WEBVTT - Talking Vision 754 Week Beginning 11th of November 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. 0:00:23.150 --> 0:00:26.480 Hello, everyone. It's great to be here with you. And 0:00:26.480 --> 0:00:29.480 for the next half hour we talk matters of blindness 0:00:29.480 --> 0:00:30.590 and low vision. 0:00:30.620 --> 0:00:34.190 Vision loss especially, can put people from a mental point 0:00:34.190 --> 0:00:36.920 of view in some pretty challenging times, and it can 0:00:36.919 --> 0:00:40.849 definitely test one's mental health. It definitely has done for 0:00:40.849 --> 0:00:45.260 me and I wanted to raise more awareness, start more conversations, 0:00:45.260 --> 0:00:48.349 and hopefully in doing so, raise some money for an 0:00:48.349 --> 0:00:51.349 organization that does some work in that space as well, 0:00:51.349 --> 0:00:53.960 and provides a mental health counseling support service. 0:00:53.990 --> 0:00:58.670 Welcome to the program. This week we've got Ben Pettengill 0:00:58.700 --> 0:01:02.749 on the show to talk about 30 to 49 blind, 0:01:02.779 --> 0:01:06.100 a year long run for mental health that has been 0:01:06.100 --> 0:01:12.010 embarking on in 2024. That conversation with Ben is coming 0:01:12.009 --> 0:01:16.330 up very shortly, so make sure to stick around. And 0:01:16.330 --> 0:01:20.830 then after we hear from Ben, Liz Dalakouras is back, 0:01:20.860 --> 0:01:25.450 the editor of For Your Information, otherwise known as FII. 0:01:25.480 --> 0:01:29.380 And to wrap up the show, Marie is back now. 0:01:29.380 --> 0:01:33.369 You heard from her last week catching up with Karan Nagrani, 0:01:33.399 --> 0:01:36.669 the emcee of the Blind Australian of the year awards. 0:01:36.700 --> 0:01:40.990 All this time she's talking to the winner of the award, 0:01:40.990 --> 0:01:45.940 Courtney Welbeck. I hope you enjoy this week's episode of 0:01:45.940 --> 0:01:55.420 Talking Vision. In 2024, Ben Pettengill is running to start 0:01:55.420 --> 0:02:00.580 more conversations about mental health, normalize talking about the tough stuff, 0:02:00.580 --> 0:02:04.540 and smash the stigma that still exists along the way. 0:02:04.870 --> 0:02:11.130 He set out to run 3249km over the year in 0:02:11.130 --> 0:02:17.040 a project called 3049 blind. On average, that's nine kilometres 0:02:17.070 --> 0:02:21.180 a day every day. And if you know anything about Ben, 0:02:21.180 --> 0:02:25.650 there's a few challenges going along with that, so I'll 0:02:25.650 --> 0:02:28.650 let him fill you in on the details, as it's 0:02:28.650 --> 0:02:32.610 my great pleasure to be joined by Ben right now. Ben, 0:02:32.640 --> 0:02:35.340 thank you so much for joining me today. Welcome to 0:02:35.370 --> 0:02:36.450 Talking Vision. 0:02:37.020 --> 0:02:38.160 Thanks so much for having me, Sam. 0:02:38.190 --> 0:02:41.610 Appreciate it. Now, Ben, let's get a bit of background 0:02:41.610 --> 0:02:45.330 to yourself in case our listeners aren't aware. And then 0:02:45.330 --> 0:02:48.090 we might also just get a bit of an overview 0:02:48.090 --> 0:02:50.280 of 3249 blind. 0:02:50.400 --> 0:02:53.910 Yeah. Absolutely, mate. So, uh, I suppose the background for 0:02:53.910 --> 0:02:57.900 me in terms of me living with low vision, uh, 0:02:57.900 --> 0:03:02.700 I was 16 years old when I had a headache 0:03:02.700 --> 0:03:09.570 one day and ended up losing 98% of my eyesight overnight. Um, 0:03:09.570 --> 0:03:13.200 the next day. So it was quite, quite sudden and 0:03:13.200 --> 0:03:16.830 quite life changing at 16 and a couple of weeks 0:03:16.830 --> 0:03:19.440 down the track, after a lot of testing, a lot 0:03:19.440 --> 0:03:21.960 of time in the Eye and Ear hospital in Melbourne, uh, 0:03:21.960 --> 0:03:25.530 we eventually came to the conclusion that I had the 0:03:25.530 --> 0:03:30.570 rare genetic syndrome that is leber's hereditary optic neuropathy. And 0:03:30.570 --> 0:03:33.720 as well as getting that diagnosis, uh, we also got 0:03:33.720 --> 0:03:38.550 the news that unfortunately, at the moment, Leber's is incurable. 0:03:38.550 --> 0:03:40.950 And we got told then and there that it wasn't 0:03:40.950 --> 0:03:43.320 something that was going to be able to be fixed. Um, 0:03:43.320 --> 0:03:46.680 there was different things that were trialed and, and whatnot, but, uh, 0:03:46.680 --> 0:03:48.540 at the end of the day couldn't be fixed. Nothing 0:03:48.540 --> 0:03:50.880 could be done about it. And that was going to 0:03:50.880 --> 0:03:52.590 be my life moving forward. 0:03:52.620 --> 0:03:57.930 You've also been embarking on quite an important project this year, 0:03:57.930 --> 0:04:03.540 in particular running for mental health. 