WEBVTT - Talking Vision 757 Week Beginning 2nd of December 2024 0:00:13.070 --> 0:00:18.890 From Vision Australia. This is talking vision. And now here's 0:00:18.890 --> 0:00:20.930 your host Sam Colley. 0:00:23.180 --> 0:00:26.540 Hello, everyone. It's great to be here with you. And 0:00:26.540 --> 0:00:29.510 for the next half hour, we talk matters of blindness 0:00:29.510 --> 0:00:30.530 and low vision. 0:00:30.560 --> 0:00:34.250 The first time I went to an audio described event 0:00:34.250 --> 0:00:37.580 was to Phantom of the opera. And it was a 0:00:37.580 --> 0:00:40.729 long time ago. A very long time ago. I really 0:00:40.760 --> 0:00:43.609 liked it so much. I was sitting in my seat 0:00:43.610 --> 0:00:48.169 crying because it was such a good experience. I don't 0:00:48.169 --> 0:00:52.460 cry every time I die now, but I do believe 0:00:52.459 --> 0:00:57.080 that a good audio description adds so much to an 0:00:57.080 --> 0:00:59.630 event for those of us who can't see. 0:00:59.660 --> 0:01:03.910 Welcome to the program! This week we hear from a 0:01:03.910 --> 0:01:07.959 couple of audio description users who have a lot of 0:01:07.959 --> 0:01:12.429 positive things to say about the audio description at the 0:01:12.429 --> 0:01:19.119 Vision Australia Carols by Candlelight after attending the 2023 iteration, 0:01:19.119 --> 0:01:23.470 and you'll hear from them very shortly, so make sure 0:01:23.470 --> 0:01:27.699 to stick around to hear from Janine and Michael. Then 0:01:27.700 --> 0:01:31.690 after you hear from Janine and Michael. I'm joined by 0:01:31.720 --> 0:01:35.649 Keith Mcvilly, who's here to tell us all about an 0:01:35.649 --> 0:01:41.050 upcoming consultation, which is taking place over the next week 0:01:41.080 --> 0:01:44.980 and a half, for people to have their say about 0:01:44.980 --> 0:01:51.490 disability registration standards. I hope you enjoy this week's episode 0:01:51.490 --> 0:01:59.320 of Talking Vision. Starting off the show this week, I 0:01:59.320 --> 0:02:04.530 speak with a couple of Carols by Candlelight. Attendees who 0:02:04.560 --> 0:02:09.300 headed along to last year's carols with their own audio 0:02:09.300 --> 0:02:14.610 description devices for them to follow along in real time 0:02:14.610 --> 0:02:18.570 with the event as it played out. Their names are 0:02:18.600 --> 0:02:24.660 Janine Sardo and Michael Jaynes and they join me now. Janine. Michael, 0:02:24.660 --> 0:02:27.840 welcome to Talking Vision. Thanks so much for your time. 0:02:28.260 --> 0:02:29.820 Thank you Sam. Thank you. 0:02:29.850 --> 0:02:34.260 Janine, I'd love to start with you and get your 0:02:34.260 --> 0:02:40.170 experience with audio description at the carols in 2023. So 0:02:40.200 --> 0:02:43.350 what was that like to be at the ball with them? 0:02:43.350 --> 0:02:44.790 The audio description. 0:02:44.790 --> 0:02:49.350 Was really quite exciting for me to be at the bowl. Um, 0:02:49.350 --> 0:02:53.220 we had very good seats up near the front, very 0:02:53.220 --> 0:02:57.390 near the front. So Michael and I and some other 0:02:57.390 --> 0:03:00.840 people actually met in the city, and Michael knew the 0:03:00.840 --> 0:03:03.600 way to the bowl, so that was all fine. We 0:03:03.600 --> 0:03:09.150 were instructed where to get our audio description receivers and 0:03:09.150 --> 0:03:11.850 that all went well. Then we made our way down 0:03:11.850 --> 0:03:15.450 to the front, to the seats and they were such 0:03:15.450 --> 0:03:19.320 good seats, which was really good. You felt really close 0:03:19.320 --> 0:03:21.720 and really a part of the event. 0:03:21.900 --> 0:03:25.770 Okay. And Michael, what was your experience like? 0:03:26.160 --> 0:03:29.340 Yes. This is the first time I've been to Carol's 0:03:29.340 --> 0:03:32.250 or had been to Carol's. I'd watched it on telly 0:03:32.280 --> 0:03:37.530 for 50 plus years, so I was quite excited and curious. 