WEBVTT - Talking Vision 699 Week Beginning 23rd of October 2023 0:00:13.268 --> 0:00:18.968 From Vision Australia. This is talking vision. And now here's 0:00:18.968 --> 0:00:20.978 your host, Sam Colley. 0:00:23.458 --> 0:00:26.578 Hello everyone. It's great to be here with you. And 0:00:26.578 --> 0:00:29.578 for the next half hour, we talk matters of blindness 0:00:29.578 --> 0:00:30.628 and low vision. 0:00:30.898 --> 0:00:33.718 Having that perspective really gives me the passion to want 0:00:33.718 --> 0:00:37.018 to play a blind football game myself with other players 0:00:37.018 --> 0:00:39.778 who want to become a blind football player. So I 0:00:39.778 --> 0:00:43.078 really feel like if I can expand that word out there, 0:00:43.078 --> 0:00:46.318 that we can play blind football together and enjoy the 0:00:46.318 --> 0:00:49.498 game to help the future of the game, I really 0:00:49.498 --> 0:00:50.518 feel that's important. 0:00:50.668 --> 0:00:53.878 Welcome to the program. Kicking off the show this week, 0:00:53.878 --> 0:00:57.538 we've got a discussion with Sebastian. He's been a coach 0:00:57.538 --> 0:01:00.358 and a referee in the world of blind football for 0:01:00.358 --> 0:01:04.018 quite some time. You may have heard his voice on 0:01:04.018 --> 0:01:07.738 Talking vision and Vision sports in the past, but he's 0:01:07.738 --> 0:01:11.488 back to talk to us all about a national blind 0:01:11.488 --> 0:01:15.928 football series which recently took place. Then after that conversation 0:01:15.928 --> 0:01:19.648 with Sebastian, I'm joined by a group of friends from 0:01:19.648 --> 0:01:22.918 the Vision Australia office in Brisbane who are heading off 0:01:22.918 --> 0:01:26.398 to the track for vision next March in New Zealand 0:01:26.398 --> 0:01:30.448 to raise vital funds for Vision Australia. So if you'd 0:01:30.448 --> 0:01:32.668 love to hear a bit more about the track, make 0:01:32.668 --> 0:01:35.668 sure to stay tuned. I hope you enjoy this week's 0:01:35.668 --> 0:01:44.968 episode of Talking Vision. Sebastian Petrovich is a sorted referee, 0:01:44.968 --> 0:01:49.888 coach and player involved in blind football in Australia, and 0:01:49.888 --> 0:01:52.978 he's here to chat to me all about not only 0:01:52.978 --> 0:01:56.908 the recent national series which took place in Melbourne, but 0:01:56.908 --> 0:02:00.178 also to spread the word about blind football and to 0:02:00.178 --> 0:02:04.528 encourage people around the country to get involved. Sebastian, welcome 0:02:04.528 --> 0:02:07.228 back to Talking Vision. Thanks so much for your time. 0:02:07.498 --> 0:02:10.168 Oh, it is great to be in here again and 0:02:10.498 --> 0:02:12.148 thank you very much for having me. 0:02:12.178 --> 0:02:14.818 Now, you've been up to quite a fair bit lately. 0:02:14.968 --> 0:02:17.548 Tell us a bit about the national series that's been 0:02:17.548 --> 0:02:18.748 going on. Oh, it's. 0:02:18.748 --> 0:02:23.128 Been amazing series. We had a national series for the 0:02:23.128 --> 0:02:27.238 Australian national team, the blind football team. And the great 0:02:27.238 --> 0:02:31.198 thing was they had two series of games to get through, 0:02:31.198 --> 0:02:35.218 and we completed the second one just recently out of 0:02:35.218 --> 0:02:37.888 the Essendon campus there for the bombers, where we've got 0:02:37.888 --> 0:02:40.408 the complex set up for the actual match. When we 0:02:40.408 --> 0:02:44.398 set it up and looking back and just going over 0:02:44.398 --> 0:02:47.758 the two series, we had South Melbourne lose the first game, 0:02:47.758 --> 0:02:50.098 you know, one nil against a Brisbane team that was 0:02:50.098 --> 0:02:52.618 made up of, you know, the Sydney players as well 0:02:52.618 --> 0:02:55.738 and players from interstate. So yeah it went well. The 0:02:55.738 --> 0:02:59.008 second game was a two nil victory for South Melbourne 0:02:59.008 --> 0:03:01.048 you know. So it was they took out the two 0:03:01.048 --> 0:03:03.718 one aggregate of the series and they took out the 0:03:03.718 --> 0:03:06.538 championship for the national blind series. So it was a 0:03:06.538 --> 0:03:10.138 big congratulations for the South Melbourne team which I'm familiar 0:03:10.138 --> 0:03:13.468 with the locals here who do training sessions. And it 0:03:13.468 --> 0:03:15.568 was great to be a part of it and also 0:03:15.568 --> 0:03:18.748 to see that big improvement in the match experience. 0:03:18.758 --> 0:03:22.888 And what was your role in particular in the national series? 0:03:23.128 --> 0:03:26.758 I understand you've been a blind football referee for quite 0:03:26.758 --> 0:03:29.638 some time. What sort of things were you involved with 0:03:29.638 --> 0:03:30.868 over the weekend? 