S1: From Vision Australia. This is talking vision. And now here's
S1: your host, Sam Colley.
S2: Hello everyone. It's great to be here with you. And
S2: for the next half hour we talk matters of blindness
S2: and low vision.
S3: Yeah. Friends have followed my daughter's path. She's lost most
S3: of her vision a few years ago, and I've just
S3: seen how Vision Australia has assisted her along the way.
S3: And I think they see the importance of Vision Australia
S3: radio and people's lives as well. So it's been fantastic.
S3: So I just went on the line and joined and
S3: for all my mates her message and said, I'm doing
S3: the challenge and said, here's the link to the donation
S3: page and they've just been fabulous.
S2: Welcome to the program. This week we'll hear from the
S2: second of our 100 K away participants, Kate Leaver such.
S2: She's a volunteer from Perth who is walking 100 K
S2: over the month of April to raise vital funds for
S2: Vision Australia Radio and the Vision Australia organisation. More broadly.
S2: That conversation is coming up very shortly so make sure
S2: to stick around then after you hear from Kate, Stella's
S2: back on the program with a teller link co-ordinator, Maria Marco,
S2: who tells us all about some exciting new developments in
S2: the world of tele link happening over the next few
S2: weeks and months. And finally, on the program this week,
S2: Frances Kaitlyn is back with a reader recommended and we
S2: finish up with some news and information. I hope you
S2: enjoy this week's episode of Talking Vision. A couple of
S2: weeks ago, we heard from Jason giving us a bit
S2: of an overview of the hundred K challenge happening over
S2: the month of April to raise vital funds for Vision Australia. Well,
S2: we're heading west now to Perth to chat with Kate leave.
S2: As such, Kate is a volunteer at Vision Australia Radio
S2: in Perth. She's had quite a close involvement with Vision
S2: Australia for quite some time now, and she joins me
S2: now to chat all about her hundred K Your Way campaign. Kate,
S2: welcome to Talking Vision. Thanks so much for your time.
S3: Thank you.
S2: Sam. Now, Kate, firstly, would you mind sharing with our
S2: audience what your role is at Vision Australia Radio in
S2: Perth and what it entails?
S3: Okay, so I volunteer on a couple of programmes. Firstly,
S3: the National News Hour, which is a daily news program
S3: and it's aired in the drive time slot and we're
S3: reading the most up to date news stories with the
S3: national focus from digital news platforms. And so we come
S3: in and gather the news stories and prepare them in
S3: the programme, sort of including the run sheet and calculate
S3: time it's going to take and things, and then we
S3: go on air to read them. And I can also
S3: operate the panel to broadcast the show. And then the
S3: other program is called Happy Pants and that's a weekly
S3: radio programme. It's aired on Saturday and Sunday mornings and
S3: it's for children and it's hopefully fun and entertaining for
S3: the kids with a bit of music, stories, movement and
S3: some activities. And so for that programme, I've written a
S3: few scripts and we come in weekly again and record
S3: the show and get started on the editing process. And
S3: then there's a couple of wonderful production folk here who
S3: get it ready to put on air.
S2: All right. Wonderful. And we have had a chat with
S2: a few people from Happy Pants, including, of course, Geraldine,
S2: and they're just absolutely wonderful people to chat to with.
S2: Oh yeah. Lovely to. Yeah, lovely to hear from them. Certainly.
S2: Good fun. Now, why do you think your radio programs
S2: are so important to those who tune in to hear them?
S3: Well, I guess the news it's informative reading service for
S3: people with blindness or low vision, and it gives them more,
S3: more detailed news stories instead of just the brief headlines
S3: and other news services that are out there. And then
S3: I guess, hopefully Happy Pants is engaging and fun for
S3: the kids, and it supports their lifelong literacy and learning
S3: through storytelling and activities and things. So yeah.
S2: Now you're involved, of course, with a couple of important
S2: radio programs over in Perth, but also over the month
S2: of April, you're also doing some important work in the
S2: hundred K your weight challenge. So tell us a bit
S2: about why you've joined the challenge. What sort of motivated
S2: you to get involved?
S3: Yeah, well, I guess it's good to keep moving as
S3: much as you can. And when the lovely Brigid, who's
S3: our coordinator of volunteers at Mission Australia Perth, suggested the
S3: 100 K walk, I figured I need the exercise, so
S3: I jumped at the opportunity. But, um, also, it's it's
S3: the radio's major fundraising event for the year that anyone
S3: can participate in. And it's great to support the Vision
S3: Australia radio community that I guess enjoy and rely on
S3: the reading service of, you know, popular publications and things
S3: for their information and entertainment and companionship.
