Anti Poverty Week, inclusion, music therapy and more

00:31 S1

Hi, I'm Gemma Finlayson, a silver medalist in boccia in the Paris Paralympic Games. And you're listening to Leisure Link with Peter Greco on the Vision Australia radio network.

01:05 S2

It's just gone 5:00. Greetings and salutations and a warm welcome to Leisure Link here on Vision Australia Radio 1197 a.m.AM in Adelaide, through the TuneIn radio app or the Community Radio Plus app. Look for Vision Australia Radio Adelaide also available on your favorite podcast or streaming service, and of course, now on the Australian Disability Media Network as well. Look for Powerd media, powered.media, that's their website. And of course, the big hello to our friends listening through 103.9 FM in Esperance in Western Australia. Peter Greco saying fantastic to be here. Great to be here. This program coming to you from Kaurna.

And coming to you very, very shortly... we'll speak to Jamieson Leeson, just back from Paris with a silver medal in the sport of boccia. Looks to catch up with Matthew Pearson, inviting you personally to the Special Olympics opening ceremony and state games coming up later on this week as the SNB will join us. Tell us about a very important workshop trying to get more people with disabilities employed. That's got to be a good thing. We'll speak to Esther about that. Alison Davies will join us from Alison Davies. Calm. What are you talking about? A very interesting topic. Melodic mantras. What are they? How can they help? Alison's got all the details. 

We speak to Vicky Kearsey from an organisation called friends with dignity, helping people in the area of domestic violence. Such an important message will find out much more from Vicky. We'll have yoga from Reeva Bryce, Caroline McDaid will join us from Work Ventures. It's the Anti-Poverty Week. What about people in the area of digital access, how are they impacted by lack of funds? And Professor Denise Wood will be here from USC with all the latest news in the area of accessibility and technology. 

What a tremendous time it was for our boccia team. Let's chat to one of the stars, silver medallist Jamieson Leeson. Welcome home belatedly and thanks for catching up with us. 

03:23 S3

Yeah thanks Peter. It's been a bit of a hectic few months, but yeah, it's nice to be back home now and settling back into life.

03:29 S2

What's it like? I mean, I guess you can only imagine what it's going to be like. You're probably over there, focused as you should be, and then you get back and sort of, you know, all the celebrations start.

03:38 S3

Yeah, it's it's been a bit of a it's been a bit of a weird six weeks, to be honest. You know, not really doing a whole lot of boccia training, but then having to catch up on uni and then also celebrating Paris on the side as well. Yeah, I actually haven't been back to my hometown yet, so I'm heading there this weekend and I'm very excited to see everyone.

03:56 S2

Oh, they'll probably be even more excited to see you.

03:59 S3

Yeah. It's been it's been a long time coming, so unfortunately I don't get to get back there as much as I would have liked to this year. So looking forward to it.

04:06 S2

Just about your hometown? 

04:08 S3

Yeah. So I grew up in a small country town in New South Wales called d'Anjou, and it's about an hour east of Dubbo. It's got about 800 people in it... and yeah, I grew up there my whole life until... last year when I moved to Sydney for boccia. So a bit of a big change, moving from the country to the city. But yeah, it's worth it.

04:27 S2

And you would now be their most famous export, wouldn't you?

04:30 S3

Oh, I don't know. Actually. I think Hugh Bowman, which was the jockey for...

04:35 S2

Oh, yeah. Wow.

04:36 S3

He's the guy. He's from Canada as well. So he's a legend. Yeah, I think he'd still top me, but...

04:42 S2

I'm not sure about that. Yeah, and yesterday's hero. I mean, that was years ago. Hahaha.

04:47 S3

No, he's a pretty cool guy. He's a legend and everyone loves him. 

04:50 S2

Terrific. Well, tell us about Paris and in particular, your silver medal. Yeah, because it was a round robin event and then you got through to the final. 

04:59 S3

Yeah, so... got silver in the individual event, which...  I went into the games, you know, not really knowing what to expect of myself. I knew I had the potential to do come home with a medal, but I didn't know if I really had it in me at the time. But, yeah, had the round, round robin and pool games at the beginning and won two and lost one, which then put me through to the quarterfinals and yeah, then went on to continue winning until the gold medal match, which unfortunately I lost. It was a tough game, but coming home with the silver was pretty good.

05:30 S2

It was pretty close too wasn't it, the playoff, gold medal playoff?

05:33 S3

Yeah, the final score was four two, so not too bad. I didn't play anywhere near as good as I'd like to have hoped I would have played, but... you know, played some incredible games to get to that point. So, you know, proud of the whole experience. Yeah.

05:48 S2

I guess, as you know, you say with the sort o... you know, final score, if you like, or the final result being a silver medal. I mean, that's, you know, that's almost as good as it gets.

05:59 S3

Yeah, absolutely. I mean, they say silver is the hardest medal to win because you've got to lose the game to get it. But yeah, I mean I think just the whole experience of being there and to win an individual medal at my first Paralympic Games, of playing an individual event was something that, you know, I hoped of but wasn't sure if it was really a realistic goal. But yeah, To come on with the medal and also to to see Dan win a silver as well and make history for Australia is very cool.

06:26 S2

That's on the same day wasn't it? Did you both win silver on the same day?

06:30 S3

Yeah. So our gold medal matches were right after each other. So I played first. Unfortunately, Dan wasn't able to watch me because he was warming up for his game, but I was lucky enough to be able to watch his game. And then we got our medals afterwards.

06:42 S2

And that was pretty... thrilling as well. Dad's match.

06:45 S3

Oh, yeah. I mean, he played by Huang Zhong, who's the greatest of all time in the... men's classification. And yeah, it was always going to be a tough match for Dan. And he's done it before. But I mean when you're playing the best of the best it's, you know, not as upsetting to lose to someone like him.

07:01 S2

I guess like anything, it's sort of, uh, well, you know, depending on how you want to measure it, sort of a, you know, a game of millimetres or inches or however you want to describe it. There's probably not a lot of difference between or gold and silver.

07:13 S3

Oh, absolutely. I mean, I think especially going into the Paris Paralympic Games this time around for my female classification. I said that really the top 8 to 10 female athletes had a chance of meddling and that was really shown, I guess, in the results with, you know, the seedings of the athletes, not really accounting with the world number one, you know, not even making it out of her pool matches. Yeah. It just shows how tough the competition is and it can really go any way on, you know, the right day of the week for you.

07:43 S2

Yeah. That is such a great point. It is, as you say, there's not much in it at all, which is kind of great for us as spectators or us as followers of the sport. I guess for the athletes it brings its own degree of pressure.

07:54 S3

Oh, absolutely. I mean, I think it's not a bad thing. You know, you got to shoot your shot and you never know when it's going to pull off or or not work. And it happens to every athlete in every sport. But I think for boccia being such a tight sport, it's it's really kind of, you know, makes it more competitive. And I guess it, you know, you've really got to take your every opportunity, that and mistake that your opponent makes and make it worth it because it could be the win or loss of the game. 

08:23 S2

Really know that you and. Dan play after that as well.

08:25 S3

Yeah. So Dan and I are played in the pairs. We were going in there as a world number one and unfortunately didn't follow that through... in the games which, we got a bit lucky with the pools and we won all our pool games, actually two of our two pool games and topped our pool to go through to the quarterfinals. But unfortunately our big rivals Korea, who were in the in the second pool next to us and they lost a pool match, which means we had to play them in the quarterfinals. Okay. Unfortunately, they were out for revenge and they had an incredible against us. So it's this way sport goes sometimes. But I mean I'm... not really upset to lose to them. If it was anyone else I would have been a lot more definitely losing and being knocked out. So yeah, it was still a good Games. 

09:08 S2

Well I guess you talked about... you know, in the... singles for... women, the number one seed not make it through to the final. I guess it's kind of a similar sort of thing, like there's just not no room for error in a sense.

09:19 S3

No, exactly. And I mean, that's the thing as well. Like the best example is a great example of, you know, Korea had a horrible game the day before to to lose into the in their pool. And then they had to play us in the quarterfinal. And you know, one bad game one day. And then they come out and play the best game they've probably ever played against us in the quarterfinal. So you've really just got to take ball by ball because you don't know whether someone's going to have their best game or their worst game. And yeah, it can go any way really.

09:49 S2

Yeah. And... one of the great things is that you played a lot of boccia and sort of played for a long time. Does that mean you kind of didn't get much time to sort of kick back and see other sports and kind of take up the... atmosphere of Paris? 

