Boots on the Ground and Grumpy Goat Co Care Farm unite for animal therapy program for Smithton Primary School students

A driving force behind the initiative is Boots on the Ground, who has united with the Grumpy Goat Co Care Farm to provide the opportunity for Smithton Primary School students to take part in animal therapy.

Boots on the Ground is a partnership between Rotary Tasmanian Community Care, Tasmanian Women in Agriculture and Rural Alive and Well.

Tasmanian Women in Agriculture vice-chair Rebekah Frankcombe said this was the first pilot program to be funded by the group.

"I came up with the idea for the pilot project one afternoon back in March," she said.

"And Boots on the Ground really wanted to fund a project that worked with children before they entered high school, one that provided a holistic approach to wellbeing."

She said they approached Grumpy Goats Co Care Farm, who jumped on board after having similar care farm sessions already with Smithton Primary School.

Students who have been identified as benefiting from animal therapy will have the opportunity to visit the care farm weekly.

"This is not going to suit everybody, but it gives the community a different option for pre-adolescent children in the mental health and wellbeing space moving forward," she said.

Miss Frankcombe said the University of Tasmania Suicide Prevention Team would support and evaluate the impact of the program.