S2: And, um, can you remind us what the challenge involves
S2: and how you'll be knocking over the 100 KS over
S2: the month of April?
S3: So as it's called 100 K your way, the challenge
S3: is to complete 100km any way you would like over
S3: the month of April. So you could perhaps be cycling
S3: or swimming, but I'll be either walking or jogging. And
S3: I've actually had some friends already offered to go walking
S3: together with me to help me along the way, which
S3: is just wonderful.
S2: And I've joined up as well myself. I'm going to
S2: be doing the walk over the month and looking forward
S2: to seeing how that goes. And um, and my mum's
S2: joined up as well. So it's really, it's a bit
S2: of a family affair. So yeah, it's really cool. Um,
S2: very excited to get involved and see how that all goes.
S2: And there's a lot of lovely walking tracks near our houses,
S2: so it's, um, it's made quite easy by that. And
S2: also the weather cooling down a little bit, which means
S2: you sort of. It's a good way to. Up and
S2: over in Melbourne. It gets very cold and grey around
S2: this time of year, so I think perfect walking weather
S2: for sure. Um, excellent. What's your favourite? Yeah. What's your
S2: favourite sort of space to walk around? Have you got
S2: some nice little things you're looking forward to getting and
S2: walking around?
S3: Yeah, well I do have a dog and so he
S3: loves to get out there and his happy place is
S3: at the beach. So, um, we'll definitely be going for
S3: morning walks along the beach. And then I'm also not
S3: too far from the river. I live in Perth, and
S3: so I'm on the Swan River and, um, there's some
S3: beautiful trails along there too. So yeah, similarly just beautiful
S3: out in nature, actually.
S2: Um, and you've gotten off to an amazing start in
S2: your fundraising efforts, Kate, we've just all been amazed at
S2: how it's really gone. And, you know, as an individual,
S2: you've raised over $2,000, well over $2,000 already in the
S2: first 48 hours. So, um, that's incredibly exciting. Um, that
S2: must be really cool to see everyone sort of banding
S2: together and getting around that so quickly.
S3: Oh, yeah. Look, I have been absolutely overwhelmed by the
S3: support I've received with everyone's thoughtfulness and, um, generosity. Yeah.
S3: Friends have followed my daughter's path. She's lost most of
S3: her vision a few years ago, and it's just been.
S3: They've just seen how Vision Australia has assisted her along
S3: the way. And, um, yeah, just see, I think they
S3: see the importance of Vision Australia radio and people's lives
S3: as well. So it's been fantastic. So I just went
S3: on the line and joined and for all my mates
S3: her message and um said I'm doing the challenge and said,
S3: here's the link to the donation page. And they've just
S3: been fabulous.
S2: Very exciting. No, that's very exciting for sure. Absolutely. And, um,
S2: how can people support you going forward in your goal
S2: to reach 100km and raise money for Vision Australia Radio?
S2: What are those websites for people if they'd like to
S2: check them out and donate to the various teams?
S3: Yeah, so anyone can join and it's really easy. You
S3: just visit the Be a radio.org website and on there
S3: there's a button you can click for the 100 K
S3: your way link, and then you can select the link
S3: to either the Perth, Adelaide or Melbourne teams. And hopefully
S3: you click Perth. And um when you're on that site
S3: you can just click join us and then you're off
S3: and ready to go yourself. Or alternatively it's okay just
S3: to donate without taking part and you just scroll down
S3: a little bit and there's the window to donate. And
S3: of course, all the donations over $2 are tax deductible
S3: and you receive a receipt for your donation. So, um, yeah,
S3: very easy. So it's VA radio. Org is the starting point.
S2: Oh it's perfect VA radio.org there and all money raised
S2: within our three Vision Australia radio teams will directly support
S2: our fundraising targets for the radio network. And as Kate mentioned,
S2: it's super easy to join. You can visit VA radio.org
S2: that's VA radio.org and just click on the hundred K
S2: link and choose a team. Going to encourage a little
S2: bit of healthy competition. Encourage people over here to donate
S2: to our Melbourne team, and you can get people to
S2: donate to the Perth team. And we'll we'll see who
S2: wins out at the end of the month. That'll be nice. Little, um, well,
S2: it'll be healthy competition and encourages people to exercise and
S2: get healthy, so it's always good.
