00:36
S1
On Vision Australia Radio, you're listening to the show with me, your host Harriet Moffat. I've got two interviews for you. The first is about the Petbarn Foundation Dogs Appeal, which is taking place in July this year. We're going to be joined by Janell Bloxham, manager of the Pet Farm Foundation, and Rolf Gillings, who is a handler as well as a regional client services manager at Vision Australia.
We're going to be talking a little bit about the impact of seeing eye dog Stella on Rolf's life, as well as how she can get involved and support the appeal.
Then I'm going to be joined by Rommel McCormick, people and culture services manager at Vision Australia to talk about the Reconciliation Action Plan and some of the steps that Vision Australia is taking around reconciliation, including things like the doc named puppies. And I'm going to be later announcing the names of these puppies for 2023.
Without further ado, here is my interview with Danelle and Rolf for the Pet Barn Foundation Appeal. So thank you for joining me on the show. Janelle and Rolf, we're going to be talking a little bit about the Petbarn Foundation Seeing Eye Dogs Appeal. So can you please introduce yourselves and how you fit in with the campaign?
S2
I'm Janelle Bloxham. I am the Petbarn Foundation manager, and I'm very proud to be working with visiting Australia on our 10th, seeing our dogs appeal.
S1
How many appeals down is this for you, for for seeing? How long have you been manager for the Petbarn Foundation?
S2
I've been managing the Petbarn Foundation for close to three years, but I have been working on this appeal for the last ten. So it's a cause very close to my heart. I'm completely engaged, and love our partnership with Vision Australia and all of their clients, including our friend Rolf here.
S1
Well, that's a great segue. Rolf, would you like to introduce yourself?
S3
Yes, my name is Rolf Gillings. I'm the regional client services manager for Vision Australia. I have a seeing eye dog. She's my second one, Stella, and I've been a client of Vision Australia now for 21 years.
S1
So you've got a little bit of expertise on kind of some of those client services, I guess, outside of seeing dogs. So you know a lot about the other other kind of people as well as actually having some lived experience with what a scenario is yourself?
S3
100%. You know, and I've been right through my my journey as a client. I've been pretty much right through every one of Vision Australia's services in one form or another. And now I'm honestly lucky enough to work with an organisation that I truly do love because, you know, we we get to help people every day. And the partnership with the Petbarn Foundation has just been something that is absolutely amazing to think that an organisation is helping us, you know, to get some more dogs and to have help people like myself.
So and I've been with the organisation, as I said, for ten years as well, you know, with Vision Australia. So we're we really love what the Petbarn Foundation has brought over the years.
S1
So Janelle, could you please tell us a little bit about the Petbarn Foundation appeal and how it works?
S2
So the Petbarn Foundation Seeing Eye Dogs Appeal is the foundation's single largest fundraising appeal throughout the year for a charity partner. In the last ten years, we have very proudly raised just over $6 million, which has helped to fund around 125. Very special seeing Dog Pups. What we do is we utilise our very strong Petbarn store network and our fans are so generous and have been absolutely voting with donations
On How important this fundraising appeal is for the last ten years... and so in-store, customers can make three, 5 or $10 donation and they get this cute little train up a pup card when they do, when they do donate. And we also collect donations online as well at [indistinct... ?Buncombe Dot forward slash de.]
05:02
S1
It's kind of crazy to think that in that ten years of the appeal, the dogs that you've kind of supported and almost sponsored, you know, that first year would probably be nearing retirement now, which in itself is quite amazing to think of. So now those dogs that you're kind of supporting this time or know this kind of the dogs in the whole are going to be going to probably those people who were who had that impact the first first year round.
S2
It is. And we talked about we reflected on that this year. Just it's generational change almost, isn't it? Like we I do know that the Virgin Australia team's youngest client, the senior dog, is 14. And, you know, in ten years time from now, we'll potentially need another senior dogs. And they're the senior dogs that will be raising this year.
So it is a very, very special occasion to mark that ten years. And we love the idea that every single year that we raise money for Vision Australia that we are actually helping another dog be matched with another client, giving them the independence and the support they need to go on and be the best person they can be out in the community.
