Talking Vision

Sam welcomes back ophthalmologist, remote community outreach worker and First Nations health advocate Dr Kris Rallah-Baker to the show this week. Kris caught up with us last year to have a chat about his role in the first season of Our Medicine on SBS and NITV, now in its second season, following his work in remote communities of Australia delivering healthcare services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients who are blind or have low vision. You'll also hear from Cody Butler and Sean Kendrick, two members of the Brisbane-based band Clear Vision. Clear Vision comprises entirely of members who are blind or have low vision, put together in collaboration between Vision Australia, Brisbane City Council and Dotted Beats as part of the Youth Harmony initiative. They chat with Sam about Clear Vision and Youth Harmony, as well as a gig in June that the Youth Harmony committee (of which they're both members) are putting together.Support this Vision Australia Radio program: https://www.visionaustralia.org/don

Sam catches up with two regulars on the show this week, starting off with Joanne Cabot whose website, Live Well With Vision Loss, is now available for people to visit to find advice and support for people experiencing vision loss at any stage of life. You'll also hear from Vision Australia Library manager Sarah Bloedorn, she's back with the latest news about some upcoming events at the library, as well as some information about the new ways people can access their favourite books.Support this Vision Australia Radio program: https://www.visionaustralia.org/donate?src=radio&type=0&_ga=2.182040610.46191917.1644183916-1718358749.1627963141See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sam speaks to Monash University researcher Claire Dorling about her PhD addressing the need for an education-based functional vision assessment for children and young people who are blind or have low vision. You'll also hear from Santiago Velasquez, he's back with Sam to announce his public transport app Hailo has now launched for passengers who are blind or have low vision to make their way around the Melbourne bus network.  If you'd like to find out more about Hailo, Santiago has set up a page with all the info about Hailo's Melbourne pilot, or if you would like to download the app it's now available on the Apple Store or Google Play. You can also find more info about Hailo through the Hailo pages on Facebook and Instagram.Support this Vision Australia Radio program: https://www.visionaustralia.org/donate?src=radio&type=0&_ga=2.182040610.46191917.1644183916-1718358749.1627963141See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sam welcomes back comedian Jeremy Moses to the show, Jeremy lives with low vision and mobility issues and discusses his disability along with many other topics in his show Hard to Work With, taking place between 26 March and 5 April as part of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.Support this Vision Australia Radio program: https://www.visionaustralia.org/donate?src=radio&type=0&_ga=2.182040610.46191917.1644183916-1718358749.1627963141See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sam speaks with musician, disability advocate and writer Skye de Vent, who recently attended ten of the events from the recent Midsumma Festival, Melbourne's premier queer arts and culture festival. They tell us about what worked and what could be improved in their experience as an audience member living with blindness and mobility restrictions. You'll also hear from Impact Institute's Kathryn Carey, she's back on the show this week to tell us about an upcoming Disability Expo coming to Cranbourne in late March, and Frances is back with an International Women's Day themed Reader Recommended.Support this Vision Australia Radio program: https://www.visionaustralia.org/donate?src=radio&type=0&_ga=2.182040610.46191917.1644183916-1718358749.1627963141See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sam catches up with Kath Duncan who, among many roles over the years including journalist, researcher, actor, director and more, has more recently became playwright of Specials, a play highlighting real stories of life as a student in Australia's special education system. Specials will be featuring for one week in late March, between 24 and 29 March at Arts House in North Melbourne, and Kath fills us in on all the details about what people can expect and how they can grab a ticket to head along, including an audio description and tactile tour night on March 27.Support this Vision Australia Radio program: https://www.visionaustralia.org/donate?src=radio&type=0&_ga=2.182040610.46191917.1644183916-1718358749.1627963141See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Support this Vision Australia Radio program: https://www.visionaustralia.org/donate?src=radio&type=0&_ga=2.182040610.46191917.1644183916-1718358749.1627963141See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We have a special appearance from Peter Greco this week, as he catches up with Mac Bollella from the South Australian Electoral Commission. With the SA state election taking place on 21 March we get the latest