WEBVTT - Talking Vision 721 Week Beginning 25th of March 2024 0:00:13.198 --> 0:00:18.958 From Vision Australia. This is talking vision. And now here's 0:00:18.958 --> 0:00:20.968 your host, Sam Colley. 0:00:23.578 --> 0:00:26.668 Hello everyone. It's great to be here with you. And 0:00:26.668 --> 0:00:29.638 for the next half hour we talk matters of blindness 0:00:29.638 --> 0:00:30.778 and low vision. 0:00:30.808 --> 0:00:34.348 We firmly believe that the blind innovation community should be 0:00:34.348 --> 0:00:37.318 afforded the same level of health care that a sighted 0:00:37.318 --> 0:00:41.758 individual is afforded, and it is simply unacceptable to deny 0:00:41.758 --> 0:00:44.338 the rights of a blind and low vision individual in 0:00:44.338 --> 0:00:48.988 independently and privately conducting a self-administered medical test, the same 0:00:48.988 --> 0:00:50.668 way that a sighted person would. 0:00:50.668 --> 0:00:54.298 Welcome to the program. This week I catch up with 0:00:54.298 --> 0:00:59.458 William Chen from the Inclusive Technologies team at Monash University. 0:00:59.668 --> 0:01:04.138 He's currently developing a mobile health care app for users 0:01:04.138 --> 0:01:07.228 who are blind or have low vision, and he's seeking 0:01:07.228 --> 0:01:11.338 expressions of interest for people to take part in some 0:01:11.338 --> 0:01:16.468 tests to evaluate the app and improve the user experience. 0:01:16.648 --> 0:01:20.608 That interview is coming up very shortly, so make sure 0:01:20.608 --> 0:01:24.028 to stick around to hear from William. And then after 0:01:24.028 --> 0:01:28.168 my chat with William, Steph from comes back with a 0:01:28.168 --> 0:01:32.128 Vision Australia comms wrap to give us an overview of 0:01:32.128 --> 0:01:36.148 what's coming up in the organisation around the country over 0:01:36.148 --> 0:01:40.348 the next month. I hope you'll enjoy this week's episode 0:01:40.348 --> 0:01:49.528 of Talking Vision. William Chen is an undergraduate student from 0:01:49.528 --> 0:01:54.238 the Inclusive Technologies team at Monash University. He's in his 0:01:54.238 --> 0:01:57.328 final year of studies at Monash, and as part of 0:01:57.328 --> 0:02:02.038 his research programme, he is exploring the independence, trust and 0:02:02.038 --> 0:02:06.178 privacy of individuals who are blind or have low vision 0:02:06.178 --> 0:02:11.308 towards digital health. Mobile apps, including the thia mobile app, 0:02:11.308 --> 0:02:16.108 which is currently in development and seeking input from users 0:02:16.108 --> 0:02:18.838 who are blind or have low vision in a series 0:02:18.838 --> 0:02:22.918 of evaluation tests. And to have a chat with me 0:02:22.918 --> 0:02:26.038 all about the app. I'm very pleased to be able 0:02:26.038 --> 0:02:30.298 to welcome William right now. William, welcome to Talking Vision. 0:02:30.298 --> 0:02:31.798 Thanks so much for your time. 0:02:32.188 --> 0:02:33.748 Thank you for having me here, Sam. It's my. 0:02:33.748 --> 0:02:37.288 Pleasure. Could you tell us a little bit more about 0:02:37.288 --> 0:02:40.108 the mobile app that you have developed as part of 0:02:40.108 --> 0:02:42.658 the Inclusive Technologies team at Monash? 0:02:42.868 --> 0:02:46.378 Yes, of course. So this app is called Theia, named 0:02:46.378 --> 0:02:50.578 after the Greek goddess of vision and sight. And that 0:02:50.578 --> 0:02:54.598 was designed to help the blind and low vision community 0:02:54.598 --> 0:03:00.988 in independently conducting a self-administered medical test, as well as 0:03:00.988 --> 0:03:05.668 being able to independently interpret its results without the involvement 0:03:05.668 --> 0:03:07.978 of a site and individual in the process. 