WEBVTT - Talking Vision 701 Week Beginning 6th of November 2023 0:00:13.248 --> 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. 0:00:23.488 --> 0:00:26.608 Hello everyone. It's great to be here with you. And 0:00:26.608 --> 0:00:29.608 for the next half hour we talk matters of blindness 0:00:29.608 --> 0:00:30.628 and low vision. 0:00:30.978 --> 0:00:34.948 We put some really textured, wiry wool in people's hands 0:00:34.948 --> 0:00:38.188 and say, I want you to touch this and imagine 0:00:38.188 --> 0:00:42.538 that this is worked within this canvas, within this portrait, 0:00:42.538 --> 0:00:47.368 has really given people a different experience of this Archibald 0:00:47.368 --> 0:00:48.598 winning work. 0:00:48.778 --> 0:00:51.988 Welcome to the program. If you're an art lover who 0:00:51.988 --> 0:00:54.508 is blind or has low vision, and you live in 0:00:54.508 --> 0:00:58.798 a regional town in New South Wales or Victoria, you 0:00:58.798 --> 0:01:01.768 may be in luck as over the next few months 0:01:01.768 --> 0:01:05.668 the Archibald Prize may be heading in your direction as 0:01:05.668 --> 0:01:10.918 they bring a tactile exhibition to regional galleries around Australia. 0:01:10.918 --> 0:01:16.348 For the remainder of this year and into 2024. I 0:01:16.348 --> 0:01:18.868 had a chat with one of the organisers of the 0:01:18.868 --> 0:01:22.588 exhibition on the show this week and you'll hear from 0:01:22.588 --> 0:01:26.728 her very shortly, then following on from that in the 0:01:26.728 --> 0:01:30.148 second half of the program this week, we've got some 0:01:30.148 --> 0:01:35.938 highlights from the 2023 Vision Australia Annual General Meeting, which 0:01:35.938 --> 0:01:40.858 recently took place at Vision Australia's Kooyong head office. I 0:01:40.858 --> 0:01:49.058 hope you enjoyed this week's episode of Talking Vision. Our 0:01:49.058 --> 0:01:53.408 next guest is the senior Producer of Access programs at 0:01:53.408 --> 0:01:57.188 the Art Gallery of New South Wales, who are holding 0:01:57.188 --> 0:02:02.408 a Tactile Archibald Prize exhibition heading around the country to 0:02:02.408 --> 0:02:07.298 regional art galleries over the remainder of this year and 0:02:07.298 --> 0:02:12.188 into 2024. Her name is Danielle Golota and it's my 0:02:12.188 --> 0:02:16.028 great pleasure to be speaking with her now. Danielle, welcome 0:02:16.028 --> 0:02:19.238 to Talking Vision. Thank you very much for your time today. 0:02:20.168 --> 0:02:22.298 Thank you. Sam, thank you for the invitation. 0:02:22.628 --> 0:02:26.588 Let's have a chat about the tactile. Archibald, could you 0:02:26.588 --> 0:02:28.868 give our listeners a bit of an update? 0:02:29.258 --> 0:02:32.678 Over the last 15 years, the Art Gallery of New 0:02:32.678 --> 0:02:37.508 South Wales has always offered access programs in association with 0:02:37.508 --> 0:02:41.468 the Archibald Prize. And one in particular is our audio 0:02:41.468 --> 0:02:45.878 description program. And for our audio description program of the 0:02:45.878 --> 0:02:51.368 Archibald Prize, we always focus on about 6 to 8 artworks, 0:02:51.368 --> 0:02:54.818 where we invite people to come into the exhibition and 0:02:54.818 --> 0:03:00.518 hear very detailed descriptions of the portraits in the last 0:03:00.518 --> 0:03:04.738 10 to 12 years. To support our audio description program, 0:03:04.748 --> 0:03:11.228 we have been producing tactile cutout reliefs that are handmade 0:03:11.288 --> 0:03:16.718 out of different types of cardboard and textured surfaces to 0:03:16.718 --> 0:03:22.928 accompany those detailed visual descriptions. Since becoming aware of Vision 0:03:22.928 --> 0:03:27.368 Australia's print media department and the amazing work that they 0:03:27.368 --> 0:03:32.708 do to make text and visual resources accessible, we've been 0:03:32.708 --> 0:03:37.628 working with your team there with their technology to actually 0:03:37.628 --> 0:03:43.328 rather than create handmade, tactile resources that have a limited lifetime, 0:03:43.328 --> 0:03:48.008 we've been working with your team to create acrylic 2D 0:03:48.008 --> 0:03:52.988 reliefs of a selected number of portraits for when people 0:03:52.988 --> 0:03:58.478 visit the Archibald Prize, they can have a tactile experience 0:03:58.478 --> 0:04:02.468 as well as here a visual description within an audio 0:04:02.468 --> 0:04:03.908 description program. 