0:03:37.530 --> 0:03:41.100 And as Janine said, our seats were right at the front, 0:03:41.100 --> 0:03:46.170 so there was some toing and froing of camera people 0:03:46.170 --> 0:03:49.530 and so forth, which occasionally jumped across in front of us. 0:03:49.530 --> 0:03:54.030 But generally it was a wonderful experience of being so 0:03:54.030 --> 0:03:57.240 close and so much in what was going on. And 0:03:57.240 --> 0:04:00.890 it was The concerts are great on telly, but nothing 0:04:00.920 --> 0:04:04.400 beats being there in person. So it was, it was 0:04:04.400 --> 0:04:06.920 really exciting from that point of view. We were very fortunate. 0:04:06.950 --> 0:04:11.090 It poured rain, our seats were under cover, but it 0:04:11.090 --> 0:04:14.450 started just after we got there and it concluded just 0:04:14.450 --> 0:04:17.239 before we left. But I certainly feel for the people 0:04:17.240 --> 0:04:19.940 sitting further back who would have got very, very wet. 0:04:19.940 --> 0:04:23.690 And I commend them for their courage in sticking it out. 0:04:23.690 --> 0:04:27.200 But it was a wonderful concert with great performers, so 0:04:27.200 --> 0:04:28.700 I enjoyed it immensely. 0:04:28.790 --> 0:04:32.690 I'm keen to get your review or your feedback or 0:04:32.690 --> 0:04:37.940 whatever word you feel appropriate as to the audio description 0:04:37.940 --> 0:04:41.660 itself on the night. And Janine, what did you sort 0:04:41.690 --> 0:04:44.690 of enjoy the most from that side of things while 0:04:44.690 --> 0:04:45.919 you're at the carols. 0:04:46.220 --> 0:04:49.909 Having the blanks filled in of what was happening that 0:04:49.910 --> 0:04:54.710 you couldn't hear, and at some stages the music was 0:04:54.740 --> 0:04:59.110 it was an overpoweringly loud, but it was loud. But 0:04:59.110 --> 0:05:02.890 there were lots of things happening as well that the 0:05:02.890 --> 0:05:07.240 audio describer told us about. And it's just good to 0:05:07.360 --> 0:05:12.099 know about these things and just have some more information. 0:05:12.100 --> 0:05:15.670 So I listened to the audio description all the way 0:05:15.670 --> 0:05:21.010 through the concert, which was really good. And as well 0:05:21.040 --> 0:05:25.870 as Michael said, there were backstage or front stage things 0:05:25.870 --> 0:05:30.250 happening that wouldn't have gone through the television or didn't 0:05:30.250 --> 0:05:33.909 get mentioned on the audio description either. But, you know, 0:05:33.940 --> 0:05:37.390 that was quite interesting to see how they put together 0:05:37.390 --> 0:05:41.170 the show a bit, because there was talking a bit 0:05:41.200 --> 0:05:46.090 to the acts and stuff like that, but everything that 0:05:46.090 --> 0:05:50.530 could have been described was described very well, I thought. 0:05:50.560 --> 0:05:53.770 And Michael, what were your thoughts on that and your 0:05:53.820 --> 0:05:58.140 experiences as, you know, somebody with, um, quite a bit 0:05:58.140 --> 0:06:01.290 of vision. There's still and I can relate to this 0:06:01.290 --> 0:06:04.560 as someone in the similar boat, quite a few details 0:06:04.560 --> 0:06:08.190 that you miss out on because they're quite small or 0:06:08.190 --> 0:06:10.440 they're over in the corner of the screen, or you 0:06:10.440 --> 0:06:14.100 can't quite make them out as well as possible, but 0:06:14.100 --> 0:06:16.950 the audio description, I guess, fills in the gaps, as 0:06:16.950 --> 0:06:18.510 Janine says, in that way. 0:06:19.050 --> 0:06:21.510 Yes. Um, so you are correct. I do have what 0:06:21.510 --> 0:06:25.770 I consider fairly useful low vision. So I am legally blind. 