0:03:08.008 --> 0:03:11.878 What sparked your interest in creating this health care app, 0:03:11.878 --> 0:03:15.808 specifically with the blind and low vision community in mind? 0:03:16.198 --> 0:03:18.598 That's a great question, Sam. So I'd say the main 0:03:18.598 --> 0:03:22.318 thing is equitable health care. So here, Monash, we really 0:03:22.318 --> 0:03:26.338 heard the voices of frustration from the blind innovation community 0:03:26.458 --> 0:03:30.478 around the inaccessibility of Covid rapid antigen tests during our 0:03:30.478 --> 0:03:33.208 last pandemic. And we thought something must be done for 0:03:33.208 --> 0:03:36.628 all current and future pandemics to prevent what a blind 0:03:36.628 --> 0:03:39.418 and low vision individual had to go through in order 0:03:39.418 --> 0:03:43.948 to conduct and interpret their self test results. We firmly 0:03:43.948 --> 0:03:47.218 believe that the blind innovation community should be afforded the 0:03:47.218 --> 0:03:51.118 same level of health care that a sighted individual is afforded, 0:03:51.118 --> 0:03:54.478 and it is simply unacceptable to deny the rights of 0:03:54.478 --> 0:03:57.958 a blind and low vision individual in independently and privately 0:03:57.958 --> 0:04:01.498 conducting a self-administered medical test the same way that a 0:04:01.498 --> 0:04:06.718 sighted person would. So the app started with Professor Patrick Cohen, 0:04:06.718 --> 0:04:09.988 who is the professor of neurology at the Alfred Hospital, 0:04:09.988 --> 0:04:14.458 coming into contact with my supervisor, Associate Professor Matthew Butler, 0:04:14.728 --> 0:04:18.898 who is an accessibility researcher from the Inclusive Technologies Lab. 0:04:18.898 --> 0:04:21.778 And Matt came to talk to me about the project, 0:04:21.778 --> 0:04:24.928 and I was extremely interested and hooked on to it. 0:04:24.928 --> 0:04:27.808 And things kind of took off from there, where I 0:04:27.808 --> 0:04:30.868 worked on it for an entire summer last year and 0:04:30.868 --> 0:04:33.238 carried it into this year, where we had the pleasure 0:04:33.238 --> 0:04:37.348 of inviting two additional researchers onto the team. So Doctor 0:04:37.348 --> 0:04:42.328 Anuradha and Doctor Omar and Anuradha Omar both have an 0:04:42.328 --> 0:04:46.918 interest in designing inclusive applications. And with this amazing team 0:04:46.918 --> 0:04:49.618 we have formed and we applied for a seed grant 0:04:49.618 --> 0:04:53.188 from the Monash Institute of Medical Engineering, and we managed 0:04:53.188 --> 0:04:56.518 to receive $30,000 in funding. Now, though, it is not 0:04:56.518 --> 0:04:58.468 a lot of money, it is enough for us to 0:04:58.468 --> 0:05:01.678 kick start things and begin a process of potentially releasing 0:05:01.678 --> 0:05:03.358 this application to the public. 0:05:03.568 --> 0:05:07.528 And will now's probably a good time to give the 0:05:07.528 --> 0:05:10.978 listeners a little bit of a recap of the tests 0:05:10.978 --> 0:05:16.108 that the app currently supports, but also looking ahead to 0:05:16.108 --> 0:05:21.148 the future. What are the future plans for tyre in 0:05:21.148 --> 0:05:25.378 including further tests for people to be able to use? 0:05:25.798 --> 0:05:29.788 That's a great question. Thank you Sam. So currently the 0:05:29.788 --> 0:05:35.218 application only supports Covid rapid antigen tests. It is a 0:05:35.218 --> 0:05:38.908 proof of concept to see whether ideas and design philosophies 0:05:38.908 --> 0:05:42.658 are indeed aligned with the blind location community. Now we 0:05:42.658 --> 0:05:47.158 plan on including every single medical self-test that the TGA 0:05:47.188 --> 0:05:50.728 has approved and is on the market for Australian consumers. 0:05:50.728 --> 0:05:53.398 And on top of that, we also plan on including 0:05:53.398 --> 0:05:56.788 at home health screening kits such as bowel cancer screening 0:05:56.788 --> 0:06:01.528 kits or breast cancer screening kits, etc. and overall, we 0:06:01.528 --> 0:06:06.358 expect to include all of these tests within our application 0:06:06.508 --> 0:06:09.478 within the next year or two of releasing the application 0:06:09.478 --> 0:06:10.348 to the public. 0:06:10.498 --> 0:06:13.918 And William, what are the plans to roll out there 0:06:13.918 --> 0:06:15.568 to the general public? 0:06:15.688 --> 0:06:18.898 This is actually a very, very important question. So we 0:06:18.898 --> 0:06:23.818 recognise that there is an application that will interpret the 0:06:23.818 --> 0:06:28.678 test results of a self-administered medical test, which means that 0:06:28.678 --> 0:06:33.208 it will be regulated by the Therapeutic Goods Administration in Australia. 0:06:33.208 --> 0:06:36.448 So there will be quite a lengthy process in us 0:06:36.448 --> 0:06:40.318 getting regulatory approval. But it is definitely in our radar. 0:06:40.318 --> 0:06:44.218 And after we get TGA approval, that will be when 0:06:44.218 --> 0:06:47.808 we can expect the. To be available for the public. 