10:02 S3

Yeah. I mean, I'm not complaining about playing soccer, but yeah, it is unfortunate that our sport does go for like eight out of the ten days. So yeah, it's a bit unfortunate we didn't get to watch any of the other sports this time around. I really wanted to, but it didn't work out that way. But, yeah. I mean, the more days I watch, the more people that watch boccia, and that's what I care about. So I'll do it for... everyone in Australia.

10:26 S2

Thank you for... the support.

10:28 S3

I yeah, exactly. 

10:30 S2

Well, what about that side of things? Jamieson I mean, we've talked, spoken to a few athletes since they've been back and I guess just in terms of the profile of their sport being raised, particularly through the great coverage of Channel Nine, all of a sudden. Well, not all of a sudden, but now more people know about boccia, which has got to be a good thing, do you think?

10:46 S3

Oh, absolutely. I mean, I think boccia being probably one of the lesser known sports in Australia, especially in the Paralympics, it's definitely one of my passions to get more people involved in the sport. And the Paralympics is, you know, the biggest podium to have that opportunity. So being able to play and have out and you know, to unfortunately a lot of the boccia courts at the Paralympics aren't live streamed. But for Dan and I to both make the finals and have those on national television, even if it was at 3 a.m. in the morning...yeah. It's such an honor to be able to do that. And, you know, to highlight not only that boccia is a sport out there, but people with severe physical disabilities can compete as well. 

11:27 S2

Well, you conduct yourself so well as well. Hey, Jonathan, you talked about... you know, being back at uni. So, where's that at? 

11:33 S3

Yeah. So I'm back studying my Bachelor of Economics at the University of New South Wales. So took a term off last trimester for Paris and back into the swing of things this time around. And, hopefully I'll be finished by next year.

11:47 S2

What do you hope to do after that?

11:49 S3

Not too sure yet. We'll be honest. It was kind of... Paris was the only thing in my life up until two months ago. So, yeah, just kind of trying to figure that out now, and we'll see what the next year brings.

12:01 S2

Well, you're still so young. You've probably got two or 3 or 4 careers ahead of you in the next... 40 or 50 or 60 years or however long you need to work for. Jamieson, great to catch up and to you. And we should also say a big congratulations to Dan Michaud, who's been great to support of this program over many years. It was great. A couple of silver medals to come home with. Enjoy the the little bit of a break. Enjoy the weekend. I'm sure the hometown will treat you in the... wonderful... exhultation and... give you the,... elation that you deserve. Thanks for spending some time with us and look forward to next time we speak. 

S3

Cheers Peter.

S2

That's Jamieson Leeson, the silver medalist in the sport of boccia from Paris. And... certainly a very, very bright and long career ahead of Jamieson. 

Well, a big time is coming up very early in November for Special Olympics here in South Australia. Let's find out all about it and speak to Matthew Pearson, stage director. Always good to catch up Matt.

13:03 S4

Great to... catch up again. Peter, thanks for having us. Yeah.

13:06 S2

You've got an opening ceremony and then some action happening after that as well? 

13:10 S4

Yeah. So no, it's a great way to end the... year. So yeah, we've got... the state games opening ceremony, down at SA netball on the Friday the 1st of November. And yeah, numbers are coming in for that one. It should be a really good event. And it will kind of... yeah. set the scene, I guess, for some of our sport competitions that are taking place across the first two weekends of November. 

13:33 S2

Fantastic. What about the opening ceremony? Can you tell us about any... things that might be happening in terms of... special guests or maybe... kind of an official opening and who might be there? 

13:44 S3

Yeah, by all means. Yeah. So we've got a number of dignitaries that are their sponsors, or supporters or advocates for Special Olympics. That includes the Minister of Sport, Katrina Hilliard, Minister of Human Services and Minister Kirk. And Kirk, she's been a great support for a number of years. We've got... Matt Cowdrey, we've got Variety, far as you know, on a massive and really valuable kind of partner, especially among the work that we've done with young people in the last few years. They will be in attendance. We've got another owner and sponsors and partners that are coming across as well. And we're about probably 400, 420 attendees. And that's the mixture of athletes, volunteers as well as spectators. And yeah, plenty more are kind of enrolling in the next kind of week or two. 

So it's absolutely open to anyone. So even if you're just curious about, see what goes on with Special Olympics and just want to understand a little bit more, or just see the event and you're more than welcome to get involved.

14:47 S2

All right, that's Friday, the 1st of November. What about after that in terms of... some of the venues and some of the sports?

14:55 S4

Yeah. So we've got... sports taking place across the first two weekends of November. We've got on our first week, we've got gymnastics and swimming, archery and soccer within the City of Marion locality between Marion and Howard Cove. And then we've got our tenpin bowling program, which is in the City of Onkaparinga region in North Wagga. And then our second weekend, we've got our basketball program, competition up at Saint Clare,  near Woodville at Saint Clare Rec Centre. And then we're gonna have both athletics and netball, which were originally scheduled. But what we're going to do is push them back to early 2025 to really... maximise the opportunities and experiences that... our attendees will get from that event. We want to try and get a few more involved to really make that a meaningful and purposeful experience for those who are attending. 

So, yeah, that's what we've got going on. Yeah. Once again, got a number of relatively new individuals getting involved in that, which is great. And then we've got some of our existing members who... love this time of year or when they're big events come along so they can see their friends that socialise and also do the sport that they train and enjoy so much.

16:06 S2

That's the kind of the socialising, the away from the sport thing. That's the kind of stuff we've spoken about so many times over the years. Matt, isn't that. It's kind of, well, I can almost say equally as important as the competing and the and the doing well. It's that kind of outside sport thing that is really such an important part that something like specialised plays.

16:25 S4

Yeah, they're definitely, we're really seeing that kind of level of value on the socialization, that community integration and just that extended support network. And so not just the individuals but the wider family and kind of network. It becomes invaluable. And we have in plenty. We probably have about 25, 30% of individuals that aren't actually competing in the state games. Because at the moment they prefer just to do their weekly training. Mm. Be involved, have a safe, supportive, inclusive environment to access sport in a non-judgmental environment. And they're just starting their journey with Special Olympics. They're not looking on the competitive side. 

Like I said, social connection, which is their primary kind of motivation. Or they just want, like I said, a safe, supportive place to be active and know that, yeah, they can enjoy each other's and meet new people. And like I said, that social thing is becoming a real key element of what we're doing here in Special Olympics to ensure that we can kind of cater on both sides, not just the traditional kind of competition pathways for those who are love the results and love the competitive nature of it, but really... accommodating, within a wide range of community environments and localities across the state, both regional and metro, to ensure that our weekly training programs and opportunities are, yeah, really open and, kind of can cater for a wide range of individuals. So, yeah, definitely broadening our, yeah, traditional kind of, yeah, journey that we've had previously.

17:55 S2

I was going to ask about our country cousins, a good representation there. Are you going to get a few people visiting the city? 

18:02 S3

Yeah. We've got, yeah, we've got our usual... bowlers that are based up in Port Pirie. We should have a few individuals connected to gymnastics coming across from the Riverland. We've got our Mount Gambier soccer program, which is growing down there down in the southeast. They're coming up for the event as well. But we've also connected with a team called Berry. They're all abilities basketball program. They're actually going to come for the first time. They've been invited to the state games. So they're going to bring a couple of their mixed basketball teams, for what they're doing out there, they're going to bring down and just start to expose some of their... participants to, like I said, wider connections, wider basketball opportunities. So there's quite a lot going on. 

And then, yeah, we will once again have a cohort of our... gymnasts who are based up in the Barossa. That will be coming down as well. So we're actively looking to try and, yeah, ensure that our representation from the regional and the weighting or the percentages are going up each and every time we do this, because that's a really important part, just to ensure that they do the great work within their regional communities. But we want them to have access and connection points, to the wider movement, that's involved. And that hopefully provides a real good... friendship and dynamic for... yeah, when we meet.

19:21 S2

Those temporary boats in the port area. I mean, they've been coming... well, not, maybe not the same individuals, but that group, if you like, or that movement that's been alive and well for years and years and years. I've been doing this program over 30 years. And I reckon, you know, when we started they were coming down. So that's a... wonderful kind of, if you like, a tribute to the work that's gone on for... so many decades in that area.

