WEBVTT - Talking Tech 18th March 2025 0:00:07.910 --> 0:00:12.140 Hello everyone. Welcome to Talking Tech. This edition, available from 0:00:12.140 --> 0:00:16.460 March the 18th, 2024. I'm Stephen Jolly. Great to have 0:00:16.460 --> 0:00:20.180 you with us listening maybe through Vision Australia radio, associated 0:00:20.180 --> 0:00:24.050 stations of the Radio Reading Network or the Community Radio Network. 0:00:24.080 --> 0:00:27.170 There is also the podcast to catch that, all you 0:00:27.170 --> 0:00:29.870 need to do is search for the two words talking 0:00:29.900 --> 0:00:33.020 tech and Danica. Nor come usually on a Tuesday afternoon 0:00:33.019 --> 0:00:36.140 just after it's been produced. Another option is to ask 0:00:36.170 --> 0:00:39.620 your Siri device or smart speaker to play. Vision Australia 0:00:39.620 --> 0:00:46.580 radio talking tech podcast. Vision Australia radio talking tech podcast. Normally, 0:00:46.580 --> 0:00:51.229 Vision Australia's national access technology manager Damo McMorrow was with me. 0:00:51.260 --> 0:00:56.150 Damo is still tied up with Sea Sun, the International 0:00:56.150 --> 0:00:59.480 Assistive Technology Conference duties, but he will be back with 0:00:59.480 --> 0:01:03.440 us next week. In the meantime, one of demos team 0:01:03.440 --> 0:01:08.920 is with me And that's Steve Moneghetti from Vision Australia. 0:01:08.950 --> 0:01:12.580 I think you're located in Bendigo. Steve. Welcome. 0:01:12.580 --> 0:01:16.270 Thanks. Stephen. Yeah, that's right in in Bendigo, central Victoria. 0:01:16.509 --> 0:01:21.580 And your role is in access technology service development lead. 0:01:21.580 --> 0:01:23.950 And I'm sure as soon as I've uttered those words 0:01:23.950 --> 0:01:27.370 there are people screaming at me into their device saying, 0:01:27.369 --> 0:01:31.000 Will you ask your guest what an access technology service 0:01:31.000 --> 0:01:32.679 development lead does? 0:01:32.770 --> 0:01:37.539 Yeah. So I was previously an access technology specialist. So 0:01:37.539 --> 0:01:40.449 the people who go out to to clients from Vision 0:01:40.450 --> 0:01:43.360 Australia that go out to sea to sea clients and 0:01:43.360 --> 0:01:46.839 talk to clients about their technology needs and their goals, 0:01:46.840 --> 0:01:50.620 and now I've moved into the role as a technology lead. 0:01:50.620 --> 0:01:56.320 So I actually mentor the Ats's, in particular in Victoria 0:01:56.320 --> 0:02:00.370 and Queensland. So I do some training, I coach them 0:02:00.370 --> 0:02:04.340 through different scenarios and and talk them through different options. 0:02:04.340 --> 0:02:08.570 So it's a mentoring role with all the ATS. 0:02:08.960 --> 0:02:10.550 An ATS is. 0:02:10.970 --> 0:02:13.010 Our access technology specialist. 0:02:13.040 --> 0:02:16.100 You joined VA 18 years ago. 0:02:16.280 --> 0:02:20.390 Yeah that's right. It started a very originally as a 0:02:20.390 --> 0:02:25.220 recreation worker at Vision Australia, but quickly moved into the 0:02:25.250 --> 0:02:29.600 At role, the assistive technology role and have been working 0:02:29.600 --> 0:02:32.600 in the field for about 17 of the 18 years. 0:02:33.230 --> 0:02:37.130 So how did you get interested in assistive or access technology? 0:02:37.160 --> 0:02:40.550 It was part of my background. So I'd completed a 0:02:40.550 --> 0:02:45.050 postgraduate qualification in computing and had worked in that field 0:02:45.050 --> 0:02:48.740 for a number of years. And then the opportunity arose 0:02:48.770 --> 0:02:53.900 that we needed to expand the the ATS role in Bendigo. 0:02:53.900 --> 0:02:57.050 And so the opportunity came up for the position in Bendigo. 0:02:57.860 --> 0:03:00.230 When you started to move into it and you had 0:03:00.230 --> 0:03:04.750 to get your head around Using a computer in what's 0:03:04.750 --> 0:03:07.540 not really a natural way for people who can see 0:03:07.570 --> 0:03:11.050 to use it. How did that go for you? 0:03:11.080 --> 0:03:13.720 You're quite right. It's a very steep learning curve for 0:03:13.720 --> 0:03:17.770 the first 3 to 6 months, you know, navigating jaws 0:03:18.610 --> 0:03:21.700 and as you said, discussing all the acronyms for a start. 