0:06:47.808 --> 0:06:52.158 And, um, in terms of how people interpret these results 0:06:52.158 --> 0:06:55.908 and what sort of info they can obtain from the app, 0:06:55.908 --> 0:06:58.818 what sort of the process there, and what are the 0:06:58.818 --> 0:07:03.078 accessibility components that people can look forward to if they 0:07:03.078 --> 0:07:04.278 are using this app? 0:07:04.548 --> 0:07:10.968 Yeah. So currently there will launch the phone's camera and 0:07:10.968 --> 0:07:15.828 automatically begin detecting a test within the frame. So the 0:07:15.828 --> 0:07:19.608 first step would be having the app understand what test 0:07:19.608 --> 0:07:22.518 a user is taking. So the Apple either attempt to 0:07:22.518 --> 0:07:25.938 recognize the packaging or the barcode. And from that point onwards, 0:07:25.938 --> 0:07:30.558 we've actually translated all the instructions from the manufacturer into 0:07:30.558 --> 0:07:33.078 accessible formats, because we realize that a lot of those 0:07:33.078 --> 0:07:39.648 instructions actually relied on graphical aids. And with the results section, 0:07:39.648 --> 0:07:42.408 the app will launch the phone's camera, and once it 0:07:42.408 --> 0:07:46.068 detects a test within the camera's frame, it will then 0:07:46.068 --> 0:07:48.288 decide whether the current frame is clear enough for it 0:07:48.288 --> 0:07:51.108 to take a photo, and then it repeats this process 0:07:51.108 --> 0:07:54.558 60 times per second automatically, and will capture a total 0:07:54.558 --> 0:07:57.618 of 50 clear images of the test. And I guess 0:07:57.618 --> 0:07:59.688 this was one of the main accessibility components that we 0:07:59.688 --> 0:08:02.718 have within our app, because we recognize how difficult it 0:08:02.718 --> 0:08:06.288 is to take a photo of a rapid antigen test, 0:08:06.288 --> 0:08:08.508 or having to make sure that your camera is clear 0:08:08.508 --> 0:08:10.998 before you take the photo, which is all. We've automated 0:08:10.998 --> 0:08:14.088 the process with a couple of algorithms that we come 0:08:14.088 --> 0:08:17.598 up with, and after the 50 clear images are taken, 0:08:17.598 --> 0:08:20.238 the apple then select the shoppers and clear as five 0:08:20.238 --> 0:08:23.328 photos to be passed through our own AI model, which 0:08:23.328 --> 0:08:26.388 will then output a result with a confidence label so 0:08:26.388 --> 0:08:28.728 people will be able to tell what results they're getting 0:08:28.728 --> 0:08:32.748 without having to consult with a sighted individual. Now, on 0:08:32.748 --> 0:08:36.408 top of the AI model approach, we have also included 0:08:36.408 --> 0:08:39.438 a share with family or friends option, where the app 0:08:39.438 --> 0:08:42.918 will stitch the five clear images together, along with the 0:08:42.918 --> 0:08:47.568 manufacturer's interpretation instructions, so that you can share the image 0:08:47.568 --> 0:08:50.268 with anyone that you'd like within your contact list, or 0:08:50.268 --> 0:08:53.358 any application within your phone that you use the message, 0:08:53.358 --> 0:08:56.718 your family or friends. And our last option within our 0:08:56.718 --> 0:09:00.828 application is for the user to submit the images that 0:09:00.828 --> 0:09:04.158 the phone has taken to a group of annotators, and 0:09:04.158 --> 0:09:08.418 we plan on involving general practitioners and other medical professionals 0:09:08.418 --> 0:09:11.058 in looking at the results and then communicating the results 0:09:11.058 --> 0:09:14.658 through the applications. So there's really a wide range of 0:09:14.658 --> 0:09:18.408 interpretation methods for the results that someone can choose from 0:09:18.408 --> 0:09:19.608 in our application. 0:09:19.998 --> 0:09:23.838 Is there a perhaps scope for the app to interface 0:09:23.838 --> 0:09:28.188 with screen readers or something like that on the user's phone, 0:09:28.188 --> 0:09:31.908 such as VoiceOver, where it can read the text back 0:09:31.908 --> 0:09:34.878 to them in real time? I don't know if that's 0:09:34.878 --> 0:09:38.448 sort of realistic or not. Has that been something that's 0:09:38.448 --> 0:09:40.008 been explored at any point? 0:09:40.488 --> 0:09:44.688 Yes, that was one of the main design guidelines that 0:09:44.688 --> 0:09:48.888 we followed during the initial design stages of our application. 