0:04:04.208 --> 0:04:08.258 Now, Danielle, let's have a chat about those audio description 0:04:08.258 --> 0:04:12.128 programs for our listeners who are blind or have low vision. 0:04:12.128 --> 0:04:14.558 Before we get back to the Archibald, tell us a 0:04:14.558 --> 0:04:15.608 bit about those. 0:04:15.758 --> 0:04:20.708 The gallery regularly provides free audio description programs, normally the 0:04:20.708 --> 0:04:25.448 first Wednesday and Saturday of the month. Those programs are 0:04:25.448 --> 0:04:30.098 online through our access programs, and I welcome whoever's listening 0:04:30.098 --> 0:04:32.378 to Log On or to call the Art Gallery New 0:04:32.378 --> 0:04:36.578 South Wales and come along and experience art and ideas 0:04:36.578 --> 0:04:39.218 within a small focus group model. 0:04:39.248 --> 0:04:43.118 Okay, perfect. That's definitely something for our New South Wales 0:04:43.118 --> 0:04:47.828 based listeners to get excited about. But just in relation 0:04:47.828 --> 0:04:51.848 to the Archibald back onto that topic. What's been the 0:04:51.848 --> 0:04:58.178 process behind selecting the portraits in particular, and which ones 0:04:58.178 --> 0:05:03.008 are selected to be converted into this tactile format? Is 0:05:03.008 --> 0:05:07.178 there any particular style that is sort of preferred, or 0:05:07.178 --> 0:05:10.508 is there any thought process that goes behind that? 0:05:10.838 --> 0:05:16.388 Definitely. Firstly, we focused on the 2023 exhibition that is 0:05:16.388 --> 0:05:18.578 just finished at the Art Gallery of New South Wales 0:05:18.578 --> 0:05:22.148 in Sydney, and now is touring to six other galleries. 0:05:22.448 --> 0:05:25.868 The way we made our selection is that we always 0:05:25.868 --> 0:05:30.368 focus on the winner, because the Archibald Prize being the 0:05:30.368 --> 0:05:35.058 most prestigious art prize in Australia, with the winner winning 100,000. 0:05:35.138 --> 0:05:39.968 It's always reported and repeated on the ABC news, so 0:05:39.968 --> 0:05:43.868 people would love to know who won. So we focus 0:05:43.868 --> 0:05:47.348 on the winning portrait and this year the winning portrait 0:05:47.348 --> 0:05:50.798 was by Julia Gutmann and the title of the work 0:05:50.798 --> 0:05:55.088 was head in the Sky feed on the ground. The 0:05:55.088 --> 0:05:58.298 other work we always focus on in our audio description 0:05:58.298 --> 0:06:02.888 program and subsequently had a tactile version created, is the 0:06:02.888 --> 0:06:08.168 Packing Room Prize and the Packing Room prize is awarded 0:06:08.168 --> 0:06:11.138 by the staff at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, 0:06:11.138 --> 0:06:16.508 who literally unpack all the finalists. And this year we 0:06:16.508 --> 0:06:23.708 had 949 entrants and we had 57 finalists. So the 0:06:23.708 --> 0:06:27.548 packing room prize is an important prize because we know 0:06:27.548 --> 0:06:33.248 that our staff have spent time observing, carrying, presenting the 0:06:33.248 --> 0:06:37.778 949 works to our Board of trustees. So we always 0:06:37.778 --> 0:06:41.108 get that work printed. And then the other works that 0:06:41.108 --> 0:06:45.728 we've selected this year really try to highlight the broad 0:06:45.728 --> 0:06:51.608 approach to portraiture. So in 2023, we ensured that we 0:06:51.608 --> 0:06:57.788 had a breadth of examples, such as full length bust 0:06:57.788 --> 0:07:04.178 portraits that have a focus on the artist's gestures and 0:07:04.178 --> 0:07:09.668 body language, as well as portraits that really highlighted narratives 0:07:09.668 --> 0:07:14.828 that often were told through objects and the background that 0:07:14.828 --> 0:07:17.108 the subject is sitting in. 0:07:17.468 --> 0:07:23.078 And what's really interesting for me, Daniel, is the format 0:07:23.078 --> 0:07:27.968 of the winning portrait this year, Julia Guzman's work, head 0:07:27.968 --> 0:07:31.418 in the Sky, fat on the ground. As we discussed 0:07:31.418 --> 0:07:35.978 just earlier with the portrait of the singer songwriter Montana, 0:07:35.978 --> 0:07:39.548 which I believe was a collage of sorts, and that 0:07:39.548 --> 0:07:42.758 has its own sort