WEBVTT - Talking Vision 731 Week Beginning 3rd of June 2024 0:00:51.898 --> 0:00:57.698 From Vision Australia. This is talking vision. And now here's 0:00:57.698 --> 0:00:59.678 your host, Sam Coley. 0:01:02.108 --> 0:01:05.348 Hello, everyone. It's great to be here with you. And 0:01:05.348 --> 0:01:08.318 for the next half hour, we talk matters of blindness 0:01:08.318 --> 0:01:09.428 and low vision. 0:01:09.428 --> 0:01:12.458 I feel like it's an unfair expectation to put on 0:01:12.458 --> 0:01:15.428 someone that just because they have a disability, they can 0:01:15.428 --> 0:01:18.428 provide all of this advice and expertise on something. It's 0:01:18.428 --> 0:01:21.698 like we have accessibility consultants for a reason, who you 0:01:21.698 --> 0:01:26.618 can bring in for particular things. And if more venues 0:01:26.618 --> 0:01:29.768 hired those consultants, it would just mean that we could 0:01:29.768 --> 0:01:31.478 turn up and get on with the jobs that we've 0:01:31.478 --> 0:01:33.458 been employed to do and not have to take on 0:01:33.458 --> 0:01:35.318 all this extra stuff as well. 0:01:35.678 --> 0:01:38.858 Welcome to the program. If you live in Melbourne or 0:01:38.858 --> 0:01:42.758 you know somebody in the Melbourne area, there's an exciting 0:01:42.758 --> 0:01:48.338 event coming up later this month specifically focused on performing 0:01:48.338 --> 0:01:52.088 artists who are blind or have low vision, and their 0:01:52.088 --> 0:01:56.198 fights for accessibility in the sector. I'm going to be 0:01:56.198 --> 0:02:00.488 chatting with Lauren and Mikayla, two of the people involved 0:02:00.488 --> 0:02:04.178 in the panel, to discuss that very topic, and you'll 0:02:04.178 --> 0:02:07.868 hear from them very shortly. And then after you hear 0:02:07.868 --> 0:02:11.288 from Lauren and Michaela this week, I catch up with 0:02:11.288 --> 0:02:16.808 Vision Australia chair Bill jolly. He's celebrated six months in 0:02:16.808 --> 0:02:19.538 the role as chair, and I catch up with him 0:02:19.538 --> 0:02:22.688 to have a chat about how the six months have 0:02:22.688 --> 0:02:26.828 panned out. I hope you'll enjoy this week's episode of 0:02:26.828 --> 0:02:35.858 Talking Vision. Our first two guests today are involved in 0:02:35.858 --> 0:02:40.838 the panel The Working Artist Redefining Access, who minds our 0:02:40.838 --> 0:02:45.878 access business run as part of the Disrupting Site at 0:02:45.878 --> 0:02:52.088 Ableism series through the Arts Centre Melbourne, in conjunction with 0:02:52.088 --> 0:02:58.478 Vita Veritas. Their names are Lauren Hayes and Michaela Schmidt, 0:02:58.478 --> 0:03:03.368 and it's my great pleasure to welcome them now. Lauren. Michaela, 0:03:03.368 --> 0:03:06.518 welcome back to Talking Vision. Thank you very much for 0:03:06.518 --> 0:03:07.298 your time. 0:03:07.298 --> 0:03:09.458 Thanks for having us. Thanks for having us. 0:03:09.578 --> 0:03:13.898 Now, Lauren, I'll start with you as the moderator of 0:03:13.898 --> 0:03:16.778 the panel, could you tell us a bit about the 0:03:16.778 --> 0:03:22.388 panel itself as part of the Disrupting cited ableism series? 0:03:22.418 --> 0:03:25.778 Sure. So this panel is the last in the series 0:03:25.778 --> 0:03:29.708 of three workshops, with the previous two being focused on 0:03:29.708 --> 0:03:33.518 audio description. And this panel is a standalone one, so 0:03:33.518 --> 0:03:36.458 you don't have to have registered for the previous two 0:03:36.458 --> 0:03:39.008 workshops to attend. You can just come along to this. 0:03:39.008 --> 0:03:42.518 And the other two speakers are Michaela Schmidt, who you'll 0:03:42.518 --> 0:03:45.668 hear from in a moment, and Olivia muscat. And so 0:03:45.668 --> 0:03:48.188 we are going to be talking about some of the 0:03:48.188 --> 0:03:53.318 access barriers that face artists, particularly those who are blind, 0:03:53.318 --> 0:03:56.858 and ways that we can be addressing those challenges. 0:03:56.858 --> 0:04:00.278 Michaela, I'm keen to hear from you. Now, give us 0:04:00.278 --> 0:04:04.448 a bit of an introduction to yourself, but also your 0:04:04.448 --> 0:04:06.818 role on the panel on the day. 0:04:06.968 --> 0:04:11.348 Sure. So I'm a blind theatre performer and theatre maker. 