0:09:49.008 --> 0:09:53.118 It currently, though, is only developed for the iOS platform. 0:09:53.418 --> 0:09:58.218 It 100% supports VoiceOver and every element is double triple 0:09:58.218 --> 0:10:01.158 check to ensure that it has the right accessibility labels 0:10:01.158 --> 0:10:05.208 and everything adheres to the wcaG guidelines. 0:10:05.568 --> 0:10:11.298 Today, you're seeking participants for an in-person evaluation session. So, um, 0:10:11.298 --> 0:10:15.378 could you provide some information for our listeners about the session, 0:10:15.378 --> 0:10:17.988 such as, you know, where it is, how long it'll 0:10:17.988 --> 0:10:20.988 go for and the reimbursement and all that sort of thing? 0:10:20.988 --> 0:10:24.018 Yeah, of course. So we have reached the stage where 0:10:24.018 --> 0:10:27.948 we would really like to run some evaluation sessions in 0:10:27.948 --> 0:10:31.638 person to validate some of our design choices. So the 0:10:31.638 --> 0:10:34.878 evaluation sessions will indeed be in person, and it'll either 0:10:34.878 --> 0:10:37.998 be in Monash or I guess in the homes of 0:10:37.998 --> 0:10:42.348 the participant. If that's okay. The evaluation sessions will run 0:10:42.348 --> 0:10:47.688 for approximately 80 minutes, and there will be a $75 reimbursement. 0:10:47.688 --> 0:10:50.748 Now just a couple points I'd like to tag on. 0:10:50.958 --> 0:10:55.908 The evaluation session will not include the participant conducting an 0:10:55.908 --> 0:10:59.838 actual rapid antigen test. We have developed some mock tests 0:10:59.838 --> 0:11:02.538 that we have 3D printed so that it doesn't it 0:11:02.538 --> 0:11:07.458 will not collect any biological samples from the participant. 0:11:07.758 --> 0:11:12.288 And that's definitely important info for listeners out there. And 0:11:12.288 --> 0:11:15.378 I guess that also puts quite a few people at ease. 0:11:15.378 --> 0:11:19.218 So that's great info to pass along for sure. Now, 0:11:19.218 --> 0:11:23.538 if people would like to register interest, or perhaps read 0:11:23.538 --> 0:11:27.288 the explanatory statement that you and your team have put together, 0:11:27.288 --> 0:11:29.298 where can they go to find those? 0:11:29.298 --> 0:11:34.938 So we have our website which is Thiat guide. So 0:11:34.938 --> 0:11:40.938 that is t h e eye a dot guide. And 0:11:40.938 --> 0:11:43.698 if you worked on that website it'll redirect you to 0:11:43.698 --> 0:11:47.628 a Google form containing. The explanatory statement, as well as 0:11:47.628 --> 0:11:53.898 a form to register interest in participating in our valuation sessions. Now, alternatively, 0:11:53.898 --> 0:11:57.528 you could also email me which is William Chen, that 0:11:57.528 --> 0:12:06.228 is William chen@monash.edu to register your interest. 0:12:06.618 --> 0:12:10.308 Okay. Perfect. Thank you so much William. And hopefully a 0:12:10.308 --> 0:12:13.668 lot of people do get in touch and um, give 0:12:13.668 --> 0:12:17.118 you some really vital information that will really help this 0:12:17.118 --> 0:12:20.418 app go out and help as many people out there 0:12:20.418 --> 0:12:23.328 who are blind or have low vision to access the 0:12:23.328 --> 0:12:26.838 health care tests that they need. So great initiative there. 0:12:26.838 --> 0:12:29.208 So I look forward to hearing how it goes. 0:12:29.598 --> 0:12:31.668 Thank you, Sam, and thank you so much for having me. 0:12:32.388 --> 0:12:36.618 I've been speaking today with William Chen from the Inclusive 0:12:36.618 --> 0:12:42.168 Technology Team at Monash University, one of the developers of 0:12:42.168 --> 0:12:46.098 the Thayer Healthcare app for users who are blind or 0:12:46.098 --> 0:12:56.108 have low vision. I'm Sam Culley and you're listening to 0:12:56.108 --> 0:13:01.148 Talking Vision on Vision Australia Radio, Associated Stations of Reading 0:13:01.148 --> 0:13:05.708 Radio and the Community Radio Network. I hope you enjoyed 0:13:05.708 --> 0:13:10.718 that conversation there with William Chen from the Inclusive Technologies team. 0:13:11.048 --> 0:13:15.008 If you missed any part of that conversation with William, 0:13:15.008 --> 0:13:18.668 I'd love to hear it again. Talking vision is available 0:13:18.668 --> 0:13:22.328 on the podcast app of your choice or through the 0:13:22.328 --> 0:13:26.408 