0:03:31.108 --> 0:03:34.378 I normally go there and we spend two nights and 0:03:34.378 --> 0:03:38.968 help with assisting with the coaching side, but this time 0:03:38.968 --> 0:03:40.768 in the last time I was there just for the 0:03:40.768 --> 0:03:44.188 match as an official referee. So I went there just 0:03:44.188 --> 0:03:46.798 to make sure that the match was safe, making sure 0:03:46.798 --> 0:03:49.978 that the game is played through the updated rules and 0:03:49.978 --> 0:03:52.468 making sure that I was there just this time for 0:03:52.468 --> 0:03:55.828 the official referee role and helping assist the new referee 0:03:55.828 --> 0:03:58.738 who was there learning both games, the first and last, 0:03:58.738 --> 0:04:01.078 and he was there last year. So yeah, I was here. 0:04:01.318 --> 0:04:04.018 This final match was just to focus on the final 0:04:04.018 --> 0:04:05.968 game and make sure that I'm focused in on that. 0:04:05.968 --> 0:04:08.068 So yeah, my role at this time was to get 0:04:08.068 --> 0:04:10.288 through it safely and it was good. 0:04:10.288 --> 0:04:14.068 And Sebastian, I understand you were involved in setting up 0:04:14.068 --> 0:04:18.088 a Braille pitch for some blind football players in the past. 0:04:18.118 --> 0:04:18.778 Tell us about. 0:04:18.778 --> 0:04:23.308 That. Sam, I had a great, great support from Vision Australia. 0:04:23.308 --> 0:04:25.438 I come up with a great idea for the players 0:04:25.438 --> 0:04:28.738 who play blind football, and the idea around was to 0:04:28.738 --> 0:04:31.978 give confidence to the blind athletes, particularly in the blind 0:04:31.978 --> 0:04:35.578 football pitch. So I contacted Vision Australia, who has a 0:04:35.578 --> 0:04:39.658 special equipment. It's a special machine where they do the braille, 0:04:39.658 --> 0:04:42.658 and I was fascinated about how I can develop a 0:04:42.658 --> 0:04:45.718 pitch that's 20 by 40 with the lines and everything, 0:04:45.718 --> 0:04:48.658 and the wording of each section of the pitch, and 0:04:48.658 --> 0:04:50.998 to break it down into for details. When a player 0:04:50.998 --> 0:04:54.238 uses their hands on the pitch on, say, the penalty area, 0:04:54.238 --> 0:04:56.908 it would say penalty area six metres and then the 0:04:56.908 --> 0:05:00.208 eight metre penalty area would have an information of. This 0:05:00.208 --> 0:05:02.368 is where the penalty area is with the braille and 0:05:02.368 --> 0:05:04.888 the markings on the pitch. So the idea around that 0:05:04.888 --> 0:05:07.258 was when these blind athletes who are new to the 0:05:07.258 --> 0:05:10.948 game and they're coming into the match situation, they've already 0:05:10.948 --> 0:05:13.198 got mapped in their head, you know, roughly where it is. 0:05:13.198 --> 0:05:15.448 But then when they fill the Braille court and they've 0:05:15.448 --> 0:05:18.838 got their own personalised braille pitch of the football pitch, 0:05:18.838 --> 0:05:21.208 it just gives them that confidence and they can go 0:05:21.208 --> 0:05:23.788 away home and study the pitch in the measurements, because 0:05:23.788 --> 0:05:26.938 in the blind football pitch measurements, it's very important to 0:05:26.938 --> 0:05:30.178 know where exactly you're on the pitch by meters, whether 0:05:30.178 --> 0:05:32.788 the guide is telling you, oh, you're five meters away, 0:05:32.788 --> 0:05:34.858 you've got to shoot or you're at the ten meter 0:05:34.858 --> 0:05:36.868 mark and now it's six and eight. Now the player 0:05:36.868 --> 0:05:38.998 is ready to shoot. But the more they studied that 0:05:38.998 --> 0:05:41.938 pitch and they got that personalised Braille pitch, I just 0:05:41.938 --> 0:05:44.488 feel like it was a no brainer. But also for them, 0:05:44.488 --> 0:05:46.408 they loved it. You know, we've got a lot of 0:05:46.408 --> 0:05:49.258 players in the national team, Australia that I do individual 0:05:49.258 --> 0:05:52.498 coaching with and they I handed them that after developing 0:05:52.498 --> 0:05:55.828 it with Vision Australia and they really, really appreciated it. 0:05:55.828 --> 0:05:58.648 I've got one for myself because as you know, I 0:05:58.648 --> 0:06:01.288 can see it and it's got green and white, the 0:06:01.288 --> 0:06:03.808 pitch lining, but the vision impaired can't see it. So 0:06:03.808 --> 0:06:06.118 they've got the Braille. So it works both way when 0:06:06.118 --> 0:06:09.478 even I'm instructing another referee where to be on the pitch, 0:06:09.478 --> 0:06:12.658 I use it as well. So it's really multi-purpose, but 0:06:12.658 --> 0:06:15.418 also for the future. May be tennis can be used 0:06:15.418 --> 0:06:18.208 in blind sports Braille pitches as well. And that was 0:06:18.208 --> 0:06:20.788 the other idea around other blind sports as well. 0:06:21.088 --> 0:06:23.788 As I've said, you've been involved as a referee for 0:06:23.788 --> 0:06:27.028 quite some time. That's taken you all around the world. 0:06:27.028 --> 0:06:31.948 As I understand you've been in Japan for a fair bit, Australia, obviously, 0:06:31.948 --> 0:06:36.508 but what sort of got you into being a referee 0:06:36.508 --> 0:06:38.908 for blind soccer in the first place? 0:06:38.998 --> 0:06:43.048 Oh, it was, you know. This passion I had for 0:06:43.048 --> 0:06:46.978 learning something new, you know, and being a soccer athlete 0:06:46.978 --> 0:06:51.688 and a footballer. It gave me this curiosity to become 0:06:51.688 --> 0:06:54.358 a qualified referee. So, you know, going to Japan and 0:06:54.358 --> 0:06:58.348 learning how high level they are and seeing them do 0:06:58.678 --> 0:07:02.368 their competitions there. It made me really, really passionate about 0:07:02.368 --> 0:07:05.398 learning this new role as a blind football referee. So 0:07:05.398 --> 0:07:09.088 I just really wanted to learn. I wanted to become qualified. 