0:04:11.348 --> 0:04:14.138 So like I do a combination of writing work and 0:04:14.138 --> 0:04:18.998 performing and directing and that sort of thing. And I, yeah, 0:04:18.998 --> 0:04:21.518 have been doing that for a few years now. I 0:04:21.518 --> 0:04:25.838 live regionally as well, so I've been based in regional Victoria, 0:04:25.838 --> 0:04:29.138 so a lot of disabled artists sort of tend to 0:04:29.138 --> 0:04:31.478 be are the ones that we hear about, tend to 0:04:31.478 --> 0:04:34.508 be more metro based. So I'll be bringing a regional 0:04:34.508 --> 0:04:37.868 perspective to the panel and trying to shine a light 0:04:37.898 --> 0:04:41.678 on some of the barriers that regional disabled artists face. 0:04:41.678 --> 0:04:45.308 And yeah, I also work a bit as a freelance 0:04:45.308 --> 0:04:49.808 access consultant and mainly for theatre companies and arts venues. 0:04:49.808 --> 0:04:54.068 So helping them with their physical access and particularly around 0:04:54.068 --> 0:04:58.808 access for blind patrons and artists. Yeah, helping to help 0:04:58.808 --> 0:05:03.788 companies make their work more accessible. Yeah, both for audience members, 0:05:03.788 --> 0:05:06.128 but also for artists who might want to come and 0:05:06.128 --> 0:05:07.538 work in their venues. 0:05:07.538 --> 0:05:12.008 And, Lauren, I'll come to you now. Same question your way. 0:05:12.008 --> 0:05:15.308 Give us a bit of an intro to yourself and 0:05:15.308 --> 0:05:18.698 also role as moderator on the panel. 0:05:18.698 --> 0:05:21.908 Yeah, sure. So I am similar to Michaela in some 0:05:21.908 --> 0:05:25.178 respects where I work as an access consultant within the 0:05:25.178 --> 0:05:29.048 arts sector, working with performers around how they can make 0:05:29.048 --> 0:05:33.308 their works more accessible, but also with artists with disabilities 0:05:33.308 --> 0:05:36.728 around making sure that their access requirements are met, but 0:05:36.728 --> 0:05:40.838 then thinking about audience perspectives as well, and ways that 0:05:40.838 --> 0:05:45.758 we can make events more accessible for consumers of art. 0:05:45.758 --> 0:05:49.388 I also work in the digital accessibility space, so I 0:05:49.388 --> 0:05:52.388 do audits of apps and websites to make sure they 0:05:52.388 --> 0:05:55.928 meet all of their web content accessibility guidelines and provide 0:05:55.928 --> 0:06:00.128 training around creating accessible content and the basics of screen readers. 0:06:00.128 --> 0:06:02.588 For people who may not be as familiar with those. 0:06:02.588 --> 0:06:05.858 I was formerly based in Melbourne and now I live 0:06:05.858 --> 0:06:09.998 in Aotearoa New Zealand and work across both countries. In 0:06:09.998 --> 0:06:13.508 terms of my role on the day as moderator, I'll 0:06:13.508 --> 0:06:17.588 really be fielding questions from the audience but also asking 0:06:17.588 --> 0:06:20.348 our panelists questions, but sharing insights. We're kind of we're 0:06:20.348 --> 0:06:22.058 going with with a little bit of a kind of 0:06:22.058 --> 0:06:25.178 bouncing ideas off each other sort of session rather than 0:06:25.178 --> 0:06:27.848 having it as a really formal thing, because we felt 0:06:27.848 --> 0:06:30.638 like working in a in a more casual way within 0:06:30.638 --> 0:06:33.248 a structure still, but we felt that would work better. 0:06:33.248 --> 0:06:35.078 I'm not going to give too much away, but we 0:06:35.078 --> 0:06:37.718 have some what we think are cool themes for the 0:06:37.718 --> 0:06:39.788 session that we want to explore, but you'll have to 0:06:39.788 --> 0:06:41.348 come along and find out what they are. 0:06:41.348 --> 0:06:45.488 And that session is also, of course, being run through 0:06:45.488 --> 0:06:50.348 Vita Veritas. So I'm interested to hear about how you 0:06:50.348 --> 0:06:54.938 and Michela came across Vita Veritas, got involved with them 0:06:54.938 --> 0:06:58.598 and with Nilgun, the founder. So, Lauren, I'll come back 0:06:58.598 --> 0:06:59.528 to you. 0:06:59.828 --> 0:07:04.058 So I first found out about Vita Veritas. I think 0:07:04.058 --> 0:07:07.298 it was through Melbourne Fringe because I was doing some 0:07:07.298 --> 0:07:12.518 work with them last year as an Access Advisory Panel member, 0:07:12.518 --> 0:07:16.508 and I believe they were working with Vita Veritas on 0:07:16.508 --> 0:07:20.168 some of their events, and I hadn't worked with them previously. 0:07:20.168 --> 0:07:23.348 So I just reached out to Nilgun and talked a 0:07:23.348 --> 0:07:26.588 little bit about what I'm doing in the space, and 0:07:26.588 --> 0:07:28.448 suggested that it would be good to meet, because it's 0:07:28.448 --> 0:07:30.188 always good to get to know other people in the 0:07:30.188 --> 0:07:32.788 sector and what they're up to and. Wondered if there 0:07:32.788 --> 0:07:35.668 might be ways that we could collaborate together. And so 0:07:35.668 --> 0:07:38.128 we've worked on a couple of projects already this year, 0:07:38.128 --> 0:07:40.288 and so I'm excited to be working on this panel 0:07:40.288 --> 0:07:42.628 as well with Nilgun and Makayla. 