19:44 S4

Yeah. So it's fantastic. It's been definitely one of our strongest... yeah, you know, offers. And that's testament to the volunteers out there that's at the moment led by Maxine Bowden and Nate Scarman, as well as Deb and a few others that have done various journeys throughout those years up in Port Pirie. But yeah, we've... yeah, we've got many that have done a number of years up there. As you can imagine. We've got new ones as well getting into it. But it's been a really established software out there, and we're really fortunate that we're able to,... continue to offer that on a long term basis... up there. So, yeah, it's once again, great to bring those guys down. And they're a really key part of not just the tenpin bowling community, but the wider Special Olympics SA community in what we do that.

20:28 S2

So the opening ceremony on November 1st at the netball stadium. Can people... rock up? Best to book though. 

20:35 S4

Yeah. Best to book in. They can just enquire by info SA at Special Olympics dot com dot AU. It is completely free for people just to rock up and spectate, but it is a ticketed event. Just so we've got a gauge on numbers for fire evacuation processes and event management, as I'm sure you can appreciate. So if they literally just get an if, even if they want to inquire on the day, they can actually do their registration down there. Or we can just take a couple of details. We just need to keep a bit of a record. But yes, absolutely open to anyone in the public. 

So we've got individuals who are connected to other disability support services. Maybe they work in education and they've got a let me find out. And also we've got plenty of families who inquire, but not really fully understanding what Special Olympics does. How can that really benefit their child or young person or adult that they support or have got a direct relationship with, and just want to kind of, yeah, see what it's all about. We're really open and be, yeah, really happy to invite or have new individuals come and view what we do. 

So, yeah, there will be a full... Welcome to Country. We do our national anthem. We'll do our guest the formalities of walking in the torch and I'll be down with your torch. And with that, I would like the torch in there. And then there'll be some entertainment bits and pieces going on. And yeah, it's just to try and bring all the pockets of incredible work that are delivered by our fantastic, dedicated volunteers, and just trying to bring it all in together and celebrate was, yeah, always a fantastic organisation to be a part of. And just doing a bit of recognition for, yeah, all the individuals that make it what it is today.

22:22 S2

Just give us that email address again and we'll put that up on our Facebook page as well. Matt.

22:26 S4

No problem at all. So it's info. So, info.sa@specialolympics.com

22:33 S2

You Matt, have a great time. We'll keep in touch throughout the next few weeks and give us updates as to how it's all going. But it's going to be smashing. I can just feel it.

22:41 S4

Yeah, no, we're all excited. Plenty going on behind the scenes. But you know what? It all comes together on the day and, yeah, it'll be a fantastic event once again.

22:50 S2

Enjoy it.

22:51 S4

Matt, thank you very much.

22:52 S2

That's Matt Pierson, the state director there, very excited state director for this year's Special Olympics, state games happening from November 1st. We'll put those details up on our Facebook page.

23:07 UU (PROMO)

You're in elite company listening to Leisure Link, here on Vision Radio. 

S2

VA radio, digital VA radio dot org and through the TuneIn radio app. It's always great catching up with this. The simply fantastic advocate, and also someone who always putting back into the community. Let's find about an event that has gotten a couple of weeks time. Esther. Lovely to speak to you again.

23:33 S5

Lovely to speak with you too, Peter. Thank you very much for giving me the opportunity to, you know...

23:38 S2

You don't stand still or stay still very often, do you?

23:42 S5

No, really, I try to.

23:45 S2

It's not allowed to.

23:46 S5

Okay. No, no, but I'm... trying to. I've been sick since June and it kind of forced me into taking it easy.

23:56 S2

You put on these events, which is obviously a great idea. It must be very rewarding when people turn up and they kind of, you know, vote with their feet, as it were.

24:04 S5

Yeah, yeah, yeah. It would be really sad. Like when I take all this time organising the event, a lot of work goes into organising events behind the scenes and like it would be sad putting all this work and then nobody turns up. You know.

24:22 S2

Now you've got an event coming up on November 9th, a great title. Tell us about it.

24:26 S5

Yeah. So that Saturday, November 9th, which is also my oldest daughter's birthday. And yeah, so we... are putting together... a panel discussion and also keynote speakers to speak at our intercultural disability inclusion workshop and networking events. 

S2

All right. Now, where is it and what time does it get underway?

24:52 S5

So it's at the Payneham Library and Community Facilities Hall. So when you go to the library, the entrance on your right that goes to the hall. And, so it starts at 1:30 p.m. to five. Terrific afternoon. Yeah.

25:10 S2

Tell us about what will be happening.

25:11 S5

So they, uh, there will be speeches... panel discussion, of course, the disability inclusion panel discussion. We have work relations lawyers there to talk about disability discrimination. And we also have, Sam Donatto from Actors Training and Education to talk about inclusive hiring and inclusive leadership. So he got really great ideas, like to tell people the importance of employing people with disability and, you know, your organisations and companies and all of that. And we also have entertainment and we'll have food and networking. Terrific.

25:56 S2

You talk about it being intercultural. What does that mean?

25:59 S5

Intercultural is, I don't want to call it multicultural because multicultural, in my understanding, is kind of one culture sitting on the other side, the other culture sitting. Right. But I call it intercultural because it's not only for people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, but it's for everybody. Everyone comes with their culture, and we are all one family. Even though we have different cultures, we are all one family. We are together, yeah. So that's that's what it means.

26:32 S2

I reckon that's a great way to put it. It's kind of integrated and inclusive, isn't it? Those words are kind of, you know, part of it as well. Yeah.

26:39 S5

Yeah, yeah. And also my books will be on sale on that day. They will also be... paintings and necklaces, earrings, other accessories on sale as well. If people want to buy something, for Christmas, a gift for Christmas? Yeah. 

26:58 S2

Yeah, oh, great idea. Well, you can be... if you like, sort of... multitasking, if you like. On the day you can be doing... a bit of Christmas shopping, but also taking in some really important and interesting speakers.

27:10 S5

Yeah. Yeah. And, there will also be stalls, and we haven't confirmed the stalls, how many people will be holding stalls there. But, yeah, there will be stalls, mainly to sell things for Christmas, like gift ideas. If you don't have any gift ideas yet, come on the day and... grab one thing or two for your, yeah...

27:34 S2

So it's a bit of a... well, not a bit of a it's a fun day, but also a serious message as well.

27:40 S5

Yes, that's right.

27:41 S2

Esther, did something happen that sort of set you on this path, particularly regarding the employment thing? I know we've been chatting for a number of years about how difficult it is for people with disabilities and all sorts of areas, not just employment, but anything in particular that sparked this idea for the employment side of things?

27:59 S5

Yes. So speaking from a personal life experience. So when I completed my social work degree, uh, that was in 2007. I graduated in 2008, and then it took me more than six months to get a job, where I did my last placement. I was hoping that I would get employment there because I was kind of like, you know, training the the staff on intercultural issues, on refugee issues. And I really did well with my placement. And, surprisingly, I didn't get the job. Somebody one of the students who didn't have a disability was instead offered a job there. There were jobs. It was not only one one vacancy that was available. They told me to apply. The other student got the job without going through the application process.

28:53 S2

Oh, man.

28:54 S5

Yeah. And then I applied. I was invited to for interview and then in the end, they didn't even contact me. So I applied for so many jobs, more than 100 jobs. I did most of... only five applications I didn't hear about from, but I did interviews for all of those over 100 jobs, and every time they either call me and tell me I came second, they either call me and tell me that they don't call me at all... and then, and they don't give feedback. And and then I started questioning, Why is it that I always come second? Why was I not coming first? And then I realise it got something to do with the disability. Some of the people that I did... interview with, they saw me come their living with disability and they go, Oh my God, so what are we going to do with this person with disability?

And so that's one of the things too, that I want to do, like to... educate potential employers on, you know, the skills. And so they don't shut people with disability out because they don't know how to... engage with them, you know, and...

30:10 S2

And of course, there's so much evidence and so much, even anecdotal evidence to say how beneficial it can be for a company, for an organisation to have people from diverse backgrounds, not just with disabilities, but, you know, might be a different culture. You know, those sort of things can all kind of add to the melting pot of a really good... group of employees.

30:31 S5

Yeah, yeah. That's that's the thing. And the other thing, too is that... because of my refugee background and... my color of skin and and being a single mother. Those are also layers upon layers upon layers. And that's why I missed out on so many jobs. And when I did get the job, I had two jobs terminated for no reason. I just terminated. And then one employer, I did an interview. The employer told me that they were not... ready to employ someone with a disability who is prone to take time off work because of... sickness or other disability related issues and, yeah, things like that. 