S3: Yes. Excellent, excellent and good luck for you guys too. Okay.
S2: Thank you so much for your time. I've been speaking
S2: today with Kate Lever, such from Vision Australia Radio in Perth,
S2: taking part in the hundred K Your Way challenge over
S2: the month of April as part of the Perth team.
S2: I'm Sam Culley and you're listening to Talking Vision on
S2: Vision Australia Radio, Associated Stations of Reading Radio and the
S2: Community Radio Network. I hope you enjoyed that conversation there
S2: with Kate Lavers, such from Vision Australia Radio in Perth,
S2: taking part in the 100 K Your Way challenge over
S2: the month of April. And if you missed any part
S2: of that conversation with Kate or you'd love to listen
S2: to it again. Talking vision is available on the Vision
S2: Australia Radio website RVA radio.org that's via radio.org. You can
S2: also find the program on the podcast app of your
S2: choice or through the Vision Australia library. And now here's
S2: Stella Glory with Maria Marco.
S1: This time around we are talking about Tele Link, which
S1: is Vision Australia's virtual social and interest group. Maria Marco
S1: is the co-ordinator tele link coordinator and she's here in
S1: the studio talking to me. Did I get that right? Maria?
S4: Yes you did Stella. That was great. That was exactly
S4: what we are and what we do now.
S1: For people who are listening and aren't familiar with tele link,
S1: which I would find it hard to believe that people
S1: don't know about this fantastic service that we operate. Give
S1: us more of an overview and tell us how long
S1: Tele Link has been running for.
S4: Tele link has been around or offered through Vision Australia
S4: for coming up to 44 years this year. So it's
S4: been a well-established program through its history, and we are
S4: a social and interest based program, and we have wonderful
S4: volunteers who facilitate our groups.
S1: We're going to talk about more about the volunteers, but
S1: what is the aim of Tele Link?
S4: The aim for tele link is really bringing people together
S4: who are 18 and over and bringing them together because
S4: they share an interest or an activity that they want
S4: to do with other people through a virtual communication means
S4: like the through teleconference or through an online group.
S1: It very much used to be telephone, but I think
S1: Covid might have changed that considerably as well.
S4: That's right. So we introduced quite a number of online
S4: groups when we went into the pandemic, and some of
S4: those have carried on and in new groups that we
S4: set up, we do a combination of both audio and
S4: from both online. So it really depends on what the
S4: type of group is and who we are targeting for.
S4: But we use both.
S1: And how did people adapt to those changes?
S4: Uh, it was actually a pretty smooth change depending on
S4: the group type and when we were offering it and
S4: the topic. So when we run our webinars through our
S4: special interests, they're all through zoom. So that's the webinars platform.
S4: Other groups, it really depends on the topic and the
S4: age range that we're marketing that group to. So but
S4: generally people were quite keen to to connect up just
S4: to come together during that time.
S1: And uh, what are some of the long running or
S1: standard groups that you have? I understand that crosswords and
S1: quizzes are very popular.
S4: They certainly are. And if we can find more volunteers
S4: to set more groups up, we would fill them up very,
S4: very quickly because it's it's a topic that it it's
S4: fun and you mentally stimulating and it's bringing people together
S4: who who share the love of doing a crossword or
S4: a quiz and have a bit of fun and want
S4: to come back for more.
S1: And other long running groups.
S4: Uh, the history topics have book clubs that we work
S4: together with the region Australia library team, uh, current affairs,
S4: the social groups in other languages than English. We have Arabic, Greek, Italian, Spanish,
S4: we have Mandarin, Cantonese. So a lot of social discussion
S4: groups in English, of course. Um, and we have lots
S4: of peer support groups for eye conditions, for example our
S4: p support. And we have specific groups for dog handlers,
S4: people who have a dog or are thinking about, um,
S4: inquiring about, you know, what that's all about, and talk
S4: to others who have a dog guide parenting support for
S4: parents who are vision impaired, people who are blind or
S4: have low vision, who are the parent. So it's a
S4: lot of peer support as well as social and interest
S4: based programs.
S1: How fantastic. Now, on top of all of this, you
S1: are also in the process of because you never sit still,
S1: it's like a moving shark telly link. I don't know
S1: where I came up with that analogy. And uh, so
S1: you're looking to open up some more, uh, create some
S1: more groups, including some language groups.