0:03:21.700 --> 0:03:25.240 But then, you know, learning how to use the magnification, 0:03:25.270 --> 0:03:29.890 the screen readers and then moving eventually into being able 0:03:29.890 --> 0:03:32.320 to use some of the Braille devices as well. So 0:03:32.860 --> 0:03:34.870 it was a 12 month learning curve to get up 0:03:34.870 --> 0:03:37.630 to speed with, with many of those things. And then 0:03:38.050 --> 0:03:42.400 it's a consistent process in just updating your skills, updating 0:03:42.400 --> 0:03:45.160 your knowledge, and keeping you informed of of what's out 0:03:45.160 --> 0:03:47.890 there and what's happening. My computer starts every day with 0:03:47.890 --> 0:03:51.190 jaws running. So jaws is a screen reader for windows, 0:03:51.610 --> 0:03:53.770 and I try not to touch my mouse throughout the 0:03:53.770 --> 0:03:56.350 whole day, so I try and navigate my whole day 0:03:56.350 --> 0:03:59.620 just using the keystrokes as a screen reader user would do. 0:04:00.280 --> 0:04:04.470 We've seen lots of change with access technology over the 0:04:04.470 --> 0:04:08.640 time you've been with Vision Australia. What's really stood out 0:04:08.640 --> 0:04:11.640 for you? Sort of some of the milestones along the way. 0:04:11.760 --> 0:04:13.590 When I started in the role, we spent a lot 0:04:13.620 --> 0:04:18.659 of time teaching people around computers and windows computers and, 0:04:18.690 --> 0:04:20.760 you know, to turn the computer off, press the start 0:04:20.760 --> 0:04:25.170 button and things like that. And it changed remarkably the 0:04:25.170 --> 0:04:29.070 day the the iPhone started to become popular and available, 0:04:29.070 --> 0:04:32.760 and then the iPad and all the smartphones that followed. 0:04:32.790 --> 0:04:36.120 So our role has really, really changed from, you know, 0:04:36.150 --> 0:04:40.020 being PC based and PC centred to, you know, the 0:04:40.020 --> 0:04:42.930 vast majority of our work these days is around tablets 0:04:42.930 --> 0:04:45.750 and phones and, and connectivity and the different apps and 0:04:45.750 --> 0:04:49.229 things that are available with, with those devices. 0:04:49.260 --> 0:04:54.060 I understand that the access technology role at Vision Australia 0:04:54.060 --> 0:04:59.370 is about supporting people with their use of the technology, 0:04:59.600 --> 0:05:05.630 Maybe in their personal life, in their education, in their employment, 0:05:05.630 --> 0:05:10.460 as well as working with external organizations like educators and employers, etc.. 0:05:10.670 --> 0:05:15.830 Tell me about, in particular, the job access program of 0:05:15.830 --> 0:05:17.029 Vision Australia. 0:05:17.060 --> 0:05:21.800 Job access is a federal government funded program, and it 0:05:21.800 --> 0:05:25.940 enables people who are employed to get the technology they 0:05:25.940 --> 0:05:29.510 need in order to be able to complete their work tasks. 0:05:29.840 --> 0:05:33.050 People can access it through either their Disability Employment service, 0:05:33.080 --> 0:05:37.010 if they're using a disability employment service can access the 0:05:37.010 --> 0:05:39.860 job access funding when they get a job, or they 0:05:39.860 --> 0:05:43.190 can apply directly to job access. Either them or their 0:05:43.190 --> 0:05:47.270 employer can apply. And and that starts a process of 0:05:47.270 --> 0:05:51.920 assessment around what their work tasks are and determining what, 0:05:51.980 --> 0:05:53.840 what equipment they need for people to be able to 0:05:53.870 --> 0:05:57.410 undertake the roles associated with their tasks at work. 0:05:57.440 --> 0:05:59.610 So someone might have been in a role for quite 0:05:59.610 --> 0:06:03.450 some time. They become aware of a new piece of technology, 0:06:03.450 --> 0:06:06.960 and they can get their employer to put their hand 0:06:06.960 --> 0:06:10.140 up and investigate it through Vision Australia. 