But the other thing too, is some people are not able to negotiate work hours, flexible work hours and... workplace modifications and all of that. And that's why I have... started this path of employment for people with disability, to educate not only employers but also potential employees.

31:42 S2

It's a great message. Esther, good luck with it. You do such great work and you certainly deserve to be rewarded. It certainly sounds like it is by people turning up, so give us the details again. We'll also put this up on our Facebook page if people have missed it. But so when and where again?

31:58 S5

So it's on Saturday the 9th of November. Our time is 1:30, from 1:30 to 5 p.m. at the Payneham Library and Community Facility Hall. So when you enter the library, the door on your right, that's the the community hall there. And, and Payneham Library is number two Turner Street in Felixstowe where the swimming... ah yes. Yeah. Yeah yeah. They're in that area. There's parking on the... street and on when this parking on site, and also on the street.

32:37 S2

Said the afternoon parking shouldn't be too much of an issue and you want people to register?

32:41 S5

Yes, yes. So... there is a link on Try Booking. You can register on Try Booking if you Google intercultural disability workshop and networking event. It's also on the City of Norwood Payneham and Saint Peters website.

33:00 S2

Excellent, excellent.

33:01 S5

Yeah, yeah, yeah. And you can also call us on 0403 327 008. That is 0403 327 008 or email us at... admin at Zion Disability Services dot org dot AU.

S2

Esther, you're a fantastic advocate. Let's hope there's a bumper crowd there on the night. Keep up the great work and I'm sure it won't be too long before we speak again.

33:30 S5

Thank you. Peter.

33:31 S2

That's Esther Simbi be there who was an advocate, an author, and also certainly someone who said try to make a great difference to people's lives, particularly people from a diverse background and people with disabilities.

33:47 S6

Hi, I'm Pierre Thomas, CEO of Special Olympics Australia, and you're listening to Leisure Link with Peter Greco on the Vision Australia Radio network.

34:11 S2

It's always fun... no, it's more than fun, it's interesting and informative - catching up with Alison Davies from alisondavies.com.au - G'day, Ali.

34:20 S7

Hey, Peter, how are you?

34:21 S2

I'm very well. Now often you say, I really like this topic. It's one of my favourites. It's this kind of maybe your all time favourite at this stage.

34:30 S7

It kind of is. After all the years of doing music therapy that I've done, there is one sort of way of using music as a soothing technique that I love more than anything else in the world, and that is what we're talking about today. So I think that actually is my favorite topic.

34:46 S2

And the topic is melodic mantra.

34:49 S7

Mhm. Yeah. Want me to tell you what it's all about?

S2

Yeah. What is it? 

S7

Okay. So melodic mantra is a way of using simple melody, repetition, gentle slow tempo as a way of soothing the nervous system. And the way we do it is we choose a mantra or an affirmation or just like a, you know, a one phrase, potent one phrase. For example, one of the ones I do all the time is I am safe. Just three words. That's it. And the way we make it melodic is obviously by singing it. So I will demonstrate I am safe, goes like this.

I am safe. I am safe. I am safe... and we just sing it over and over and over. And it's the repetition that creates a sense of predictability in the environment. And the brain picks up on that. It goes, I know what's coming next. We're going to repeat I am safe. And then we do. And then the brain feels like it's in control because it knew what was coming next. And so then when the brain feels in control, everything starts to change in our body. We start to get dopamine. We start to feel sort of warm and fuzzy and safe in our nervous system feels soothed. So the melodic mantra itself is just always a super simple phrase, but it has a really, really significant impact on our regulatory state. 

Another one of my favorite ones is every day my courage grows... every day my courage grows. I will sing that over and over and over and over for 2 or 3 minutes. And, I do this with groups online and in real life in the town where I live. And we all just sing together. We just sing each other's melodic mantras, and we'll sing them over and over for 2 or 3 minutes each. And sometimes we might sort of create a harmony and, and play with the melody a little bit. But really, the simpler the better, as far as the brain and the nervous system is concerned.

37:03 S2

I reckon if you're doing it as a group, that would really kind of engender a bit of what's the word, you know, extra energy to it, extra oomph to it, if I can put it that way.

37:12 S7

Yeah. It's beautiful just hearing everyone's voices. Yeah. The kind of music that people don't have to identify as a musical person to still be part of. There's no lyrics to learn. There's no practicing or rehearsing. It's always a non-performance based style of singing, and because of its simplicity, it's accessible to everyone. And yeah, these these groups I've been running weekly online song sharing circles, um, doing melodic mantra for about 4 or 5 years now. And people come from all over the world, and we meet together once a week on zoom and sing melodic mantras together for an hour. It's it's actually really fantastic and beautiful.

37:56 S2

I guess it's sort of thing that depending on your situation at that time - it can kind of be calming, healing or maybe even energising if you want it to kind of use it in that way. Like, you know, the... different adaptations of it depends on your individual circumstance at the time.

38:12 S7

Exactly. Everyone has different reasons for doing it, and it always ends up being more it feels more like a therapy session or a therapeutic sort of music experience than... an entertainment type one. Yeah. At times it leads to tears. And that's because melody activates the limbic system. So when that happens, emotions can move through us. And this is why we often have such an emotional response to melody. This is why we cry when we watch movies and TV shows and listen to music. It's because of the melody and how that impacts our brain. 

So when we do this, often people will will come with a melodic mantra that's very meaningful to them, like, I am valuable or something like that. And just singing that in a simple melody can bring people to tears. And it's quite common that we have tears. So yeah, and it can it does energize as well. And it can... lead to a whole range of different emotional states. It's beautiful.

39:14 S2

You've talked about it. I think the first time we spoke was when we spoke about, uh, every little cell and the fact that kind of wants the mind knows what's coming up next or are the brain knows what's coming up next. You know, that is kind of such a powerful thing. Yeah.

39:27 S7

That's the whole reason that every little cell I believe, the whole reason every little cell became so famous at that time during the beginning of the Covid lockdowns. And that's because the predictability of it, the repetition of it, made it easy to remember, easy, and also soothed us and made us feel safe. And so I use that repetition in melodic mantra work and all the people who come together to do melodic mantra work. There's a lot of us around the world now doing it. It's extremely soothing. Yeah, it's almost like lullaby. Like lullabies are very, um, repetitive and simple. And we sing lullabies because they soothe. And so they're very similar to what you would call a lullaby, really.

40:11 S2

And we kind of know why it works. I mean, you know, sometimes we think, Oh, as long as it works, I don't care why, I don't need to know why, but when you can kind of explain it, if you like, in a scientific way, that kind of even, you know, affirms the affirmation even more.

40:25 S7

Yeah. Yeah. Oh, there's so much science behind it. Very. Science is... all there. So scientifically, it's a... beautiful, therapeutic way of using music. But even without the neuroscience, you're right. People do it because it feels good. And often in our online sessions, people come and go, Oh, I don't know why this feels so hard or emotional or freeing or this or this or this. The feelings attached to doing this can be really big. And so even without knowing the science, people just want to come back and do it again next week.

40:59 S2

And again, you know, you can kind of do it in your own mind as well. You don't necessarily have to sing it out. I mean, if you're on the bus going to work or if you're in the traffic, well, maybe I know that might not be a good example. Perhaps you're going to be concentrating on the road, but it kind of, you know, if you're not in a position to be able to sing it out loud, if you sing it in your head that still having some value?

41:21 S7

Yes, I'm very impressed because you've learnt a lot over these years.

41:25 S2

I'm a good student, Allison.

41:27 S7

Yes. You're really listening. Because, yes, that is absolutely spot on. Thinking in our thinking, music in our head gives our brain the same experience as if we're really listening to it or making it ourselves. So melodic mantras, by their nature, because they're simple and repetitive. They're always very catchy, and they do turn into earworms. So we'll find ourselves. There's one that we will. Yeah, there's one that I've been singing the last couple of days. I deserve safe people in my life. It goes like that. It's a child. It's one that I wrote for children and I just can't get it out of my head. But the beautiful thing is, as we are singing it in our heads, our brain is using it as a regulatory stimulus to help soothe us. So thinking about it all, Getting stuck in your head, so to speak, is actually a really good thing too.

42:21 S2

And an instance like this, we can literally self-prescribe.

42:24 S7

Absolutely, absolutely. And you can sing about anything that's. Yeah. So the words, the words, there's no way of getting the words wrong. And the more simple, the better. Often music wants people to be complicated, and that's when it's praised with its complexity. But this is the simpler, the better. Any words you need to sing are going to be beneficial for you. There's no way of getting it wrong.