0:07:42.628 --> 0:07:43.708 How about you? 0:07:43.708 --> 0:07:47.488 So this panel is the first project I've worked on 0:07:47.488 --> 0:07:51.448 with Vita Veritas. I think I was actually recommended by Lauren, 0:07:51.448 --> 0:07:53.908 but um, Nilgun and I have it's one of those 0:07:53.908 --> 0:07:57.358 scenarios where we've heard each other's names around for a 0:07:57.358 --> 0:08:02.008 while now. Nilgun, the founder, offers audio description training, and 0:08:02.008 --> 0:08:04.228 because I've been doing theatre making for a few years now, 0:08:04.228 --> 0:08:08.908 I've worked with other non-disabled artists who were already connected 0:08:08.908 --> 0:08:12.178 with Nilgun and have done audio description training and stuff 0:08:12.178 --> 0:08:14.548 with her, which I think is really exciting. It's great 0:08:14.548 --> 0:08:17.518 to hear that the concept of audio description is becoming 0:08:17.518 --> 0:08:22.918 more widely known amongst mainstream artists. So yeah, that's exciting. 0:08:22.918 --> 0:08:27.238 Now, Lauren, I'm keen to come back to you and Mikayla, 0:08:27.268 --> 0:08:32.998 of course, afterwards to just get your perspectives on specifically 0:08:32.998 --> 0:08:37.708 how we can rework our understanding and practice of access 0:08:37.708 --> 0:08:42.148 when it does come to seeking and supporting disabled talent. 0:08:42.148 --> 0:08:45.748 So Lauren, keen to pick your brain about that. 0:08:45.748 --> 0:08:48.508 Yeah, I feel like this is a we could do 0:08:48.508 --> 0:08:53.428 hours and hours, honestly. Yes. And it's a really multi-layered 0:08:53.428 --> 0:08:56.668 kind of thing. So I guess like in every area 0:08:56.668 --> 0:08:59.998 of employment, there's the issues that you might experience around 0:08:59.998 --> 0:09:04.288 applying for a role and disclosing your disability. And when 0:09:04.288 --> 0:09:05.938 you get to a form that might say, well, do 0:09:05.938 --> 0:09:09.538 you have any access requirements? And it's such a broad question. 0:09:09.538 --> 0:09:12.688 And those access requirements could differ from job to job 0:09:12.688 --> 0:09:16.198 or role to role. And so it's really tricky to 0:09:16.198 --> 0:09:18.538 say it's almost it almost makes you feel as if 0:09:18.538 --> 0:09:21.598 people are looking for that kind of box ticking approach 0:09:21.598 --> 0:09:25.168 to meeting your access requirements. So I guess that's one 0:09:25.168 --> 0:09:28.018 aspect of it. Then once you have your foot in 0:09:28.018 --> 0:09:30.178 the door and you're working either as an arts worker, 0:09:30.178 --> 0:09:32.548 so you might be doing an administrative role or you 0:09:32.548 --> 0:09:36.028 may be working as a performer, it's then communicating your 0:09:36.028 --> 0:09:40.378 access requirements and feeling like you're being listened to and heard, 0:09:40.378 --> 0:09:44.578 but also being supported. So in my experience, just working 0:09:44.578 --> 0:09:47.728 with a lot of artists, people find that they have 0:09:47.728 --> 0:09:51.208 to be their own consultant, like their own access consultant, 0:09:51.208 --> 0:09:53.878 in addition to performing. So they can't just turn up 0:09:53.878 --> 0:09:56.308 and get on and perform. They have to advocate for 0:09:56.308 --> 0:09:59.728 the things that they need to make that work more accessible. 0:09:59.728 --> 0:10:02.698 Whereas if they had somebody who could work with them 0:10:02.698 --> 0:10:05.638 and perhaps advocate on their behalf, then that would take 0:10:05.638 --> 0:10:07.798 some of that pressure off a little bit. So I 0:10:07.798 --> 0:10:11.608 think it's just changing some of those expectations around what 0:10:11.608 --> 0:10:14.458 we are required to do as artists and perhaps not 0:10:14.458 --> 0:10:18.088 blending those, the artist and the consultant role as much 0:10:18.088 --> 0:10:20.068 because they can be quite different. And even though we 0:10:20.068 --> 0:10:23.128 cross both, sometimes I think separating them out a little 0:10:23.128 --> 0:10:26.188 bit is helpful. They're some of my perspectives, but I'd 0:10:26.188 --> 0:10:28.378 love to hear what Mikayla has to say as she's 0:10:28.378 --> 0:10:30.748 been performing much more recently than I have. So I 0:10:30.748 --> 0:10:33.148 think would have some fresher perspectives as well. 0:10:33.148 --> 0:10:36.208 Certainly. And in that regard, Mikayla will come to you 0:10:36.208 --> 0:10:36.928 right now. 0:10:36.928 --> 0:10:39.358 Well, all right. I don't know what I can add. 0:10:39.358 --> 0:10:42.718 That was pretty well said. But, um, I guess one 0:10:42.718 --> 0:10:46.048 thing for me is what Lauren touched on about being heard. 