0:06:10.170 --> 0:06:12.690 That's right. And I've had some people, I think I've 0:06:12.690 --> 0:06:15.600 done 4 or 5 assessments for over the years. So 0:06:16.200 --> 0:06:19.230 you can certainly go back and as job roles change 0:06:19.230 --> 0:06:23.700 or new equipment becomes available, then you can go back 0:06:23.700 --> 0:06:28.410 to job access and have that review process and re-establish 0:06:28.620 --> 0:06:32.219 what equipment they need and, and go through that process. 0:06:32.310 --> 0:06:36.240 The great thing about job access is it's it's both quick. 0:06:36.270 --> 0:06:40.440 So it, um, we only get 12 days from the 0:06:40.440 --> 0:06:43.800 day we get notice of the assessment to actually having 0:06:43.800 --> 0:06:48.419 completed the assessment. Often those reports are reviewed quite quickly 0:06:48.510 --> 0:06:53.730 and the employee gets an answer about that equipment very quickly. 0:06:53.730 --> 0:06:57.270 So within 3 to 4 weeks from lodging the application 0:06:57.270 --> 0:07:00.110 They can. They can have that equipment working for them 0:07:00.110 --> 0:07:01.370 in their workplace. 0:07:01.400 --> 0:07:06.350 Let's just look at some sort of fictitious example. My 0:07:06.350 --> 0:07:10.310 boss contacts Vision Australia says I have a person who 0:07:10.310 --> 0:07:14.570 has low vision or is blind. What are the steps 0:07:14.570 --> 0:07:15.440 from there on? 0:07:15.470 --> 0:07:18.800 If Vision Australia is given, given the job, we'd make 0:07:18.800 --> 0:07:23.240 contact and discuss their vision and their roles, and then 0:07:23.240 --> 0:07:25.610 we'd go out to the workplace and actually conduct an 0:07:25.610 --> 0:07:30.770 assessment and retake some, some equipment that we think might 0:07:30.770 --> 0:07:35.300 be appropriate for their for their work tasks. And that 0:07:35.300 --> 0:07:37.160 can that can be all sorts of things. So I've 0:07:37.160 --> 0:07:40.550 been in dairies, in a cow cowshed, in a dairy, 0:07:40.640 --> 0:07:44.480 looking at lighting and magnification in that setting. And I've 0:07:44.480 --> 0:07:49.820 been at banks and head offices in, in Melbourne. So 0:07:49.820 --> 0:07:53.210 it's a really a varied role. It's amazing the different 0:07:53.210 --> 0:07:57.640 places I've been to in assisting in this way. 0:07:57.970 --> 0:08:01.060 Is it usually to support someone getting a new job 0:08:01.060 --> 0:08:02.950 or in their existing job? 0:08:03.130 --> 0:08:07.150 Well, both. It's 50 over 50 on that. Certainly people 0:08:07.150 --> 0:08:09.670 that are starting out can go through the process and 0:08:09.670 --> 0:08:13.390 get the equipment they need. Or as I said, if 0:08:13.390 --> 0:08:17.560 people's jobs changes or they need different equipment, we can 0:08:17.560 --> 0:08:19.930 go back again and and have a look at that 0:08:19.930 --> 0:08:22.120 equipment and conduct that review. 0:08:22.150 --> 0:08:26.140 Mhm. I guess the way you interact with the people 0:08:26.140 --> 0:08:30.010 that you're visiting varies. Someone doing an ongoing job and 0:08:30.010 --> 0:08:32.980 somebody starting out in a job when they're starting out, 0:08:33.010 --> 0:08:36.459 the employer, potential employer is probably a little bit sort 0:08:36.490 --> 0:08:39.760 of nervous about how this is going to work. Whereas 0:08:39.760 --> 0:08:42.130 once that person has been in a role for quite 0:08:42.130 --> 0:08:46.809 some time, as you know, had that connection with the organization, 0:08:46.809 --> 0:08:49.660 they're wanting to make the best of things for him, 0:08:49.750 --> 0:08:52.000 put the best technology in his hands. 