Sam is joined by Janene Sadhu and Michael Janes, who both took up the option of live audio description at the 2023 Vision Australia Carols by Candlelight. They tell us about their experiences at the Bowl with AD, in the lead up to this year's Carols on Christmas Eve simulcast on Vision Australia Radio. You'll also hear from Keith McVilly, a member of the Disability Worker Registration Board of Victoria, who have partnered with the Victorian Disability Worker Commission to conduct a public consul...
Dec 04, 2024•27 min
This week we hear from social worker and youth mentor Ian Clements, who after experiencing vision loss as a young adult overcame the various challenges that came with that to work as part of the Top Blokes Foundation in the Hunter Valley region. Then later on in the show we feature some news and information about the upcoming International Day of People with Disability on Tuesday December 3, and Frances joins the show for a Reader Recommended. Support this Vision Australia Radio program: https:/...
Nov 27, 2024•27 min
Hear from Jason Gipps as he catches up with guest curator of Geelong Design Week, Dr Tonya Meyrick, to chat about how they are making design accessible for members of the public who are blind or have low vision. Later in the show it's award season as we recap the 2024 Vision Australia awards with Vision Australia acting CEO Justine Heath, who presented the awards at the recent Vision Australia Annual General Meeting on 31 October, and finally this week Marie is back with Penny Holmes-Brown from ...
Nov 20, 2024•28 min
Sam caught up a while back with blind endurance runner, motivational speaker and all around thrill seeker Ben Pettingill, whose aim for 2024 is to run 3,249km for mental health in a project he calls 3249 Blind. You'll also hear from Liz who's back to tell us about the latest issue of For Your Information, and we hear from Blind Australian of the Year Award winner Courtney Webeck who spoke with Marie from Vision Australia in Brisbane following her award win. Support this Vision Australia Radio pr...
Nov 12, 2024•28 min
This week on the show Sam speaks with father and son Peter and Rohan Rickards, alongside Kathy Leitch from Vision Australia. Peter and Rohan are the inventors of Sensaball, a multi-directional cane tip designed to give greater feedback and less friction and vibration for white cane users. Then after you hear from Peter Rohan and Kathy, Karan Nagrani is back on the show after catching up with Brisbane volunteer Marie for an interview at the Blind Australian of the Year Awards in Brisbane late las...
Nov 06, 2024•28 min
Sam is joined by Corene Strauss and Brooke Carter from the Australian Disability Network, who are here to tell us all about the PACE mentoring program for job seekers with disabilities, as well as their upcoming It's Not Hard to be Inclusive campaign running in the lead up to International Day of People with Disability on 3 December. Then later in the show Sarah from the library is back to tell us all about the latest updates to the Vision Australia library, and we finish up with some news and i...
Oct 30, 2024•28 min
Sam is joined by Samara Cunningham, artistic director of South Gippsland-based theatre company (It's no) drama who are hosting a production in November. Very shortly they will also be running a training session to help locals make the performing arts more accessible for performers and staff in the region who are blind or have low vision. Then later in the show Sam catches up with Harzita Hashim from the Children and Young People team at Vision Australia, as well as a very special guest from the ...
Oct 23, 2024•28 min
Sam welcomes back Karan Nagrani to Talking Vision this week in the lead up to the Blind Australian of the Year Awards held on 26 October in Brisbane, where Karan will be the MC. Then we hear from Vanessa Papastavros who's here to tell us about the latest news from Speak My Language, a series of national audio and video podcasts featuring stories, advice and lived experiences of cultural and linguistically diverse Australians with disabilities. Support this Vision Australia Radio program: https:/...
Oct 16, 2024•28 min
World Sight Day is coming up on October 10 and to celebrate this week on Talking Vision Sam catches up with paediatric ophthalmologist Dr Stephen Hing from the Retina and Eye Clinic in Sydney. Stephen joined Sam to speak about this year's themes for World Sight Day: the importance of eye care in young people and inspiring children everywhere to love their eyes. Later in the show you'll also hear from Maureen O'Reilly from the Vision Australia library, who's here to tell us about an upcoming even...
Oct 09, 2024•29 min
October is a busy month in the world of performing arts with Arts Centre Melbourne's disability led arts initiative, Alter State, kicking off from October 2 to 13. Sam speaks with access consultant Sarah Houbolt and CEO of Vitae Veritas Nilgun Guven all about what people can expect if they head along. Then later in the show, The Other Film Festival is shortly upon us running from October 3 to 16, you'll hear from artistic director Fiona Tuomy as she fills Sam in on this year's festival, and what...