0:10:46.048 --> 0:10:49.138 So yeah, of course this is important in any career, 0:10:49.138 --> 0:10:52.468 but in the arts, networking is particularly important. You know, 0:10:52.468 --> 0:10:54.928 how I got to know people in the sector was 0:10:54.928 --> 0:10:58.468 by going to shows and introducing myself to other artists 0:10:58.468 --> 0:11:01.648 and arts workers at events. And one thing I learned 0:11:01.648 --> 0:11:04.318 pretty early on that was that figuring out my branding 0:11:04.318 --> 0:11:07.528 was going to be important because, as Lauren mentioned, you know, 0:11:07.528 --> 0:11:10.378 I primarily want to be a performer and an artist. 0:11:10.378 --> 0:11:13.018 And so often I get asked to be either just 0:11:13.018 --> 0:11:16.168 an access consultant or to be an access consultant on 0:11:16.168 --> 0:11:20.278 top of performing in a show. And so firstly, kind 0:11:20.278 --> 0:11:22.798 of working out my branding and having the confidence to 0:11:22.798 --> 0:11:26.128 make that clear to the people who might be contracting 0:11:26.128 --> 0:11:28.948 me as important to work out. But then also if 0:11:28.948 --> 0:11:31.678 I have made that really clear of what my role 0:11:31.678 --> 0:11:35.338 or my expertise is for that to actually be heard, 0:11:35.338 --> 0:11:37.888 I feel that, yeah, we're still learning in the sector 0:11:37.888 --> 0:11:44.338 to not just box disabled artists into those stereotyped disabled roles. 0:11:44.338 --> 0:11:47.488 So yeah, and I think particularly as a regional artist, 0:11:47.488 --> 0:11:49.678 I find that people think they're doing a really good 0:11:49.678 --> 0:11:52.258 thing by asking me to do everything, you know, the 0:11:52.258 --> 0:11:56.128 creative work and the accessibility work, because then they feel like, oh, 0:11:56.128 --> 0:11:59.308 we've been really good. We've employed someone local, someone regional 0:11:59.308 --> 0:12:03.268 to do everything. But that's not necessarily the bet. You know, 0:12:03.268 --> 0:12:06.358 it's possible to have more than one disabled person working 0:12:06.358 --> 0:12:10.048 on one project. That's totally fine. And so I think, yeah, 0:12:10.048 --> 0:12:12.868 learning to look a little bit further, do a little 0:12:12.868 --> 0:12:16.168 bit more research, because there are both disabled artists and 0:12:16.168 --> 0:12:19.828 access consultants out there, and I think people learning how 0:12:19.828 --> 0:12:22.708 to find them and do the networking, rather than us 0:12:22.708 --> 0:12:24.988 always having to be the ones reaching out and doing 0:12:24.988 --> 0:12:28.078 that networking would be great as well if you're not disabled. 0:12:28.078 --> 0:12:31.288 So yeah, I guess for the disabled person it's about 0:12:31.288 --> 0:12:34.168 thinking about your. Branding and what you're willing to do. 0:12:34.168 --> 0:12:37.048 And then for the non-disabled people, it's about doing more 0:12:37.048 --> 0:12:39.928 research and networking to find those people. 0:12:39.958 --> 0:12:42.748 Yeah, another really good example of that. And this happens 0:12:42.748 --> 0:12:44.848 not just in the art sector but anywhere. And it's 0:12:44.848 --> 0:12:46.768 quite common. So I think it's good. Just to mention, 0:12:46.768 --> 0:12:48.958 to illustrate this point, is that I know so many 0:12:48.958 --> 0:12:51.898 people who in their roles, which may have nothing to 0:12:51.898 --> 0:12:54.358 do with disability at all, people will come to them 0:12:54.358 --> 0:12:56.308 and say, oh, can you please check this part of 0:12:56.308 --> 0:12:59.308 our website or this document to make sure that it's accessible? 0:12:59.338 --> 0:13:01.348 Because they might be one of the only people with 0:13:01.348 --> 0:13:04.078 disabilities in that organisation. And so they want to make 0:13:04.078 --> 0:13:06.568 sure that they're meeting all of the accessibility guidelines. But 0:13:06.568 --> 0:13:09.388 that might not be a person's strength, and they're having 0:13:09.388 --> 0:13:11.668 to do that on top of their regular work. And 0:13:11.668 --> 0:13:14.548 even though I suppose they're incorporating it into their hours, 0:13:14.548 --> 0:13:17.278 so they're still getting paid. But I feel like it's 0:13:17.278 --> 0:13:20.698 an unfair expectation to put on someone that just because 0:13:20.698 --> 0:13:22.978 they have a disability, they can provide all of this 0:13:22.978 --> 0:13:26.518 advice and expertise on something. It's like we have accessibility 0:13:26.518 --> 0:13:29.518 consultants for a reason, who you can bring in for 0:13:29.518 --> 0:13:35.158 particular things. And if more venues hired those consultants on 0:13:35.158 --> 0:13:37.618 a regular basis, just to make sure that things were 0:13:37.618 --> 0:13:41.308 in check, both in terms of physical access and digital 0:13:41.308 --> 0:13:43.888 and then the art space, just being that person who 0:13:43.918 --> 0:13:47.128 can help with making sure an artist's requirements are met, 0:13:47.128 --> 0:13:48.838 it would just mean that we could turn up and 0:13:48.838 --> 0:13:51.178 get on with the jobs that we've been employed to do, 0:13:51.178 --> 0:13:53.218 and not have to take on all this extra stuff 0:13:53.218 --> 0:13:53.878 as well. 0:13:53.998 --> 0:13:54.688 Mhm. Mhm. 0:13:54.718 --> 0:13:58.168 As you mentioned earlier in the interview, this is a 0:13:58.168 --> 0:14:03.178 hugely wide ranging conversation that we could absolutely have for hours, 0:14:03.178 --> 0:14:06.208 but you'll have to head along to the panel to 0:14:06.208 --> 0:14:09.778 find out a little bit more about that. And speaking 0:14:09.778 --> 0:14:12.898 of which, Lauren will stay with you and get a 0:14:12.898 --> 0:14:17.398 few details about the panel where, when and how people 0:14:17.398 --> 0:14:19.948 can sign up to head along. 0:14:19.978 --> 0:14:23.038 Yeah, so the panel is going to be held at 0:14:23.038 --> 0:14:26.458 the channel, which is part of Arts Centre Melbourne. It's 0:14:26.458 --> 0:14:28.648 going to be on the 25th of June. So that's 0:14:28.648 --> 0:14:32.638 a Tuesday from three until 5 p.m. and you can 0:14:32.638 --> 0:14:36.358 find all the details and register if you Google Arts 0:14:36.358 --> 0:14:39.508 Centre Melbourne disrupting sighted ableism. 0:14:39.808 --> 0:14:45.448 Perfect. I've been speaking today with Lauren Hayes and Michaela Schmidt, 0:14:45.448 --> 0:14:50.548 both involved with the Working Artist Redefining Access, who minds 0:14:50.548 --> 0:14:56.068 our access business. Taking place on the 25th of June 0:14:56.068 --> 0:15:01.288 at the Channel at Arts Centre Melbourne. Lauren, Michaela, thank 0:15:01.288 --> 0:15:04.378 you very much for your time today and all the 0:15:04.378 --> 0:15:05.758 best with the panel. 0:15:05.788 --> 0:15:07.138 Thank you so much. 0:15:14.128 --> 0:15:17.638 I'm Sam Cully and you're listening to Talking Vision on 0:15:17.638 --> 0:15:22.828 Vision Australia Radio. Associated stations of the Reading Radio Network 0:15:22.828 --> 0:15:27.028 and the Community Radio Network. As we all know on 0:15:27.028 --> 0:15:31.618 Vision Australia Radio. Everyone deserves to be heard. And that's 0:15:31.618 --> 0:15:37.018 why this month we're aiming to raise $50,000 to support 0:15:37.018 --> 0:15:42.418 the vital services that Vision Australia Radio continues to provide 0:15:42.418 --> 0:15:47.188 to the print disabled community. If you're able this month, 0:15:47.188 --> 0:15:52.288 please donate today by heading to the Vision Australia Radio 0:15:52.288 --> 0:15:59.458 website at VA radio.org. That's VA radio.org to make a donation. 0:15:59.488 --> 0:16:03.238 Every little bit helps and your generosity is of course 0:16:03.238 --> 0:16:08.098 greatly appreciated. And now back to the show and my 0:16:08.098 --> 0:16:11.788 chat with Bill jolly. A few weeks back, Bill jolly 0:16:11.788 --> 0:16:16.768 celebrated six months as chair of Vision Australia following the 0:16:16.768 --> 0:16:23.278 conclusion of Andrew Moffat's tenure as chair in October of 2023. 0:16:23.278 --> 0:16:26.698 And to mark the occasion, it was my great pleasure 0:16:26.698 --> 0:16:29.968 to catch up with Bill to look back over the 0:16:29.968 --> 0:16:34.618 past six months. Bill, welcome back to Talking Vision. Thank 0:16:34.618 --> 0:16:36.298 you very much for your time. 0:16:36.898 --> 0:16:38.818 Thanks, Sam. It's good to be with you. 0:16:38.848 --> 0:16:44.038 Now, Bill, of course, we are celebrating a rather momentous occasion. 0:16:44.038 --> 0:16:47.938 It's some six months, all over six months now that 0:16:48.088 --> 0:16:52.588 you have been the chair of Vision Australia. So I 0:16:52.588 --> 0:16:56.638 imagine that time's flown by in relative terms. What's the 0:16:56.638 --> 0:16:58.738 first six months been like for you? 0:16:59.128 --> 0:17:02.188 Well, it has gone along quite quickly, but I'm pleased 0:17:02.188 --> 0:17:05.608 to say also, Sam, it's gone along quite smoothly. At 0:17:05.608 --> 0:17:08.878 Vision Australia we've continued to do what we do, which 0:17:08.878 --> 0:17:11.818 is provide high quality services for people who are blind 0:17:11.848 --> 0:17:15.448 or have low vision and and it's my role as 0:17:15.448 --> 0:17:18.868 chair to make sure that the governance is attended to, 0:17:18.868 --> 0:17:22.558 that the infrastructure of the organisation is taken care of, 0:17:22.558 --> 0:17:26.128 and that everything's well positioned there so that our staff 0:17:26.128 --> 0:17:30.268 can continue to deliver services. It has been a pretty 0:17:30.268 --> 0:17:34.738 tough time for the Australian community generally over the last 0:17:34.738 --> 0:17:40.678 couple of years with inflation, which is eroding people's purchasing power. 