3249 blind. This is 0:04:03.540 --> 0:04:06.740 a topic super close to your heart and a topic 0:04:06.740 --> 0:04:10.700 really important to so many people out there who do 0:04:10.730 --> 0:04:15.290 experience a range of mental health challenges that go with 0:04:15.290 --> 0:04:19.070 vision loss and all the dark places that can take 0:04:19.070 --> 0:04:24.290 people to naturally when they do experience these sorts of things. Yeah. 0:04:24.320 --> 0:04:26.990 Pardon the pun, with the dark places there. Yes. Because 0:04:26.990 --> 0:04:29.300 vision loss can lead to a lot of dark places, 0:04:29.540 --> 0:04:34.010 both physically and metaphorically. Sam. You're right. And yeah. So three, two, four, 0:04:34.010 --> 0:04:36.529 nine blind was an idea I came up with at 0:04:36.530 --> 0:04:39.170 the end of last year. It was probably something that 0:04:39.170 --> 0:04:41.330 had been playing on my mind for a while. I 0:04:41.330 --> 0:04:44.690 was always that sort of person that wanted to continue 0:04:44.690 --> 0:04:48.200 to push myself and really explore what the limits are 0:04:48.230 --> 0:04:51.830 of not being able to see. And that has come 0:04:51.860 --> 0:04:54.979 previously in the form of crossing the Kokoda Track in 0:04:54.980 --> 0:04:57.800 Papua New Guinea a couple of times, water ski racing, 0:04:57.830 --> 0:05:00.950 obstacle course racing, a whole range of different things. But 0:05:00.950 --> 0:05:04.370 they'd been probably a five year period where I hadn't 0:05:04.370 --> 0:05:06.580 done a lot for me and really to push myself 0:05:06.580 --> 0:05:10.570 and being a professional speaker. Speaking on stages right around 0:05:10.570 --> 0:05:16.090 the country with corporate organizations, conferences, in schools, I was 0:05:16.090 --> 0:05:19.720 having this nagging thought and feeling along the lines of, 0:05:19.750 --> 0:05:23.320 you're getting up on stages and you're talking the talk. 0:05:23.320 --> 0:05:27.670 But I wasn't necessarily continuing to walk the walk. And 0:05:27.670 --> 0:05:30.760 as you said, I'm also super passionate about mental health. 0:05:31.030 --> 0:05:34.750 I think vision loss especially can, as you say, put 0:05:34.750 --> 0:05:37.150 people from a mental point of view in some pretty 0:05:37.150 --> 0:05:41.080 challenging times and it can definitely test one's mental health. 0:05:41.170 --> 0:05:44.080 It definitely has done for me over the 13 years 0:05:44.080 --> 0:05:46.540 that I've lived without being able to see. And I 0:05:46.540 --> 0:05:51.010 wanted to raise more awareness, start more conversations, and hopefully 0:05:51.010 --> 0:05:54.070 in doing so, raise some money for an organization that 0:05:54.070 --> 0:05:56.380 does some work in that space as well, and provides 0:05:56.380 --> 0:05:59.050 a mental health counseling support service, which then needs to 0:05:59.050 --> 0:06:02.560 be more of. So that's our 3249 blind came about. 0:06:02.740 --> 0:06:05.640 That's where we came up with the challenge. and the 0:06:05.640 --> 0:06:09.719 reason behind the number is in Australia in 2022, we 0:06:09.720 --> 0:06:14.250 lost 3249 lives to suicide in this country, which is 0:06:14.250 --> 0:06:16.860 on average nine lives a day. Seven out of nine 0:06:16.890 --> 0:06:19.860 of those are blokes, so the stats are pretty scary 0:06:19.860 --> 0:06:22.470 and pretty sad when you hear them like that, but 0:06:22.470 --> 0:06:24.599 it doesn't sound like all that much when you just 0:06:24.600 --> 0:06:26.520 say nine k's a day. But when you say, yeah, 0:06:26.550 --> 0:06:28.920 nine k's a day every day, and then throw in 0:06:28.920 --> 0:06:31.409 the added challenge of doing it without being able to 0:06:31.410 --> 0:06:33.839 see where you're going, I think that's what's made it 0:06:33.840 --> 0:06:36.660 that little bit more difficult this year. And not only that, 0:06:36.690 --> 0:06:39.660 it's not a challenge that I've set time aside for 0:06:39.660 --> 0:06:42.900 and said right, for this month or this three month 0:06:42.900 --> 0:06:45.270 period or whatever it happens to be, I'm going to 0:06:45.270 --> 0:06:49.890 run 3249km, and that is my only focus this year. 0:06:49.890 --> 0:06:53.160 We've welcomed our second child into the family. I've got 0:06:53.190 --> 0:06:55.620 work commitments, I've been on the road traveling a lot 0:06:55.620 --> 0:06:59.520 for work. So two young kids, all of that thrown 0:06:59.520 --> 0:07:02.790 in the mix. It's very much as mental health is 0:07:03.060 --> 0:07:06.900 juggling this challenge in and amongst everything else that life 0:07:06.900 --> 0:07:07.800 throws my way. 0:07:07.830 --> 0:07:12.330 We'll get back into how the challenges going, in particular 0:07:12.330 --> 0:07:16.440 in amongst all that hectic stuff going on in your life. 0:07:16.440 --> 0:07:20.040 And congratulations, by the way, on the arrival of your 0:07:20.040 --> 0:07:24.750 second little one, that's always a fantastic thing to experience. 