a Psychiatric Assistance Dog is really like.
Hedwig adds: 'I provide the commentary. Payment in snacks, please.'
Hedwig
Hedwig was very sure you would like to see more photos of him... so here they are.
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