42:49 S2

Well, Tina Turner said [?Dell] saying Simply the Best. I think that sums you up, Ellie.

42:53 S7

Oh, thanks.

42:55 S2

Simply the best. That was wonderful. Now people can find out a lot more about the great things you do. Alison Davies dot com dot AU. And actually, funnily enough, the other day I was just... I don't know, I always I've always got a spare time. I did Google every little cell just to see what came up. And there's so many results and they all feature you like the first 50 or 60 all featured you. So that was very, very impressive. Took me back a few years. Ali, great to catch up now. We'll speak to you again in November. So if there's a topic you'd like Ali to cover in the area of sort of music or mantras or anything like that, get in touch and Allison will do us. Ali, great to catch up. We'll speak again next month. 

S7

Thanks, Peter. Thanks. 

S2

Alison Davies there from alisondavies.com.au - check out our website.

43:38 S8

You're listening to Vision Australia Radio in Adelaide on 1197 AM.

43:49 S9

Welcome aboard the leisure lift.

43:52 S10

Please select your floor.

44:01 S2

[?Mats]. Welcome to the program the national program director for Friends with Dignity, Vicki Kersey. Thank you for your time.

44:09 S11

Thank you. Peter, thank you for having us.

44:10 S2

Now you do some really important work and some really progressive work in the area of domestic violence. 

S11

That's correct. Yeah. 

S2

Tell us a bit about what you do and how you kind of play into this situation. 

44:20 S11

Well, Friends with dignity works With survivors of domestic and family violence after they've left the relationship, and they're ready to make a new start in life. And we help them in practical ways. So by providing tangible goods, furniture or even monetary requests, if they have a bill to pay or maybe new school fees if they've had to change school zones.

44:44 S2

So I guess one of the issues is when you leave a domestic violence situation, you kind of literally leave it, as in, you know, all your goods and shackles are kind of left behind as well. And many, many times.

44:55 S11

Yeah, majority of people who leave just walk out the door, maybe pack a suitcase. So it's very hard to start again and build a new home when you have no money behind you and nothing to start with.

45:10 S2

Now you've said some information through, and you know, it's sad to say that often or not often, but there are people who will leave a domestic violence situation and still experience violence having left the situation, if that makes any sense.

45:22 S11

Yeah. That's correct. That's why a lot of people have to leave the area where they've lived for, you know, a long time sometimes and relocate. So then we have, you know, extra costs there that they have to, to fund to start a new life and try and get away from their abuser.

45:39 S2

So how was Friends with Dignity set up, or why was it set up? You know, like one of those situations where someone saw a need and think someone should do something about it? Well, it might as well be us. Or it might as well be me.

45:50 S11

That's exactly right. Our founder, Manuela, did that when she was working in the prison system and when the women were being released, and they had nowhere to go. They didn't want to go back to their abuser because she found that a lot of women were committing crime to go to jail and get away from their abuser. So she talked to a social worker who said, you know, This person's leaving. We found a house for them, but they have no furniture. So she grabbed a husband, a trailer, her friends and drove around the place finding furniture and went and set up the house. And that's how the charity was born.

46:22 S2

Now, you had a big day on Thursday which will come to you as well, and people can still help out. But what about kind of being known that you're around and you can help out? How do you kind of do that apart from obviously radio interviews like this, but how do you get your message out there?

46:36 S11

We have a website, Friends with Dignity dot org. So there's a lot of information about us and the programs and ways people can help there. We also have social media presence. So a Facebook page, Instagram, LinkedIn so people can find us on those and see the work that we do.

46:54 S2

What about as far as the demand for what you do? Do you have more demand than you have supply? If I can put it that way. 

47:01 S11

Always. Yes. We have had a 45% increase in enquiries over the last two years. That is despite this rental crisis that's happening across the country, people still need homes, but they don't, they can't find them for us to go and furnish. But we we get a lot of requests for... smaller, tangible goods that they might need in refuge or at their friend's house or their family's house. And of course, the monetary requests have gone up a lot with this cost of living crisis. You know, people just need that little bit of extra help. And we're not government funded. So all our funding comes from the public and they're struggling. So finding the donation dollar has been very difficult lately.

47:44 S2

That's a great point. You kind of read my mind. I was going to ask you in terms of... how you get funded or indeed is there any government support? Because I guess, you know, you talked about, you know, might find sort of lesser valued dollar wise items, but they're probably really important to the people when they're kind of moving into a place or in a situation where they've literally got just the clothes on their back.

48:06 S11

Exactly. We do supply some new products like small electrical appliances, but you can buy a kettle and a toaster for like $7.50 at Kmart. So, you know, we get a lot of people just buying one of those and donating it or sending us a gift card so we can go and and purchase it for our clients. But yeah, it's we also take second hand furniture if it's a good quality. 

48:26 S2

How do you kind of go about it? I mean, is there a lot of volunteers involved with kind of putting it all together? Because I'd imagine it wouldn't be a small job? 

48:34 S11

Yeah. So we do need volunteers on the ground at the moment. We're active in Southeast Queensland, Perth, Newcastle and we're starting to provide our services in Victoria. So that's what this giving back is about to raise funds to because we need storage. People are donating furniture. We've got to have storage. We need volunteers to take the furniture from one place to the home. We need contractors to do the actual heavy lifting. So there's a lot of funding that needs to be sourced so that we can spread our reach across Australia. 

49:08 S2

A lot of moving parts, if you pardon the pun.

49:09 S11

Absolutely, yes.

49:11 S2

So you're founded in Queensland, you say, already in Newcastle, in Perth as well. And you're hoping to kind of get set up in Victoria. 

49:18 S11

Yes. That's right. So we have some volunteers already in Melbourne, but we'd love to see some volunteers in the regional areas and expand our reach, you know, across the next couple of years that would be ideal for us.

49:29 S2

And I guess you've got to look that far ahead. It's not the sort of thing, sadly, to say that, you know, this sort of situation is going to kind of be cured overnight or remedied overnight. Unfortunately not. Vicki made a really important point earlier that I meant to pick on, I... pick up on, I should say, was that, you know, a number of women end up in prison because, you know, trying to get away from their situation or indeed to kind of find some accommodation. That's incredibly sobering.

49:56 S11

Yeah, it's a very sad situation. But I think now this is, you know, nearly ten years later that, you know, there's more services out there for men and women who can, you know, find somewhere to stay or, you know, get help that they need when they first leave.

50:13 S2

That, he said, is sad and very, very sobering. Now, you had a big day Thursday. Tell us about that. I'm going to hope that it went well for your sake. And also that they didn't do all the if you like, the collecting if you like, or the requesting for a support that didn't finish on that day either.

50:30 S11

We had a giving day on on Thursday the 24th, and we had two lovely sponsors matching sponsors who are going to match us up to $27,500. So we can, you know, we always use more money. There's the need is is never ending. And, you know, this funding is great to sort of get us started, but we need ongoing support.

50:54 S2

Are you happy to give the sponsors a mention? We're happy to plug them, Vicky. 

50:57 S11

Yeah. We have, uh, Bristol Myers Squibb and the Barr Family Foundation.

51:02 S2

Oh, terrific. Well, good on them for supporting such an important charity. And the giving, if you like. Or the donation doesn't stop here. And I guess, as you said, it's kind of money, but it is goods as well.

51:14 S11

It is goods as well. On our website you can find information on how to donate both money and goods. So if anyone wants to have a look at it. Friends with Dignity dot org.

51:24 S2

Oh, terrific. And as far as... expanding beyond Newcastle, Southeast Queensland and Victoria and also in Perth, we should say, you know, there's other states as well. Vicky, are you looking to maybe go go to other states as well?

51:37 S11

We would absolutely love to. But yeah, funding is is always the the issue. It costs quite a bit of money to get into a new area because we need to, you know, find all the resources there to help us do what we do. So, you know, the more money we can raise, the more work we can do across the country.

51:54 S2

Well, I guess it's the sort of thing that if you're providing that service, if you like, or if you're doing what you're doing, you want to do it well, if you got to do it, rather than sort of be a bit haphazard as well. Yes. Well, it's the first time we've spoken to you. It's the first time we've spoken about Friends with Dignity. Unfortunately, it's not the first time we speak about domestic violence. And as you kind of touched on, sad to say, won't be the last, but it's people like you, organisations like yours that are making a real difference. And we wish you well and hope that it all goes well. Just give us your website again and what we can do. Vicky is also put that up on our Facebook page. 