Vision Australia library. You can also find the program on 0:13:26.408 --> 0:13:32.258 the Vision Australia Radio website at RVA radio.org. That's via 0:13:32.288 --> 0:13:37.298 radio or one word.org. There's been a lot happening over 0:13:37.298 --> 0:13:40.868 the past couple of weeks at Vision Australia. And of course, 0:13:40.868 --> 0:13:44.948 looking into the future into the month of April. And 0:13:44.948 --> 0:13:48.938 what better person to chat all about it than Stephanie 0:13:48.938 --> 0:13:53.798 Steinhoff Pineau from the communications team. Otherwise known as Steph 0:13:53.798 --> 0:13:57.248 from comms here for the regular comms wrap to tell 0:13:57.248 --> 0:14:00.938 us all about the latest stuff going on. Steph, welcome 0:14:00.938 --> 0:14:03.728 back to Talking Vision. Great to have you again. 0:14:03.758 --> 0:14:05.888 Thanks, Sam. It's great to be here again. 0:14:05.888 --> 0:14:08.948 Now there's been a couple of exciting things going on 0:14:08.948 --> 0:14:12.548 in the world of Vision Australia over the last few weeks. 0:14:12.548 --> 0:14:15.098 So tell us a little bit about them. 0:14:15.098 --> 0:14:20.348 Yeah absolutely. So first up we cast a spotlight on 0:14:20.348 --> 0:14:24.458 our woodworking program that we run in Melbourne as well 0:14:24.458 --> 0:14:29.288 as Brisbane. So we actually had the ABC visit the 0:14:29.288 --> 0:14:33.488 team up in Brisbane. And really they put a focus 0:14:33.488 --> 0:14:37.418 on our woodworking team and how they're training people who 0:14:37.418 --> 0:14:40.418 are blind or have low vision to, yeah, take on 0:14:40.418 --> 0:14:44.468 woodworking as a possible career opportunity, which is great or 0:14:44.468 --> 0:14:47.918 just as a hobby. So look, the program currently has 0:14:47.918 --> 0:14:52.028 around six or so participants, but it is always looking 0:14:52.028 --> 0:14:56.228 to expand and yeah, it's an incredible program. And what 0:14:56.228 --> 0:14:59.618 it does, it just opens up another career pathway and 0:14:59.618 --> 0:15:02.948 and shows that really it's another possibility for someone who 0:15:02.948 --> 0:15:05.288 was blind or has low vision. And there shouldn't be 0:15:05.288 --> 0:15:08.768 any limitations on the type of career outcomes that they have. 0:15:08.768 --> 0:15:12.518 So it's a really exciting one, and we're really shown 0:15:12.518 --> 0:15:15.368 a light as well on the team who does the 0:15:15.368 --> 0:15:19.148 training too. So yeah, that was really exciting to have 0:15:19.148 --> 0:15:22.658 the ABC come and that should be running in the 0:15:22.658 --> 0:15:26.168 next couple of weeks on TV, as well as some 0:15:26.168 --> 0:15:28.148 features on their social media. 0:15:28.148 --> 0:15:31.568 And tying in quite nicely with that. We've been involved 0:15:31.568 --> 0:15:36.518 with a few campaigns in terms of awareness of blindness 0:15:36.518 --> 0:15:40.388 and low vision in the wider community over various media. 0:15:40.388 --> 0:15:43.208 So tell us a little bit about that project there. 0:15:43.328 --> 0:15:46.658 Yeah. Look, I think, um, low vision is a condition 0:15:46.658 --> 0:15:50.678 that it's so broad. Right. It, um, it really vision 0:15:50.678 --> 0:15:53.558 is such a spectrum and it's one that we've been 0:15:53.558 --> 0:15:57.428 really wanting to create more awareness around, about the vast 0:15:57.428 --> 0:16:01.298 kind of vision conditions out there and what everyday Aussies 0:16:01.298 --> 0:16:05.168 can be doing to ensure that they're being inclusive to 0:16:05.168 --> 0:16:07.988 people who are low vision or have low vision rather. 0:16:07.988 --> 0:16:12.398 So we created this campaign, The Pupil Project, and it's 0:16:12.398 --> 0:16:17.018 a set of six educational videos, short and sweet. The 0:16:17.018 --> 0:16:21.818 talent in these videos are actually low vision Aussies, so 0:16:21.848 --> 0:16:25.958 they did an incredible job acting in these videos, and 0:16:25.958 --> 0:16:28.878 we can't wait to see these launch from the 8th 0:16:28.878 --> 0:16:32.198 of April. They'll be launching on social media and then 0:16:32.198 --> 0:16:36.428 down the track on some out-of-home billboards as well across 0:16:36.428 --> 0:16:39.518 the country. So it'll be a national campaign and we 0:16:39.518 --> 0:16:44.528 just can't wait to, um, yes, challenge some common misconceptions 0:16:44.528 --> 0:16:47.768 about people living with low vision. And we'll go from there. 