Powerd NewsWrap 3rd December 2025

Sam Rickard  0:00  
Welcome to a Vision Australia radio podcast. Love our podcasts. Why not listen to us live? Tune in anywhere, anytime, ask your smart device to play Vision Australia radio or visit va radio.org

Speaker 1  0:21  
on the Vision Australia and reading radio networks. This is the Powerd news rep G'day.

Sam Rickard  0:26  
I'm Sam Rickard. It's the third of December. We're reading articles from the Powerd dot media website, and joining me as we cruise towards the end of the year is the writer of these articles. Emma Myers, how you going? Fellow cruiser? Hello. How are you I am okay. I am okay. We've got a interesting set of stories this week, but before we talk about those, how was your time away?

Emma Myers  0:50  
My time away was great. Met some interesting people. It was like a big chummy family reunion, and then, incidentally, got sunburned, bigger that was on the beach. So yeah, for summer,

Sam Rickard  1:04  
always pack the factor 50. You said it was sort of like a reunion, but most of these people you haven't actually met in person

Emma Myers  1:10  
before, no, but I've actually worked with the majority of people who were in attendance, so we knew each other quite well already. So that was the beauty of this conference, in that we could meet in person. And as I said, it was like a big reunion. Lots of hugs, were crying and very informative, entertaining and emotional,

Sam Rickard  1:36  
then you've still had time to give us some articles to wrap our teeth around, as it were all right. So the first article we're going through today is that the NDIS has a new CEO.

Emma Myers  1:48  
So it was announced last month that game head had taken over as the new Chief Executive Officer of the National Disability Insurance Agency. So he's taken on the role following the resignation of Rebecca volking here. So it'd be interesting to see where he stands on, I guess, the monster that is the NDIS and all of its intricacies, as it were,

Sam Rickard  2:19  
well, he's an internal pick, isn't he? So he was previously had other roles within the NDIA prior to this.

Emma Myers  2:25  
So prior to this, he was the inaugural National Disability Insurance Scheme quality and safeguards Commissioner. So he has some experience in this area, but only time will tell if he's up to the challenge.

Sam Rickard  2:42  
Well, previous role would suggest that he had, would have to have had an attention to detail, as it were. So the next article we're dealing with is, had a chat to someone we've spoken to in the past on Studio One Santiago, who is developing an app that is very close to my heart, at least.

Emma Myers  3:00  
Well, I think it's closer to many people with disability, really, because we've got such a diverse range of access and requirements when it comes to public transport. And I know that when I was talking to him and he mentioned this app called Halo, I was instantly intrigued.

Sam Rickard  3:21  
It's a fantastic idea. There's a similar one being developed over here in South Australia that's called see me. And I like the idea of something that can stop the bus for you and tell you where, literally, where to get off. So that's I usually, I just have that fellow passengers doing that for me without me even asking. But it sounds like something that's extremely user friendly, and the fact that he's working on it to cross over to other things like trains and taxis and Ubers, I think that's a really interesting sort of direction to take things in.

Emma Myers  3:52  
I mean, the amount of times they've actually been left on the train because staff have kind of forgotten to get the ramp out for me, and that's only when cleaners are coming through that they they find me in a carriage or just even taking the bus. Half of the time, the buttons that at my level don't work. So I then have to get the attention of someone else who maybe has their headphones in and isn't paying attention to try and get them to find a button that works so I can get off the bus because I'm so small in my wheelchair that the rear view mirror doesn't actually Catch me trying to make eye contact with the driver.

Sam Rickard  4:43  
Well, something that, yeah, a lot of us with a disability don't like is drawing attention to ourselves even more than we have to and, Oh, definitely, I think this app does that in in the way that we like to like to do it. It's just something that you can push a few buttons and. It does the same thing, and it will allow us to just simply get on and off a bus without causing any fuss, which is, I think, ideal, as far as that goes. But in the meantime, we have two news readers. We have Markella saleekas and Nini

Unknown Speaker  5:13  
with the news. Thank you, Sam,

Speaker 2  5:15  
thank you. The Australian government has announced Mr. Graham head ao as the new Chief Executive Officer of the National Disability Insurance Agency, following the departure of Rebecca folkingham, who has held the position since October 2022 on his appointment to the role, Mr. Head claims he's grateful for the opportunity to make a difference to the lives of Australians with disability. I'm very excited to be given the opportunity to play this significant role in the NDIA as key reforms to the scheme are being shaped and rolled out, the NDIA board, headed by chair Kurt fearnley ao appointed Mr. Head for a three year term following an extensive national recruitment process, according to a statement released by the Department of Health, disability and aging. Mr. Head brings decades of experience to the role previously serving as the inaugural National Disability Insurance Scheme NDIS quality and safeguards commissioner from 2018 to 2021 ministers for the National Disability Insurance Scheme, Mark Butler and Jenny McAllister both congratulated Mr. Head on his new position. I am pleased to welcome Mr. Head as CEO of the NDIA. His leadership will be crucial as we deliver the reforms needed to strengthen the NDIS and ensure it continues to improve the lives of Australians with disability. Mr. Head's distinguished career speaks for itself, and his expertise will be invaluable as we continue to reform the scheme Ms. McAllister says, As CEO of the NDIA he will be responsible for overseeing the daily operations of the agency, including administration of the NDIS, working closely with the NDIA board to ensure the scheme delivers vital supports for people with disability and their families. According to the NDIS website, Mr. Head commenced the role on 24 November 2025

