Meet Bentley – a welcome traveller on the Blue Mountains line

Meet quiet achiever and popular commuter, Bentley.

A trained mental health assistance dog, Bentley has been a popular new addition to the NSW TrainLink workforce. He made his debut on Rail R U OK? Day earlier this year and has since captured the attention of his colleagues, commuters and the media. He’s an 18-month-old pedigree miniature poodle. When he’s not working, he lives with his owner, Area Customer Service Manager, Janette Owens, in the Blue Mountains.

When Bentley visited the Newcastle Rail Interchange as a 10-week-old puppy, Janette noticed he had a positive impact on the people around him, especially one worker who’d recently experienced a trauma.

When Bentley singled the worker out by snuggling into her chest and calming her, his actions prompted Janette to think he had the temperament to be a therapy dog. Although he started ‘work’ with NSW TrainLink in 2021, Bentley was officially accredited in March this year.

Janette says whatever station she is at on a particular day, people will come by to knock on her door and ask if Bentley can come out for a pat and play.

Bentley is an amazing cuddler who just sits with the person and snuggles them. He will remain with them until they are calmed – unlike many other dogs that keep wriggling and requiring attention. Bentley also responds instantly to the command “cuddles” or “cuddles, Bentley”.

“One lady in particular asks that when Bentley is ‘on duty’ he come and be with her while she waits for the train. She suffers from anxiety on trains,” says Janette.

Rail workers often witness traumatic incidents on the rail network, with crew members suffering from anxiety and even PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder).

Bentley often helps to calm workers, making them feel more at ease with his friendly presence. He’s also expert at soothing customers who are nervous about train travel. Bentley has supported a female train driver who was suffering PTSD after witnessing a man jump into the path of a train. At first there were home visits, then Bentley accompanied her as she adjusted to catching trains again, building up her confidence until she was able to return to work.

“When people have stress attacks or panic attacks, he’s quite happy to go and sit on their laps. And just sit there for as long as they need him,” says Janette. Bentley also helped a woman who came to the station planning self-harm.

“We had one person who was trying to self-harm. We took Bentley out onto the platform and he sat with her until the police and ambulance arrived; he helped prevent that young lady from hurting herself.”

What is an assistance dog?

Most people who have dogs or other pets find their presence comforting and reassuring.

Pet dogs are not specifically trained to help their owners with a disability or health issue. However, assistance dogs are taught precise skills to help their human and enable them to engage in activities that may otherwise be too difficult or challenging.

In Australia, assistance dogs are granted full Public Access Rights, allowing them to accompany their owners almost everywhere. These rights are only granted after a thorough annual assessment by accredited organisations. Federal Law protects these rights under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992.

A typical day for Bentley

So, what’s a normal day like for Bentley?

Janette says: “Bentley’s average day consists of coming to work with me and going around stations for visits, wherever he is needed”.

“When we get to a station, he basically has free rein and once inside the building he wanders around saying hello to whomever is there, or he curls up having a nap until the next person comes along.”

On Rail R U OK? Day this year, Bentley attended a special event at Central Station in Sydney, where he made friends with staff and customers.

About Rail R U OK? Day

Rail R U OK? Day officially started in 2015, following the establishment of the original R U OK? Day in 2009 as a suicide prevention initiative. Rail R U OK? Day is an industry-wide event that unites rail workers across Australia and New Zealand. Mental health has become an extremely important topic in the past few years and events like R U OK? Day aim to break down barriers and help start conversations about mental health.

NSW TrainLink’s Chief Operations Officer Dale Merrick says: “R U OK? Day is a very important day in the TrainLink calendar. It’s a day we get to have conversations about mental health and the wellbeing of our people. We have many initiatives around mental health and wellbeing, and a reflection of that is achieving ‘Gold’ status from Mental Health First Aid Australia as being a mental health-skilled workplace.

“And one of our initiatives is Bentley. I have really been taken by how effective Bentley has been and Janette plays a huge part in that. It helps our customers and our people,” says Mr Merrick.

Mr Merrick says TrainLink hopes to extend the program to include more mental health dogs in the future.

This article was previously published in Be Well Magazine, July 2022.