0:07:24.750 --> 0:07:28.770 So congratulations to you and your family on that. But 0:07:28.770 --> 0:07:33.000 I'd love to continue on that very serious topic of 0:07:33.000 --> 0:07:37.800 lowering that number, that 3249. That number is, as we 0:07:37.800 --> 0:07:40.500 can all agree, far too high. And so these things 0:07:40.500 --> 0:07:45.720 are super important to addressing that and hopefully encouraging people 0:07:45.720 --> 0:07:49.830 out there to get the help that they deserve. So 0:07:49.860 --> 0:07:54.090 what sort of mental health organizations have you been chatting 0:07:54.090 --> 0:07:57.990 with over the course of the project of, you know, 0:07:58.020 --> 0:08:00.690 30 to 49 blind who's been involved? 0:08:00.720 --> 0:08:04.980 Yeah. So the the main beneficiary of the challenge is 0:08:04.980 --> 0:08:09.110 a mental health support service called T X, and T 0:08:09.110 --> 0:08:13.670 X is a free mental health support service for tradies, truckies, farmers, 0:08:13.670 --> 0:08:16.430 blue collar workers as well as their loved ones and 0:08:16.430 --> 0:08:20.930 their families. And the reason in particular that I chose 0:08:20.930 --> 0:08:23.450 to work with t x. There was a whole range 0:08:23.450 --> 0:08:26.120 of different mental health organisations that I could have chosen, 0:08:26.120 --> 0:08:29.720 but this one in particular for me is really closely 0:08:29.720 --> 0:08:33.200 connected to one probably where a lot of my mates 0:08:33.199 --> 0:08:35.750 are in terms of industry and where they work. Um, 0:08:35.750 --> 0:08:38.120 probably where I would have ended up working if I 0:08:38.120 --> 0:08:42.229 hadn't have lost my eyesight. And also a number of 0:08:42.229 --> 0:08:46.940 industries where those stats behind those suicide numbers are the worst. 0:08:46.939 --> 0:08:53.089 Because in trades, in agriculture, in rural and regional areas, 0:08:53.089 --> 0:08:56.929 the stigma is probably larger than what it is in 0:08:56.929 --> 0:08:59.870 metro areas around mental health. Um, so there's less people 0:08:59.870 --> 0:09:02.540 speaking up, there's less access to support. So that's why 0:09:02.540 --> 0:09:05.599 I wanted to support an organisation Organization that was probably 0:09:05.599 --> 0:09:07.970 going to target some of those people that are the 0:09:07.969 --> 0:09:10.880 least likely to speak up and seek help and seek 0:09:10.880 --> 0:09:14.839 support when they need it most. And like I said, 0:09:14.839 --> 0:09:17.240 it also supports a lot of my mates in the 0:09:17.240 --> 0:09:17.869 same way. 0:09:17.900 --> 0:09:20.330 Yeah, and there is, as you said, a lot of 0:09:20.329 --> 0:09:23.809 those attitudes out there amongst blokes of, oh, you know, 0:09:23.839 --> 0:09:26.959 I'll be right. I'll just, you know, keep keeping on and, 0:09:26.990 --> 0:09:30.260 you know, it'll just sort itself out and blah, blah, blah. And, 0:09:30.290 --> 0:09:33.590 and sometimes of course, that doesn't really happen. That isn't 0:09:33.589 --> 0:09:37.340 the case. And, you know, things can get worse. And sometimes, 0:09:37.370 --> 0:09:40.190 you know, people may not feel they have the support 0:09:40.219 --> 0:09:43.429 network or know where to reach out or what to do, 0:09:43.459 --> 0:09:46.459 or you know how to do that. So that's another 0:09:46.459 --> 0:09:49.429 important message to get out there, that there is help 0:09:49.429 --> 0:09:52.699 and there are people out there that they can speak to. 0:09:52.729 --> 0:09:57.079 So another important aspect there. But Ben, I'm really keen 0:09:57.109 --> 0:10:00.800 to hear how three two, four, nine blind has been going. 0:10:00.829 --> 0:10:03.530 How many K's have you racked up so far this year? 0:10:03.530 --> 0:10:06.959 And amongst all of the hectic life balancing challenges and 0:10:06.959 --> 0:10:08.040 things like that. 0:10:09.240 --> 0:10:12.629 Can I have an easier question, Sam? Well, no. 0:10:12.660 --> 0:10:15.420 That's my job. I have to ask the hard questions, unfortunately. 0:10:15.449 --> 0:10:17.849 Yeah, you got to ask the hard hitting questions 100%. No, 0:10:17.849 --> 0:10:21.119 I to be completely honest, the challenge hasn't been as 0:10:21.120 --> 0:10:23.250 easy as I would have liked it to have been. 0:10:23.250 --> 0:10:25.019 But I suppose that's why it's a challenge, isn't it? 0:10:25.050 --> 0:10:26.399 If it was easy and I got to the end 0:10:26.400 --> 0:10:29.189 of it and it wasn't challenging, then it's not sort 0:10:29.219 --> 0:10:32.160 of necessarily not not worth doing. But I think it 0:10:32.160 --> 0:10:35.099 just showcases how hard it has been from not just 0:10:35.099 --> 0:10:38.800 a balanced perspective, but managing injury. There's been 2 or 0:10:38.800 --> 0:10:41.760 3 significant injuries throughout the year, which has put me 0:10:41.880 --> 0:10:44.099 well and truly behind where I wanted to be at 0:10:44.099 --> 0:10:47.400 this point in time. So what are we nearly three 0:10:47.400 --> 0:10:49.800 months to go in the year and I've I'm at 0:10:49.800 --> 0:10:53.340 the halfway point. So about the 1800 K mark now. 0:10:53.339 --> 0:10:54.480 And look that's. 0:10:54.479 --> 0:10:56.790 Still quite a few. I've got a you know got 0:10:56.790 --> 0:10:58.830 to give you a shout out there that's, you know, 0:10:58.829 --> 0:11:00.179 not a small number. 