So if people miss it at this particular occasion, they can go there to find out a bit more about it. And who knows, maybe in the future. Also, if they perhaps, as you say, maybe buy something, they think, Oh, I know an organisation that could benefit from this. Maybe they can think about you and pass it on as well.

52:41 S11

Yeah, absolutely. So our website is friendswithdignity.org - oh, and the other way you can assist is to Like our Facebook page. And then if we put posts up, donate to them or even just sharing them can be enough. It's it expands our reach and you never know who's got some spare change at that time. Who can help with that particular client?

53:03 S2

Well said. I must admit, until I got in contact about you, I hadn't heard of you. So I don't profess to know everything about everything. But I guess there's a lot of people that don't know about you. But hopefully after now, a few more people do know which has got to be a good thing.

53:18 S11

Absolutely, a great thing.

53:19 S2

Thanks, Vicki.

53:19 S11

Thank you for your support.

53:20 S2

That's Vicki Casey there, who is the national operations manager for Friends with Dignity, and their website will be on our Facebook page. Well, it's fantastic as always each month to catch up with our yoga expert, Reeva Bryce. Reeva, welcome. Great to speak to you again.

53:48 S12

Yeah. Hello, Peter.

53:50 S2

Another month has gone by, and here we are.

53:53 S12

Yeah. And today or tonight, I should say. So it's a fairly simple one and it's called the five way stretch. And that's because it's a combination of postures. I'm just going to precautions here. Our shoulders are probably the main one, that perhaps, we can modify where necessary. So I'll go into what we do. Now the technique. Yep. You stand with your feet hip width apart. I don't have them your feet any wider either. Alongside. And take a breath in, stretching your arms out and up so the palms face up. And bring your arms right up. So the inner edge of the upper arms are longer. And you let the breath out, keeping your arms up. 

Now cross your thumbs or interlock your fingers and turn the palms facing up. Now breathing in, search tall for the palms of the hands up. Rising up towards the ceiling or the sky. Exhale. Keep your arms up. Please accept the door. Relax the arms just a bit. Take a breath in again. And expecting to go breathing out. Stretch to your right. Your arms are body to the right. So turn or twist or push the left hip out and keep that left side. The left side is the one getting you stretch. Want to go to the right side and we get more perspective with that push out. They just pause for a moment and then breathing in, we come back up. Let the breath out, have a slight pause and now we go to the left side. 

So again, a breath in, stretching out through the tall palms facing up, breathing out. Stretch to your left and now you'll get the stretch through that right side from the right, through up to the arms. You pause and breathe in and come back up and relax the arms just a digital. Now the next one. We take a breath in. We face tall again, breathing out again. Our breathing. As you lean and stretch back and you're pushing your pelvis forward. When you push back, don't go too far. Um. And you try to keep the inner edges of the arms along close to your ears, and it's like pause and breathing in and breathing up. Let the breath out. Soften your arms just a bit. Now again, breathe in face tall. 

And as you breathe out, go forward and down. You can soften your knees, if at all. Tapping the floor with your fingertips or palms of the hands. Or if you can't reach down that far as the fingers or hand rest on your legs where you can reach comfortably. You know, we can hold here for two rounds of your breathing. Then on your last outgoing breath, soften your body. Take a breath in and breathe out as you slowly come back up to a standing position. You're here to relax, to straighten. You might need 2 or 3 breaths as you come up with it. Come up slowly and not in a rush. And that's why we leave the head to the last. So if you get a bit lightheaded. Now that's it. 

Basically, you can hold each posture for 2 to 3 breaths if you wish to, but benefits here, Peter: it helps to banish tiredness. Okay. This is the dominant. Yeah. But even just doing that you know the first one just stretching up tall. Yeah. Yeah. And doing that up here, yeah, stretches and strengthens abdominal muscles. And that's where particularly when we do that leaning back. And the chest is where all our back muscles are being overworked. The spine is very scared me with the forward movement, thus stimulating the spinal nerve of the circulation. It loses the tightness of the hip joints and gives us more mobility. I like this. 

The brain is stimulated with the forward down posture when you're holding down. When you're holding down the head. Einstein had the... blood is coming into your brain and everything is... getting stimulated. Yeah, but we must remember to come up nice and slowly out of that forward down posture. So that is it, a very simple one, which allows you to go through it again.

58:31 S2

Very simple, but lots of benefits.

58:33 S12

Yes, yes, it does have a very simple one. Well done. As I say, it's an easy one. But you just have to watch your arms, your shoulders, there... knees back, perhaps particularly with that, you know, leaning back and going forward one. But on the whole, yes, it's quite a comfortable... five way stretch. That combination is good.

58:57 S2

Do it again for us, Reeva. 

58:59 S12

OK, yeah. Yeah.

59:00 S2

Great. Thank you.

59:01 S12

So let's start with our feet hip width apart and just check. You don't have to go, you know, feet on the straights, out wide. We don't want that. Arms are just alongside you. Take a breath in. And as you breathe in, you stretch your arms out sideways and bringing them up. The palms are facing up and you bring it. Um. Slide up to... the upper, inner edge of the upper arms alongside the ears. Yeah. Let it out. And just normal breathing. You cried your thumbs or interlock your fingers and palms facing up. Now breathe in and stretch. Tool comes ahead of facing opposite. Exhale. Keep your arms up. And now relax a little bit. Take your you breath in again. 3, 2... Breathing out threats to do your right. But you're taking your arm. Your body to the right. But push that hip out. 

So now you feel the stretch of the armpit right down to your hip. You'll feel it in the upper arm there as well. Mm. You take a breath in, coming back up tall again. We let that breath out, and we just have a very slight pause here and relax the arms just a bit. And again breathing in so it's tall. And then you go over to the next side stretching over to the left side. You are just going over as well as breathing in. Come back up and ready to relax the arms a little. And we take a breath in this tall breathing out and again. And then we go back. We finish out the leaning back. You feel it all along there, Lord. But from the abdominal muscles right through the chest. Is getting access there as well. 

Let me just pause and then we come back to the centre. Use the breathing again. Breathing in back to the center. Let the breath out if you like the arms a bit again. If it's tall, it's really up. And we go forward and down this time and write down maybe your fingertips or the palms of the hands touch the floor. Or you can't do any of that, but let your hands and fingers rest on your legs. Hold for 12 to your breathing and your last outgoing breath. Soften your body and take a breath in and come up slowly. This unwinding, I call it, because that's the starting position. You may need to take 2 or 3 breaths in and out as you come back up. and let it hit his glove to come up. 

And there we are. You're nice and relaxed and just moving his shoulders around. Legs, arms a little bit to give a bit of a shake. And you're ready for your whole day or so, even just to get into bed. That's quite a relaxing one.

1:02:00 S2

I'm feeling better already.

1:02:02 S12

So you were doing your work?

1:02:05 S2

I was following your instructions. Perfect.

1:02:08 S12

Well, wonderful, I like that. Yeah, it's very good.

1:02:12 S2

How can we get in touch with you, Reba?

1:02:14 S12

With my mobile. Yeah, but you're 04128, double 6, 096.

1:02:20 S2

Reba. Fantastic. As always. We'll catch up again next month.

1:02:24 S12

Yes we will. Yeah, that's a good idea to talk to you then. And. yeah. Good night to everyone.

1:02:31 S2

It's Reeva Bryce. What a wonderful advocate for yoga and for good health is Reeva. 0412 866 096. Hashtag Campbelltown Senior Citizen of the year.

1:02:45 S13

Hi, I'm Michael Roeger, Paralympic medallist, marathon athlete and multiple world record holder, and you're listening to Leisure Link with Peter Greco on the Vision Australia Radio network.

1:02:57 S2

Let's talk about a very important topic, the topic of anti-poverty - and in particular in the area that it may affect people that are not having access to digital information. Let's chat to Work Ventures' Caroline McDaid. Caroline, I love to catch up with you again.

1:03:12 S14

Thanks for having me on the show, Peter.

1:03:14 S2

Now, this is, I guess, something that maybe doesn't automatically spring to mind when we talk about poverty or anti-poverty. The digital divide, if I can call it that.