of tactile elements to it in 0:07:42.758 --> 0:07:46.628 a natural sense, in an organic sense, where the medium 0:07:46.628 --> 0:07:51.368 that is being used is quite easy, perhaps in theory, 0:07:51.368 --> 0:07:56.858 to transfer into this accessible tactile format. Has that been 0:07:56.858 --> 0:07:57.728 the case? 0:07:57.998 --> 0:08:01.138 Well, it's I'm so glad you've brought up that Julia 0:08:01.158 --> 0:08:06.098 Goodman's work is a collage of fabrics that is layered 0:08:06.098 --> 0:08:10.988 through that sort of cutting and sewing. So it actually 0:08:10.988 --> 0:08:15.638 has been a really fantastic work to connect with all visitors, 0:08:15.638 --> 0:08:18.608 but in particular with people for people with low vision 0:08:18.608 --> 0:08:21.848 or who are blind, because not only did we have 0:08:21.848 --> 0:08:28.418 the relief acrylic that erase lines and show the different texture, 0:08:28.418 --> 0:08:32.138 so every time there's a different pattern or a different 0:08:32.138 --> 0:08:37.208 collage piece, you will feel a different texture. But in reality, 0:08:37.208 --> 0:08:39.848 what we've been able to do is actually we've been 0:08:39.848 --> 0:08:44.198 able to use felt and different fabrics and sew them 0:08:44.198 --> 0:08:49.418 together as a facsimile that people could actually touch while 0:08:49.418 --> 0:08:53.318 we were describing the artwork. And when we talk about 0:08:53.318 --> 0:08:57.308 our audio description programs, we often talk about the opportunity 0:08:57.308 --> 0:09:03.098 for art and ideas. The Archibald Prize celebrates great Australians 0:09:03.098 --> 0:09:08.438 and celebrates the relationship between an artist and a subject. 0:09:08.588 --> 0:09:12.608 And there's all walks of life. So Julia Goodman's work 0:09:12.608 --> 0:09:16.838 has been a joy to actually work with, because you've 0:09:16.838 --> 0:09:20.468 got a whole range of sensory experiences. We're able to 0:09:20.468 --> 0:09:25.148 actually play some of Montaigne's recordings because being a musician, 0:09:25.148 --> 0:09:27.878 you can get a sense of what she sounds like, 0:09:27.878 --> 0:09:33.098 a sense of her audio communication. We have facsimiles of 0:09:33.098 --> 0:09:37.508 fabric because Julia Goodman's practice is a community based practice 0:09:37.508 --> 0:09:41.948 where she invites people to donate clothing to donate fabric, 0:09:41.948 --> 0:09:45.158 and she sews them within her works. And I think 0:09:45.158 --> 0:09:48.908 we've been able to put in people's hands the materials 0:09:48.908 --> 0:09:51.938 that this work has been created by. And I have 0:09:51.938 --> 0:09:53.708 to say, a lot of people have had a lot 0:09:53.708 --> 0:09:58.088 of joy in actually getting their head around how her 0:09:58.088 --> 0:10:03.068 head has actually been created, because her hair is this beautiful, 0:10:03.068 --> 0:10:09.008 rich mass of wiry, curly wool that has been lovingly stitched. 0:10:09.008 --> 0:10:12.638 So to actually put some really textured, wiry wool in 0:10:12.638 --> 0:10:16.358 people's hands and say, I want you to touch this 0:10:16.358 --> 0:10:20.258 and imagine that this is worked within this canvas, within 0:10:20.258 --> 0:10:24.908 this portrait, has really given people a different experience of 0:10:24.908 --> 0:10:29.318 this Archibald winning work to prior years, which are often 0:10:29.318 --> 0:10:33.728 works 100% in oil or acrylic. So yes, it's been 0:10:33.728 --> 0:10:34.688 a delight to work with. 0:10:34.688 --> 0:10:39.188 This work are wonderful, and the works are of course, 0:10:39.188 --> 0:10:43.808 heading around the country on tour for the Archibald Prize 0:10:43.808 --> 0:10:48.428 tour for people to head along and have their own 0:10:48.428 --> 0:10:53.048 experiences with the works and be guided through the gallery. 