0:11:00.209 --> 0:11:02.969 No it's not a small number, especially given the time 0:11:02.969 --> 0:11:06.209 I've had to have off with a significant hip injury, 0:11:06.209 --> 0:11:08.520 a knee injury and an Achilles as well. And it 0:11:08.520 --> 0:11:10.770 was one of those things that I thought, do I 0:11:10.800 --> 0:11:13.170 keep pushing through and make things worse and potentially make 0:11:13.170 --> 0:11:15.989 the challenge impossible to complete? Um, so it was very 0:11:15.990 --> 0:11:19.079 much a balancing act there. And initially I've had so 0:11:19.079 --> 0:11:22.380 many people saying offer to do kilometres for me, or 0:11:22.380 --> 0:11:24.630 if they donate X amount of money, can that reduce 0:11:24.630 --> 0:11:26.760 the number of kilometres that I've got to do? And 0:11:26.790 --> 0:11:31.020 I keep saying in response, this number is so significant. 0:11:31.020 --> 0:11:34.230 And the whole reason behind the challenge is one kilometre 0:11:34.229 --> 0:11:36.900 represents every life lost to suicide. It's not something that 0:11:36.929 --> 0:11:38.789 a little bit of money here and there can just 0:11:38.790 --> 0:11:41.699 reduce the overall sort of tally. So I want to 0:11:41.699 --> 0:11:43.559 get the kilometres done one way or the other, but 0:11:43.559 --> 0:11:46.919 it has gotten to a point now still managing injury 0:11:46.949 --> 0:11:50.520 that I've thought, look, it's more about getting the kilometres done. 0:11:50.550 --> 0:11:53.219 It doesn't matter how I necessarily do them. So I'm 0:11:53.219 --> 0:11:54.540 going to probably get to the end of the year 0:11:54.540 --> 0:11:56.969 and not be able to say that I ran every 0:11:56.969 --> 0:12:01.530 single kilometre. However, I'm now doing a combination of running 0:12:01.530 --> 0:12:06.079 and walking just to manage those injuries, and it does 0:12:06.079 --> 0:12:08.569 mean I've got to do about 18km a day between 0:12:08.569 --> 0:12:10.040 now and the end of the year to get those 0:12:10.040 --> 0:12:13.369 kilometres done, so not impossible. Um, it's definitely going to 0:12:13.370 --> 0:12:14.840 be a big three months between now and the end 0:12:14.839 --> 0:12:16.940 of the year, but that's where I'm at at the moment. 0:12:16.969 --> 0:12:22.490 So you haven't really considered extending the time period. That's 0:12:22.490 --> 0:12:25.040 not really on the radar, is it? You're sort of 0:12:25.069 --> 0:12:28.040 the idea is to get it all done in 2024. 0:12:28.069 --> 0:12:31.490 Has that been a consideration? All amongst the things that 0:12:31.490 --> 0:12:35.090 have happened with the injuries and stuff in the family 0:12:35.089 --> 0:12:37.969 and stuff like that? I don't think anyone can have 0:12:37.969 --> 0:12:41.479 any bad word to say about extending it to 18 months, 0:12:41.479 --> 0:12:45.230 but that's probably not really been on the radar, has it? 0:12:45.650 --> 0:12:48.499 Uh, no, not not as yet. Again, I think that'll 0:12:48.530 --> 0:12:52.460 be a if there's more kilometres than physically possible to 0:12:52.459 --> 0:12:55.339 do come the 31st of December. I'll consider it then. 0:12:55.339 --> 0:12:58.249 But again, the whole reason behind the number is it's 0:12:58.250 --> 0:13:01.219 the number of lives lost in a calendar year. Yeah. That's. 0:13:01.250 --> 0:13:03.470 Yeah. You can't. Yeah. That's not changing. 0:13:03.500 --> 0:13:06.010 And do that over 18 months or two years, I 0:13:06.010 --> 0:13:08.319 feel like it doesn't have quite the same level of 0:13:08.319 --> 0:13:11.020 connection that it does. And ideally, I would like to 0:13:11.020 --> 0:13:14.109 have nine kilometres left to do on the 31st of December, 0:13:14.140 --> 0:13:16.989 because on the 1st of January this year I did 0:13:16.990 --> 0:13:19.089 nine kilometres, so it would be good to finish with 0:13:19.089 --> 0:13:22.329 nine kilometres, representing the average number of lives we lose 0:13:22.359 --> 0:13:24.130 per day on that last day of the year. Even 0:13:24.160 --> 0:13:26.290 though there's been ups and downs in between and there's 0:13:26.290 --> 0:13:29.260 been days of plenty more kilometres, I think my biggest 0:13:29.260 --> 0:13:31.449 