0:07:09.088 --> 0:07:12.358 And once I did, a lot of these opportunities opened 0:07:12.358 --> 0:07:15.568 up because no one in Australia has the qualification to 0:07:15.568 --> 0:07:18.358 officiate the games. So I loved it. And, you know, 0:07:18.388 --> 0:07:20.848 I just I grabbed it with both hands and I 0:07:20.848 --> 0:07:23.968 basically wanted to be that ambassador here where I could 0:07:23.968 --> 0:07:27.118 teach the local players of what it takes to play 0:07:27.118 --> 0:07:29.248 in a competition game and to play in the game, 0:07:29.248 --> 0:07:32.038 which is quite so many different things, you know, to learn. 0:07:32.038 --> 0:07:35.068 So yeah, it was a great achievement for myself. 0:07:35.278 --> 0:07:38.308 And on that some teaching point, you've been quite heavily 0:07:38.308 --> 0:07:42.958 involved with some physical education over the past little while. 0:07:42.958 --> 0:07:45.898 I believe you've gone around to a few schools, but 0:07:45.898 --> 0:07:49.108 there's one in particular that's close to your heart. So, 0:07:49.108 --> 0:07:51.838 you know, tell us a bit about the education work 0:07:51.838 --> 0:07:54.568 that you've been doing. You know, teaching kids all about 0:07:54.568 --> 0:07:55.618 blind football. 0:07:55.798 --> 0:07:59.398 Oh, it has been a phenomenal, you know, last month 0:07:59.398 --> 0:08:02.818 and also over the years. But recently Trinity College, which 0:08:02.818 --> 0:08:04.948 is where I had a role as a coach there 0:08:04.948 --> 0:08:08.008 with youth development and seniors, but they've asked me to 0:08:08.008 --> 0:08:11.878 come in and and educate them on the football players. 0:08:11.878 --> 0:08:15.388 They're in the sports section. What's blind? Football. And, you know, 0:08:15.388 --> 0:08:18.088 very quickly they took it on board and they started 0:08:18.088 --> 0:08:20.278 learning the game and what it is, and we started 0:08:20.278 --> 0:08:25.108 playing a two versus two game, you know, 2V2 and 0:08:25.108 --> 0:08:26.998 there was 3 or 4 different classes. And I have 0:08:26.998 --> 0:08:30.058 to thank Mike Moreira there, who works really, really hard 0:08:30.058 --> 0:08:33.898 with the sports students there. And he was actually he 0:08:33.898 --> 0:08:37.468 was asking me a couple years ago and just through 0:08:37.468 --> 0:08:39.658 Covid we couldn't get out there, but the kids loved it. 0:08:39.658 --> 0:08:42.778 And you know, they want more and I came back 0:08:42.778 --> 0:08:45.658 and I really feel this plant the seed in different 0:08:45.658 --> 0:08:49.948 schools around Australia and, you know, Melbourne. I'd love to 0:08:49.948 --> 0:08:52.168 go out touring and getting out to the schools and 0:08:52.168 --> 0:08:55.168 raising that awareness of what blind football is and, and 0:08:55.168 --> 0:08:57.868 how someone who loves football can get involved as a 0:08:57.868 --> 0:09:01.408 volunteer and how they can pass that knowledge onto someone else. 0:09:01.408 --> 0:09:04.168 You know, who they might know, who's vision impaired and 0:09:04.168 --> 0:09:06.778 even participate in the blind football game. You don't have 0:09:06.778 --> 0:09:09.268 to be vision impaired or have no sight at all. 0:09:09.268 --> 0:09:12.448 You can actually help our development for the future and 0:09:12.448 --> 0:09:14.758 help us play games. As an athlete wanting to play 0:09:14.758 --> 0:09:17.878 a blind football game, and this is something that they 0:09:17.878 --> 0:09:20.578 do in Japan, you know, they have two players participate 0:09:20.578 --> 0:09:23.878 in the game to help there be more games played. 0:09:23.878 --> 0:09:26.878 And that's all about the game experience and stuff like that. 0:09:26.878 --> 0:09:29.218 So that's my ultimate goal is to get out to 0:09:29.218 --> 0:09:32.578 the schools like Trinity and even some other schools, and 0:09:32.578 --> 0:09:35.428 see if we can create a team or a training 0:09:35.428 --> 0:09:38.008 session on a regular basis, where we can actually eventually 0:09:38.008 --> 0:09:41.308 help develop our seniors, play more games because we need 0:09:41.308 --> 0:09:44.038 it's so hard getting into state. Players come to Melbourne 0:09:44.038 --> 0:09:46.678 all the time for the camp. So yeah, and even 0:09:46.678 --> 0:09:49.948 myself as an ex athlete, I feel that my passion 0:09:50.038 --> 0:09:51.988 not only is for refereeing, but you have to be 0:09:51.988 --> 0:09:55.378 an all rounder coach, the referee, learning the guide roles 0:09:55.378 --> 0:09:59.638 and being a guide, a volunteer. So having that perspective 0:09:59.638 --> 0:10:01.678 really gives me the passion to want to play a 0:10:01.678 --> 0:10:04.588 blind football game myself with other players who want to 0:10:04.588 --> 0:10:07.858 become a blind football player. So I really feel like 0:10:07.858 --> 0:10:10.558 if I can expand that word out there, that we 0:10:10.558 --> 0:10:13.978 can play blind football together and enjoy the game to 0:10:13.978 --> 0:10:16.918 help the