0:10:53.048 --> 0:10:57.728 But Danielle, tell us about the tour that's going on 0:10:57.728 --> 0:11:02.408 over the remainder of this year and into 2024 for 0:11:02.408 --> 0:11:05.228 people to head along to, where are the pieces heading 0:11:05.228 --> 0:11:06.338 to next? 0:11:06.728 --> 0:11:11.108 So after being in Sydney, currently it's in Mornington Peninsula 0:11:11.108 --> 0:11:15.908 until Sunday, November the 5th in Victoria, and then the 0:11:15.908 --> 0:11:21.998 exhibition travels to Biggar to South East Centre for contemporary 0:11:21.998 --> 0:11:25.148 Art in Bega. Then it travels to Goulburn, to Goulburn 0:11:25.148 --> 0:11:29.288 Regional Art Gallery, then it travels back towards Sydney to 0:11:29.288 --> 0:11:33.938 the Hawkesbury Regional Gallery next year. Another two regional areas 0:11:33.938 --> 0:11:37.448 is Tamworth Regional Gallery, and then its final resting place 0:11:37.448 --> 0:11:42.848 for 2024 is the glass House, Port Macquarie. So again 0:11:42.848 --> 0:11:46.148 we're the art gallery of New South Wales, which means 0:11:46.148 --> 0:11:50.718 that the gallery is very. Eager to share its collection 0:11:50.718 --> 0:11:57.018 and touring exhibitions beyond the city, metropolis and to regional 0:11:57.018 --> 0:12:03.528 centres plus one centre outside of Melbourne in regional Victoria, 0:12:03.528 --> 0:12:09.048 allowing more people to access and enjoy art and ideas. 0:12:09.498 --> 0:12:13.368 And to find out more about the prize itself, the 0:12:13.368 --> 0:12:20.298 accessible components of the exhibitions and also where to find 0:12:20.298 --> 0:12:24.738 more information about audio description and the dates when they 0:12:24.738 --> 0:12:28.398 will be near the towns in question. Where are the 0:12:28.398 --> 0:12:32.448 best places for people to head to grab all of 0:12:32.448 --> 0:12:33.738 that info and more? 0:12:34.158 --> 0:12:37.638 I would suggest that you get online to the Art 0:12:37.638 --> 0:12:42.168 Gallery of New South Wales website, and if you click 0:12:42.168 --> 0:12:48.708 on to touring exhibitions and go to Archibald Prize 2023 tour. 0:12:48.888 --> 0:12:52.638 When you click on that page, you will get the 0:12:52.638 --> 0:12:56.388 dates and the locations that I've just listed. And when 0:12:56.388 --> 0:12:59.568 you click on each of those regional galleries, you'll go 0:12:59.568 --> 0:13:05.058 directly to that art centre or museums website. And what 0:13:05.058 --> 0:13:08.568 I would do if I was, for example, planning to 0:13:08.568 --> 0:13:13.428 go to Tamworth or to go to Hawkesbury, I probably 0:13:13.428 --> 0:13:16.998 would contact them maybe a couple of weeks before I 0:13:16.998 --> 0:13:20.538 went and just confirm that you were coming in, and 0:13:20.538 --> 0:13:24.948 you would really love to experience the tactile resources and 0:13:24.948 --> 0:13:29.868 possibly have a conversation with an educator, a staff member 0:13:29.868 --> 0:13:34.128 or a volunteer to support that visual description and to 0:13:34.128 --> 0:13:38.268 get a better understanding of the work. In addition, what 0:13:38.268 --> 0:13:41.508 I would suggest is that if you go into the 0:13:41.508 --> 0:13:47.958 Archibald Prize 2023 web page, every portrait has an audio 0:13:47.958 --> 0:13:52.398 recording of the wall label, and our wall labels give 0:13:52.398 --> 0:13:56.658 the really important information of the title, the artist, the 0:13:56.658 --> 0:14:01.848 medium dimension, and then just a brief description of the 0:14:01.848 --> 0:14:05.778 subject and a little bit about the artist's history. So 0:14:05.778 --> 0:14:09.888 there's the online component of the wall label. There's the 0:14:09.888 --> 0:14:14.508 tactile resources that you can engage with within the exhibition. 0:14:14.508 --> 0:14:18.708 And I think if you're able to email or call 0:14:18.708 --> 0:14:22.788 the galleries prior to attending, I'm sure that they can 0:14:22.788 --> 0:14:27.558 organise for a staff member or volunteer to describe the 0:14:27.558 --> 0:14:28.668 works to you. 0:14:28.848 --> 0:14:32.658 Before that, the best starting point is, of course, the 0:14:32.658 --> 0:14:37.928 Art Gallery of New South Wales website, Art Gallery dot 0:14:37.968 --> 0:14:42.798 New South Wales gov dot that's art gallery all one 0:14:42.798 --> 0:14:49.728 word.nsw.gov dot iu to head along and find out all 0:14:49.728 --> 0:14:55.428 about the exhibitions that the gallery is currently holding. Plus 0:14:55.428 --> 0:15:00.138 of course, all the information and more about the Archibald 0:15:00.138 --> 0:15:05.238 Prize and the tactile components thereof, plus the regional tour 0:15:05.238 --> 0:15:11.298 of the pieces heading around to a gallery near you. Danielle, 0:15:11.298 --> 0:15:13.908 thank you so much for your time today. I've been 0:15:13.908 --> 0:15:18.618 speaking today with Danielle Golota from the Art Gallery of 0:15:18.618 --> 0:15:21.738 New South Wales, who's here to chat to me all 0:15:21.738 --> 0:15:27.618 about the Archibald Prize exhibition, including the Tactile Archibald component 0:15:27.618 --> 0:15:32.238 and the regional tour taking place for the remainder of 0:15:32.238 --> 0:15:37.398 this year and into 2024. Danielle, thank you very much 0:15:37.398 --> 0:15:39.558 for your time today. It's a pleasure to catch up 0:15:39.558 --> 0:15:41.988 with you and hear all about the exhibit. 