day I've done this year has been nearly 35 K's 0:13:31.630 --> 0:13:33.909 in a day. Oh my god. And then yeah, there's 0:13:33.910 --> 0:13:36.189 definitely been some smaller ones and some days off as well. 0:13:36.219 --> 0:13:39.250 But yeah, that's that's the plan at this stage. But 0:13:39.250 --> 0:13:41.439 if I get to the 31st of December and there's 0:13:41.439 --> 0:13:44.349 250 K's to go touch wood that there's not touch wood, 0:13:44.349 --> 0:13:46.870 there's only nine to go. But if that's the case 0:13:46.870 --> 0:13:49.420 then I'll just keep pushing and get them done as 0:13:49.420 --> 0:13:50.230 quick as I can. 0:13:50.229 --> 0:13:53.829 And will certainly welcome you back when you have reached 0:13:53.829 --> 0:13:56.980 that big number there. I think that'd be great to 0:13:57.010 --> 0:13:59.260 have you back on the show, to have a chat 0:13:59.260 --> 0:14:02.740 with us after you have reached the three, two, four, nine, 0:14:02.740 --> 0:14:05.880 whatever shape that takes and however long that does take. 0:14:05.910 --> 0:14:09.480 And hopefully, as you said, it does all happen by 0:14:09.479 --> 0:14:12.059 the 31st of December and we can have you back 0:14:12.059 --> 0:14:14.339 on in the first week of January and have a 0:14:14.339 --> 0:14:18.780 chat about how 2024 panned out. But in the meantime, 0:14:18.780 --> 0:14:22.470 how can people get in touch and support you or 0:14:22.470 --> 0:14:24.450 find out more about the challenge? 0:14:24.750 --> 0:14:27.000 So the best way to do it is. 0:14:27.000 --> 0:14:30.810 Either on social media. So Facebook on my Facebook page 0:14:30.840 --> 0:14:35.280 at Ben Pettingill. Same on Instagram, same on TikTok. And 0:14:35.280 --> 0:14:39.210 as well as my website which is Ben pettingill.com. And 0:14:39.210 --> 0:14:42.840 that'll all have links to the challenge in the Bios 0:14:42.840 --> 0:14:44.850 where you can donate and whatnot. Or you can just 0:14:44.850 --> 0:14:47.640 Google three, two, four, nine blind and it'll be the 0:14:47.640 --> 0:14:48.779 first link that comes up. 0:14:48.810 --> 0:14:51.600 Thank you so much, Ben, for having a chat with 0:14:51.600 --> 0:14:56.310 me today about so many important topics and about 3 0:14:56.310 --> 0:15:00.509 to 4 nine blind that you've been undertaking over the 0:15:00.510 --> 0:15:03.869 course of 2024. And we do wish you all the 0:15:03.900 --> 0:15:08.999 very best for finishing those remaining kilometres. And as I've said, 0:15:09.030 --> 0:15:11.820 we'll have you back on the show to chat about 0:15:11.820 --> 0:15:14.820 it at the completion. So all the very best and 0:15:14.820 --> 0:15:18.750 hope the body does hold up and improves and you can, yeah, 0:15:18.780 --> 0:15:21.690 smash those KS out. All for a really important cause. 0:15:21.690 --> 0:15:24.810 So thank you very much for being so open with 0:15:24.810 --> 0:15:27.210 us today and sharing your story. 0:15:27.240 --> 0:15:29.040 Thanks, Sam. Appreciate you having me on, mate. 0:15:29.070 --> 0:15:34.800 Ben Pettengill there heading into the final weeks of three, two, four, 0:15:34.800 --> 0:15:40.290 nine blind his year long run for mental health. Now, 0:15:40.290 --> 0:15:45.210 before we finish up, just a couple of phone numbers 0:15:45.210 --> 0:15:49.379 for you out there. And we'll start with TCS, the 0:15:49.380 --> 0:15:54.989 mental health counselling service for tradies, truckies, farmers and blue 0:15:54.990 --> 0:16:10.520 collar workers. So that number is 80488469, double eight. And finally, 0:16:10.520 --> 0:16:13.850 given the nature of the sort of things we've been 0:16:13.850 --> 0:16:18.770 chatting about today, if this has brought about distressing feelings 0:16:18.770 --> 0:16:22.760 or memories for you, help is available and you can 0:16:22.790 --> 0:16:29.750 speak with someone today through Lifeline Australia by calling 13 1114. 0:16:29.780 --> 0:16:38.900 That's 13, 1114. Or you can text them on 047, 713, 1114. 0:16:38.930 --> 0:16:52.250 That's 0477 13 1114. On Sam Culley and you're listening 0:16:52.280 --> 0:16:57.620 to Talking Vision on Vision Australia Radio. Associated stations of 0:16:57.620 --> 0:17:03.080 Reading Radio and the Community Radio Network. That concludes our 0:17:03.080 --> 0:17:07.990 conversation today with Ben Pettengill. If you missed any part 0:17:08.020 --> 0:17:11.320 of that conversation with Ben or you'd love to hear 0:17:11.320 --> 0:17:16.000 it again. Talking vision is available on the Vision Australia 0:17:16.000 --> 0:17:23.560 Radio website at VA radio.org. That's VA radio.org. Or you 0:17:23.560 --> 0:17:26.800 can find the program on the podcast app of your 0:17:26.800 --> 0:17:32.169 choice or through the Vision Australia library. Well, we're almost 0:17:32.169 --> 0:17:36.820 halfway through November and that means it's time for the 0:17:36.820 --> 0:17:43.750 second last update from for your information, otherwise known as FYI, 0:17:43.750 --> 0:17:47.739 and to give us that update, it's my great pleasure, 0:17:47.740 --> 0:17:52.600 as always to welcome the editor of FYI, Liz Dalakouras 0:17:52.600 --> 0:17:57.129 to Talking Vision. Liz, welcome back to Talking Vision. Great 0:17:57.129 --> 0:17:58.720 to have you as always. 