S4: Yes. So we set up new groups or get ideas
S4: for groups, whether they're language or an activity based program
S4: or a topic in general from. What interest we get
S4: from clients as we get referrals for the program. And
S4: one of those is we are looking at setting up
S4: a third Mandarin speaking group for our Chinese speaking community.
S4: And we also will be looking at setting up a
S4: Hindi and Punjabi social group for people who are from India.
S4: Another group we're looking at, and we've had quite a
S4: bit of interest, is a group from people who play
S4: a musical instrument, a musicians group and one other that
S4: we've had on and off requests for, but we never
S4: really took a seriously, is a singalong group just for
S4: people just to get together and sing. So you don't
S4: need to be Beyonce or Bocelli or we're a soprano.
S4: It's just bringing people together just to sing and have
S4: feel good and just evoke those emotions of feeling happy
S4: or whatever that the emotion triggers from the song with
S4: other people. So we do have volunteers for these programs
S4: and we are looking for expressions of interest. If anyone
S4: wants to join and find out a bit more when
S4: they'll start, you know all those details will come out soon.
S1: That is fantastic. Now, I also understand that you are
S1: a part like you've got your participants. It's a very
S1: popular service tele link. So to the groups, to some
S1: groups run for a particular period of time because I
S1: know that you have special interest groups or winter and
S1: summer groups as well.
S4: That's right. So our regular programme, as we call it
S4: starts from February, takes a break in July and then
S4: comes back August till early December. And then in between
S4: in July and January each year we offer a special
S4: interest programme so our regular groups can have a break,
S4: as well as the volunteers taking a break and members
S4: can join something a bit different, something they haven't done before.
S4: Special interests. We do offer webinars which are a webinar
S4: series in the summer, in the winter, and that's where
S4: we have really great speakers, inspiring people, people who have
S4: done things in their specialised area, in their profession. So
S4: we are looking to plan for the July programme, which
S4: will be a four week programme this year. So we
S4: have the regular rotation as well as the special interest.
S4: So really tele link is 12 months of the year.
S4: It's non-stop and always planning ahead and looking for ideas
S4: and meeting and wonderful volunteers as well. So without them,
S4: we really couldn't do it for this long.
S1: And you need some more volunteers in this area. What
S1: makes a good volunteer facilitator for tele link?
S4: Some of the qualities that we look for are obviously
S4: the skills and all the language that they speak and
S4: their fluency, and they speak English as well. They're good
S4: listening skills, good communication, and just the passion to want
S4: to bring that enjoyment or whatever that topic may be,
S4: to bring people together and share that with them. But
S4: allowing them to be the drivers of the programme, and
S4: they're there to moderate or facilitate the conversation and include
S4: people and welcome speakers, etc., and welcome new members. So
S4: there's lots of training involved before people are commencing the
S4: role of a facilitator. So it is quite a role
S4: that a lot of people can. Obviously it is done
S4: remotely as well because these are the virtual programme. So
S4: we we do have a diverse range of volunteers and
S4: age range as well.
S1: That's fantastic. And you can do it from the comfort
S1: of your own home. One thing I forgot did forget
S1: to ask who can join in on a tele link group?
S1: So clearly it's for people who are blind or have
S1: low vision.
S4: Yes. So for people who are clients of Vision Australia, um,
S4: 18 and over. So our list we work with adult
S4: clients and so anyone 18 and over. So our age
S4: range is 18 right up to people in their early hundreds. Um,
S4: and people can join a group or groups depending on,
S4: on their, the capacity they have and what capacities we have,
S4: because our groups are very popular and we have limits
S4: on the teleconference groups as well. We have a line limit,
S4: but then there are reasons for that because it's only
S4: a one hour program. So we do have um, and
S4: it's national. We're national. So our reach is national. So
S4: we have clients from, from Northern Territory right through to
S4: Tassie and across WA to, um, the eastern side of Australia.
S4: So it is very diverse in all aspects, and.
S1: All people need is a telephone and maybe at times a.
S4: Internet connection.
S1: An internet connection. Yeah. If you are interested in finding
S1: a little bit more about tele link as a participant,
S1: or if you're interested in volunteering for Tele Link, give
S1: Vision Australia a call on 1300 847 461 308 4746 or head
S1: over to our website at Vision Australia org that's Vision Australia.
S1: Org and I have been speaking to Maria marcoux who
S1: is the. Telly link co-ordinator here at Vision Australia. Always
S1: a pleasure to speak with you, Maria. Thanks for your time.