0:15:42.228 --> 0:15:44.928 Thank you Sam, it was a pleasure speaking with you. 0:15:51.888 --> 0:15:55.188 I'm Sam Culley and you're listening to Talking Vision on 0:15:55.188 --> 0:16:00.108 Vision Australia Radio, associated Stations of Air and the Community 0:16:00.108 --> 0:16:04.428 Radio Network. I hope you enjoyed that conversation there with 0:16:04.428 --> 0:16:08.898 Danielle from the Art Gallery of New South Wales. As always, 0:16:08.898 --> 0:16:11.868 if you've missed any part of the programme this week 0:16:11.868 --> 0:16:15.018 or you'd love to listen to it again, Talking vision 0:16:15.018 --> 0:16:19.158 can be found on the Vision Australia Radio website, on 0:16:19.158 --> 0:16:23.868 your favourite podcast platform or through the Vision Australia library. 0:16:24.108 --> 0:16:27.978 And now here are some highlights from the recent Vision 0:16:27.978 --> 0:16:32.178 Australia AGM. To start off with, the first person you'll 0:16:32.178 --> 0:16:37.158 hear from is Amber Collins. Amber was recently elected as 0:16:37.158 --> 0:16:41.118 a new director on the board of Vision Australia, and 0:16:41.118 --> 0:16:42.588 you'll hear from her now. 0:16:42.798 --> 0:16:46.178 Thank you everyone. I'm being told to come over here. 0:16:46.558 --> 0:16:49.658 Bit closer. Yeah. Okay. Here. I don't know how come 0:16:49.718 --> 0:16:53.178 my back to people. But anyway, thank you very much. 0:16:53.388 --> 0:16:55.008 And it's lovely to meet you all. And I look 0:16:55.008 --> 0:16:57.978 forward to getting to know more of you in the future. 0:16:57.978 --> 0:17:00.978 But as a little sort of potted history of me, 0:17:00.978 --> 0:17:05.358 I'm a Melbourne person, born and educated here before I 0:17:05.358 --> 0:17:09.858 spent my career in the UK and the US. My 0:17:09.858 --> 0:17:14.868 career has been predominantly in the advertising, branding and marketing sectors, 0:17:15.168 --> 0:17:19.668 very much focused on retail and logistics. I have three 0:17:19.668 --> 0:17:25.548 children here in Melbourne where we've resettled. My eldest son 0:17:25.548 --> 0:17:30.588 was born with glaucoma, very limited vision and subsequently lost 0:17:30.588 --> 0:17:34.878 his vision in 2019. I have a daughter who's up 0:17:34.878 --> 0:17:38.778 in Anu and a young one doing VCE. I've spent 0:17:38.778 --> 0:17:43.278 my entire career focused on customers, in this case clients. 0:17:43.278 --> 0:17:48.018 I'm absolutely obsessed on improving outcomes for every single experience 0:17:48.018 --> 0:17:52.368 and interaction that people have with this organisation. I've been 0:17:52.368 --> 0:17:55.548 a customer of Vision Australia and I've been a customer 0:17:55.548 --> 0:18:00.488 of various other organisations in the sector in the NDS, NDIS. 0:18:00.498 --> 0:18:04.758 I understand the problems that people, many people face. So 0:18:04.758 --> 0:18:07.848 I feel like I can hopefully bring not just my 0:18:07.848 --> 0:18:10.608 passion and commitment for the sector but also a very, 0:18:10.608 --> 0:18:13.398 very much a client based view on on how it 0:18:13.398 --> 0:18:17.288 feels to be served by organisations such as Vision Australia. 0:18:17.298 --> 0:18:20.838 I'm super, super proud to be part of it. I'm 0:18:20.838 --> 0:18:25.278 thrilled that Andrew and Bill have put their faith in me, 0:18:25.278 --> 0:18:30.228 and I'm hoping that I can contribute widely and deeply 0:18:30.228 --> 0:18:33.108 on a number of issues and serve my board colleagues 0:18:33.108 --> 0:18:36.138 who I hold in great regard. Well, I look forward 0:18:36.138 --> 0:18:39.378 to meeting you over the years ahead. Thank you very much. 0:18:39.798 --> 0:18:44.538 Amber Collins, they're speaking at the recent Vision Australia AGM. 0:18:44.688 --> 0:18:48.318 The next person you'll hear from this week is Paul Hedley. 