0:16:47.768 --> 0:16:51.188 Yeah, it's really exciting to be involved in the early 0:16:51.188 --> 0:16:55.508 drafting of those campaigns and give my input on what 0:16:55.508 --> 0:16:59.138 does and doesn't work and what's really relevant, and matches 0:16:59.138 --> 0:17:03.218 up with my lived experience as somebody with low vision. 0:17:03.218 --> 0:17:06.998 So this campaign certainly something very close to my heart. 0:17:06.998 --> 0:17:10.268 So I'm really keen to see how those come out, 0:17:10.268 --> 0:17:14.678 and I'm sure they'll be fantastic and really important messages 0:17:14.678 --> 0:17:17.858 in there. Now, just this week coming up, we've got 0:17:17.858 --> 0:17:21.338 a couple of really cool things going on. So why 0:17:21.338 --> 0:17:23.888 don't you just tell us a little bit about them 0:17:23.888 --> 0:17:25.328 and how that's all going? 0:17:25.418 --> 0:17:29.708 Yeah. So look, this Good Friday we do have our 0:17:29.708 --> 0:17:32.708 Bendigo Easter egg hunt taking place, which is at the 0:17:32.708 --> 0:17:37.388 Bendigo Easter Festival this year. We've been lucky to acquire 0:17:37.388 --> 0:17:43.208 100,000 eggs, which is amazing. So local SES workers will 0:17:43.208 --> 0:17:46.478 be hiding those for the hunt. We do have our 0:17:46.478 --> 0:17:49.718 accessible hunt as well on this year, which is great. 0:17:49.718 --> 0:17:53.088 And look, it is an all ages or. All abilities 0:17:53.088 --> 0:17:56.928 haunt people from all walks of life, are encouraged to 0:17:56.928 --> 0:18:00.888 come in, get involved and yeah, take part in the 0:18:00.888 --> 0:18:01.968 Easter fun. 0:18:02.148 --> 0:18:06.258 And Steph, there's a giving Day coming up to celebrate 0:18:06.258 --> 0:18:09.828 International Guide Dog Day later on in April. So tell 0:18:09.828 --> 0:18:12.498 us a little bit about that and the vital funds 0:18:12.498 --> 0:18:15.438 that'll go towards raising for seeing our dogs. 0:18:15.678 --> 0:18:20.808 Yes. So 24th of April is International Guide Dogs Day. 0:18:20.808 --> 0:18:24.678 So we thought it. There's no better day to host 0:18:24.678 --> 0:18:28.548 a giving day to raise important funds that will go 0:18:28.548 --> 0:18:33.498 back to our CNI dogs programs. So the day we 0:18:33.498 --> 0:18:37.068 actually will be setting it up with a phone room 0:18:37.068 --> 0:18:40.008 at saying I dogs. So similar to, I guess like 0:18:40.008 --> 0:18:43.848 a Good Friday appeal. So we'll have our volunteers. Staff 0:18:43.848 --> 0:18:48.648 will have board members, uh, leaders from our executive team 0:18:48.648 --> 0:18:51.948 who'll be on the phones waiting as Aussies call in 0:18:51.948 --> 0:18:56.508 to make donations. So it'll be a really incredible day. 0:18:56.508 --> 0:19:00.078 We will potentially have some media coming down to cover 0:19:00.078 --> 0:19:03.288 the day as well. And yeah, it's a first for us, 0:19:03.288 --> 0:19:06.528 this kind of big production day and we can't wait 0:19:06.528 --> 0:19:08.688 to see the results of it. 0:19:08.868 --> 0:19:13.128 And um, also sunrise has got something really cool coming up. 0:19:13.248 --> 0:19:18.618 Yes. So this Thursday actually, we've got sunrise coming to 0:19:18.648 --> 0:19:24.018 seeing our dogs over at Kensington, which will be so exciting. So, um, Sam, 0:19:24.018 --> 0:19:29.418 Mac and the weather team will be broadcasting live from Kensington, 0:19:29.418 --> 0:19:33.108 and they'll just be highlighting just the incredible work that 0:19:33.108 --> 0:19:36.798 the team does. And we'll just be calling on compassionate 0:19:36.798 --> 0:19:40.788 Aussies to take on a puppy and become a puppy carer, 0:19:40.788 --> 0:19:44.658 as well as looking into other volunteer opportunities that we have. 0:19:44.658 --> 0:19:47.118 So yeah, that'll be exciting. 0:19:47.118 --> 0:19:50.688 Well, certainly we'll be exciting. But something else really exciting 0:19:50.688 --> 0:19:53.508 is hundred K Your way, which we've heard a little 0:19:53.508 --> 0:19:57.258 bit about on the radio over the past little while, 0:19:57.258 --> 0:19:59.898 but tell us a little bit more about that and 0:19:59.898 --> 0:20:01.908 some exciting developments there. 