Oct 02, 2024•29 min
Sam is away this week but you'll hear from Jason Gipps who caught up with a group of graduates from the Career Visions program. Career Visions is a Queensland based program run in partnership between Vision Australia and the Queensland government to give job seekers who are blind or have low vision important skills for their chosen careers, and gain the confidence to jump back into the workforce. Support this Vision Australia Radio program: https://www.visionaustralia.org/donate?src=radio&ty...
Sep 25, 2024•28 min
Sam catches up on the show this week with comedian Jeremy Moses, who lives with a rare vision condition which has resulted in him being legally blind from birth. In the past year Jeremy has taken to the stage to share his lived experience of disability, and he will be taking his talents to the Fringe Festivals in Sydney and Melbourne over the coming weeks. Support this Vision Australia Radio program: https://www.visionaustralia.org/donate?src=radio&type=0&_ga=2.182040610.46191917.1644183...
Sep 25, 2024•28 min
Sam is joined by Ross Joyce from the Australian Federation of Disability Organisations (AFDO) to discuss the news of federal NDIS minister Bill Shorten's retirement from politics in early 2025. Then we hear from the National Gallery of Australia's Adriane Boag, who joins the show to tell us more about the monthly Art by Description series taking place every second Friday. Support this Vision Australia Radio program: https://www.visionaustralia.org/donate?src=radio&type=0&_ga=2.182040610....
Sep 11, 2024•29 min
Sam speaks this week with event manager of Ability Fest, Ashleigh O'Gara from Untitled Group. Ability Fest will be kicking off over the month of October in both Melbourne and Brisbane, highlighting the talents of musicians with disabilities and ensuring an accessible and inclusive experience for the audience. Then later on in the show we hear from Liz Dalakouras, the manager of For Your Information, and Frances wraps up the program with a Reader Recommended. Support this Vision Australia Radio p...
Sep 04, 2024•29 min
As we approach the first day of the Paralympics on August 29 Australian time, Sam is joined by co-host of Studio 1 and four time Paralympian Sam Rickard, to give us a preview of the games and what he and Lizzie have in store for listeners over the next couple of weeks. Then later in the show we hear from Belinda Wilson from Vision Australia to tell us about the range of programs available to children and young people now and in 2025, including the LEAP program for young people aged 14 to 18. Fin...
Aug 28, 2024•28 min
Sam speaks to deputy CEO of People With Disabilities Australia, Megan Spindler-Smith, about the government's recent response to the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability. Then later on in the show, Vision Australia library manager Sarah Bloedorn catches up with Sam to tell us about the latest events and new releases available for library members over the next few weeks. Support this Vision Australia Radio program: https://www.visionaustralia.or...
Aug 21, 2024•28 min
Sam catches up with Kelly Schulz, founder and managing director of Knowable Me, an organisation providing market research services and key insights into needs and preferences of people with disabilities. We also hear from Vision Australia Radio's Jason Gipps, he's here to tell us about some exciting new shows for people to look forward to, and invites all in the Bendigo region to come visit the studios at 20 Bridge St this Friday 18 August for the Vision Australia Radio Bendigo Open Day. Finally...
Aug 14, 2024•28 min
We take a trip around regional Victoria on the show this week as Bruce Lees catches up with Graeme Knight, they're both members of the Bendigo Amateur Radio and Electronics Club (BAREC) which are holding a Radiofest on August 18. Then we head over to Geelong as Sam speaks with Eddy Kontelj from Achilles Geelong, a new chapter of Achilles Australia which is launching on the Bellarine Peninsula with their first run at the Geelong Botanical Gardens on September 8. And finally this week, we wrap up ...
Aug 07, 2024•28 min
Sam is joined by Daniel Fenech, the director of independent documentary The Blind Sea which follows the life of paralympian and blind surfer Matt Formston as he rides the world's biggest waves. The Blind Sea is out in cinemas from August 15 to 18, and 50% of proceeds from ticket sales go towards Vision Australia. Then later on in the show, there's some big news to share as Vision Australia CEO Ron Hooton is stepping down after 11 and a half years as CEO. Ron will be finishing up on 2 August, but...
Jul 31, 2024•28 min
Tanya Thomas from the Frankston and District Basketball Association is on the show this week to tell us about their blind and low vision basketball program, taking place every Tuesday morning at the Frankston Basketball Centre. You'll also hear from Maureen O'Reilly from the Vision Australia Library, who's here to tell us about a couple of events over the next few weeks for children to enjoy. Finally this week, Frances joins the show with a Reader Recommended and we wrap up with some news and in...