future of the game, I really feel that's 0:10:16.918 --> 0:10:18.388 important now. 0:10:18.388 --> 0:10:21.508 So what sort of things are in the pipeline in 0:10:21.508 --> 0:10:24.748 that line of thinking over the next few sort of 0:10:24.748 --> 0:10:28.978 weeks and months? Are there camps in Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth 0:10:28.978 --> 0:10:32.728 or even Sydney, Brisbane, Hobart? What sort of blind football 0:10:32.728 --> 0:10:35.458 things are in the pipeline for people to head along 0:10:35.458 --> 0:10:38.788 to in the next little while to get involved? It's a. 0:10:38.788 --> 0:10:41.938 Great question. There is one. From what I've done, a 0:10:41.938 --> 0:10:44.998 bit of study, there's one coming up in, I believe, Hobart, 0:10:44.998 --> 0:10:48.598 which is all abilities or vision impaired day. I think 0:10:48.598 --> 0:10:51.508 it could be coming up on the 27th or 28th. 0:10:51.868 --> 0:10:54.838 So that's something to look out for in Hobart, where 0:10:54.838 --> 0:10:57.808 they're promoting blind sports and stuff like that. That's coming up. 0:10:57.808 --> 0:11:01.168 And we have an all abilities program at South Melbourne 0:11:01.168 --> 0:11:04.378 where we normally train every two weeks, and therefore the 0:11:04.378 --> 0:11:07.168 local Melbourne based players, and that gives them an opportunity 0:11:07.168 --> 0:11:09.418 to help with their skills and stuff like that and 0:11:09.418 --> 0:11:12.208 play and train because it's off season at the moment, 0:11:12.208 --> 0:11:15.478 we're still putting some plans into place to see what's 0:11:15.478 --> 0:11:17.788 going to be the plan for the new year, but 0:11:18.358 --> 0:11:21.178 I always try to help mentor these players who I've 0:11:21.178 --> 0:11:25.138 trained in individual coaching, and help them realise that you've 0:11:25.138 --> 0:11:28.078 got to keep yourself in tune with training all the time. 0:11:28.078 --> 0:11:29.818 You know, the more you're touching the ball, the more 0:11:29.818 --> 0:11:32.218 you're running, the more you're shooting, the more you're practicing. 0:11:32.218 --> 0:11:34.468 So you've got that edge and you're already in front. 0:11:34.858 --> 0:11:37.048 So make sure that you're not losing too much touch 0:11:37.048 --> 0:11:40.468 in the game. But great question Sam, with interstate and 0:11:40.468 --> 0:11:43.818 stuff like that. They will have their national coaches, local coaches, 0:11:43.818 --> 0:11:46.968 where they might do their own local training sessions for 0:11:46.968 --> 0:11:50.118 their own blind players. And we've got a lot of 0:11:50.118 --> 0:11:53.478 women now participating in the blind football as well. And 0:11:53.478 --> 0:11:56.748 I think it was just Friday passed this Friday that 0:11:56.748 --> 0:11:59.268 they had a national camp, which is great news. 0:11:59.268 --> 0:12:00.888 And yeah, it's fantastic. Yeah. 0:12:00.918 --> 0:12:04.698 Bess, who's the head coach there? She runs a camp. 0:12:04.698 --> 0:12:07.488 I wasn't able to get out there, but they had 0:12:07.488 --> 0:12:11.298 a national camp there in Adelaide, which I was just 0:12:11.298 --> 0:12:14.508 in touch with. John. He's a Japanese coach who's got 0:12:14.508 --> 0:12:17.628 more than ten years experience in Japan with youth and 0:12:17.628 --> 0:12:22.098 also seniors. And I recommended him come down to Australia 0:12:22.098 --> 0:12:24.438 and help support our staff. And he came down to 0:12:24.438 --> 0:12:27.888 Australia and now he's he's recently been appointed the first 0:12:27.888 --> 0:12:31.758 Japanese head coach for Australian national team, which is excellent news. 0:12:31.758 --> 0:12:32.928 Yeah that's fantastic. 0:12:32.928 --> 0:12:36.678 Yeah. So he's now traveling around and helping out as 0:12:36.678 --> 0:12:39.168 much as he can with the players and stuff like 0:12:39.168 --> 0:12:42.858 that and keeping his his awareness of who's there and 0:12:42.858 --> 0:12:45.858 what's going on. So it's a great asset for Australia 0:12:45.858 --> 0:12:49.188 to have such an experienced coach to come and live 0:12:49.188 --> 0:12:51.228 in Australia and help our national team. 0:12:51.228 --> 0:12:54.288 Yeah, that's fantastic and it's really good to say. And 0:12:54.288 --> 0:12:57.918 that's not only just in blind football, but I understand 0:12:58.068 --> 0:13:01.788 people from Japan and Iran, you know, absolute heavyweights of 0:13:01.788 --> 0:13:06.288 the Asian Football Confederation getting involved with Australian football. You've 0:13:06.288 --> 0:13:10.938 got referees in the A-League like Alireza Afghani from Iran, 0:13:10.938 --> 0:13:14.328 a fantastic referee. So it's really great to see that's 0:13:14.328 --> 0:13:20.418 really permeating through other areas of the Australian football landscape now, 0:13:20.418 --> 0:13:24.318 said what's in store for the national team over the 0:13:24.318 --> 0:13:27.558 next little while? What sort of games will they be playing, 0:13:27.558 --> 0:13:30.348 or are they sort of ramping up for any new 0:13:30.348 --> 0:13:33.588 tournaments or qualifiers or anything of that nature? 