0:20:02.028 --> 0:20:05.208 Things are heading up on the 1st of April. It 0:20:05.208 --> 0:20:08.988 will be kicking off and as you may know or 0:20:08.988 --> 0:20:12.858 may not know, we do have, um, Sarah Jones from 0:20:12.858 --> 0:20:18.018 Fox Footy. She was the first female sports presenter once 0:20:18.018 --> 0:20:21.258 upon a time and she's just incredible. She'll be our 0:20:21.258 --> 0:20:24.708 official or she is our official ambassador for 100 K 0:20:24.738 --> 0:20:29.028 your way, and she'll be choosing to run for the challenge. 0:20:29.028 --> 0:20:32.778 Yeah, we're hearing a lot about hundred k your way. And, um, 0:20:32.778 --> 0:20:36.048 that does of course run across the whole of April. 0:20:36.048 --> 0:20:39.288 There's quite a few teams going on here and there 0:20:39.288 --> 0:20:43.578 around the various departments and things at Vision Australia. So 0:20:43.578 --> 0:20:47.058 very exciting to see a lot of people getting involved. 0:20:47.058 --> 0:20:50.448 And of course, Sarah Jones as the ambassador. That's a 0:20:50.448 --> 0:20:54.258 huge win. So really keen to say how that all 0:20:54.258 --> 0:20:58.068 unfolds now Steph, and a bit of a change of pace. 0:20:58.068 --> 0:21:02.268 There's also in regional areas of Australia, very important work 0:21:02.268 --> 0:21:06.738 that the organisation is doing to ensure that people's eHealth 0:21:06.738 --> 0:21:09.468 is at its best. So tell us a little bit 0:21:09.468 --> 0:21:12.888 about the work that um, we're doing currently in, um, 0:21:12.888 --> 0:21:14.208 remote WA. 0:21:14.598 --> 0:21:19.998 Yes. So in mid 2023, last year we established a 0:21:19.998 --> 0:21:24.888 partnership with Lions Outback Vision in Broome. And basically we 0:21:24.888 --> 0:21:29.238 actually have set up a um, specialist service for people 0:21:29.238 --> 0:21:32.088 who are blind or have low vision in the remote 0:21:32.088 --> 0:21:36.438 area of Broome and in WA, because we did find 0:21:36.438 --> 0:21:40.578 that a lot of First Nations people were lacking those 0:21:40.578 --> 0:21:46.038 services or access to vision services. And we do know 0:21:46.038 --> 0:21:49.638 the research does show that vision conditions are more prevalent 0:21:49.638 --> 0:21:54.258 among South First Nations communities. So it was really time 0:21:54.258 --> 0:21:57.768 that we set up a permanent kind of service before 0:21:57.768 --> 0:22:00.258 we had to kind of fly and fly out model, 0:22:00.258 --> 0:22:03.858 but something more concrete needed to be established. So now 0:22:03.858 --> 0:22:06.678 that it's all set up, we do have a client 0:22:06.678 --> 0:22:09.888 base that is growing over there. So yeah, we actually 0:22:09.888 --> 0:22:13.458 are just doing some media around that really just to 0:22:13.458 --> 0:22:16.698 actually spread the word that we are in Broome now, 0:22:16.698 --> 0:22:20.238 we're permanently in Broome. And you know, whoever needs our 0:22:20.238 --> 0:22:23.898 help can definitely contact us and we'll be there. So 0:22:23.898 --> 0:22:27.408 we've got one of our service providers, Renee there. And yeah, 0:22:27.408 --> 0:22:30.948 she's doing an incredible job and we're really excited to 0:22:30.948 --> 0:22:34.338 see more of this stuff. These types of services set 0:22:34.338 --> 0:22:38.508 up in remote and regional um, areas because they are needed. 0:22:38.538 --> 0:22:41.658 And it started off with Alice Springs where there for 0:22:41.658 --> 0:22:44.328 quite a bit, and it's great to hear that it 0:22:44.328 --> 0:22:47.958 has spread over to Broome now. So very keen to 0:22:47.958 --> 0:22:51.498 see how that all unfolds and um the positive eye 0:22:51.498 --> 0:22:55.788 health outcomes. That that can bring to the local communities 0:22:55.788 --> 0:22:58.818 there for sure. So very important work and really keen 0:22:58.818 --> 0:23:01.968 to see how that goes. Now Steph, thanks so much 0:23:01.968 --> 0:23:05.628 for your time today. I've been speaking today with Steph 0:23:05.628 --> 0:23:10.278 from the communications team at Vision Australia all about the 0:23:10.278 --> 0:23:14.478 latest happenings around the organisation. Steph, thanks so much for 0:23:14.478 --> 0:23:16.728 your time. As always. It was a pleasure to have 0:23:16.728 --> 0:23:17.778 you on the show again. 