Jul 24, 2024•27 min
Sam is joined by Dr Brian Ang, an ophthalmologist and glaucoma specialist who is campaigning for proactive glaucoma care, a series of strategies to lower the risk factors and prevent the onset of glaucoma. You'll also hear from Peter Greco later in the show, he catches up with Andrea Summerell from the NSW electoral commission, and the ways in which voters who are blind or have low vision can cast their votes safely and accessibly in upcoming the local government elections. Support this Vision A...
Jul 17, 2024•28 min
This week on Talking Vision Sam speaks with Ben Dew from Tennis Australia about the upcoming Blind and Low Vision Tennis Championships on July 19. Then later in the show Sarah from the Library is back to tell us about some upcoming events for people to look forward to, and we mark NAIDOC Week with some first nations reads featuring first nations histories and experiences. Support this Vision Australia Radio program: https://www.visionaustralia.org/donate?src=radio&type=0&_ga=2.182040610....
Jul 10, 2024•28 min
Sam speaks with CEO of Ageing with Grace, Esis Tawfik, about the Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Scheme and the ways it can foster connections and long lasting friendships for older Australians experiencing vision loss. You'll also hear from Verity Hunt-Ballard from Australian Literacy and Numeracy Foundation, who have collaborated with Amazon to launch Story Sauce, an audio-based story platform for primary aged kids to inspire them to tell their own story. Support this Vision Australia Radio progr...
Jul 03, 2024•29 min
Coming up over the month of July, Arts Access Victoria are celebrating on a couple of fronts with the organisation turning 50, but also celebrating Disability Pride Month. Sam caught up with CEO Caroline Bowditch to find out more. We also hear from editor of For Your Information, Liz Dalakouras, about the latest edition of FYI and what people can expect in the most recent issue, then Frances is back with a Reader Recommended and we finish up with some news and information. Support this Vision Au...
Jun 26, 2024•29 min
We say farewell this week but certainly not goodbye forever to Stella Glorie as she finishes up at Vision Australia after 15 years. Sam caught up with her to look back over the 15 years, and share her favourite moments and interviews from her time both on and off air. Support this Vision Australia Radio program: https://www.visionaustralia.org/donate?src=radio&type=0&_ga=2.182040610.46191917.1644183916-1718358749.1627963141 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Jun 19, 2024•30 min
Sam is joined this week by Narelle Gatti, a passionate digital access advocate with lived experience of vision loss. Narelle speaks about how she managed life with her family after the change, her work and podcast addressing accessibility needs , and appearing on Vision Australia Radio program Kintsugi Heroes . Then after we hear from Narelle, Associate Professor Matthew Butler is back on the program to tell us about a new PhD scholarship opportunity at the Monash Assistive Technology Society ce...
Jun 12, 2024•29 min
The Disrupting Sighted Ableism series is holding its third and final session at the Arts Centre in Melbourne on June 25, and we're joined by Lauren Hayes and Micaela Schmidt to tell us about the panel discussion they'll be running on the day. Then later in the show, Bill Jolley celebrated six months in his role as chair of the Vision Australia board, and he joined Sam this week to have a look back over the past six months and what he's looking forward to in the rest of 2024 and beyond. Support t...
Jun 05, 2024•29 min
This week we pay tribute to braille music pioneer Dorothy Hamilton OAM, who sadly passed away recently at the age of 97. Dorothy appeared several times over the years on Talking Vision, and today you'll hear from three different people who caught up with her for an interview. We begin with Glen Morrow, producer and presenter of Meet Dorothy Hamilton, a half hour documentary which originally aired on Talking Vision in September 2015. You'll also hear from Stella as she speaks with Dorothy for Wor...
May 29, 2024•28 min
Coming up on 8 June the Vision Australia Open Day is taking place at the Coorparoo office in Brisbane. Hear from Courtney McKee, Anish Chamoli, Mel Bligh and Donna Dyson as they catch up with Sam to speak about the day. Then later in the show, we celebrate National Volunteer Week as Sam is joined by Barry Leviny, long time volunteer for Vision Australia including his role as co-host of The Uncertainty Principle on Vision Australia Radio for the past 14 years. Support this Vision Australia Radio ...
May 22, 2024•28 min
It's Global Accessibility Awareness Day on Thursday May 16, and to celebrate Sam catches up with two guests with a deep involvement in the accessibility sector. Kicking off the show this week you'll hear from Dr Scott Hollier, the founder and CEO of the Centre for Accessibility Australia, who is here to speak about artificial intelligence and its benefits and drawbacks for the sector. Then later in the show Polly Goodwin makes her return to Talking Vision to tell us all about her collaboration w...
May 15, 2024•28 min