0:13:33.798 --> 0:13:36.348 Great question. We've had the World Cup that we weren't 0:13:36.348 --> 0:13:39.828 able to get out to in England. All right. But 0:13:39.828 --> 0:13:43.388 now that the national series here has been completed, we 0:13:43.398 --> 0:13:46.008 leaving all the planning up to the coach and we've 0:13:46.008 --> 0:13:48.438 got David Connolly who's doing a great job again with 0:13:48.438 --> 0:13:51.558 the coordinating and stuff like that with the players and seeing, 0:13:51.558 --> 0:13:53.478 you know, what's going to happen for next year and 0:13:53.478 --> 0:13:57.708 what the goals are. So nothing exactly yet put in place, 0:13:57.828 --> 0:14:00.948 but I'm sure their plans moving forward to making more 0:14:00.948 --> 0:14:04.608 games and going to maybe international tournaments and maybe even 0:14:04.608 --> 0:14:09.018 Japan one day with the connections with June. Okay. And June's. Yeah, 0:14:09.048 --> 0:14:11.868 June's got good connections and I've got great connections there 0:14:11.868 --> 0:14:14.508 in Japan. And I was actually invited to go this 0:14:14.508 --> 0:14:17.358 time around to the Brave Cup tournament championship in Japan. 0:14:17.358 --> 0:14:20.748 But it's not looking to it's very short notice, so 0:14:20.748 --> 0:14:22.488 I'm not sure. Yeah, yeah, I'm not sure if I'm 0:14:22.488 --> 0:14:24.378 going to head out there, but leading next year, I 0:14:24.378 --> 0:14:26.028 think there's going to be a lot of opportunities for 0:14:26.028 --> 0:14:28.998 national players to compete for their spots and maybe possibly 0:14:28.998 --> 0:14:31.908 go abroad, and maybe even a country could even come 0:14:31.908 --> 0:14:33.018 to Australia one day. 0:14:33.048 --> 0:14:34.188 Oh, that'd be fantastic. 0:14:34.188 --> 0:14:35.868 Yeah. To help us. Yeah, yeah. 0:14:35.868 --> 0:14:39.618 Well, definitely watch this space for sure, Seb. And you know, 0:14:39.618 --> 0:14:43.128 you're always welcome back on talking vision. If things crop 0:14:43.128 --> 0:14:45.798 up that you'd love to talk about, we're very keen 0:14:45.798 --> 0:14:49.458 to hear about all the latest developments in the world 0:14:49.458 --> 0:14:53.958 of blind football in Australia. So definitely keep in touch. 0:14:53.958 --> 0:14:57.318 So listeners out there watch this space. You'll definitely be 0:14:57.318 --> 0:15:00.948 hearing Seb's voice down the track for sure. Now, just 0:15:00.948 --> 0:15:05.178 before we wrap up, Seb, where can people head to 0:15:05.178 --> 0:15:08.688 find out a bit more about blind football in Australia 0:15:08.688 --> 0:15:11.988 and perhaps get involved and just learn a bit more 0:15:11.988 --> 0:15:12.828 about the game? 0:15:13.068 --> 0:15:15.498 I think the best thing is, is, you know, get 0:15:15.498 --> 0:15:18.288 to know the players, ask them in person. We've got 0:15:18.288 --> 0:15:21.018 now Vision Australia now this is a huge help for 0:15:21.018 --> 0:15:23.238 the audience to know what's going on. You can reach 0:15:23.238 --> 0:15:26.448 Blind Sports Australia which is the BSA. I think it's 0:15:26.448 --> 0:15:29.268 called the Blind Sports Australia, which is important. They've got 0:15:29.268 --> 0:15:32.178 all the equipments and stuff like that. We've got Football Victoria, 0:15:32.178 --> 0:15:35.178 who's helped us with helping us run and the all 0:15:35.178 --> 0:15:38.418 abilities sector now the blind football. So they've got also 0:15:38.418 --> 0:15:41.718 some sort of promotional stuff on their web pages. Football 0:15:41.808 --> 0:15:44.958 Victoria and we've got Blind Sports Victoria who always doing 0:15:44.958 --> 0:15:47.488 their stuff running programs. So I'm sure that they've got 0:15:47.508 --> 0:15:49.818 they're a good one too. So everyone's working together to 0:15:49.818 --> 0:15:52.488 help promote. But yeah, if this can spread that word 0:15:52.488 --> 0:15:55.668 out there and get someone interested in getting me out 0:15:55.668 --> 0:15:58.278 to their school and trying to help promote the blind football, 0:15:58.278 --> 0:15:59.748 I'm happy to do it. I've got a lot of 0:15:59.748 --> 0:16:02.358 experience in the field and we, you know, I'm happy 0:16:02.358 --> 0:16:04.398 to go out to any school in Australia to start 0:16:04.398 --> 0:16:07.158 the Australian Blind Football Project, which I'm very passionate about, 0:16:07.158 --> 0:16:09.258 to raise the awareness in what is blind football. 0:16:09.378 --> 0:16:11.778 Now, just to wrap up, said, give us a couple 0:16:11.778 --> 0:16:15.708 of websites and emails there for people to head along to. 0:16:15.888 --> 0:16:18.858 You could contact myself where I could maybe possibly send 0:16:18.858 --> 0:16:23.328 you all the exact emails and details. Yeah. Sebastian at 0:16:23.328 --> 0:16:26.088 Better Sports Abilities to contact myself to send you the 0:16:26.088 --> 0:16:30.978 details of anything that's in particular with what you are 0:16:30.978 --> 0:16:34.368 asking and things like that. Facebook pages. We've got Blind 0:16:34.368 --> 0:16:37.908 Sports Australia, I think it is Blind Sports Victoria. Our 0:16:37.918 --> 0:16:40.308 Football Victoria probably is a good one. Yes. 0:16:40.818 --> 0:16:41.498 Head, shoulder. 