0:23:17.898 --> 0:23:21.018 Thanks, Sam. Pleasure to be here. Thanks so much. 0:23:27.948 --> 0:23:30.318 And now to wrap up with a little bit of 0:23:30.318 --> 0:23:34.818 news and information, and the Vision Australia library will be 0:23:34.818 --> 0:23:39.108 hosting a couple of events in conjunction with the Melbourne 0:23:39.108 --> 0:23:43.638 Writers Festival in early May on the 10th of May. 0:23:43.668 --> 0:23:48.168 In fact, Friday night at 6 p.m. we kick off 0:23:48.168 --> 0:23:54.288 with Toby Walsh Machines Behaving Badly. Join world leading artificial 0:23:54.288 --> 0:23:59.538 intelligence expert Toby Walsh as he examines the possibilities and 0:23:59.538 --> 0:24:05.868 perils of emerging AI technologies, from ChatGPT to facial recognition 0:24:05.868 --> 0:24:11.088 and self-driving cars. With Elizabeth McCarthy. The gathering pace of 0:24:11.088 --> 0:24:16.248 artificial intelligence, including the rollout of ChatGPT, has stunned the 0:24:16.248 --> 0:24:20.928 world this past year, fuelling duelling excitement and debate about 0:24:20.928 --> 0:24:25.998 its use here. From leading AI expert and machines behaving 0:24:25.998 --> 0:24:30.258 badly the morality of AI. Author Toby Walsh for a 0:24:30.258 --> 0:24:35.748 discussion about the ethical considerations and unexpected consequences that these 0:24:35.748 --> 0:24:40.758 new technologies pose. He chats with Elizabeth McCarthy about a 0:24:40.758 --> 0:24:44.418 range of issues, from concerns about the role chatbots may 0:24:44.418 --> 0:24:49.188 play in amplifying misinformation, to the ways in which AI 0:24:49.188 --> 0:24:54.168 is quietly improving life behind the scenes. That's Toby Walsh 0:24:54.168 --> 0:24:58.728 Machines Behaving Badly at 6 p.m. on the 10th of May. 0:24:58.848 --> 0:25:04.098 But following on from Toby that same night at 8 p.m. 0:25:04.098 --> 0:25:08.178 at the Vision Australia Library, we hear from Louise Milligan 0:25:08.178 --> 0:25:14.328 with Pheasants Nest. Award winning writer and journalist Louise Milligan 0:25:14.328 --> 0:25:19.728 discusses Pheasants Nest, her stunning debut literary thriller about an 0:25:19.728 --> 0:25:25.518 abducted reporter, in conversation with Mark Dupin. A stunning and 0:25:25.518 --> 0:25:30.618 surprising literary thriller with a gigantic heart. Pheasants nest is 0:25:30.618 --> 0:25:34.578 a novel about an abducted reporter told by award winning 0:25:34.578 --> 0:25:39.768 writer and journalist Louise Milligan. It's gained wide acclaim as 0:25:39.768 --> 0:25:42.918 a story as addictive as Gone Girl, but with a 0:25:42.918 --> 0:25:47.238 distinctive Australian voice and a crime novel that could only 0:25:47.238 --> 0:25:51.558 be written by a foreign journalists. So original, funny and true. 0:25:51.738 --> 0:25:58.068 Milligan discusses her thrilling debut with Mark Dupin That's Louise Milligan, 0:25:58.068 --> 0:26:02.058 Pheasants Nest, at 8 p.m. on the 10th of May 0:26:02.058 --> 0:26:05.928 at the Vision Australia Library. And if you'd like to 0:26:05.928 --> 0:26:09.768 book your ticket to either one of these events at 0:26:09.768 --> 0:26:13.668 the Vision Australia Library on the 10th of May, you 0:26:13.668 --> 0:26:18.978 can head to the Melbourne Writer's Festival website at mwv. 0:26:19.308 --> 0:26:26.298 Compu that's MWF. Com.au or you can of course head 0:26:26.298 --> 0:26:31.848 to the Vision Australia website with registration links and more 0:26:31.848 --> 0:26:41.928 information about each event in question@vision.org. That's Vision australia.org and 0:26:41.928 --> 0:26:44.808 that's all the time we have for today. You've been 0:26:44.808 --> 0:26:49.368 listening to Talking Vision. Talking vision is a Vision Australia 0:26:49.368 --> 0:26:53.298 radio production. Thanks to all involved with putting the show 0:26:53.298 --> 0:26:57.198 together every week. And remember we love hearing from you. 0:26:57.198 --> 0:27:00.738 So please get in touch anytime on our email at 0:27:00.738 --> 0:27:06.078 Talking Vision. At Vision australia.org. That's talking vision or one 0:27:06.078 --> 0:27:10.908 word at Vision australia.org. But until next week it's Sam 0:27:10.908 --> 0:27:12.798 Cowley saying bye for now. 0:27:16.478 --> 0:27:20.528 You can contact Vision Australia by phoning us anytime during 0:27:20.528 --> 0:27:29.408 business hours on one 308 4746. That's one 384 746 0:27:29.408 --> 0:27:34.658 or by visiting Vision australia.org. That's Vision Australia call.