0:17:59.649 --> 0:18:01.480 As always. It's great to be here, Sam. 0:18:01.510 --> 0:18:05.280 Now, Liz, first up, we've got a bit of news 0:18:05.280 --> 0:18:11.400 about the NDIS. Now, there's been some developments around some 0:18:11.399 --> 0:18:16.619 providers who maybe aren't quite doing the right thing for 0:18:16.619 --> 0:18:20.130 clients out there. So tell us a bit about some 0:18:20.129 --> 0:18:21.300 developments there. 0:18:21.330 --> 0:18:25.560 Yeah, absolutely. Last week, Bill shorten, the minister for the 0:18:25.560 --> 0:18:29.489 National Disability Insurance Scheme, has announced the second part of 0:18:29.490 --> 0:18:32.759 the NDIS legislation of the getting it back on track bill. 0:18:32.760 --> 0:18:35.940 And as a part of that bill, penalties will be 0:18:35.940 --> 0:18:40.170 enforced for providers that are not treating their clients in 0:18:40.169 --> 0:18:42.720 the way they should be treated, and those fines will 0:18:42.720 --> 0:18:46.710 increase from what was a maximum of $400,000 to in 0:18:46.710 --> 0:18:50.310 excess of $15 million. When a participant is hurt or 0:18:50.310 --> 0:18:54.119 injured under that provider's care. So it is an amazing 0:18:54.149 --> 0:18:56.879 addition to the getting it back on track bill. 0:18:57.300 --> 0:19:01.409 And that does absolutely send a big message out there. 0:19:01.409 --> 0:19:06.330 So keen to see how all of that pans out. Now, 0:19:06.330 --> 0:19:09.389 in amongst all of that, Liz, there have been some 0:19:09.389 --> 0:19:15.330 other developments and things for clients out there and participants 0:19:15.330 --> 0:19:16.980 to keep abreast of. 0:19:17.250 --> 0:19:22.890 Yeah, absolutely. Recently the NDIS introduced two support lists, and 0:19:22.889 --> 0:19:25.680 those lists will tell you what can and cannot now 0:19:25.680 --> 0:19:29.519 be funded. So the change should have minor impacts on 0:19:29.520 --> 0:19:32.130 the supports that are available to you already. But you 0:19:32.129 --> 0:19:35.070 do need to clarify what you can and can no 0:19:35.070 --> 0:19:38.280 longer have funded for you. We at Vision Australia are 0:19:38.280 --> 0:19:40.920 here to support you in that, and if you are 0:19:40.919 --> 0:19:43.709 still unsure on what can be funded in your plan, 0:19:43.710 --> 0:19:45.900 or you've heard about these changes and you just want 0:19:45.899 --> 0:19:49.920 a little bit more information, contact your local area coordinator, 0:19:49.950 --> 0:19:52.800 talk to your early childhood partner, or just reach out 0:19:52.800 --> 0:19:54.240 to the Ndia directly. 0:19:54.750 --> 0:20:00.180 And, um, there's been some exciting news coming through with 0:20:00.210 --> 0:20:03.540 a bit of a new program that some coming out 0:20:03.590 --> 0:20:07.700 on the ABC, hosted by Ellie Mae Barnes. So tell 0:20:07.730 --> 0:20:09.110 us about that one. 0:20:09.260 --> 0:20:12.710 Ah, so it's Jimmy Barnes daughter. Her name is Ellie 0:20:12.740 --> 0:20:15.590 Mae Barnes, set to host a brand new show on 0:20:15.590 --> 0:20:19.040 the ABC, and she's leading the quest to create two 0:20:19.040 --> 0:20:21.889 new music bands made up entirely of musicians living with 0:20:21.889 --> 0:20:25.189 a disability. It's the first of its kind. It's an 0:20:25.190 --> 0:20:29.240 incredibly cool concept that her dad is also very behind. 0:20:29.240 --> 0:20:32.899 And the show premieres on the ABC on November 19th. 0:20:33.050 --> 0:20:36.230 Okay, we'll have to check that out and see what 0:20:36.230 --> 0:20:40.520 it's all about. And there's also some podcast news. There's 0:20:40.550 --> 0:20:44.090 a new podcast, The Hindsight Podcast. 0:20:44.480 --> 0:20:49.250 Yeah, so hindsight is our latest podcast at Vision Australia Radio. 0:20:49.250 --> 0:20:52.220 And supporting a loved one with vision loss can be 0:20:52.220 --> 0:20:55.189 a rewarding experience, but it also comes with its fair 0:20:55.190 --> 0:20:58.639 share of challenges. So that is why we're excited to 0:20:58.639 --> 0:21:01.129 introduce you to hindsight, which is a new series that 0:21:01.129 --> 0:21:04.449 shares the personal stories of carers, is family members and 0:21:04.450 --> 0:21:06.970 supporters of people living with vision loss. 0:21:07.000 --> 0:21:10.690 And one of the first episode be coming out. How 0:21:10.690 --> 0:21:12.850 can people access it? 0:21:12.879 --> 0:21:14.379 It's already out there. 