The best thing Australians can do this tax time: Guide Dogs NSW/ACT launches 2026 Tax Appeal

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ANR GRABS HERE - Ashley de Silva, CEO of Guide Dogs NSW/ACT

Sydney, June 2026: This tax time, Guide Dogs NSW/ACT is calling on Australians to make a lasting, tax-deductible difference. With almost all funding coming from public donations, the Tax Appeal is one of the organisation's most important annual fundraisers - supporting everything from early childhood mobility training and assistive equipment to the specialised breeding and training of Guide Dogs, all to assist those living with low vision or blindness.

It costs more than $50,000 and over two years to breed, raise and train a single Guide Dog. Every donation over $2 made before 30 June is fully tax-deductible and goes directly toward ensuring people living with low vision or blindness can access life-changing support at no cost to them.

At the heart of this year’s Tax Appeal is Sacha, a young Occupational Therapist living with Oculocutaneous Albinism, and her Guide Dog, Lorraine - a partnership that has transformed her everyday life in ways she never thought possible.

Growing up, Sacha’s vision was rarely seen as a barrier. Her parents and teachers worked hard to ensure she could participate in everything around her. But as adult life grew busier, so did the invisible weight of navigating a world not built for her. She resisted mobility aids through her teenage years, determined not to stand out from her peers, exhausting herself daily just to blend in. By the time she was working full-time, the effort required to navigate each day has become increasingly draining.

Sacha said: “By the time I finished a full workday and commuted home at night, I could hardly function. I had never been so mentally exhausted in my life. It was at that point that I reached out to Guide Dogs and finally started using a cane. They helped me immediately.”

What followed was a journey Sacha describes as one of the most freeing decisions of her life. After working with a Guide Dogs Orientation and Mobility Specialist, and with the gentle encouragement of those around her, she was eventually matched with Lorraine - a Labrador whose energy and instinct proved to be a perfect fit.

“Accepting help was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, but also the most freeing,” Sacha said. “When I walk out of the house, it’s like I’m stepping out with my best friend. Lorraine has changed my life in more ways than I can describe.” Lorraine has also become an unexpected advocate in Sacha’s workplace, sparking open conversations with young patients who go on to become little champions for people with low vision or blindness in their own communities.

Marissa Pace, Chief Marketing and Philanthropy Officer at Guide Dogs NSW/ACT, said: “Sacha and Lorraine’s story is a powerful reminder of what’s at stake every time someone chooses to give to Guide Dogs NSW/ACT. Behind every Guide Dog partnership is years of specialist training, extraordinary dedication from our volunteers and staff, and more than $50,000 of community-funded investment.

This tax time, we’re asking Australians to consider what their donation can truly achieve. A gift of $50 provides a puppy training coat for one of our dogs in training. $102 funds assistive technology training for a client. $150 covers a Guide Dog harness, and $528 supports vital vet checks for our pups. Every contribution, no matter the size, helps ensure the next Lorraine is ready when the next Sacha needs her most.

Every Guide Dog partnership represents independence, confidence, and freedom. But none of it happens without public support.”

To donate to the Guide Dogs NSW/ ACT Tax Appeal or learn more about how your support can change lives, please visit the Guide Dogs NSW/ACT website here.

For any media enquiries please contact:

Zoe Morley: 0413 408 677 | [email protected]