0:18:48.408 --> 0:18:52.758 Paul is a member of the Vision Australia Client reference Group, 0:18:52.968 --> 0:18:56.688 a group established to gain advice and feedback on specific 0:18:56.688 --> 0:19:00.528 matters relating to the experience of clients who are blind 0:19:00.528 --> 0:19:03.498 or have low vision. Let's hear from Paul now. 0:19:03.678 --> 0:19:07.308 Hi everyone. I'm Paul Hedley. I joined the client reference 0:19:07.308 --> 0:19:11.118 group about six years ago when a Vision Australia, a 0:19:11.118 --> 0:19:13.878 client of Vision Australia, for nearly probably eight years. And 0:19:13.878 --> 0:19:16.368 you know, I thought, well, when someone said there was 0:19:16.368 --> 0:19:18.528 a client reference group, I thought, well, I might go 0:19:18.528 --> 0:19:20.118 and join that because then I can have a say 0:19:20.118 --> 0:19:23.178 about some things and, and hopefully help Vision Australia become 0:19:23.178 --> 0:19:26.118 a better organisation. I guess what I've learned over the 0:19:26.118 --> 0:19:29.748 time is that and you know, I'll stand corrected. I 0:19:29.748 --> 0:19:31.728 guess my original thoughts of what I was going to 0:19:31.728 --> 0:19:34.008 do as part of the client reference group have really 0:19:34.008 --> 0:19:36.498 been blown away. And I stand here six years down 0:19:36.498 --> 0:19:39.768 the track, having really gotten involved in the business of 0:19:39.768 --> 0:19:43.818 Vision Australia and and truly understand how hard Vision Australia 0:19:43.818 --> 0:19:46.698 works to make things happen and the complexity of all 0:19:46.698 --> 0:19:50.538 the funding sources like the NDIS and my aged care, 0:19:50.628 --> 0:19:53.418 you know, and their constant changing and all that sort 0:19:53.418 --> 0:19:56.178 of stuff and vision Australia has to adapt and change 0:19:56.178 --> 0:19:59.178 all the time and, and I just really applaud the 0:19:59.178 --> 0:20:01.788 amount of effort by the staff and the management and 0:20:01.788 --> 0:20:04.338 the board that goes into ensuring that they can still 0:20:04.338 --> 0:20:08.268 provide the best products and services and support for all 0:20:08.268 --> 0:20:11.598 the clients. So a lot of the time when I 0:20:11.598 --> 0:20:14.418 first joined, I thought, well, I didn't really know what 0:20:14.418 --> 0:20:16.068 I was going to be doing. And I walked in 0:20:16.068 --> 0:20:18.258 here six years ago and I was a bit nervous 0:20:18.258 --> 0:20:20.268 and all that sort of stuff. Anyway, over the course 0:20:20.268 --> 0:20:23.718 of the last six years, I think the CRC has evolved, 0:20:23.718 --> 0:20:27.678 I think, between the and the board and the management. 0:20:27.678 --> 0:20:31.038 We've both realised that there's a great opportunity to really 0:20:31.038 --> 0:20:34.668 use the lived experience of the CRC and our greater 0:20:34.668 --> 0:20:38.028 client base to look at making everything work a lot better, 0:20:38.028 --> 0:20:41.418 to get the lived experience, the feedback, to really use 0:20:41.418 --> 0:20:46.188 that information to work like a co-design situation, to just 0:20:46.188 --> 0:20:49.218 improve things and be agile and provide the best service 0:20:49.218 --> 0:20:51.958 and for what I've been involved in. This year. There's 0:20:51.958 --> 0:20:55.228 been some strategic projects and the SIG gives lots and 0:20:55.228 --> 0:20:57.478 lots of its time to, I guess, give their input 0:20:57.478 --> 0:21:01.048 and feedback to help Vision Australia make sure the projects succeed. 0:21:01.648 --> 0:21:04.138 One of the first projects that we got involved in 0:21:04.138 --> 0:21:07.018 this year was that it was on Employment, and Vision Australia, 0:21:07.018 --> 0:21:09.478 ran an ideation workshop down here in February, and while 0:21:09.508 --> 0:21:12.718 the CRG attended and quite a few other stakeholders, and 0:21:12.718 --> 0:21:14.788 it was a two day event. I can tell you 0:21:14.788 --> 0:21:18.208 we worked really hard, but it was an amazing experience 0:21:18.208 --> 0:21:19.948 and I know there was a lot of good outcomes 0:21:19.948 --> 0:21:23.548 from that. And since then there's been another workshop and 0:21:23.548 --> 0:21:25.438 quite a few focus groups and all that sort of 0:21:25.438 --> 0:21:28.408 stuff in the new employment program that is being developed 0:21:28.408 --> 0:21:30.808 is going to be sensational. I guess I'm a real 0:21:30.808 --> 0:21:33.298 advocate for it. I lost my vision eight years ago, 0:21:33.298 --> 0:21:35.698 pretty late in life, and I work full time. I'm 0:21:35.698 --> 0:21:39.028 an engineer and I didn't know how I was going 0:21:39.028 --> 0:21:41.658 to keep working, and that's why it's close to my heart. 