0:06:25.770 --> 0:06:30.150 And my overall use of audio description, which I've only 0:06:30.180 --> 0:06:32.760 used a few times, but I've used it at musicals 0:06:32.760 --> 0:06:35.850 and plays and at carols. So it's sort of different 0:06:35.880 --> 0:06:39.810 types of events, is that if I'm sitting in the 0:06:39.810 --> 0:06:43.920 first few rows of any concert or event, I think 0:06:43.920 --> 0:06:47.969 I've got a reasonably good grasp of what is going on, 0:06:47.970 --> 0:06:51.480 but it just adds those extra little bits. You know, 0:06:51.540 --> 0:06:56.430 someone's moved from here. The set has changed. These people 0:06:56.460 --> 0:07:00.480 are moving around as they sing those sorts of things 0:07:00.480 --> 0:07:04.590 that you may get most of, but you just probably 0:07:04.590 --> 0:07:07.349 don't know what you're missing out on until those gaps 0:07:07.350 --> 0:07:08.190 are filled in. 0:07:08.220 --> 0:07:12.180 That's it. And especially when there's things like text or 0:07:12.210 --> 0:07:15.900 numbers or signs or anything like that, that's the big 0:07:15.900 --> 0:07:19.500 part where you need a bit more assistance with those 0:07:19.500 --> 0:07:22.980 sort of things. So I think that's where audio description 0:07:22.980 --> 0:07:26.820 comes into its own for me personally. But as we've said, 0:07:26.820 --> 0:07:30.450 it's quite different for everyone and it is very important 0:07:30.450 --> 0:07:34.830 to have these sorts of things at live events. So, Janine, 0:07:34.830 --> 0:07:38.430 I'll come back to you and just get your perspective 0:07:38.430 --> 0:07:42.570 on why having audio description at live events like the 0:07:42.570 --> 0:07:44.490 carols is so important. 0:07:45.180 --> 0:07:48.420 Well, it just tells us the things that we don't 0:07:48.450 --> 0:07:52.220 know if you can't see them. I couldn't see the stage. 0:07:52.220 --> 0:07:55.430 And so it told me a lot about what was 0:07:55.430 --> 0:08:00.770 happening on the stage. And also it just really makes 0:08:00.770 --> 0:08:07.040 the event much more accessible. And I do tell this story. 0:08:07.040 --> 0:08:10.850 The first time I went to an audio described event 0:08:10.850 --> 0:08:14.180 was to Phantom of the opera, and it was a 0:08:14.180 --> 0:08:17.960 long time ago, a very long time ago, and I 0:08:17.960 --> 0:08:20.840 really loved it so much. I was sitting in my 0:08:20.840 --> 0:08:26.360 seat crying because it was such a good experience. So, uh, 0:08:26.390 --> 0:08:30.080 I don't cry every time I die now. But I 0:08:30.080 --> 0:08:36.260 do believe that a good audio description adds so much 0:08:36.260 --> 0:08:39.380 to an event for those of us who can't see 0:08:39.410 --> 0:08:41.600 it or can't see it very well. 0:08:41.599 --> 0:08:45.290 And Michael, what's your perspective? What do you think it 0:08:45.290 --> 0:08:50.079 is so important for not only yourself and Jeanine, but 0:08:50.079 --> 0:08:53.229 so many other people out there in the blind and 0:08:53.229 --> 0:08:57.489 low vision community who do head along to live events 0:08:57.490 --> 0:09:00.880 like it's not just the carols, but the theater. As 0:09:01.030 --> 0:09:02.709 Jeanine mentioned there. 0:09:03.130 --> 0:09:06.069 I'm only an occasional attender of events, but the thing 0:09:06.069 --> 0:09:08.200 I would say, Sam. And yes, it is getting away 0:09:08.229 --> 0:09:12.760 slightly from carols, but the same sort of principles apply. 0:09:12.790 --> 0:09:15.370 I remember going to see Come From Away a year 0:09:15.370 --> 0:09:18.339 or two ago, where there were very basic sets, but 0:09:18.339 --> 0:09:21.879 the sets shifted multiple times during the show, and a 0:09:21.880 --> 0:09:24.699 lot of that was done with, I think, trick lighting 0:09:24.699 --> 0:09:28.779 and photography and similar things. The fact that the audio 0:09:28.780 --> 0:09:31.719 describer was able to say, well, the shift is just 0:09:31.719 --> 0:09:36.609 automatically and seamlessly shifted from sitting in a cafe to 0:09:36.640 --> 0:09:39.969 being on an airplane. It really just helps set the 0:09:39.969 --> 0:09:43.300 scene a bit more than you would get otherwise. And 0:09:43.300 --> 0:09:45.579 the other one I would mention is I saw and 0:09:45.579 --> 0:09:48.239 I forget the name of the play, which is terrible. 