0:08:52.089 --> 0:08:54.819 Yeah. That's right. So, you know, in that case with 0:08:54.819 --> 0:08:57.449 a new employee. You know, we'd often sit down with 0:08:57.449 --> 0:09:00.239 the employer as well, initially to start with and have 0:09:00.240 --> 0:09:03.390 a chat and discuss the role and, and the job 0:09:03.390 --> 0:09:06.630 access process so that they're familiar and understand how the 0:09:06.630 --> 0:09:10.620 actual process works. Also, at the conclusion of the of 0:09:10.620 --> 0:09:14.040 the assessment, get them back again and, you know, discuss 0:09:14.040 --> 0:09:16.529 the equipment that's going to be recommended and what that 0:09:16.530 --> 0:09:20.309 will do and usually quite often demonstrated as well. So 0:09:20.309 --> 0:09:23.309 they've actually got an understanding of what we're talking about. 0:09:23.609 --> 0:09:26.790 But as you said with with clients that are at 0:09:26.790 --> 0:09:30.240 the workplace already, it's about usually about some sort of 0:09:30.240 --> 0:09:35.010 modification and some different equipment. So the the process changes 0:09:35.010 --> 0:09:35.699 a little bit. 0:09:35.699 --> 0:09:39.540 So somebody might be driving along somewhere in Australia listening 0:09:39.569 --> 0:09:44.100 to this program casually and thinking, maybe we can do 0:09:44.099 --> 0:09:47.940 more for one of the people in our team who 0:09:47.939 --> 0:09:51.629 has low vision or can't see at all. Who would 0:09:51.630 --> 0:09:56.679 they make contact with to explore the job access opportunities. 0:09:56.770 --> 0:09:58.749 There's probably two ways to go about that. They could 0:09:58.750 --> 0:10:02.620 look it up online, either typing in to a search engine, 0:10:02.620 --> 0:10:06.309 job access or the Employment Assistance Fund. And there's some 0:10:06.309 --> 0:10:10.329 certainly some great information online. Again, that's the federal government site. 0:10:10.329 --> 0:10:15.400 That's that's got that information. Alternatively, if they've got contact 0:10:15.400 --> 0:10:17.829 at the local Vision Australia office, they could make contact. 0:10:17.829 --> 0:10:20.949 And one of the job access panel members could actually 0:10:20.979 --> 0:10:23.349 make contact and have a chat to them as well. 0:10:23.349 --> 0:10:27.609 So are there other organisations apart from Vision Australia who 0:10:27.640 --> 0:10:30.010 are part of the job Access scheme? 0:10:30.219 --> 0:10:33.640 Obviously we're here today talking about people who are blind 0:10:33.640 --> 0:10:37.240 or have low vision, but it's broader than that. So 0:10:37.599 --> 0:10:42.850 it's all disability. So there are occupational therapists and and 0:10:42.849 --> 0:10:45.699 other service providers that provide this service. And there are 0:10:45.699 --> 0:10:48.040 other providers in the vision space as well. 0:10:48.520 --> 0:10:53.309 So there's a great opportunity for someone to contact that program, 0:10:53.670 --> 0:10:56.609 or I guess they could contact Vision Australia directly and 0:10:56.609 --> 0:10:58.739 find out more about the program. Is that right? 0:10:58.979 --> 0:11:05.160 That's right. Yes. Yeah. Yep. Uh, there's, uh, panel members across, um, 0:11:05.699 --> 0:11:09.450 the eastern, the eastern states, Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria. 0:11:09.479 --> 0:11:12.059 There's panel members. Vision Australia has panel members in each 0:11:12.059 --> 0:11:14.849 of those states. So they'd be able to talk people 0:11:14.849 --> 0:11:15.479 through it. 0:11:15.540 --> 0:11:16.889 Mhm. Excellent. 0:11:16.890 --> 0:11:19.080 But the service is available in the other states as well. 0:11:19.079 --> 0:11:22.769 But Vision Australia just provides a service across those states. 0:11:22.800 --> 0:11:26.910 Yeah. Yeah. So you're involved with the job access program. 