0:17:40.798 --> 0:17:44.458 And we have the same problem at Vision Australia where 0:17:44.458 --> 0:17:49.648 costs increase, wages increase, but our government grants and other 0:17:49.648 --> 0:17:54.418 income doesn't necessarily or doesn't usually increase at the same rate. 0:17:54.418 --> 0:17:58.348 So we've had to be ever more frugal in our 0:17:58.348 --> 0:18:02.038 cost allocations and careful in our decision making. But I'm 0:18:02.038 --> 0:18:05.278 pleased that we have a very strong team headed by 0:18:05.278 --> 0:18:09.808 Ron Hutton, our CEO, and Justine Heath, our chief financial officer, 0:18:09.808 --> 0:18:12.568 and we've been able to keep things on an even 0:18:12.568 --> 0:18:16.318 keel over this period. And a highlight for us was, 0:18:16.318 --> 0:18:19.798 of course, Carols by Candlelight. And for the first time 0:18:19.798 --> 0:18:23.038 in many years, I, as chair, made a little appearance 0:18:23.038 --> 0:18:26.728 on Carols by Candlelight to thank the Australian public for 0:18:26.728 --> 0:18:30.658 their generous support of Vision Australia and in particular our 0:18:30.658 --> 0:18:34.918 children's services. And we raised more than $1 million last 0:18:34.918 --> 0:18:39.328 year through our partnership with channel nine and our lead sponsor, Aimee. 0:18:39.328 --> 0:18:41.548 So that was a very good way to lead into 0:18:41.548 --> 0:18:42.988 Christmas for us. 0:18:43.618 --> 0:18:46.138 Well, it's fantastic to see you pop up on the 0:18:46.138 --> 0:18:49.438 broadcast and there's a message. I'm sure a lot of 0:18:49.438 --> 0:18:53.338 Australians out there did treasure to hear from you at 0:18:53.338 --> 0:18:56.578 such a crucial time, and such a highlight for Vision 0:18:56.578 --> 0:19:02.218 Australia in the year, as you said, leading straight into Christmas. Now, Bill, 0:19:02.218 --> 0:19:06.208 in that little interlude at the time it was mentioned, 0:19:06.208 --> 0:19:11.848 your decades long, in fact almost lifelong association with Vision 0:19:11.848 --> 0:19:16.738 Australia and other blindness and low vision organisers associations within 0:19:16.738 --> 0:19:20.338 the sector. So what does it mean to you to 0:19:20.338 --> 0:19:24.538 have that sort of thing culminate in this role that 0:19:24.538 --> 0:19:29.248 you now occupy as chair of Vision Australia, an organisation 0:19:29.248 --> 0:19:32.518 with which you have had an association for so long? 0:19:32.998 --> 0:19:35.698 That's a very good question, and it makes me reflect 0:19:35.698 --> 0:19:39.808 about how as we go through life, our perspectives change. 0:19:39.808 --> 0:19:44.278 So my first involvement with a blindness organisation was when, 0:19:44.278 --> 0:19:46.558 at the age three, I went to the nursery school 0:19:46.558 --> 0:19:49.888 of the then Royal Victorian Institute for the blind. And 0:19:49.888 --> 0:19:52.228 then after that I went to Saint Paul's School, the 0:19:52.228 --> 0:19:55.648 Catholic school, as a boarder for the next ten years. 0:19:55.648 --> 0:19:58.648 And of course, I just took everything for granted, as 0:19:58.648 --> 0:20:02.308 little kids do, that this is the way that it was. 0:20:02.308 --> 0:20:06.478 But I didn't realise, of course, the challenge that having 0:20:06.478 --> 0:20:10.078 a blind child presents for that child's parents and in 0:20:10.078 --> 0:20:13.288 my case, my parents had four children who were. But 0:20:13.288 --> 0:20:17.098 no history in the family. So it was very important 0:20:17.098 --> 0:20:22.168 for them that the organizations were there to support and 0:20:22.168 --> 0:20:25.858 guide them in the nurturing and the raising of their children, 0:20:25.858 --> 0:20:29.638 and it was very important that they had high expectations 0:20:29.638 --> 0:20:33.118 of us children, and also that we had both peers 0:20:33.118 --> 0:20:37.378 and role models to look up to. And so as 0:20:37.378 --> 0:20:41.068 I've sort of gone through life initially as a youngster 0:20:41.068 --> 0:20:43.708 thinking that I wanted to change the world as young 0:20:43.708 --> 0:20:48.088 people often do, and realising as one gets older that 0:20:48.088 --> 0:20:50.488 most of the things that we do, we do for 0:20:50.488 --> 0:20:55.048 a pretty good reason. So it's my responsibility now to 0:20:55.048 --> 