S1
Yeah, it's it's definitely I think that's the thing. We look at the numbers and I think that 6 million figure is amazing, but it really is. It's about that story and it's about that individual person, um, you know, living the life that they choose, which is, yeah, amazing goal for people to be thinking of when they're heading into a pet barn making, making a purchase and then getting that tramp pup tag.
S2
Yeah, absolutely. It's a recipe that is definitely worked and that we're continuing. It's not just the pet barn company as well. We've also got Green Cross Vet clinics that are supporting us through this appeal as well. And I know for Ralph especially, he's he's got some wonderful support from the Green Cross clinics and his area.
And it really does take such a huge army of people out there to get behind the appeal. You know, $6 million isn't an easy feat. We all know that. You know, people have different levels of financial pressure and every single penny counts. And what I love about the Petbarn Foundation, seeing dogs appeal is that every single cent that we get donated to us, we hand over to Vision Australia because their work is so important and it's crucial that they continue to get the funding that they need to carry on their work.
S1
It's a really, really amazing thing to be thinking of, just that every little penny counts and makes up to this big, big goal. So heading to that kind of end goal and thinking about that, I just wanted to find out a little bit more about Rolf and Stella in your partnership. Rolf, why are you taking part in this campaign?
S3
It's because because I absolutely believe. I believe in it. I've had my first seeing eye dog, which was Echo, and now Stella absolutely changed my life. And when I first got my first seeing eye dog, I wasn't working for Vision Australia. I was just a client. And it really changed my life. It changed my life to the point where I can do things by myself. Now I don't have to rely on people.
I've mentioned this a few times now that I can be in a crowded room and put my hand down and get a little lick and know I'm not alone. I've got confidence in coming to work and doing all of those things that I do every single day is all because of this wonderful seeing eye dog that I have, that I've got. And I just can't thank the Petbarn Foundation enough for, you know, putting their hands up and supporting us because basically they're changing lives and it's changed my life for the better. I could not do without a seeing eye dog right now. I just I would I would be lost. I wouldn't be able to do the things that I do.
So it is that important to me and it's my me giving back, you know, and I know the support that I've received and, you know, to help somebody else out there that may be listening, you know, might be contemplating getting a seeing eye dog, you know, I recommend put your hand up, find out a little bit more about it because it will change your life.
S1
And kind of going to your seeing dog, could you please introduce her and how long you've been working together?
S3
Yeah, I've been with Stella now for about three years. We've been we've been together when my previous seeing Dog retired. And then I started to work with Stella. And, you know, she goes everywhere with me. She goes in planes and trains and taxis and buses, you name it. She. She's there alongside me, you know, And I just wouldn't have I'm not a very competent person, believe it or not, And I just wouldn't have the confidence to do the things that I do without her.
S1
So what does I guess, Stella mean to you and how is she positively impacted your life?
S3
Well, she's got me out of the house. She's got me loving life. She's got me my independence. She's got me all of those things as well as companionship as well. You know, I'm trying not to get emotional now, but, you know, she means everything to me. And I would be absolutely, totally lost without her.
And I really, really can't stress enough how it's changed my life, you know, to have this beautiful dog that when you wake up in the morning, the the the tail is wagging. And of course, she wants to be fed, but she's just there. She she's just ready there to work and ready to play and ready. Are you there to help me? And that's something that money really can't buy.
10:49
S1
I find it incredibly hard to believe that she'd have an ulterior motive when when she wakes up. Labrador wanting food. No, no.
S3
Lovey, loves her food and loves to eat carrots. You know, especially carrot. Her treat, you know. So she will, yes, well, forget about me if somebody's holding a carrot, that's for sure.
S1
Yeah. I mean, honestly, you know, there's conditional love and then there's carrots, you know, and then there's carrots. Yeah. I mean, she really... she really is a special dog. And it's amazing that you guys have built that partnership only three years. It's. Yeah, it's. It's not a whole lot of, a whole lot of time. And yet thick as thieves is probably the expression I reckon.
