Social Impact Measurement

Read more about our award-winning social impact framework, and download the latest report.

Since 2023 we have been assessing our Social Impact.

At Guide Dogs we are committed to designing and delivering services which enrich the lives of our clients through enablement and understanding their needs.

As part of this commitment, we partnered with For-Purpose Evaluations and developed a national Social Impact Measurement (SIM) Framework, with the objective of knowing when and how we are making a difference with our individual services, and where we can do better.

The framework was developed over the course of 2022 and in 2023 we were thrilled to win the Excellence in Social Impact Measurement prize at the Social Impact Measurement Network Australia (SIMNA) Awards.

Social Impact is the positive change that individuals, communities, and societies experience as a result of for-purpose programs and activities. The wide range of personalised, evidence-based services offered by Guide Dogs both cause and contribute to positive social impact.

We also need to remember that even with our supports, clients often still face systematic barriers and discrimination which means they are unable to live the life they want. We also track this to help guide our advocacy and policy work.

“Guide Dogs allows me to have independence and do what I want to do.” – 2025 Survey participant

Infographic showing 2025 social impact insights from Guide Dogs Australia. 78% of Clients say they are more able to live the life they want. “It helps me feel more like me again.” 77% of Clients say they have more choice in how they go about their day. “Guide Dogs allows me to have independence and do what I want to do.” 73% of Clients say they do more of the things important to them. “Having a Guide Dog has opened my life up tremendously. I can keep up my volunteer work a few times a week.” 75% of Clients say they have made or maintained social connections and relationships. “I have been able to give my family independence because they don’t have to worry about guiding me. It has given my partner and children freedom.” 73% of Clients say they feel more positive about the future. “I felt lost when my vision diminished, but now I feel optimistic about the future – with or without sight.” 78% of Clients say they are more independent when doing daily activities at home or online. “I feel safer and more able to manage meal preparation.” 79% of Clients say they are more independent when getting out and about. “Prior to this I couldn’t even go to the shops. Now I am more independent, it’s such a relief to have the ability to do that on my own.”

Read the reports here

Download the latest report

We ask Clients to complete a voluntary social impact survey about changes in their lives since using our services.

78% say they are more able to live the life they want because of Guide Dogs
77% say they have more choice in how they go about their day
73% say they do more of the things that are important to them
75% say they have made of maintained social connections and relationships
73% say they feel more positive about the future
78% say they are more independent when doing daily activities around the home or online
79% say they are more independent when getting out and about

Guide Dogs Australia Social Impact Report 2025
Download

An accessible version of the document is also available for download here.

Reports since 2023

Read the previous reports

Guide Dogs Australia Social Impact Report 2024
Download
Guide Dogs Australia Social Impact Report 2023
Download

Social Impact Measurement Network Australia (SIMNA) Awards

Excellence in Social Impact Measurement

In 2023 we were thrilled to win The Excellence in the national Social Impact Measurement Award recognising our social impact measurement initiative that promotes best practice and leads by example.

For two years, Guide Dogs Australia and For-Purpose Evaluations worked together to develop a national social impact measurement framework to better understand the effectiveness of our work with people with low vision or blindness.

The effort brought together four Guide Dog organisations in six states and territories, closely examining the social impact of our services across Occupational Therapy, Orientation and Mobility training, social and community support, and the use of Guide Dogs, as well as research, advocacy and community education.

We continue to iterate the framework and use it to better understand our impact into the future.