0:20:59.398 be the really the chief custodian of Vision Australia's culture 0:20:59.398 --> 0:21:03.838 and its service delivery. I'm reminded of then of how 0:21:03.838 --> 0:21:07.528 Vision Australia was or the predecessor. Organisations were very important 0:21:07.528 --> 0:21:12.568 for my parents, important for my family. Then, as we 0:21:12.568 --> 0:21:16.168 had one of our children who has low vision and 0:21:16.168 --> 0:21:19.378 is important today for the young parents and the parents 0:21:19.378 --> 0:21:22.498 of the young children who are new to the world 0:21:22.498 --> 0:21:26.608 of blindness and low vision. So that supportive role, that 0:21:26.608 --> 0:21:31.438 Vision Australia plays for families is a very important role. Plus, 0:21:31.438 --> 0:21:35.098 of course, our direct service that we provide to children, 0:21:35.098 --> 0:21:39.088 adults and to seniors so that as you go through life, 0:21:39.088 --> 0:21:41.338 you see often you see the same things but from 0:21:41.338 --> 0:21:45.028 different perspectives. And as I look back, I look back 0:21:45.028 --> 0:21:49.798 on an organisation, Vision Australia, which has a proud history 0:21:49.888 --> 0:21:54.568 through its predecessor organisations. It has also maintained very high 0:21:54.568 --> 0:21:57.118 standards of service and I've had a fair bit of 0:21:57.118 --> 0:22:01.948 international involvement and I'm quite satisfied that Australia's services to 0:22:01.948 --> 0:22:05.098 people who are blind or have low vision are world class, 0:22:05.098 --> 0:22:08.548 that Australia overall is a pretty good place to live, 0:22:08.548 --> 0:22:11.188 that it's a pretty good time for blind people to 0:22:11.188 --> 0:22:15.388 have been born with Braille and synthetic speech. And as 0:22:15.388 --> 0:22:20.368 I say, our services and our society infrastructure are pretty good. 0:22:20.368 --> 0:22:24.748 But within that environment, there are, of course, challenges that 0:22:24.748 --> 0:22:29.548 do present themselves. As you've mentioned already, the inflation and 0:22:29.548 --> 0:22:35.488 the funding aspect that many organisations Vision Australia, of course, included, 0:22:35.488 --> 0:22:39.148 that have to deal with that, especially in the not 0:22:39.148 --> 0:22:43.108 for profit sector. But what other sort of challenges do 0:22:43.108 --> 0:22:48.388 you perhaps foresee in 2024 and in the future, for example, 0:22:48.388 --> 0:22:52.678 the changes to the NDIS and what that will mean 0:22:52.678 --> 0:22:56.338 for blindness and low vision organisations as well as, you know, 0:22:56.338 --> 0:22:58.888 disability organisations more broadly. 0:22:59.368 --> 0:23:03.838 We actually think that the changes to the NDIS that 0:23:03.838 --> 0:23:07.828 are planned will not have much impact on people who 0:23:07.828 --> 0:23:10.198 are blind or have low vision, but more particularly on 0:23:10.198 --> 0:23:14.728 the organisations. So, for example, Sam, all of our staff, 0:23:14.728 --> 0:23:19.408 all of our frontline staff are fully accredited to provide 0:23:19.408 --> 0:23:23.968 services to people under the NDIS. So some of the 0:23:23.968 --> 0:23:28.468 proposed changes in terms of registration of staff just simply 0:23:28.468 --> 0:23:33.688 won't affect us. So we have very good clinical governance 0:23:33.688 --> 0:23:37.018 in Vision Australia. That is where we make sure that 0:23:37.018 --> 0:23:42.898 our staff have appropriate registration, that they have ongoing training 0:23:42.898 --> 0:23:46.858 and supervision, so we're pretty well set up there. I 0:23:46.858 --> 0:23:51.298 think one of the really interesting challenges coming forward for us, 0:23:51.298 --> 0:23:55.078 which is also an opportunity, comes out of this thing 0:23:55.078 --> 0:23:58.948 that everyone's talking about now called AI and AI or 0:23:58.948 --> 0:24:04.558 artificial intelligence, really means that we're having a giant or 0:24:04.558 --> 0:24:09.628 a great leap forward in the capacity of computers to 0:24:09.628 --> 0:24:15.058 do things. And these large language models, such as ChatGPT 0:24:15.148 --> 0:24:18.328 and the ones put out by Google and other companies, 0:24:18.328 --> 0:24:21.358 one that I use is by a company called perplexity. 