S3
That's a very good that's a very good comment. But the program is so, so well done. From the pups to all their training that they do in the two years, you know, they really take a lot of effort and time to match a dog with a with a with a client or with a user or with a handler, whatever they would whatever you would like to say. It's not, Oh, Rolf wants a dog - here's a dog. You know, they do a whole lot of matching that goes along with it to try and pick the right partnership.
S1
So is there anything that you'd like to share about having a scenario that people might not either expect or be aware of?
S3
Yeah. I would just like to... excuse me.... When I first started out, I was a little bit unsure whether or not I would. I wanted a seeing eye dog, unlike a cane where you can fold it up and put it in the corner and you can't do that with a dog. But as soon as I came bounding through the door and now Stella, I can honestly say that it is absolutely changed my life for the better.
And anybody out there that is, as I said earlier, is contemplating maybe getting a seeing eye dog, I would put your hand up because it is life changing. It just makes you complete. You know, when you lose your sight, you know, you lose a lot. And I know that my Stella has given me a lot back, you know, more back than I've ever, ever hoped for. So that's what I would like to message, I would like to get across.
S1
How much does it take to graduate a senior dog? Janelle And how much is Petbarn Foundation aiming to fundraise in this campaign?
S2
It takes around $50,000 for every single dog to be trained up and it takes around two years for that to happen. This is world class training. As Rolf has just said, these dogs change lives. They need to be trained in a manner that they can make sure that lives are kept safe. Um, so the Petbarn Foundation is aiming to raise $1 million this July. I am very proud to let you know that in just two weeks of the campaign, we've already raised $500,000.
S1
Wow.
S2
So again, our customers are absolutely behind this cause. But we need every single dollar and all of the support from the community to help us reach that $1 million in order to raise another 20 pups for vision, low vision and blind clients, and hoping that this momentum will keep going. As I said, anyone can jump into a pet barn store, go and say hi and make a donation or just jump online. And all donations are tax deductible.
S1
For anyone listening who is in is it Western Australia? Is that City Farmers as well?
S2
Yeah. So the Farm Foundation is supported by Petbarn and City Farm stores in Western Australia. They are getting behind it. Actually, Western Australia are raising a lot of money this year, which just really goes to show that the work, that Vision Australia, because there are clients over there as well, is being seen and the importance of that is being felt in the community. So it's great to see the Western Australia community getting behind the appeal.
14:56
S1
So for anyone who is not sure, other than kind of what we've discussed, is there any other ways that people can get involved in the campaign and support the appeal?
S2
To make a donation in our stores or online. Otherwise you can go into a green CrossFit clinic and they are selling Petbarn Foundation hedgehogs for $5. And this July, every single hedgehog that is sold in a Green Cross clinic, we're taking the profits of those and again giving them Vision Australia so that we can raise even more money hoping to get to that $1 million mark in just two weeks.
S1
Is there anything that we that you guys would like to share that I've missed?
S3
I would like to share something with the listeners that have already gone out there and gone to our Petbarn stores and Green Cross and donated. Thank you so much. From a from a handler, from a user. I can't thank each and every one of you enough for your donation that supports people like myself. So everybody that is listening that has thank you and everybody that may be thinking about it. I thank you too, because it's changes lives.
S2
Beautifully said, Rolf.
S1
Awesome. Well, thank you so much for joining me on the show today, guys.
S3
Okay. Thank you
S2
Thanks for having us, Harriet.
16:23
S1
You've been listening to the Singh Auto Show on Australia Radio. I hope you enjoyed my interview with Janelle and Rolf talking about the Seeing eye Dogs appeal at Pet Barn. Make sure you head into a pet barn store in the month of July to make a donation or head to the website at pet Commu. Forward slash s e d a. And now I'm going to be joined by Aran Molly McCormack, Vision Australia People and Culture Services manager, talking about the Reconciliation Action Plan. Hi, Molly. Thank you for joining me on the show today.
S2
Thanks, Harriet.
S1
Just to start off with, what is your role at Vision Australia?
S4
Sure. So my role is the People and Culture Services manager, which also has equity and inclusion, which sits as part of that role. And today we'll be talking about the right. So that certainly is part of my role at Vision Australia.