0:16:41.508 --> 0:16:45.428 Yeah, football Victoria would have a lot of information on 0:16:45.438 --> 0:16:46.938 the websites and stuff like that. 0:16:47.148 --> 0:16:50.778 So that email again for people out there, that's Sebastian 0:16:50.778 --> 0:16:56.358 at Better Sports abilities.com to find out more about blind 0:16:56.358 --> 0:17:00.048 football and for Sebastian to point you in the right direction. 0:17:00.078 --> 0:17:05.268 I've been speaking today with Sebastian Petrovich, blind football referee, 0:17:05.268 --> 0:17:11.298 educator and coach for the Australian national blind football team, 0:17:11.298 --> 0:17:15.168 talking to us about not only the national series which 0:17:15.168 --> 0:17:19.428 recently took place, but all things blind football in Australia 0:17:19.428 --> 0:17:23.238 now and in the future. Sebastian, thank you so much 0:17:23.238 --> 0:17:24.978 for your time today. It was a pleasure to have 0:17:24.978 --> 0:17:26.418 you back on the show. Oh, it's a. 0:17:26.418 --> 0:17:29.298 Pleasure to be here once again, and hopefully there's more 0:17:29.298 --> 0:17:31.698 times in the future for all the children out there 0:17:31.698 --> 0:17:34.458 and adults and parents, you know, do your best to 0:17:34.458 --> 0:17:37.698 learn more. And the more people have come support our 0:17:37.698 --> 0:17:40.338 games is a great thing and a great achievement for 0:17:40.338 --> 0:17:42.618 our sport. So thank you Sam for having me in 0:17:42.618 --> 0:17:44.928 the studio again and it's going to be an excellent 0:17:44.928 --> 0:17:45.648 future ahead. 0:17:52.468 --> 0:17:55.588 I'm Sam Colley and you're listening to Talking Vision on 0:17:55.588 --> 0:18:00.538 Vision Australia Radio, associated stations of RPI and the Community 0:18:00.538 --> 0:18:04.678 Radio Network. I hope you enjoyed that interview there with 0:18:04.678 --> 0:18:08.398 Sebastian Petrovich. If you missed any part of that interview 0:18:08.398 --> 0:18:11.758 with Sebastian or you'd love to hear the interview again, 0:18:11.758 --> 0:18:15.898 the interview will be available on the Vision Australia Radio 0:18:15.898 --> 0:18:19.378 website as an interview highlight. Or you can find this 0:18:19.378 --> 0:18:23.248 episode and all past episodes of Talking Vision through your 0:18:23.248 --> 0:18:28.168 favourite podcast platform, or through the Vision Australia library. Our 0:18:28.168 --> 0:18:30.898 next bunch of guests are all heading off to the 0:18:30.898 --> 0:18:34.888 trek for Vision in New Zealand, taking place in March 0:18:34.888 --> 0:18:39.448 to raise vital funds for Vision Australia's Quality Living groups 0:18:39.448 --> 0:18:43.878 and Vision Australia Radio. Their names are large, Emma, Amy 0:18:43.888 --> 0:18:47.008 and Erin and they join me now from the Vision 0:18:47.008 --> 0:18:51.928 Australia office in Brisbane. Welcome everyone to Talking Vision. Great 0:18:51.928 --> 0:18:52.918 to have you all. 0:18:53.428 --> 0:18:55.528 Thank you. Thanks for having us. Thanks so. 0:18:55.528 --> 0:18:59.458 Much. Now let's go around the room and just introduce 0:18:59.458 --> 0:19:01.378 yourselves before we jump in. 0:19:01.558 --> 0:19:06.118 I'm Jemma, a speech pathologist on the children's team in Brisbane. Hello, 0:19:06.118 --> 0:19:10.228 I'm Amy, I'm a occupational therapist, also on the children's 0:19:10.228 --> 0:19:14.968 team in Brisbane. And Lara, I'm also an occupational therapist 0:19:14.968 --> 0:19:18.118 in the children's team in Brisbane as well. And my 0:19:18.118 --> 0:19:20.788 name is Erin. And I'm also in the children's team 0:19:20.788 --> 0:19:21.448 in Brisbane. 0:19:21.718 --> 0:19:25.888 Oh, cool. And how did you find out about the track? 0:19:26.098 --> 0:19:30.238 Yeah, absolutely. So funny story. It kind of started. I 0:19:30.238 --> 0:19:34.468 was in the office and Gemma came over and was like, oh, 0:19:34.468 --> 0:19:37.588 did you see the post about the track for vision 0:19:37.588 --> 0:19:39.958 on The Hub? And so the more we looked into 0:19:39.958 --> 0:19:44.188 it and chatted with our colleagues, Laura and Erin as well, 0:19:44.188 --> 0:19:46.378 we looked a little bit more into it and decided 0:19:46.378 --> 0:19:50.208 that we would take it on and join the track. Yeah, 0:19:50.218 --> 0:19:53.998 and then this is Erin. Actually, Amy, Laura and Gemma 0:19:53.998 --> 0:19:55.978 had already signed up and they were talking about it 0:19:55.978 --> 0:19:58.318 in the lunchroom and they were, oh my God, you 0:19:58.318 --> 0:20:01.948 need to come along. And I signed up very impulsively. 0:20:01.948 --> 0:20:04.858 I had no idea when it was no idea where 0:20:04.858 --> 0:20:07.608 we were going. I just went through my emails and 0:20:07.628 --> 0:20:09.478 was like, I'm going on this trip. Yes. 0:20:10.378 --> 0:20:13.618 And what sort of info have you found out about 0:20:13.618 --> 0:20:17.698 the track for vision? In the time between all finding 0:20:17.698 --> 0:20:20.188 out about it and up to now, what sort of 0:20:20.188 --> 0:20:22.438 things can you tell us about the track? 