0:24:21.358 --> 0:24:26.458 They will enable people to increase their productivity, to find 0:24:26.458 --> 0:24:32.518 information more quickly, to draft reports and school students, to 0:24:32.518 --> 0:24:36.028 draft answers to questions, which then they'll have the responsibility 0:24:36.028 --> 0:24:39.148 to go through and fix up properly. This is going 0:24:39.148 --> 0:24:42.148 to make a big difference to the whole of society, 0:24:42.148 --> 0:24:44.728 and we've got to see that it also works well 0:24:44.728 --> 0:24:48.418 for blind people, and that blind people using screen reader 0:24:48.418 --> 0:24:52.108 and magnification technology are able to also to get the 0:24:52.108 --> 0:24:55.318 benefits of AI. So we're having a look at that 0:24:55.318 --> 0:24:58.648 at Vision Australia and doing some specific work to help 0:24:58.648 --> 0:25:03.268 our clients to understand artificial intelligence and to understand how 0:25:03.268 --> 0:25:06.718 to use it. So as well as the traditional services 0:25:06.718 --> 0:25:10.408 that we've been having for many years, our services need 0:25:10.408 --> 0:25:15.068 to evolve as the. External environment changes. And that's something 0:25:15.068 --> 0:25:18.098 that we consider is very important. But we'll continue to 0:25:18.098 --> 0:25:21.998 provide those services for older people with our orthoptists and 0:25:21.998 --> 0:25:25.298 our occupational therapists. So we have the full range of 0:25:25.298 --> 0:25:29.318 services that continue, but we're always looking to do things 0:25:29.318 --> 0:25:32.738 a bit differently and do things more effectively. It's a 0:25:32.738 --> 0:25:36.428 very exciting time to be the chair of Vision Australia. 0:25:36.428 --> 0:25:39.608 I have a great team around me, other directors on 0:25:39.608 --> 0:25:43.628 the board and our leadership team headed by Ron. So 0:25:43.628 --> 0:25:45.938 it's a very good, very good time and I'm looking 0:25:45.938 --> 0:25:50.168 forward to the next couple of years being very beneficial 0:25:50.168 --> 0:25:51.488 for our clients. 0:25:51.488 --> 0:25:56.918 It's very exciting to hear about the advances in artificial intelligence. 0:25:56.918 --> 0:26:01.208 I am very interested to continue that conversation with you 0:26:01.208 --> 0:26:05.768 about artificial intelligence. Another time, Bill, that we could talk 0:26:05.768 --> 0:26:09.878 about that forever, but I think we'll, um, wrap up 0:26:09.878 --> 0:26:13.208 for now. Do you have any sort of final words 0:26:13.208 --> 0:26:17.318 that you'd like to share with our listeners as we 0:26:17.318 --> 0:26:21.458 finish up today in terms of looking forward to the future, 0:26:21.458 --> 0:26:25.058 the exciting things to come, but also what Vision Australia's 0:26:25.058 --> 0:26:28.838 role is looking like in 2024 and beyond. 0:26:29.318 --> 0:26:31.838 Well thanks Sam, I think that we're Vision Australia is 0:26:31.838 --> 0:26:35.768 well positioned moving forward through this year. Next year we 0:26:35.768 --> 0:26:40.118 have a stable environment. Inflation is coming down, which is good. 0:26:40.118 --> 0:26:44.018 We'll continue providing our services and I encourage people to 0:26:44.018 --> 0:26:47.108 reach out to Vision Australia. If you have any issues 0:26:47.108 --> 0:26:51.278 or concerns in relation to your daily living and other people, 0:26:51.278 --> 0:26:54.458 I thank you for your support of Vision Australia and 0:26:54.458 --> 0:26:57.308 we'll continue to do what we do to the very 0:26:57.308 --> 0:27:00.098 best of our ability and capacity to do so. 0:27:00.338 --> 0:27:05.348 I've been speaking today with Bill jolly, chair of Vision Australia, 0:27:05.348 --> 0:27:10.088 celebrating six months in the role as chair of Vision Australia, 0:27:10.088 --> 0:27:13.748 and it's been an absolute pleasure to catch up with you, Bill. 0:27:13.748 --> 0:27:17.558 Thank you again for your time and you're always welcome 0:27:17.558 --> 0:27:20.348 on Talking Vision any time in the future. Thank you 0:27:20.348 --> 0:27:21.248 very much. 0:27:21.848 --> 0:27:23.798 Thank you Sam, and it's good to be with you 0:27:23.798 --> 0:27:25.028 and with your listeners. 0:27:31.838 --> 0:27:34.928 And that's all the time we have for today. You've 0:27:34.928 --> 0:27:39.188 been listening to Talking Vision. Talking vision is a Vision 0:27:39.188 --> 0:27:43.328 Australia radio production. Thanks to all involved with putting the 0:27:43.328 --> 0:27:47.528 show together every week. And remember, we love hearing from you. 0:27:47.528 --> 0:27:50.828 So please get in touch any time on our email 0:27:50.828 --> 0:27:56.138 at Talking Vision. At Vision australia.org. That's talking vision all 0:27:56.138 --> 0:28:00.908 one word at Vision australia.org. But until next week it's 0:28:00.908 --> 0:28:03.218 Sam Colly saying bye for now. 0:28:06.958 --> 0:28:10.708 You can contact Vision Australia by phoning us any time 0:28:10.708 --> 0:28:20.008 during business hours on one 308 4746. That's one (300) 847-4106 0:28:20.008 --> 0:28:25.348 or by visiting Vision Australia. Org that's Vision australia.org.