0:21:41.668 --> 0:21:45.298 I managed somehow to retain my job and keep moving forward. 0:21:45.298 --> 0:21:47.518 But there's many people that I meet. I do a 0:21:47.518 --> 0:21:50.128 lot of quality living groups and peer support, and I 0:21:50.128 --> 0:21:52.798 meet many people that have lost their sight later in life, 0:21:52.798 --> 0:21:54.718 and they just don't know how to get a job 0:21:54.718 --> 0:21:58.078 or retain their job. And unfortunately, there's many that just don't. 0:21:58.468 --> 0:22:01.318 And so I think the importance of this new employment 0:22:01.318 --> 0:22:03.568 program is so good. I think it's going to make 0:22:03.568 --> 0:22:06.558 a huge difference to the blind and low vision community. 0:22:06.568 --> 0:22:08.518 Some of the other things that we've been involved in 0:22:08.518 --> 0:22:11.608 is around emotional support. As we're on mentioned, there's the 0:22:11.608 --> 0:22:13.918 new program that's come out for the kids. There's a 0:22:13.918 --> 0:22:17.338 lot of work being done around older Australians where they're developing, 0:22:17.338 --> 0:22:20.488 trying to share the quality living process with peer support 0:22:20.488 --> 0:22:23.818 through the aged care providers and help the older Australians 0:22:23.818 --> 0:22:26.518 deal with vision loss. There's lots of things around emotional 0:22:26.518 --> 0:22:29.848 support and again, it's very close to my heart. As 0:22:29.848 --> 0:22:31.918 I say, I'm very involved in quality living and the 0:22:31.918 --> 0:22:34.408 impact of vision loss is huge and we all need 0:22:34.408 --> 0:22:36.178 to support when we need it. And just just to 0:22:36.178 --> 0:22:38.368 round out, I guess I'm moving into the last year 0:22:38.368 --> 0:22:41.008 of my tenure in the Client Reference group, and this 0:22:41.008 --> 0:22:44.188 year we've had three new members join. That's Kim Brown 0:22:44.458 --> 0:22:48.328 Alps and Sam Byrne. You know, I've got to know 0:22:48.328 --> 0:22:50.218 them over the last couple of days. And one of 0:22:50.218 --> 0:22:52.738 the key attributes that you need to be part of 0:22:52.738 --> 0:22:56.218 the client reference group is passion. And these guys exude passion. 0:22:56.218 --> 0:22:58.558 And when I do finally step away from the client 0:22:58.558 --> 0:23:00.808 reference group at the end of this time next year, 0:23:00.808 --> 0:23:03.058 I'm sure I'll be leaving the group in good hands 0:23:03.058 --> 0:23:05.128 with those guys. So I'd just like to welcome them 0:23:05.128 --> 0:23:07.618 officially to the group and wish them all the best 0:23:07.618 --> 0:23:08.368 in the future. 0:23:08.608 --> 0:23:12.898 Client reference Group member Paul Hedley there. And last but 0:23:12.898 --> 0:23:17.458 certainly not least, Visual Australia CEO Ron Hutton was pleased 0:23:17.458 --> 0:23:22.858 to announce the Vision Australia Awards, which went to three individuals, 0:23:22.858 --> 0:23:26.998 the third of which, outgoing chair Andrew Moffatt, will be 0:23:26.998 --> 0:23:31.468 available to hear as a separate interview highlight on the 0:23:31.468 --> 0:23:36.148 Vision Australia Radio website. But for the time being, here's 0:23:36.148 --> 0:23:39.388 Ron with the first two Vision Australia Awards. 0:23:39.688 --> 0:23:42.208 The first Vision Australia award is to a gentleman called 0:23:42.208 --> 0:23:46.648 Richard Lyle. Richard Lyle is a part of the black 0:23:46.648 --> 0:23:49.798 and white committee of double Bay, and they have for 0:23:49.798 --> 0:23:56.398 85 years raised funds for predecessor organisations consistently for children 0:23:56.398 --> 0:23:59.008 who are blind or have low vision in the New 0:23:59.008 --> 0:24:03.868 South Wales and broader Australia. Richard Lyle has volunteered for 0:24:03.868 --> 0:24:08.368 the Black and White Committee for 55 zero of those years, 0:24:08.758 --> 0:24:14.158 and that is pretty much a remarkable contribution as a regular. 