0:09:48.270 --> 0:09:52.229 Melbourne Theatre Company with Justine Clarke doing Julia Gillard. I 0:09:52.229 --> 0:09:54.660 think it may have been just called Julia, and that 0:09:54.660 --> 0:09:58.500 was only two people on stage for the whole performance, 0:09:58.500 --> 0:10:01.830 but there were quite a few little props used and 0:10:01.829 --> 0:10:04.530 to be able to get the audio describer to say, well, 0:10:04.559 --> 0:10:07.380 you know, now there's item X on the stage or 0:10:07.380 --> 0:10:10.709 she's doing this or has picked up this really added 0:10:10.709 --> 0:10:13.740 to the experience where you may may lose that at 0:10:13.740 --> 0:10:17.219 other times at that performance. The seats I was in 0:10:17.250 --> 0:10:19.500 weren't near the front. They were probably two thirds of 0:10:19.500 --> 0:10:23.850 the way back in the theatre. So adding that little 0:10:23.880 --> 0:10:27.870 bit of extra really, really just added something to what 0:10:27.870 --> 0:10:29.160 you would have got otherwise. 0:10:29.189 --> 0:10:32.760 It's really interesting to hear that you've had those experiences 0:10:32.760 --> 0:10:35.910 with theatre, but as we know, there's quite a few 0:10:35.910 --> 0:10:40.559 more things appearing on TV these days. And, you know, 0:10:40.589 --> 0:10:45.989 have you both been enjoying TV shows with audio description on, 0:10:46.020 --> 0:10:49.379 you know, channels like ABC and SBS but also, you know, 0:10:49.410 --> 0:10:52.260 streaming platforms now have it as well, don't they? 0:10:52.290 --> 0:10:56.819 I only enjoy it on ABC and SBS don't do 0:10:56.819 --> 0:11:00.929 any streaming. Oh yes, I have a couple of Netflix 0:11:00.929 --> 0:11:05.069 at friends places and I really do like it for 0:11:05.069 --> 0:11:08.729 the theater. I have done it in cinemas and that 0:11:08.729 --> 0:11:11.790 could make the difference whether I go to the cinema 0:11:11.790 --> 0:11:15.629 or not. Having audio description I'm a very big fan 0:11:15.630 --> 0:11:18.149 of audio description in the cinema. 0:11:18.270 --> 0:11:21.420 Michael, what about you? Do you, um, watch a few 0:11:21.420 --> 0:11:22.170 things on TV? 0:11:22.199 --> 0:11:26.909 With experience of using it myself. But from the interactions 0:11:26.910 --> 0:11:30.540 and discussions I've had with other blind and vision impaired people, 0:11:30.540 --> 0:11:36.329 it is obviously a really, really important thing to allow 0:11:36.359 --> 0:11:40.410 blind and vision impaired people to participate in all aspects 0:11:40.410 --> 0:11:44.119 of media, So it's not arguable. It's a given that 0:11:44.120 --> 0:11:48.589 these services must be provided to allow the same, well, 0:11:48.620 --> 0:11:53.900 close to the same access to all sorts of visual performances. 0:11:53.929 --> 0:11:57.829 And I guess that's where Vision Australia comes in with 0:11:57.829 --> 0:12:02.510 their involvement with the audio description, doing all that work 0:12:02.510 --> 0:12:06.050 in the background to make it a seamless experience for 0:12:06.050 --> 0:12:10.610 the audience. You know, things like ensuring the audio description 0:12:10.609 --> 0:12:14.240 signals clear and it's got good coverage across the bowl 0:12:14.240 --> 0:12:17.660 regardless of your seat position, because you want to make 0:12:17.689 --> 0:12:20.090 sure that no matter where you are, you do get 0:12:20.120 --> 0:12:23.660 great coverage, even if you're further back and hopefully not 0:12:23.660 --> 0:12:27.829 in the rain. But sometimes those things do happen. But 0:12:27.829 --> 0:12:31.489 I understand that this year, the way that they have 0:12:31.490 --> 0:12:35.270 set it up, you can tick a box to say, oh, 0:12:35.300 --> 0:12:39.199 you know, yes, I require an audio description device. And 0:12:39.199 --> 0:12:41.920 so when you show up at the bowl, they show 0:12:41.949 --> 0:12:46.089 you over to the booth where the devices are available, 0:12:46.089 --> 0:12:49.209 and people can get set up that way. How has 0:12:49.209 --> 0:12:53.260 that sort of thing for you? Last year, Jeanine and Michael, 0:12:53.260 --> 0:12:55.569 what was the situation there? How did you sort of 0:12:55.599 --> 0:12:58.929 go about getting your audio description device, and was that 0:12:58.929 --> 0:12:59.949 quite seamless? 