0:20:22.558 --> 0:20:26.308 Yeah, so since my impulsive signing up, I have learnt 0:20:26.308 --> 0:20:29.398 a little bit about it. We're trekking through New Zealand 0:20:29.398 --> 0:20:33.418 in early March next year, and I don't think I 0:20:33.418 --> 0:20:35.248 would have signed up if I'd known, but we're actually 0:20:35.248 --> 0:20:36.748 hiking with our CEO. 0:20:36.838 --> 0:20:38.248 Yes. That's Ron. Yeah. 0:20:38.458 --> 0:20:41.308 And yes, with Ron. And it'll be, I think, a 0:20:41.308 --> 0:20:45.808 wonderful five day walk through parts of New Zealand. Yeah, 0:20:46.168 --> 0:20:50.338 the kilometres or lap. We've also learnt that on the 0:20:50.338 --> 0:20:53.248 fundraising side of it. So you know, along with the 0:20:53.248 --> 0:20:57.718 60 kilometre trek were also raising money to support the 0:20:57.718 --> 0:21:03.448 Vision Australia, Quality Living Groups and Vision Australia radio. So 0:21:03.448 --> 0:21:08.368 we've got a goal. The four of us combined of $14,000. 0:21:08.368 --> 0:21:11.728 So a big goal that we're working towards for our 0:21:11.728 --> 0:21:12.568 trek as well. 0:21:12.748 --> 0:21:16.378 All right. And it's quite exciting to, you know, have 0:21:16.378 --> 0:21:20.578 some local knowledge from Ron on that hike through New Zealand. 0:21:20.578 --> 0:21:23.908 And there's some quite exciting things that I'm sure he'll 0:21:23.908 --> 0:21:27.028 be able to little bits of info he'll be able 0:21:27.028 --> 0:21:30.058 to share. So that's that's pretty exciting to be heading 0:21:30.058 --> 0:21:32.488 along with, with a local, so to speak. 0:21:32.638 --> 0:21:35.578 Yeah, absolutely. I think he was right. Oh, grew up 0:21:35.578 --> 0:21:38.748 in Wellington and that's our last day of the trip. 0:21:38.758 --> 0:21:42.868 We'll walk throughout Wellington guided by Ron, which is yeah, 0:21:42.868 --> 0:21:44.908 really nice. I think that'll be special. 0:21:45.178 --> 0:21:48.148 Have you all been training together every week, or have 0:21:48.148 --> 0:21:50.818 you been all sort of doing your own thing and 0:21:50.848 --> 0:21:55.048 on your own sort of little individualised training regimen, so 0:21:55.048 --> 0:21:55.588 to speak? 0:21:55.858 --> 0:21:58.828 Sam, to be honest, we we haven't really done much 0:21:58.828 --> 0:22:02.428 training at all yet. Oh, okay. We had our first 0:22:02.428 --> 0:22:06.118 team walk up mount just on the weekend, and I 0:22:06.118 --> 0:22:08.218 think it went as well as a first training session. 0:22:08.238 --> 0:22:12.358 And obviously we probably spent more time getting breakfast at 0:22:12.358 --> 0:22:14.968 the cafe at the top and we spent walking, but 0:22:15.958 --> 0:22:20.608 we've still got something like 22 weeks until we get there. 0:22:20.608 --> 0:22:23.518 So we'll definitely get a lot more practice in before then. 0:22:23.518 --> 0:22:26.328 We'll step up our training from from here on there. 0:22:26.408 --> 0:22:29.578 Okay. For sure. Have you all sort of done much 0:22:29.578 --> 0:22:32.698 walking in the past, or is this the first time 0:22:32.698 --> 0:22:36.538 where you've gone on this sort of hike of this magnitude? 0:22:36.898 --> 0:22:40.078 Yeah. So I have actually done one trek in New 0:22:40.078 --> 0:22:42.958 Zealand before, but that was quite a few years ago, 0:22:42.958 --> 0:22:45.358 and it's the only one I've done. And since then 0:22:45.358 --> 0:22:47.338 I can't say I've done so much walking. I think 0:22:47.338 --> 0:22:49.858 it's similar between us. We might play some sport or 0:22:49.858 --> 0:22:52.158 go for a walk with our dogs on the weekend. Ends, 0:22:52.258 --> 0:22:54.778 but a 60 kilometer hike is definitely a step up 0:22:54.778 --> 0:22:57.958 from that. So yeah, yeah, it'll be exciting to see 0:22:57.958 --> 0:23:00.748 how we go. Definitely challenging, but it'll be fun. Yeah. 0:23:01.288 --> 0:23:04.738 And you know, what are you all looking most forward to? 0:23:04.978 --> 0:23:07.708 This is Laura. I think I'm really looking forward to 0:23:07.708 --> 0:23:10.738 really raising more money and meeting our fundraising goal. That's 0:23:10.738 --> 0:23:13.228 really been the focus for us at the moment, because 0:23:13.228 --> 0:23:15.058 it's a it's a large sum of money that we're 0:23:15.058 --> 0:23:18.448 trying to raise. We've held a few fundraising parties and 0:23:18.448 --> 0:23:21.058 we've got plans in the, in the works for like 0:23:21.058 --> 0:23:24.508 a trivia night and sausage sizzles and, you know, talking 0:23:24.508 --> 0:23:26.398 at community events and things like that. So I think 0:23:26.398 --> 0:23:29.188 it will just be so rewarding to see the outcome 0:23:29.188 --> 0:23:33.148 of those fundraising efforts. That's what I'm really looking forward to. Yeah, 0:23:33.328 --> 0:23:35.518 it's Amy here. I think the same as Lara. I'm 0:23:35.518 --> 0:23:38.728 looking forward to sort of reaching the goal of our 0:23:38.728 --> 0:23:41.758 fundraising target. And I also think I'm looking forward to 0:23:41.758 --> 0:23:44.368 also reaching the goal of at the end of doing 0:23:44.368 --> 0:23:48.658 60 K's. I think looking forward to the satisfaction that 0:23:48.658 --> 0:23:51.598 that will bring as well. We're hoping we can celebrate 0:23:51.598 --> 0:23:55.138 with a local wine at one of the. Yeah, that. 0:23:55.138 --> 0:23:56.788 Sounds like a great plan. 0:23:57.388 --> 0:24:00.628 But I think we've also been