S1
Probably good to start off with actually. What does RAP stand for or what does it kind of mean? What's the purpose of the RAP?
S4
Yeah, so a RAP is a Reconciliation Action Plan. There are four tiers in a RAP journey. Vision Australia commenced our Reconciliation Action Plan journey three years ago with the first year in the process, which is called a reflect RAP and that we had for the past 12 months and we've just delivered that successfully this year in February.
We've now decided as an organisation that we're ready to take the next step in our journey towards reconciliation. And we've drafted an Innovate RAP, which is our second year in the journey. And that's actually sitting with Reconciliation Australia for endorsement.
S1
So is that kind of tiered system, is that across Australia that different organisations that do a RAP will all be kind of following that tier system?
S4
Yeah. So it depends where you are in that journey as an organisation. So as I said, there's four tiers, so there's a reflect, which is the first tier in the journey. It sort of sets the foundations, it's the research bit around where you are as an organisation, so you know you've got sort of a good 12 to 18 months to scope out your journey and that's the first stage, that's your reflect.
The next one, which is the one we're moving to, is called an innovate wrap. You've generally got two years to deliver and innovate, right? That's a little bit more action orientated. It's measurable and usually organisations might do consecutive innovate rates because as we all know, reconciliation is not something that you can do or say you're doing in 12 months or 24 months.
It is a journey. It is about a meaningful change, a meaningful plan. So we as an organisation are embarking on our first Innovate RAP that might be that we run consecutive innovate RAPs. The next tier in your journey is called a Stretch, and then the fourth tier is an Elevate.
So as you go up that RAP journey, it means that your organisation have really got those foundations, got those deliverables on target, and you don't necessarily need to move from one to another to another. As an organisation, you might always just stay at an Innovate stage, that's totally fine. There's only a handful of organisations at the Elevate because that's really at a national level. You've got to be a national leader.
So as an organisation I'd love to see us there, think we can be there in that elevate space one day, but think it's about getting our foundations right and making the change meaningful.
20:16
S1
What's the purpose of of the RAP, you know, on the day to day, guess what is the work that is being done towards reconciliation and in support of people who identify as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander?
S4
So I suppose when you look at your RAP, it's broken down into, you know, three main meaningful sections. So you've got a section around respect, and that whole section for us in our rap is really about learning as an organisation. You know, it might be things about learning around week, what do we do as an organisation? It might be that some staff go to local events, so reaching out to local elders, like reaching out to organisations, partnering with other organisations, so, you know, learning about the culture, the history, that's all part of that respect journey.
You've got opportunities too. So what are we doing as an organisation about increasing our workforce, for instance, as we do with people who are blind or have low vision? What are we doing to increase our workforce from the First Nation staff? So this year alone we've had two who identify and have commenced with our organisation. So in total we now have five staff who are comfortable and identify as being Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, and it's really about creating those opportunities and partnerships.
So what else are we doing in terms of, for instance, catering? So as an organisation, when we have events, can we cater and partner with First Nations caterers to provide those for that function? So it's really looking at opportunities, respect, and the other key one is around relationships. So that's a huge space for us. So what are we doing to build, to nurture our relationships both at a local and a national level?
So for instance, at a local level, what are we doing to engage with local communities? And that for us, long term equals clients. So we know that eye health is a significant issue in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island population, but our statistics don't match up. So the proportion of clients that we service doesn't match up to the data around health being an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander spaces. So building those relationships, building that trust with First Nations organisations and clients will help our journey in terms of relationships.
But at a national level it's also looking at what national relationships can we form. So things like we've decided to partner with Indigenous Allied Health Australia, so they're called in this year we're going to roll out training for the whole organisation, which will be compulsory around cultural responsiveness. So how do we make our workplace culturally safe, not just for staff who identify as being Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, but how do we then. Culturally safe services declined to identify.
S1
So when we're looking at seeing eye dogs, and the way that Seeing Eye Dogs specifically has engaged with parts of the Reconciliation Action plan, I know one of the things that we've done over the last few years has been bringing in that Reconciliation Action Plan artwork on to some of our harnesses and our puppy coats, as well as acknowledging some of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander names for our puppies as submitted by First Nations people.