1:03:23 S14

That's right. Yes, and it's increasingly becoming both a symptom of broader poverty, but also an exacerbation of poverty. It means that... people who are experiencing digital poverty are finding it increasingly difficult to break that cycle of poverty. And there are in fact around 1 in 4 Australians who are digitally excluded, and that lack of access to technology can make it really challenging, in particular for students and job seekers to really... get out of that cycle of poverty and it deepens the disadvantage that they're already facing. So this Anti-Poverty week, Work Ventures is raising awareness about how digital poverty exists as both a cause and a result, a result of wider poverty.

1:04:05 S2

And I guess one of the things that is really important is for particularly young people and their access to education. And of course, you know, if you don't have a good education, chances are you're probably not going to get a good employment. And the sort of cycle goes on.

1:04:19 S14

That's right. So for students, we know that when they don't have access to appropriate technology, 8 in 10 of them find it really difficult to keep up with homework, which, as you can imagine, has a relationship to overall school outcomes and also school completion rates. We know that, um, positive homework behaviours has a correlation to completion rates of high school. So you know that that cycle, as you mentioned for students is... ongoing. And we we did a piece of work, earlier this year where we provided students with access to technology, and 84% of them reported that their grades were improved as a direct result of having access to that, that laptop at home, because previously they were struggling to keep up with homework.

1:05:05 S2

That information is just so important, isn't it? That access, I should say, is so important because the information that you're not getting, uh, you know, like, you can't kind of... make up for that.

1:05:14 S14

That's right. And it's not just homework. You know, obviously, digital skills are really important. Yeah. Nine and ten jobs, um, ah, have a reliance on digital skills. So if students are coming out from, from school without the appropriate level of digital skills, then it's really holding them back. And similarly, people who are looking for jobs, you know, most jobs now are advertised online and around 29% of jobs are recruited via social media, so it's actually resulting in digital discrimination or employers missing out on really great candidates. People are digitally excluded or experiencing digital poverty. 

1:05:50 S2

Is there an answer?

1:05:51 S14

That's a very good question... there's I think like many things, digital poverty is is complex. There's, you know, different solutions for different cohorts of people. So this anti-poverty week, we are drawing attention to the... issue and the educational and employment challenges that are caused by digital poverty. So, so far, Work Ventures has supported over 100,000 people by giving them access to refurbished devices and technical support. But as you can imagine, the scale of the problem is much larger than that. 

For example, we know that about 25% of year ten students don't have access to a laptop at home to keep up with schoolwork. And even if you extrapolate that 25% across the high school population in Australia, that gets you to about half a million students who are now digital poverty. So it's it's not an insignificant issue. And that's just school students. Obviously there's job seekers, there's seniors. There's culturally and linguistically diverse communities who are facing challenges. There are, you know, First Nations communities have really high levels of digital poverty. So here this anti-poverty week, we are encouraging governments to address the issue through the creation of a national digital inclusion strategy and ensuring that all governments, businesses and non-profits can work towards a uniform set of goals. 

We're also encouraging companies and governments to increase donations of their own used devices to support those in need work ventures refurbishes devices, and redistributes them to people who are experiencing digital poverty. And we know that there are around 10 million laptops, tablets and PCs that are refreshed by companies every five years, so diverting a portion of these to be donated to those who are going without could have a really substantial impact upon digital poverty. 

1:07:46 S2

A lot of them might just be gathering dust, Caroline. 

1:07:48 S14

That's right, that's right. I mean, generally, those devices get refreshed every three years by companies and governments, and they have a really useful life beyond that. So we would love to see more of those devices being kept here in Australia as opposed to being, you know, sold offshore, which quite often happens to those devices when they're collected and, and from companies and governments, but keeping them here in Australia and redistributing them to those people who are experiencing digital poverty here.

1:08:12 S2

What about in terms of, um, sort of receptiveness from the government about Australia? Is there such a strategy, or are you calling upon a strategy to be introduced?

1:08:21 S14

We're calling upon a national digital inclusion strategy to be introduced. There are states who are doing this independently. So we does have one. You said wheels are about to launch one, I believe in a couple of months, but we'd love to see an aligned approach across all states and governments to bring all of those those policies and strategies together.

1:08:43 S2

Well, good on the states that are doing it. But I mean, isn't that a sort of a bit more of an indictment in the sense that some states could do it? Some states want to do it, some states don't. Federally, we're not doing it. I mean, kind of if there was a bit more collaboration, this sort of area, how much better it would be.

1:08:57 S14

That's right. And some countries are doing it particularly well. So if you look at countries like Scandinavian countries, for example, they have got a really high level of digitisation and they've transitioned their economies really quickly. But what that's also, or what they recognise that that's also done is, it's left some people behind - and they are experiencing higher levels of social exclusion because of that high digitisation rate. So I think it is important for governments to recognise that and to acknowledge that people are really struggling to keep up, you know, with the increased digitisation, particularly since Covid that we've experienced as a country and that we need to, you know, help pull them along and, and make sure that they're not experiencing that digital poverty and ongoing impacts of it.

1:09:39 S2

I mean, the other thing, Caroline, particularly over the last I think we're almost on the two year anniversary, if you like, is AI as well.

1:09:45 S14

That's right. Yeah. And I will just continue to exacerbate that disadvantage if you've not got access to, um, you know, basic technology, then the chances are you're... falling behind when it comes to AI as well. And that will just widen that gap even more.

1:10:01 S2

That's very impressive, that 100,000. I mean, that... I mean, okay, you're saying there's 500,000 that are maybe missing out, but I mean, you're kind of going a little bit of a way to dent it.

1:10:10 S14

We definitely are. We're doing our bit. I mean, that's that's been...

1:10:14 S2

More than a bit, I think Caroline, being modest...

1:10:16 S14

Thanks, Peter. That's very kind of you to say so. And we've been working with, you know, great corporate partners for for years and decades in some, in some instances, you know, Westpac has been donating devices to us for decades, and similarly, NBN's been a long term partner. Some companies do really doing great things to to address this issue, but we'd obviously love to see more companies, more governments getting on board.

1:10:41 S2

It's one of the challenges. It's a little bit kind of hidden. I mean, I guess if you say without being unkind, if you see people that are, you know, haven't got a home on the street, that kind of hits home, but you don't know that that person over there or that child over there or that family over there maybe doesn't have access. That's kind of a bit more hidden. That makes it a bit harder for us to understand, do you think?

1:11:02 S14

Oh, absolutely. And I think there's... it's difficult to people for people to comprehend that, that this, that, um, this level of digital poverty exists in Australia. I think if you're used to having, you know, a mobile phone and a laptop, multiple devices in your home, you know, understanding that there's many homes across Australia that don't have that level of connectivity and, and skills and access to technology, it just doesn't really enter your, your mind and, you know, trying to imagine a day where you don't have the level of... access that you have and all of the things that you would have to do, you know, the time that it would take you to not just jump onto, you know, a government services, for example, and have to call or, you know, physically go into an office or some banking and shopping, all of those things. 

Now, you know, it's a it's a time constraint that people are experiencing by not having... the level of digital access that they do. And that then again, deepens that disadvantage because so much of their time is consumed by having to, you know, do things... offline that many of us do online.

1:12:06 S2

It's an important point. How can we find out more? Is there a place we can go or how can we, you know, maybe do our little bit to help out if we can be one of your 100,000, for example?

1:12:15 S14

Yeah. We would love, as we said, organisations, to to get behind device donation. So I think anyone, most people across, you know, who are listening will be either involved directly with an organisation or no one that that might have a potential to donate devices. Unfortunately, in PCR, we we try not to, we have challenges with collecting.

1:12:37 S2

Yeah, I can understand that.

1:12:39 S14

Because of, you know, the generally they're a bit more used and they don't have as useful a useful life. Beyond that time, and also because we provide technical support to all devices that we issue. It's difficult when you don't have a high volume of a single model to support those devices. So, yeah, we'd love to get, you know, more individuals as champions, but then organizations, because typically that's the way that... change happens. It's having someone that feels really passionate about a subject, about the digital poverty within an organisation and helps to make... [?vaccinations] happen. Even if it's not in their particular area of influence, you know, just having those conversations internally about what we what are we currently doing with our devices? How can we use them in a way that, you know, would help people? I think is really helpful. 

Obviously, talking to your local MPs about, you know, what governments are doing and would be really helpful. And then, you know, you can just jump on to Work Ventures website and to have a look at what we're doing in this space more broadly, and how you can potentially get involved. 

S2

What is your website? 

S14

So it's workventures.com.au ...

1:13:48 S2

All right. We'll put that up on Facebook so people can go there as well to check it out. Caroline, great to catch up. It sounds like a very worthwhile call that you're making for a national strategy. Let's hope that the governments, all of them, get together and take it on board.