0:12:59.979 --> 0:13:03.580 Yes, for me it was, yes. And I think for Michael, 0:13:03.579 --> 0:13:06.729 I was probably with him. Yes. They as soon as 0:13:06.729 --> 0:13:09.850 we came in, we said we've got to get our 0:13:09.849 --> 0:13:15.189 audio description receivers. And we were shown exactly where to go. 0:13:15.189 --> 0:13:19.090 And it was all very, very well organized, I thought. 0:13:19.120 --> 0:13:21.459 Michael, did you have the same experience? 0:13:21.490 --> 0:13:23.709 Yes. I would agree with Jeanine. We, as I said, 0:13:23.709 --> 0:13:25.929 we'd met up with always. Jeanine said we'd met up 0:13:25.929 --> 0:13:28.449 before a group of us. But as soon as we 0:13:28.449 --> 0:13:31.300 got to the entry to the bowl, we said, this 0:13:31.300 --> 0:13:34.269 is what we need to do. And one of the 0:13:34.270 --> 0:13:37.540 staff or volunteers on the front gate at the bowl 0:13:37.540 --> 0:13:40.770 bone showed us to the store or caravan where we 0:13:40.770 --> 0:13:44.010 needed to pick up our AV receivers, and that was 0:13:44.010 --> 0:13:46.829 all pretty seamless. And then we trotted off to our 0:13:46.829 --> 0:13:50.069 seats and just remembered to deliver them back at the end, 0:13:50.069 --> 0:13:51.390 because I don't think it would have gone down that 0:13:51.390 --> 0:13:53.790 well if we forgot to give them back. 0:13:53.819 --> 0:13:57.869 Certainly not. But, um, it is easy to pick up 0:13:57.870 --> 0:14:01.380 an audio description receiver on the way in. And as 0:14:01.380 --> 0:14:03.780 of this year, and I'm sure it was the same 0:14:03.780 --> 0:14:07.650 in past years as well. A similar situation at some 0:14:07.679 --> 0:14:10.860 on the left, past the main gates at the cloakroom, 0:14:10.859 --> 0:14:14.880 and the audio description team have also ensured that all 0:14:14.910 --> 0:14:17.910 of the ground staff at the front of House of 0:14:17.910 --> 0:14:22.259 the carols are aware of where the ad receivers are, 0:14:22.290 --> 0:14:27.540 should any audience members make an enquiry. And just to 0:14:27.570 --> 0:14:31.410 wrap up some info for how to book for tickets 0:14:31.410 --> 0:14:35.070 this year with audio description if people out there are 0:14:35.070 --> 0:14:39.570 interested in heading along to the Sidney Myer Music Bowl. 0:14:39.600 --> 0:14:44.580 You can get a live audio description of what's happening 0:14:44.580 --> 0:14:49.680 on the stage. It's delivered through receivers that we've discussed previously, 0:14:49.680 --> 0:14:53.400 so these can be booked at the time of purchasing 0:14:53.430 --> 0:14:58.260 tickets by following the prompt on the Ticketek webpage or 0:14:58.260 --> 0:15:06.630 over the phone at one 301 3300. That's one 301 3300. 0:15:06.660 --> 0:15:09.390 Now it's free of charge and it can be booked 0:15:09.390 --> 0:15:14.940 when you're ordering your tickets under audio Description receiver. If 0:15:14.940 --> 0:15:18.899 you also would love to listen to the radio, you 0:15:18.900 --> 0:15:22.770 maybe can't get to the bowl or you can't get 0:15:22.770 --> 0:15:26.070 to a TV, but you'd love to listen on Virgin 0:15:26.100 --> 0:15:30.330 Australia Radio. You can absolutely do that. We'll be providing 0:15:30.330 --> 0:15:35.090 a separate commentary of the night's events alongside audio description 0:15:35.090 --> 0:15:39.440 for those listening at home, the audio description commentary will 0:15:39.440 --> 0:15:43.250 extend further to painting a picture of what's happening in 0:15:43.250 --> 0:15:49.250 the space and how attendees are reacting to performances on stage. Now. 0:15:49.250 --> 0:15:53.180 That program will air live across the Vision Australia radio 0:15:53.180 --> 0:15:58.369 network from 8 p.m. in Adelaide, Perth, Melbourne and regional Victoria, 0:15:58.370 --> 0:16:02.479 but you can also access it on the Vision Australia 0:16:02.479 --> 0:16:09.140 Radio website at VA radio.org that's VA radio.org or through 0:16:09.170 --> 0:16:14.390 the Vision Australia library. I've been speaking today with Michael 0:16:14.420 --> 0:16:20.900 and Janine. Attendees of the 2023 audio described Vision Australia 0:16:20.930 --> 0:16:25.130 Carols by Candlelight at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl, sharing 0:16:25.130 --> 0:16:30.110 their experiences with audio description at the Bowl and looking 0:16:30.109 --> 0:16:33.850 forward to another Carols by Candlelight in just a few 0:16:33.850 --> 0:16:36.700 weeks time. Thank you so much for your time today. 