0:21:14.409 --> 0:21:16.120 Oh, wonderful. There you go. 0:21:16.149 --> 0:21:19.420 Visit. Yeah. Visit our Vision Australia website. Or you can 0:21:19.419 --> 0:21:23.230 go straight to Spotify, Apple wherever you get your podcasts 0:21:23.230 --> 0:21:25.330 and just search Vision Australia. Hindsight. 0:21:25.359 --> 0:21:30.879 Perfect. And finally, Liz, the Santa Fun run is coming 0:21:30.879 --> 0:21:35.290 up so people can still register. There's still a couple 0:21:35.320 --> 0:21:36.850 of weeks left to go. 0:21:37.090 --> 0:21:40.480 There is? Yeah. You don't want to miss out because 0:21:40.480 --> 0:21:43.510 it's a way to bring the holiday spirit to life 0:21:43.510 --> 0:21:47.260 as early as now. There will be two Santa fun 0:21:47.260 --> 0:21:49.629 runs happening this year. For the very first time. There 0:21:49.629 --> 0:21:52.570 will be one in Melbourne on November the 23rd, and 0:21:52.570 --> 0:21:56.830 then one in Sydney on November 30th. The event is 0:21:56.830 --> 0:22:00.429 there to raise funds for Vision Australia's Life Ready program, 0:22:00.430 --> 0:22:02.980 which is a program that helps to empower children who 0:22:02.980 --> 0:22:05.720 are blind or have low vision to live independently and 0:22:05.720 --> 0:22:10.310 reach their full potential. So don't wait. Register today and 0:22:10.310 --> 0:22:12.770 you can save 15% on your tickets. Just use the 0:22:12.770 --> 0:22:16.400 promo code client 15. Bring along your friends, your family, 0:22:16.399 --> 0:22:19.040 your colleagues and just have a fun day filled with 0:22:19.040 --> 0:22:20.600 community and celebration. 0:22:20.690 --> 0:22:24.200 Perfect. Well, it's a lot of fun to get into 0:22:24.200 --> 0:22:28.700 the festive spirit as Christmas is rapidly approaching, which is 0:22:28.700 --> 0:22:35.300 both exciting and daunting. Yeah, it's certainly that time of year. Yeah. 0:22:35.300 --> 0:22:38.810 So how can people find out a little bit more 0:22:38.810 --> 0:22:43.490 about FYI? Or maybe they'd just love to, um, get 0:22:43.490 --> 0:22:46.850 all the news in their inboxes? Liz, what's the best 0:22:46.850 --> 0:22:48.200 way for them to do that? 0:22:48.230 --> 0:22:51.499 It's super simple. Sam. You just visit Vision Australia. Org 0:22:51.500 --> 0:22:54.980 slash FYI. Hop in your details and the newsletter will 0:22:54.980 --> 0:22:56.899 get sent directly to your inbox. 0:22:56.960 --> 0:23:02.899 Perfect. That's for your information. Otherwise known as FYI, coming 0:23:02.899 --> 0:23:06.870 out every two weeks in your inbox to keep tabs 0:23:06.869 --> 0:23:12.119 on the latest things happening at Vision Australia and around 0:23:12.119 --> 0:23:16.140 the blind and low vision community. Liz, thank you as 0:23:16.139 --> 0:23:19.289 always for your time today. Great to hear about the 0:23:19.290 --> 0:23:21.810 latest news from FYI. 0:23:23.190 --> 0:23:26.160 Thank you for having me, Sam. It's always fun when 0:23:26.159 --> 0:23:26.669 I come on and. 0:23:26.669 --> 0:23:29.669 Chat to you. Certainly is lots of fun. Thanks so much. 0:23:33.210 --> 0:23:37.949 And now here's Mary again with winner of the Blind 0:23:37.950 --> 0:23:42.600 Australian of the year Award for 2024, Courtney Liebeck. 0:23:42.899 --> 0:23:47.010 I'm Courtney Liebeck. I've just currently won the Blind Australian 0:23:47.040 --> 0:23:49.619 of the year awards. I'm 20 and I'm from Gloucester, 0:23:49.619 --> 0:23:52.169 so really incredibly excited to be up here and be 0:23:52.169 --> 0:23:54.209 a finalist and then to win. It was just a 0:23:54.210 --> 0:23:57.479 huge honour. It was some two other incredible finalists and 0:23:57.480 --> 0:24:00.149 what they've done is, is amazing. So yeah. 0:24:00.180 --> 0:24:02.970 What helped you the most to get where you are now? 0:24:03.030 --> 0:24:05.600 Um, I think it's my parents. They just never held 0:24:05.600 --> 0:24:08.479 me back in life. I got got told there's no 0:24:08.480 --> 0:24:10.490 such word as can't. And I went out there and 0:24:10.490 --> 0:24:14.330 achieved absolutely everything I can. And I think I'm 20, 0:24:14.359 --> 0:24:17.960 so a lot of people party and whatnot, and I 0:24:17.960 --> 0:24:20.600 do like to party, I guess. Um, like I said. 0:24:20.600 --> 0:24:24.409 But yeah, I think just the drive and willingness to achieve, um, 0:24:24.440 --> 0:24:26.659 what people don't think you can achieve with having a 0:24:26.659 --> 0:24:29.689 vision impairment, um, is something that I really like to 0:24:29.690 --> 0:24:32.300 do and just support other people and get them to 0:24:32.330 --> 0:24:34.609 break those boundaries. That is possible. 