1:14:01 S14

Thanks very much, Peter.

1:14:03 S2

Such an important message during Anti-Poverty week. That's Caroline McDaid there, the CEO for Workventures, on the Vision Australia network through your favorite podcast service. 

On 1197 AM in Adelaide, you're listening to Leisure Link. Let's welcome to the program Adjunct Professor Denise Wood from USC. Denise, always great to catch up. 

1:14:35 S15

Likewise, you know.

1:14:36 S2

We missed you in September, but Apple were out and about.

1:14:40 S15

Well, indeed. And as Greg Joswiak, who's a senior vice president of worldwide marketing, commented, the Glow Time September event he launched was saying we are glowing with excitement. So their Glow Time event was in early September, and they introduced lots of improvements to various Apple products - including the well-anticipated iPhone 16. And you probably recall that I mentioned following the Worldwide Developers Conference, that the big, big focus was going to be on Apple Intelligence. So there were a few more updates at the Glow Time lifetime event... talking about... Apple intelligence, which is... being released this month.

So developers are getting their hands right onto the upcoming Betas in the Apple intelligence area. So the iPhone 16 series was launched. It integrates, of course, Apple intelligence features into that iPhone, which really takes Siri to a whole new level. It's got a new powerful A8 chip, within all the iPhone series, 16 series. So they'll be able to support Apple intelligence features which will debut in iOS 18. So the iPhone 16 updates include a customizable action button, better camera control. Three new bright colors, 50% tougher than the first generation Ceramic Shield. 

New sizes they're getting bigger, bigger. I don't know why we call them phones anymore. We're up to seven inches for the iPhone 16 Plus. Of course, more and more powerful... processors. Five core GPU, which is 40% faster than the iPhone 15. And I'm still on iPhone 14. The A 18 chip is also 30% faster than the A16 Bionic, which was in iPhone 15. Wow. And in the iPhone 16 Pro and Max, as I mentioned, the the largest iPhone was going from the 16 Pro was going to 6.7in, but the max goes to 6.9in. And they've got five times telephoto lenses.

As I get older. Peter, I don't need this magnification. A whole range of new cool colors. 17% more memory bandwidth. And you can use... 4K capture can be used in slow-mo or video mode and new 48 MP ultra wide camera. So that was the Apple phone. So I think in an in an iPhone 16 series, in a nutshell, they're bigger, they're faster, they last longer, they're more intelligent.

1:17:44 S2

All right.

1:17:45 S15

And in the Apple Watch we're up to series ten and the Apple Watch Ultra two. Lots of new health features. So again. Biggest display, getting bigger and bigger. But thinner. So this series is 10% thinner than series nine but 30% more screen area which is massive. Some new colours - jet black, rose gold, new titanium colours. But the really cool thing is they've introduced sleep apnea detection alerts. So you wake up and get reports over a 30 day period that averages you're sleeping. Obviously, you need to wear your watch to bed, but then it can give you advice on the next steps, obviously to get it checked out. If they're detecting interrupted sleep cycles and tide and depth apps for snorkeling. 

Now, Peter, I don't wear my watch into the pool. I do not trust that my watch will survive going in the pool, but here we go. You can use it for snorkeling and a really cool feature that should help, um, people with some hearing impairment, new voice isolation, neural networking, running on the watch to suppress the background noise for phone or FaceTime audio calls. So pretty good. And then the ultra two series new colors. 36 hours of battery life. I don't even get a day out of my watch.

Advanced satellite and signal modes or all models, which will be again, really good when we see some of the important safety features that come with being able to detect where you are, etc. and they reckon it's the best watch for athletes and adventurers. Will that cuts me out. Like yeah. And then, not to be outdone, their AirPods. They've got some new AirPods. The AirPods four have new Siri improvements, better fitting. Apparently they're more comfortable. New hearing safety features for the AirPods Pro 2, so I guess that's to stop those younger people having things blasting into their ears. Mhm. Now has USB-C charging in the new machine learning nods. Oh yeah. New machine learning that can support nod and shaking of heads when answering questions with Siri. 

S2

Okay. Wow. Cool. 

S15

And it will also support wireless charging using, you know, your your wireless charging devices and the AirPods Pro 2 features include hearing safety improvements, including hearing protection, which I talked about with the others, but also hearing test and hearing aid so you can create a personalised hearing profile. So that would be really useful for early detection, I guess of declining hearing as well. Yeah. 

And so in summary, Macstadium on their website say mobile gaming is still a huge focus for Apple with improvements to CPU and the GPU. Both features are top of mind now with the hearing test. The sleep apnea detection and also Apple is committed to carbon neutral footprint by 2030. And all these releases are geared towards achieving net emissions to zero over the next, um, you know, five years or so. So that's really exciting. So it's really good new updates to the Apple lines.

1:21:05 S2

Denise, I know you've got some news regarding Be My Eyes. We might have to leave that over for next month because we're out of time for this month. But great to catch up with you again. We'll catch up in November.

1:21:15 S15

I'll look forward to that, Peter.

1:21:15 S2

That's an Adjunct Pofessor at Eastwood from USC with all the latest news, particularly regarding the Apple event. Always great to hear from DVD. Talk about Apple intelligence or artificial intelligence. I think Denise's intelligence trumps them all. Great to catch up with Denise. 

Got a lovely email through from Antonia in L.A. during the week. And Tanya, we spoke to him a couple of weeks ago. He's launched his book Saigon Siren, detailing the fact that in Saigon had a stroke, rushed to hospital in an ambulance, then flown to Melbourne and details the story of all that, plus his rehabilitation and excellent recovery and resilience. So, Antonio, good luck to you on that. Hopefully we might better get the book onto the Vision Australia library, so we'll keep you posted about that. But officially the book has been launched. So Antonio, you're officially an author, so congratulations on that tremendous achievement. 

Also, if you missed the news on Wednesday night, we had Rebecca Young from Access to Us on the program, talking about the fact that this year's Christmas pageant will be audio described on Vision Australia Radio Adelaide this coming Saturday morning, the 2nd of November, from 9:00 the broadcast starts. So if you're streaming the program or indeed listening on 1190 7 a.m., you will be able to hear it. So look out for that. If you're streaming it, then check your clocks as far as 9:00 Central Daylight Saving Time in Australia. That's when it will be on, but you can stream it from wherever in the world you are and it is a big event. 

And if you've never experienced audio description before, check it out. It'll be free. So I'll give you a money back guarantee you'll enjoy it. It's a safe bet, but it is going to be fantastic with the Carrie Seeley and Catherine Fitzgerald. If you listen regularly to the program, you'll have heard those excellent people speaking to you. So that is something very much looking forward to hearing.

A couple of quotes before we go. Terry sends a quote through from Deng Xiaoping who said, It doesn't matter whether a cat is black or white as long as it catches mice. So thanks very much, Terry, for sending that through. And a lovely one from Reba who sends her quote through. Naomi says, Love is like the wind. You can't see it, but you can feel it. So thank you, Naomi, for sending your quote through.

Some birthdays before we go. Rachel Lim having a birthday over there in Western Australia. Wonderful, brilliant and a wonderful technologist. So happy birthday to you, Rachel. Hope you have a tremendous day. Also a very happy birthday to Esther Simbi. That's quite an occurrence that a number of people who we interview having birthdays around the time we interview them, and Esther is another example there. Our old friend, clairvoyant, who we used to have on in the 90s on Les Blank, would probably say it's meant to happen. It's not a coincidence, but happy birthday to you, Esther. And also a very big happy birthday to Stella Glory, who we would know very well on Australia radio. So happy birthday to you, Stella. And Quentin Christensen having a birthday from envy. Access NVDA people. Our question will be here for Techfest on November the 6th. So happy birthday to you, Quentin Christensen. 

That's it for the program. Sam Rickard, thank you much for your help. Ann Green, thanks so much for yours. Exquisite, as always. Speak about exquisite. If you're listening through 1197 AM in Adelaide, coming up very, very shortly. That program that is called not to be missed. It's also called Australian Geographic. It's presented by Vicki Cousins. That is on the way, reminding you that Leslie is available on your favorite podcast platform. If you like the program, please tell a friend. Always room for one more listener, Oliver Twist style. Peter Greco saying, be kind to yourselves. Be thoughtful of others. All being well. Leisure Link back at the same time next week. This is Leisure Link, on Vision Australia Radio.