0:16:36.729 --> 0:16:38.470 Great to chat with you both. 0:16:38.590 --> 0:16:39.850 Thank you Sam. 0:16:46.660 --> 0:16:50.590 I'm Sam Culley and you're listening to Talking Vision on 0:16:50.590 --> 0:16:56.470 Vision Australia Radio. Associated stations of Reading Radio and the 0:16:56.470 --> 0:17:01.690 Community Radio Network. I hope you enjoyed that conversation there 0:17:01.690 --> 0:17:05.800 with Janine and Michael. If you missed any part of 0:17:05.830 --> 0:17:09.910 that conversation or you'd love to hear it again. Talking 0:17:09.909 --> 0:17:15.040 vision is available on the Vision Australia Radio website. Just 0:17:15.040 --> 0:17:21.759 head to RVA radio.org. That's RVA radio.org to check it 0:17:21.760 --> 0:17:25.810 out there. Or you can find the program on the 0:17:25.810 --> 0:17:29.590 podcast app of your choice or through the Vision Australia 0:17:29.590 --> 0:17:34.379 a library coming up now. I speak with Keith Mcvilly, 0:17:34.409 --> 0:17:40.560 member of the Disability Worker Registration Board of Victoria, who 0:17:40.560 --> 0:17:47.040 are currently conducting public consultation on disability registration standards, which 0:17:47.040 --> 0:17:51.749 will finish on the 13th of December. So to have 0:17:51.750 --> 0:17:55.050 a chat all about this, I'm very pleased to be 0:17:55.050 --> 0:17:59.730 joined by Keith right now. Keith, welcome to Talking Vision. 0:17:59.760 --> 0:18:01.740 Thanks very much for your time. 0:18:02.129 --> 0:18:05.040 Thanks very much for the invitation to come on, Sam. 0:18:05.070 --> 0:18:08.400 Firstly, Keith, could you tell us a little bit about 0:18:08.399 --> 0:18:12.660 the commission and the board and their role in assisting 0:18:12.659 --> 0:18:15.149 the disability sector in Victoria? 0:18:15.780 --> 0:18:20.490 Yes. So the Victorian Disability Workers Commission and the Victorian 0:18:20.490 --> 0:18:24.540 Disability Workers Registration Board is a first of its kind 0:18:24.540 --> 0:18:29.999 in Australia, and it was set up under the 2018 0:18:30.000 --> 0:18:34.440 Safeguarding Act here in Victoria, and it's designed to provide 0:18:34.440 --> 0:18:39.240 a mechanism to register those providing support to people with disability. 0:18:39.270 --> 0:18:45.150 Okay. And Keith, what is Victorian disability worker registration. 0:18:45.899 --> 0:18:49.920 Right. So the registration scheme, it's a voluntary scheme at 0:18:49.919 --> 0:18:53.790 the moment. And it offers an opportunity for the disability 0:18:53.820 --> 0:18:58.530 workforce to measure themselves against a set of standards to 0:18:58.560 --> 0:19:03.270 be registered. And through that registration, be able to communicate 0:19:03.270 --> 0:19:06.720 to people with disability as their clients that they are 0:19:06.750 --> 0:19:10.649 a person who is knowledgeable in the field and who 0:19:10.649 --> 0:19:13.080 is going to practice safely. 0:19:13.470 --> 0:19:18.270 Mhm. Okay. And Keith, does this consultation and these standards 0:19:18.270 --> 0:19:22.770 have anything to do with NDIS registration by any chance? 0:19:23.010 --> 0:19:27.919 No. Our scheme is quite independent of the NDIS. It 0:19:27.919 --> 0:19:32.149 relates only to the workforce here in Victoria. Mind you 0:19:32.149 --> 0:19:35.750 are based on a recent study at RMIT. We've got 0:19:35.750 --> 0:19:42.050 over 155,000 plus disability workers working across Victoria every day, 0:19:42.050 --> 0:19:45.709 and our scheme applies only to Victoria. 0:19:45.740 --> 0:19:50.810 And why are you conducting a public consultation on these 0:19:50.810 --> 0:19:54.290 standards for disability worker registration? 