0:24:14.158 --> 0:24:17.218 He's a regular master of ceremonies, and pretty much every 0:24:17.218 --> 0:24:19.858 event that I go into, and probably every event, you 0:24:19.858 --> 0:24:21.868 go to Larry because you've done a few of those, 0:24:22.198 --> 0:24:26.518 you're Richard is the person running the events. Richard can't 0:24:26.518 --> 0:24:28.918 be with us today. They're running in one of their 0:24:28.918 --> 0:24:33.388 regular lunches at Otto's in Sydney in a few weeks time, 0:24:33.388 --> 0:24:35.518 and I'm going to present him his Vision Australia award 0:24:35.518 --> 0:24:43.448 at that event. Our second award today is for Lara. Natalie. Lara, 0:24:43.458 --> 0:24:45.838 you're in the audience here. Are you going to come up? 0:24:45.858 --> 0:24:48.738 Why don't you come on up? Kate's going to put 0:24:48.738 --> 0:24:50.988 a microphone in your hand. Because I might just get 0:24:50.988 --> 0:24:53.838 you to say a few words. Lara, you're a role 0:24:53.838 --> 0:24:56.238 model for so many young Australians who are blind or 0:24:56.248 --> 0:24:59.988 low vision. I've known you for, I think, seven years now, 0:24:59.988 --> 0:25:04.458 and I've seen you grow, which has been absolutely fantastic. 0:25:05.088 --> 0:25:09.618 You're an accomplished performer. You've been on Carol's by Candlelight 0:25:09.618 --> 0:25:11.838 last year, and you're going to be performing again this 0:25:11.838 --> 0:25:13.458 year on Carols by Candlelight. 0:25:13.668 --> 0:25:14.178 Yeah. 0:25:14.478 --> 0:25:18.078 You're you're going to graduate very shortly. I think you 0:25:18.078 --> 0:25:20.628 told me just before that that was it yesterday that 0:25:20.628 --> 0:25:24.438 you completed your Masters of degree in music therapy. 0:25:24.448 --> 0:25:26.088 Yes, it was shortly. 0:25:27.018 --> 0:25:30.528 And you and I, we've had a great relationship over 0:25:30.528 --> 0:25:35.928 the years as as friends and colleagues. And I'm delighted 0:25:35.928 --> 0:25:38.118 to present you with a vision. Australia award, which I 0:25:38.118 --> 0:25:44.238 think I have right here with me. That's. Andrew's behind you, Lara. 0:25:44.238 --> 0:25:48.858 Right here is your Vision Australia award. Oh, wow. Congratulations. 0:25:48.858 --> 0:25:55.608 Thanks so much, Ron. And thanks so much to everyone 0:25:55.608 --> 0:25:59.688 at Virgin Australia for supporting me over the years. I've 0:25:59.688 --> 0:26:04.008 been a client since the age of six and I've 0:26:04.008 --> 0:26:13.188 received various services such as OT employment. Um and I 0:26:13.188 --> 0:26:15.828 used to attend the school holiday programs when I was 0:26:15.828 --> 0:26:21.378 at school, so we did like different activities and outings 0:26:21.378 --> 0:26:26.598 and things like that. Um, and I'd also like to 0:26:26.598 --> 0:26:33.498 thank my amazing parents for, um, supporting me throughout my life. 0:26:33.498 --> 0:26:39.558 And thanks to Duncan and Wendy from Platinum Creative, um, 0:26:39.738 --> 0:26:47.498 for being. I'm very supportive managers. For Duncan's my manager, 0:26:47.498 --> 0:26:50.858 and they're both here today, so thank you. 0:26:51.458 --> 0:26:55.368 Well done. Laura, thank you very much. You. 0:27:04.328 --> 0:27:07.658 And that's all we have time for today. You've been 0:27:07.658 --> 0:27:12.008 listening to Talking Vision. Talking vision is a production of 0:27:12.008 --> 0:27:16.028 Vision Australia Radio. Thanks to all involved with putting the 0:27:16.028 --> 0:27:19.838 show together. And remember we love your feedback and comments. 0:27:19.838 --> 0:27:23.468 So please do get in touch on Talking Vision at 0:27:23.468 --> 0:27:30.278 Vision australia.org. That's talking vision all. One word at Vision australia.org. 0:27:30.278 --> 0:27:34.358 But until next week it's Sam Colley saying bye for now. 0:27:37.858 --> 0:27:41.908 You can contact Vision Australia by phoning us anytime during 0:27:41.908 --> 0:27:49.828 business hours on one 308 4746. That's one 380 474 0:27:49.918 --> 0:27:56.068 W6 or by visiting Vision australia.org. That's Vision Australia call.