0:24:34.639 --> 0:24:37.580 So you've you've done a few different sports. Yes. So 0:24:37.609 --> 0:24:39.109 were you always sporty? Yeah. 0:24:39.139 --> 0:24:40.999 I grew up on a beef cattle property. So I 0:24:41.030 --> 0:24:44.030 grew up riding horses and in a small country town. 0:24:44.030 --> 0:24:47.960 So I played netball, basketball, swimming, did everything, and then 0:24:47.960 --> 0:24:50.810 I took up athletics and did that for ten years 0:24:50.810 --> 0:24:53.179 throughout high school and got to travel a lot of 0:24:53.180 --> 0:24:56.330 the country with that. And after high school, I found 0:24:56.330 --> 0:24:59.030 the love for tennis and cricket, and I just kept 0:24:59.030 --> 0:25:02.060 following that passion. And it's now taken me to two, 0:25:02.090 --> 0:25:05.380 two world titles in tennis, and to play cricket for 0:25:05.379 --> 0:25:07.389 Australia and get a baggy green is incredible. So I 0:25:07.389 --> 0:25:10.689 think just being fit and and having such supportive people 0:25:10.690 --> 0:25:12.550 in that sporting environment is amazing. 0:25:12.609 --> 0:25:14.770 Sure. What are some of the difficulties you. 0:25:14.770 --> 0:25:17.409 Encountered having a vision impairments? There's always going to be 0:25:17.409 --> 0:25:22.540 challenges and boundaries, but I think it's about breaking those 0:25:22.540 --> 0:25:26.350 barriers and and achieving what the unthinkable is. I think 0:25:26.409 --> 0:25:29.859 living remotely, there's always going to be challenges with there's 0:25:29.859 --> 0:25:32.379 no public transport in Gloucester where I live. So having 0:25:32.379 --> 0:25:35.229 the support of people and support workers that can assist 0:25:35.260 --> 0:25:37.660 you in achieving things is is really important. 0:25:37.659 --> 0:25:40.900 And when you talk about help to travel, you've gone 0:25:40.899 --> 0:25:42.640 to a few different countries. Do you feel a big 0:25:42.639 --> 0:25:44.470 difference in terms of accessibility? 0:25:44.500 --> 0:25:47.859 Yeah, definitely. Just got back from Europe with the World 0:25:47.889 --> 0:25:51.999 Tennis Championships there, and we travelled with some amazing people 0:25:52.000 --> 0:25:56.230 and just having that support and assistive technology. Um, that 0:25:56.230 --> 0:25:59.109 Vision Australia support is, is amazing. And then to come 0:25:59.109 --> 0:26:02.379 through and um, just having like I have two amazing 0:26:02.379 --> 0:26:05.790 parents that that support me and everything like that. And 0:26:05.790 --> 0:26:08.340 I think just being that little bit of independence really, 0:26:08.340 --> 0:26:11.040 really helped. And I can't wait to keep traveling. 0:26:11.040 --> 0:26:13.140 So what are your next projects? That's a big. 0:26:13.139 --> 0:26:16.080 Question. I think back to uni for the next few weeks, 0:26:16.080 --> 0:26:19.470 and then I've got a tennis tournament in Adelaide, um, 0:26:19.470 --> 0:26:22.170 coming up at the start of December and then into 0:26:22.169 --> 0:26:24.749 the cricket season. So Cricket nationals and hopefully make the 0:26:24.750 --> 0:26:28.950 Australian women's squad for the upcoming year again. So yeah, 0:26:28.980 --> 0:26:33.449 just keep improving and bettering yourself and bringing awareness to 0:26:33.480 --> 0:26:36.060 the sport and getting more girls involved in in the 0:26:36.060 --> 0:26:37.140 sport as well. 0:26:37.200 --> 0:26:39.869 And do you have any message for our listeners? 0:26:39.899 --> 0:26:41.820 Yeah, um, go after it. 0:26:41.850 --> 0:26:47.639 Um, if you're interested in sport or whether it's singing music, um, technology, 0:26:47.669 --> 0:26:49.919 no matter what it is, go after it. Um, ask 0:26:49.919 --> 0:26:53.160 the questions. People are going to be there to support you. And, um, 0:26:53.159 --> 0:26:55.530 there's no such thing as can't. So just go out 0:26:55.530 --> 0:26:57.390 and have a go and enjoy it and have fun. 0:26:57.389 --> 0:26:58.680 That's what it's all about. 0:27:05.760 --> 0:27:08.879 And that's all the time we have for today. You've 0:27:08.879 --> 0:27:13.110 been listening to Talking Vision. Talking vision is a Vision 0:27:13.139 --> 0:27:17.280 Australia radio production. Thanks to all involved with putting the 0:27:17.280 --> 0:27:21.480 show together every week. And remember, we love hearing from you. 0:27:21.480 --> 0:27:24.780 So please get in touch any time on our email 0:27:24.780 --> 0:27:30.090 at Talking Vision. At Vision australia.org. That's talking vision all 0:27:30.090 --> 0:27:34.889 one word at Vision australia.org. But until next week it's 0:27:34.889 --> 0:27:37.350 Sam Collins saying bye for now. 0:27:40.649 --> 0:27:44.820 You can contact Vision Australia by phoning us anytime during 0:27:44.820 --> 0:27:56.699 business hours on 1300 847 406. That's 1300 847 486 or by visiting Vision australia.org. 0:27:56.700 --> 0:27:59.220 That's Vision australia.org.