reflecting on our roles 0:24:00.628 --> 0:24:03.238 and the work that we do in the children's team, 0:24:03.238 --> 0:24:06.628 because while we're not fundraising directly for our team or 0:24:06.628 --> 0:24:09.238 the services we provide, we still get to see every 0:24:09.238 --> 0:24:11.938 day the impact that it has. So we're really motivated, 0:24:11.938 --> 0:24:14.578 and it's been really cool for us to meet different 0:24:14.578 --> 0:24:18.118 people and different businesses in the community. It's been a 0:24:18.118 --> 0:24:22.048 challenge for us in terms of connecting with previously strangers, 0:24:22.048 --> 0:24:23.878 so that's been really exciting for us. 0:24:24.028 --> 0:24:27.778 And just finally tell us a bit about the purpose 0:24:27.778 --> 0:24:31.198 behind the trek and the difference that the funds raise 0:24:31.198 --> 0:24:35.038 will make to the quality living groups and the Vision 0:24:35.038 --> 0:24:39.388 Australia radio services. Did you know much about the quality 0:24:39.388 --> 0:24:42.448 of living groups and Vision Australia Radio before you got 0:24:42.448 --> 0:24:44.818 involved with the trek? Have you found out a bit 0:24:44.818 --> 0:24:48.688 more about them since you've gotten involved and looked into 0:24:48.688 --> 0:24:49.498 it a bit more? 0:24:49.498 --> 0:24:53.398 Yeah, this is Erin. I actually started with Vision Australia 0:24:53.398 --> 0:24:56.638 six months ago, so I've been hearing about, yeah, all 0:24:56.638 --> 0:24:58.918 the different services that we offer and that we have. So, 0:24:58.918 --> 0:25:01.138 you know, I've heard about the radio, I've kind of 0:25:01.138 --> 0:25:03.148 heard about the quality of living groups, but I never 0:25:03.148 --> 0:25:05.578 really put all the pieces together on what they were. 0:25:05.578 --> 0:25:07.408 But yeah, I think it's the quality of living groups 0:25:07.408 --> 0:25:10.888 in particular, such an important program and service that we're 0:25:10.888 --> 0:25:12.868 able to provide. And the funds that we're raising go 0:25:12.868 --> 0:25:15.718 towards such an important thing. And I think it's nice 0:25:15.718 --> 0:25:18.448 that there's no kind of pediatric quality living group at 0:25:18.448 --> 0:25:21.118 the moment, I don't think. But it's nice to know 0:25:21.118 --> 0:25:23.998 that when children and young people kind of leave our 0:25:23.998 --> 0:25:26.878 pediatric team, there is something like that for them. When 0:25:26.878 --> 0:25:29.098 they kind of turn 18 and join the adult team, 0:25:29.098 --> 0:25:31.888 they have this beautiful program there for them. Yeah. And 0:25:31.888 --> 0:25:35.188 I think also with the radio, something that shocked me 0:25:35.188 --> 0:25:37.888 in learning more about the Vision Australia radio was that 0:25:37.888 --> 0:25:42.448 there's over 350,000 listeners across the radio monthly. So I 0:25:42.448 --> 0:25:45.358 think being able to yeah, I think being able to 0:25:45.388 --> 0:25:49.468 raise funds and support the radio through our trek is, yeah, 0:25:49.468 --> 0:25:52.828 really awesome. And like Jemma and Erin said, even though 0:25:52.828 --> 0:25:55.408 we're in the pedes team, it's really nice to sort 0:25:55.408 --> 0:25:59.518 of look across our client's lifespan and see the services 0:25:59.518 --> 0:26:01.888 that they might be able to access in the future, 0:26:01.888 --> 0:26:05.968 like the radio or like the quality living groups. It's really, 0:26:05.968 --> 0:26:06.988 really special. 0:26:07.288 --> 0:26:10.498 And if you'd like to donate to Lara, Jemma, Amy 0:26:10.498 --> 0:26:16.168 and Aaron's trek for vision, head to fundraise dot Vision australia.org. 0:26:16.168 --> 0:26:21.838 That's fundraising Vision australia.org and search for Trek for Vision 0:26:21.838 --> 0:26:25.888 or Lara Jemma with AJ, Amy and Erin to make 0:26:25.888 --> 0:26:30.358 a donation. I've been speaking today with Jemma, Amy, Lara 0:26:30.358 --> 0:26:33.898 and Erin who are all heading off for the trek 0:26:33.898 --> 0:26:37.888 for vision early next year in New Zealand. It was 0:26:37.888 --> 0:26:40.288 great to have a chat with you all today. Thank 0:26:40.288 --> 0:26:42.418 you so much for your time and all the best 0:26:42.418 --> 0:26:44.488 for your training and for the trek. 0:26:45.238 --> 0:26:46.658 Thank you so much. Thanks. 0:26:53.978 --> 0:26:57.308 And that's all we have time for today. You've been 0:26:57.308 --> 0:27:01.658 listening to Talking Vision. Talking vision is a production of 0:27:01.658 --> 0:27:05.648 Vision Australia Radio. Thanks to all involved with putting the 0:27:05.648 --> 0:27:09.488 show together. And remember we love your feedback and comments. 0:27:09.488 --> 0:27:13.118 So please do get in touch on Talking Vision at 0:27:13.118 --> 0:27:19.928 Vision australia.org. That's talking vision all. One word at Vision australia.org. 0:27:19.928 --> 0:27:23.978 But until next week it's Sam Colley saying bye for now. 0:27:27.508 --> 0:27:31.558 You can contact Vision Australia by phoning us anytime during 0:27:31.558 --> 0:27:39.508 business hours on one 308 4746. That's one 380 474 0:27:39.558 --> 0:27:45.718 W6 or by visiting Vision australia.org. That's Vision australia.org.