0:19:54.980 --> 0:19:58.010 Yes. Well, the Act of Parliament under which the scheme 0:19:58.040 --> 0:20:03.139 operates enables us to set standards of practice. And soon 0:20:03.139 --> 0:20:08.869 after the scheme was established across 2019 and 2020, we 0:20:08.869 --> 0:20:13.159 entered into a process of establishing some standards for registration, 0:20:13.159 --> 0:20:16.040 and we feel that the time is now, right after 0:20:16.040 --> 0:20:19.369 3 or 4 years, to go back to the community 0:20:19.369 --> 0:20:24.050 and to ask people with disabilities, their families and indeed 0:20:24.070 --> 0:20:28.720 disability workers. Whether these standards are the right standards, whether 0:20:28.720 --> 0:20:32.139 they're clear about what the standards are and whether there 0:20:32.139 --> 0:20:35.050 are any other standards of practice that we should be 0:20:35.050 --> 0:20:38.860 setting to ensure that people with disabilities can be confident 0:20:38.859 --> 0:20:40.960 that they have a safe workforce. 0:20:40.960 --> 0:20:45.820 Certainly. And if people are interested in having their say 0:20:45.820 --> 0:20:50.770 about the registration standards themselves, what do they need to 0:20:50.800 --> 0:20:55.990 know about the standards before they perhaps jump in and 0:20:55.990 --> 0:20:57.340 give their feedback? 0:20:57.369 --> 0:21:01.960 Yeah, well, at the moment we have three standards that 0:21:01.960 --> 0:21:06.429 anybody registering as a disability worker needs to be measured against. 0:21:06.460 --> 0:21:10.720 The first of those standards is a criminal history check. 0:21:10.720 --> 0:21:16.270 And this is very similar to the NDIS criminal history check. 0:21:16.300 --> 0:21:20.440 And that's really about making sure that we have safe 0:21:20.440 --> 0:21:25.770 practitioners in our workforce. The second standard is a standard 0:21:25.770 --> 0:21:30.330 around English language proficiency, and that's about ensuring that our 0:21:30.330 --> 0:21:34.320 workforce can read the documentation that they need to read, 0:21:34.320 --> 0:21:38.369 that they can communicate with their colleagues and with other 0:21:38.369 --> 0:21:42.420 people across the sector. And the third standard, which is 0:21:42.419 --> 0:21:45.840 the most recent standard that we set up, is a 0:21:45.840 --> 0:21:50.280 continuing professional development requirement. And at the moment, that is 0:21:50.280 --> 0:21:54.810 set at ten hours of continuing professional development in any 0:21:54.810 --> 0:21:56.310 one year period. 0:21:56.340 --> 0:22:02.220 And Keith, let's just dig down into why this consultation 0:22:02.220 --> 0:22:06.869 is so important and what benefit it can serve for 0:22:06.869 --> 0:22:10.740 both the Commission and the wider disability community. 0:22:11.399 --> 0:22:15.959 Well, the Commission and the Registration Board is there to 0:22:15.990 --> 0:22:19.980 serve people with disabilities and to ensure that they are 0:22:20.010 --> 0:22:24.479 receiving competent and safe services, and we really want to 0:22:24.510 --> 0:22:29.429 hear from people with disabilities about the standards that they 0:22:29.430 --> 0:22:33.149 expect of their workforce. We want to know what people 0:22:33.149 --> 0:22:37.020 with disabilities are expecting of their workers, and that will 0:22:37.020 --> 0:22:40.440 be the basis of setting the standards. And I suppose 0:22:40.440 --> 0:22:42.540 on the other side of the coin, we want to 0:22:42.570 --> 0:22:46.440 hear from the disability workforce to know what standards are 0:22:46.440 --> 0:22:49.110 important to them as a group of professionals in our 0:22:49.109 --> 0:22:53.219 community and what they would like they and their colleagues 0:22:53.220 --> 0:22:57.209 to be measured against when it comes to safe and 0:22:57.210 --> 0:22:58.949 competent service provision. 0:22:58.950 --> 0:23:04.679 And how can people participate and provide feedback in this consultation? 