Speaker 1  7:14  
since 1992 The United Nations has observed the International Day of People with disability, an annual event focusing on how society can strive for inclusivity through the removal of physical, technological and attitudinal barriers for people with disability, idpwd is an opportunity to be part of creating An inclusive and diverse community for the 5.5 million people with disability in Australia. According to the website San Diego, Vela cares is one of this year's ambassadors. Originally from Colombia. His family immigrated to Australia when he was a child, looking to build a better life around his disability. Mr. Vela cares is an electrical engineer. He also happens to be blind. I can still see light colors and large objects, but details are non existent. Everything that I do is either through brow or using screen reading software where my computer talks to me, my watch, my phone and so on, he explains, utilizing his trade skills and lived experience. Mr. Vela cares co founded an accessibility app called Halo, bridging the gap between public transportation and the needs of passengers with disability. The engineer says he came up with the idea after becoming frustrated with getting left behind by drivers. I can't see busses approaching. I couldn't wave them down if I managed to get on a bus. I couldn't press the bell at the right moment. I had to rely on the driver to remember where I wanted to get off. He added that the disability community experiences similar accessibility issues when catching a taxi or an Uber, especially if the passenger has a guide dog. The Halo platform allows you to disclose your disability if you want, so I would put on a guide dog user. Mr. Velaquez explains, as you get close to catching a bus or train, the driver gets an alert on where to stop on the dashboard, it also shows them what type of access requirements and assistance you might need. As one of this year's International Day of People with disability ambassadors, Mr. Velakares believes the day is one of celebration as it shows society that differences are what makes those in the disability community unique. Our difference is what allows us to contribute to society. I was always told that I couldn't see but anything else was fair game. The. Entrepreneur hopes to make meaningful change, with other ambassadors arguing that society could be more equitable and prosperous in terms of financial and economic benefits, if it included people. We all play a part in this world. Forgo the perceptions or assumptions before you let us try something. You will be pleasantly surprised, because we are as capable as you are, we just tend to do things a little bit differently.

Speaker 2  10:31  
Many in the Global Disability Community will be sad to learn of the news of American disability activist and author Alice Wong, who passed away last Friday following a short illness born in Indiana in 1974 ms Wong became a pioneer for the disability community, serving as a member of the National Council on Disability, an appointment by President Barack Obama from 2013 to 2015 according to the National Women's History Museum, the advocate also received a MacArthur Fellowship in 2024 for her decades of advocating for equal rights for people with disability. According to The New York Times, as a kid, riddled with insecurity and internalized ableism, I could not see a path forward. Ms Wong wrote in a post to social media, living with spinal muscular atrophy and neuromuscular disorder, the activists passion and drive to amplify marginalized voices led her to create the Disability Visibility Project, an online community dedicated to creating, sharing and amplifying Disability media and culture in a post on her Facebook page. Ms Wong's friend Sandy ho shared the advocate's final message to the disability community, I have so many dreams that I wanted to fulfill and plans to create new stories for you. I did not ever imagine I would live to this age and end up a writer, editor, activist and more as an author, her works included year of the tiger, an activist's life, disability, visibility, first person stories from the 21st Century, and disability intimacy, essays on love, care and desire, according to Penguin Books Australia, Ms Wong's message went on to thank the people who believed in her, adding that they gave her the confidence to finally feel comfortable in my skin, departing the world with one last piece of advice, Miss Wong urged the disability community to continue telling their story. We need more stories about us and our culture, our wisdom is incisive and unflinching. I'm honored to be your ancestor and believe disabled oracles like us will light the way to the future, and don't let the bastards grind you down. I love you all. Alice Wong was 51

Unknown Speaker  13:00  
and now back to Sam and Emma.

Sam Rickard  13:03  
Okay, thank you, ladies. We finish off with some sad news. And you know a little bit about Alice. Yeah.

Emma Myers  13:09  
So Alison Wong, who was a fierce disability advocate in the US, has sadly passed away at the age of 51 she was an incredible, incredible woman. She worked tirelessly for decades to advocate for the rights of people with disability. She was awarded a scholarship from former President Barack Obama, she created a website called Disability Visibility Project, which is an online community for sharing anything and everything disability media and culture. And she was also a highly successful author

Sam Rickard  13:58  
as well, and talking told me of that you've got a few of her books.

Emma Myers  14:01  
I have, yes, it's my my own kind of pet projects. Say I love advocating for disability and womanhood and intimacy and all the things that come along with building a non platonic relationship or a more inclusive world for non platonic relationships, for women with different disabilities, and she was a very much pioneer in that regard as well.

Sam Rickard  14:33  
It sounds like the disability world and the world in general will be poorer for the lack of this person. That is essentially all we've got time for at the moment, we're heading towards the end of the year, so we're all about to get a lot busier. But if you out there want something to do tonight, there is a really good movie that's about to show, show called Changing track. You can find out more by going to changing track.com we're doing a story on that or for Studio One. On, and I don't know about you or you go heading off to the movies tonight, maybe not the

Emma Myers  15:03  
movies, but I'll definitely be celebrating International Day of People with disability in some way, shape or form. But then again, for us, every day is a day of disability.

Sam Rickard  15:17  
Well, with that thought in mind, Bye, for now, hi.

Speaker 1  15:21  
You can find these articles and more by going to Powerd spelled P, O, W, E, R, D, dot media, along with the podcast of this show, the Powerd news rap was brought to you by disability media Australia. This show was produced by Sam Ricard in the Adelaide studios of vision, Australia radio, you.

Transcribed by https://otter.ai