Why is it important to celebrate and acknowledge some of these things like artwork or the languages for? Why is that important?
S4
In Vision Australia, our Reconciliation Action Plan Artworks artwork has been designed by Holly McLennan Browne, who is a proud Yorta Yorta woman. We engaged with Holly very early on in our first wrap, so when we were drafting a reflect wrap, we engaged with Holly. We identified that she was going to be the artist that was going to design something for us. It's not a piece of artwork that's off the shelf. It's a piece of artwork about us as an organisation. It tells a story.
So Holly has designed that artwork around our four key priority areas around employment, education, social inclusion and independence, and the artwork tells that story. So it's really that artwork is really relevant to us. It's meaningful, but it also gives having a visible, having a visible on the dog harnesses, having a visible on our email signatures. This, you know, so many different opportunities gives us an opportunity to talk to people about our wrap, about our journey as an organisation.
But also we've heard from First Nations clients that seeing that RAP artwork, it actually means that for them that we could potentially be a culturally safe organisation to engage with because we have a wrap or you know, we've got that visible. Having the artwork visible is meaningful in so many ways because it gives us an opportunity to talk about the work we do, but it also helps clients who identify and know that we're a safe organisation to work with.
25:19
S1
Is there anything else just to finish up that you would like to share with the audience of the show about Reconciliation Action Plan or the work being done at seeing dogs?
S4
Yeah, just love the puppy naming competition, so I certainly want to see that continue. But just generally overall think you know, the organisation over the last few years made some significant steps towards reconciliation and it's not just a document that sits there collecting dust for us. It is an active document. There's regular conversations and I'm so proud of our organisation for taking those steps and actually doing what we're saying we're doing right.
S1
Well, thank you so much for joining me on the show today and talking about our reconciliation plan so far. It's exciting to see how that work is going and will continue to go into the future.
S5
Thank you, Harriet. Thanks for having me.
S1
In celebration of [indistinct] 2023, Vision Australia extended an invitation to clients, families, friends and parts of the community who identify as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander to submit the name for a puppy. Four names were chosen that demonstrate a strong connection to country and recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and heritage. This is part of the work that we are doing for our Reconciliation Action Plan Reflect RAP as well.
So we'd like to announce those names. The first submitted by the Nikeri Institute at Deakin University is Nikeri. The name was submitted, which stands for the National Indigenous Knowledges Education Research Innovation Institute. The name was submitted by Kim, a senior dog handler who works with Reya, who is a lecturer at Deakin University in Indigenous Studies.
The next name picked was [Aboriginal word pronounced:] "mirroring", submitted by Carleen and Natalie. The name means AIS in several languages of the cooler Nation. It is a word understood by many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, including from those languages of the Tongan White Warung and Jaja Warung cultures. The name is chosen as it reflects to what the public will be trained to do in the future. It also reflects and strengthens the In and Vision Australia partnership.
The next names were submitted by Bella and Levi, who are grandchildren of Aunty Julienne and Elder. The names they submitted were Nagawa, which means Sun and Crip, which means best friend, which has significance as the senator and client become lifelong friends. Thank you to all who submitted a name as part of the NAIDOC week celebration and in recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and First Nations cultures around Australia, these names will be carried on through the puppy's journeys to become seeing dogs, and we have high hopes that these guys will bring a wonderful partnership to someone who is blind or has low vision in the future.
You been listening to this talk show on Vision Radio. Hope you enjoyed my interviews. The first with Janelle and Rolf talking about the Petbarn Foundation, Seeing Eye Dogs Appeal. Don't forget to head into a Petbarn store in July to make a donation. And hope you enjoyed my interview with Molly McCormack, talking about the Vision Australia Wrecked Reconciliation Action Plan. If you'd like to find out more about Vision Australia and the commitment to the wrap, head to the Vision Australia website at Vision Australia -dot-org. Thank you for listening and don't forget to tune in same time next week for another episode of the Seeing Eye Dogs show.