S4: Thank you. Stella. Same.
S5: And now to Carly Findlay's Growing Up Disabled. In Australia,
S5: 1 in 5 Australians have disability, and disability presents itself
S5: in many ways, yet disabled people are still underrepresented in
S5: the media and in literature. Growing Up Disabled in Australia
S5: includes interviews with prominent Australians such as Senator Jordan Steel
S5: John and Paralympian Isis Holt. Poetry and graphic art, as
S5: well as more than 40 original pieces by writers with
S5: a disability or chronic illness. And other contributors include Deon Beasley,
S5: Astrid Edwards, Jessica Walton, Carly J. Metcalf, Gayle Kennedy, and
S5: Elle Gibbs. Let's hear a sample of Growing Up Disabled
S5: in Australia, edited by Carly Findlay. It's narrated by Carly Findlay.
S6: Elle Gibbs no one told me when I first got
S6: sick that I had abruptly joined a community, one with
S6: a history and theories and ways of being. Instead, I
S6: was told to relentlessly search for a cure and an exit,
S6: no matter the cost to wage war on my disease self.
S6: I had become disabled not just by my disease, but
S6: by the way the world treated me. When I found
S6: that out, everything changed. It all started with a few
S6: spots on my arm. One summer day. A few red,
S6: flaky spots that I ignored. I had drinking to do drugs,
S6: to take, bands, to see, chaos to create. But the
S6: spots had their own agenda. They joined together and spread
S6: down my arm, then all over my body, various doctors
S6: peered at me and pronounced that it was nothing to
S6: worry about. Here's a cream that will fix you. Three
S6: months later, I was covered from head to toe in crimson, weepy,
S6: flaking hot sauce skin. It cracked every time I breathed
S6: in or out, and I bled on everything. By now,
S6: the doctors had agreed that a cream probably wouldn't fix me,
S6: and that I had to go to hospital for a
S6: few days. Right? No, they said for a few weeks
S6: I was 19. Each morning in hospital, I would stand
S6: on sheets in my undies while two nurses painted my
S6: skin with a paste, then wrapped me in bandages. The
S6: next day, the paste would be scrubbed from my skin
S6: and after a bath in tar, it would be reapplied.
S6: Repeat repeat repeat.
S5: That was a sample of Growing Up Disabled in Australia
S5: by Carly Findlay or Findlay. I should say Carly is
S5: spelt Carly. Carly Findlay is Findlay. Findlay.
S2: Thanks very much, Frances. And now, just before we go,
S2: there's some news about an upcoming women's leadership program run
S2: through women with Disabilities Victoria. Apply now for the Enabling
S2: Women Leadership Program. They're inviting women and non-binary people with
S2: a disability connected with the state of Victoria, aged 18 plus,
S2: to join their statewide Enabling Women Leadership program. This program
S2: focuses on empowerment and working towards building confidence, exploring who
S2: you are, reflecting on your strengths, working with a mentor
S2: to achieve a leadership goal, and becoming a better leader
S2: in your community. It takes place in person at women
S2: with Disabilities Victoria's office in Melbourne or online via zoom.
S2: It runs for eight weekly sessions for three hours, with
S2: breaks included plus five one on one sessions with a
S2: mentor and the graduation celebration. It runs every Wednesday from
S2: the 24th of April to the 12th of June, and
S2: the mentor sessions and graduation celebration are to be confirmed.
S2: Cost is free and for more information, including copies of
S2: the application form in accessible formats and help to apply,
S2: you can visit the women with Disabilities Victoria website at npr.org.
S2: Hey you. That's w dv for you. Or you can
S2: also email Bridget Jolly on Bridget dot jolly at w
S2: divorce you. That's Brad get Jolie at Wdvm for you.
S2: Applications close at 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, the 11th of April, 2024.
S2: And that's all the time we have for today. You've
S2: been listening to Talking Vision. Talking vision is a Vision
S2: Australia radio production. Thanks to all involved with putting the
S2: show together every week. And remember, we love hearing from you.
S2: So please get in touch anytime on our email at
S2: Talking Vision. At Vision australia.org. That's talking vision or one
S2: word at Vision australia.org. But until next week it's Sam
S2: Cowley saying bye for now.
S1: You can contact Vision Australia by phoning us anytime during
S1: business hours on one 308 4746. That's one 384 746
S1: or by visiting Vision australia.org. That's Vision Australia call.