0:23:05.280 --> 0:23:08.730 Right. Well, there are a number of options. Of course, 0:23:08.730 --> 0:23:13.919 there is the detail on the Victorian Disability Worker registration website, 0:23:13.919 --> 0:23:23.480 and you can get to that website at the dwc.vic.gov noew. 0:23:23.659 --> 0:23:26.990 And that will take you to the home page and 0:23:26.990 --> 0:23:31.970 you'll find the consultation material on the website. You can 0:23:32.000 --> 0:23:44.419 email in comments to consultation at DWC dot vicovu. Or 0:23:44.659 --> 0:23:47.840 please feel free to pick up the phone and phone 0:23:47.869 --> 0:23:55.130 the board on Melbourne 95951044. 0:23:55.250 --> 0:24:00.830 And just a couple of final details. Keith when does 0:24:00.830 --> 0:24:03.949 the consultation close? 0:24:04.190 --> 0:24:08.840 So the consultation will close on the 13th of December, 0:24:08.840 --> 0:24:12.139 which will allow us some time over the Christmas period 0:24:12.139 --> 0:24:15.020 to go through the material, and then we hope to 0:24:15.050 --> 0:24:15.949 have the results. 0:24:15.950 --> 0:24:16.120 Of. 0:24:16.119 --> 0:24:16.209 The. 0:24:16.210 --> 0:24:17.380 Consultation. 0:24:17.379 --> 0:24:20.830 Up on the website early in the new year, and 0:24:20.830 --> 0:24:23.739 any change to the standards that come out of the 0:24:23.740 --> 0:24:26.770 consultation will be in place for the next round of 0:24:26.770 --> 0:24:30.159 registrations late in 2025. 0:24:30.310 --> 0:24:36.040 After the consultation period does close, what are the next steps? 0:24:36.760 --> 0:24:39.699 Right, so the next steps will be for the Commission 0:24:39.700 --> 0:24:44.350 and the board to review the suggestions that people have made. 0:24:44.350 --> 0:24:49.869 And then we will fold those suggestions into a revision 0:24:49.869 --> 0:24:54.129 of the existing standards. If people are looking to additional 0:24:54.129 --> 0:24:57.340 standards to be set, we will certainly be considering setting 0:24:57.340 --> 0:25:01.840 additional standards, and then we will publish those standards on 0:25:01.840 --> 0:25:05.770 the website so they're clear for everybody to see. And 0:25:05.770 --> 0:25:09.220 those standards will then come into play for the next 0:25:09.220 --> 0:25:13.540 round of registrations in September 2025. 0:25:13.810 --> 0:25:18.090 Well, I've been speaking today with Keith Mcvilly, board member 0:25:18.090 --> 0:25:23.729 of the Disability Worker Registration Board of Victoria, who are 0:25:23.730 --> 0:25:30.899 currently conducting public consultation on disability registration standards. And this 0:25:30.899 --> 0:25:35.040 is wrapping up on the 13th of December. So you've 0:25:35.040 --> 0:25:37.740 still got quite a bit of time out there to 0:25:37.770 --> 0:25:42.629 have your say. So get in touch with the YWCA 0:25:42.629 --> 0:25:46.500 and give your feedback. Okay. Thank you so much for 0:25:46.500 --> 0:25:49.320 your time today. Great to catch up with you. 0:25:49.350 --> 0:25:51.959 Thanks a lot, Sam, for your interest. And I'd really 0:25:51.960 --> 0:25:55.740 encourage people to check out the standards on the website 0:25:55.740 --> 0:25:59.010 and to get their feedback in. This is really all 0:25:59.010 --> 0:26:03.090 about making sure that people with disabilities are receiving safe 0:26:03.090 --> 0:26:05.759 and responsible services. 0:26:12.750 --> 0:26:15.899 And that's all the time we have for today. You've 0:26:15.899 --> 0:26:20.100 been listening to Talking Vision. Talking vision is a Vision 0:26:20.129 --> 0:26:24.300 Australia radio production. Thanks to all involved with putting the 0:26:24.300 --> 0:26:28.500 show together every week. And remember, we love hearing from you. 0:26:28.500 --> 0:26:31.770 So please get in touch any time on our email 0:26:31.770 --> 0:26:37.080 at Talking Vision. At Vision australia.org that's talking vision all 0:26:37.080 --> 0:26:41.879 one word at Vision australia.org. But until next week it's 0:26:41.879 --> 0:26:44.340 Sam Colley saying bye for now. 0:26:47.700 --> 0:26:51.900 You can contact Vision Australia by phoning us anytime during 0:26:51.899 --> 0:27:00.749 business hours on one 308 474, double six. That's 1300 847 406 0:27:00.750 --> 0:27:06.270 or by visiting Vision australia.org. That's Vision australia.org.