0:11:26.910 --> 0:11:29.489 What other things do you do in your job as 0:11:29.520 --> 0:11:35.369 the the lead you talked about mentoring or leading other 0:11:35.370 --> 0:11:39.300 access technology specialists. What sorts of other things do you do? 0:11:39.329 --> 0:11:43.739 We've just been running induction for we've had five new 0:11:43.740 --> 0:11:46.499 access technology specialists this year, so we've just been running 0:11:46.500 --> 0:11:51.420 induction for them, and there's a continual, um, training program 0:11:51.479 --> 0:11:53.969 and building on their skills and knowledge over over the 0:11:53.969 --> 0:11:57.270 next 12 months will be supporting them. And we also 0:11:57.270 --> 0:12:00.449 do services into Tasmania and Northern Territory as part of 0:12:00.479 --> 0:12:03.479 a contract with the Department of Education. So I go 0:12:03.479 --> 0:12:06.750 up into Darwin every year and for a week and, uh, 0:12:06.750 --> 0:12:10.589 provide assessments in the schools up in Darwin. And one 0:12:10.589 --> 0:12:12.750 of the other team members, Kent, goes down to Tassie 0:12:12.780 --> 0:12:17.099 2 or 3 times a year and provides the same service. Um, 0:12:17.099 --> 0:12:19.889 we're also doing some consulting work as well. So at 0:12:19.890 --> 0:12:23.759 the moment I'm working with a couple of external organisations 0:12:23.760 --> 0:12:27.630 and providing some consultancy around accessibility on the computer. 0:12:27.719 --> 0:12:31.199 Steve, as an experienced hand, I nearly said an old 0:12:31.199 --> 0:12:36.660 hand with access technology. What in your quiet moments are 0:12:36.660 --> 0:12:40.410 you looking forward to in the next sort of 1 0:12:40.410 --> 0:12:41.729 to 5 years? 0:12:41.939 --> 0:12:45.150 It's an enormous period of change at the moment, and 0:12:45.150 --> 0:12:48.089 it will be interesting where the AI will take us. 0:12:48.240 --> 0:12:50.860 I guess we're waiting to see where that will head. 0:12:50.890 --> 0:12:54.969 Apps like Seeing Eye and Be My Eyes and other 0:12:54.969 --> 0:12:58.870 apps where you can ask it questions and get a 0:12:58.870 --> 0:13:01.119 picture described to you, and then ask it more details 0:13:01.120 --> 0:13:05.260 about the picture. Jaws has got that smart feature function 0:13:05.260 --> 0:13:07.990 where again, you can get a description of of an 0:13:07.990 --> 0:13:10.870 image that's on your computer and things like that. So 0:13:12.010 --> 0:13:16.570 that whole AI side of things is really going to grow. 0:13:16.660 --> 0:13:19.270 We've seen the meta glasses and what they can do. 0:13:19.420 --> 0:13:22.749 And as different options come out in that space as well. 0:13:22.750 --> 0:13:26.199 So it's going to be more mainstream products that become 0:13:26.199 --> 0:13:31.060 available using that, those AI features and that really expand 0:13:31.059 --> 0:13:32.679 what what is available. 0:13:32.740 --> 0:13:35.769 Well, Steve, it's been great speaking with you today. Good 0:13:35.770 --> 0:13:39.579 luck as you continue your work making a difference for 0:13:39.579 --> 0:13:44.259 so many people around the country. Steve Moneghetti, who is 0:13:44.290 --> 0:13:49.550 a Vision Australia Access Technology service development lead Based in 0:13:49.550 --> 0:13:52.520 Bendigo in Victoria. Thanks for chatting with us on Talking Tech. 0:13:52.550 --> 0:13:54.890 Thanks, Dave and thanks for the catch up. It's been great. 0:13:55.219 --> 0:13:58.699 And before we go, a reminder that you can find 0:13:58.729 --> 0:14:01.459 details of what we've been talking about in this and 0:14:01.459 --> 0:14:07.010 previous editions of the program by going to VA radio.org/talking tech. 0:14:07.099 --> 0:14:13.280 VA radio.org/talking tech and to right to the program Damon 0:14:13.280 --> 0:14:18.679 McMorrow at Vision australia.org. Yes, he's still checking his inbox. 0:14:18.679 --> 0:14:26.720 Damo McMorrow McMorrow R.o.w at Vision australia.org and Damo will 0:14:26.720 --> 0:14:28.820 be back next week with a lot to tell us 0:14:28.820 --> 0:14:33.710 about season. This has been talking tech. My guest was 0:14:33.710 --> 0:14:38.240 Steve Moneghetti, a member of Damo team as an Access 0:14:38.240 --> 0:14:42.440 Technology Service development lead. I'm Stephen Jolley. Stay safe. We'll 0:14:42.440 --> 0:14:44.090 talk more tech next week. See you.