details on how voters who are blind or have low vision can cast their votes confidentially and accessibly. You'll also hear from music therapist Emily Shanahan, Sam catches up with her to get a recap 12 months on from the developments in music therapy after questions over its place in the NDIS, and the efforts over the last year to advocate and continue providing music therapies to clients with disabilities.Support this Vision Australia Radio program: https://www.visionaustralia.org/donate?src=radio&type=0&_ga=2.182040610.46191917.1644183916-1718358749.1627963141See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Support this Vision Australia Radio program: https://www.visionaustralia.org/donate?src=radio&type=0&_ga=2.182040610.46191917.1644183916-1718358749.1627963141See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Support this Vision Australia Radio program: https://www.visionaustralia.org/donate?src=radio&type=0&_ga=2.182040610.46191917.1644183916-1718358749.1627963141See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We pay tribute to Food for Thought host and avid braille book reader Joy Nuske, who sadly passed away over the holiday break. Frances Keyland caught up with Joy a few years back on Hear This, and you'll hear from Frances and Joy today. Sam also catches up with Megan Star from Red Feet Wines, a winery in the King Valley in Victoria who will be holding a Taste of the Senses event for wine lovers who are blind or have low vision on 21 February.Support this Vision Australia Radio program: https://www.visionaustralia.org/donate?src=radio&type=0&_ga=2.182040610.46191917.1644183916-1718358749.1627963141See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's a Midsumma special episode of Talking Vision this week as we feature three interviews with Karen Bryant, Dolly Diamond and Justin Clausen. You'll hear from Vision Australia Radio favourites Tess Herbert and Karan Nagrani as they're joined by Joy 94.9 personalities Little Jase, Adz and CJ to host the 3 hour carnival special broadcast which took place at the Alexandra Gardens on Sunday 18 January.Support this Vision Australia Radio program: https://www.visionaustralia.org/donate?src=radio&type=0&_ga=2.182040610.46191917.1644183916-1718358749.1627963141See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Support this Vision Australia Radio program: https://www.visionaustralia.org/donate?src=radio&type=0&_ga=2.182040610.46191917.1644183916-1718358749.1627963141See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's a World Braille Day special episode of Talking Vision as we feature Vision Australia Radio and RPH network veteran Stephen Jolley, who catches up with BBC North America correspondent Gary O'Donoghue. Gary has been totally blind from a young age, and so throughout his later childhood and adult life braille has played a central role in everything he does.  Tune in to hear more from Gary about braille's role in his life, making inroads as a blind journalist on the world stage, breaking down barriers and covering the latest global news from North America over the past decade for the BBC.Support this Vision Australia Radio program: https://www.visionaustralia.org/donate?src=radio&type=0&_ga=2.182040610.46191917.1644183916-1718358749.1627963141See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to the second half of our two part holiday series on Talking Vision. This week Sam features conversation from the second half of 2025, including Conrad Browne, Maurice Gleeson, Jo Cabot and Santiago Velasquez.Support this Vision Australia Radio program: https://www.visionaustralia.org/donate?src=radio&type=0&_ga=2.182040610.46191917.1644183916-1718358749.1627963141See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join Sam for the first of our two part holiday series on Talking Vision. This week you'll hear interviews from the first half of 2025 including Emily Shanahan, Theresa Rockley-Hogan, Elphie Coyle and Ben Harrington.Support this Vision Australia Radio program: https://www.visionaustralia.org/donate?src=radio&type=0&_ga=2.182040610.46191917.1644183916-1718358749.1627963141See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sam speaks to Anne Diez, mother of five-year-old Iko. At age two Iko lost his vision due to leukemia but thanks to Vision Australia he's been able to adapt to play and be as active as ever. Iko is one of our Carols ambassadors this year, if you'd like to buy a ticket and head along there's still time, simply head to the Carols website. You'll also hear from Gino who joins us with some gift ideas for that friend or family member who is blind or has low vision, so if you need some last minute Christmas shopping ideas, Gino's got you sorted!Support this Vision Australia Radio program: https://www.visionaustralia.org/donate?src=radio&type=0&_ga=2.182040610.46191917.1644183916-1718358749.1627963141See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We kick off the show with a library update from Vision Australia Library manager Sarah Bloedorn, who gives us a sneak preview of what the library has in store for members in 2026. You'll also hear from singer and songwriter Summer Giddings, who has recently released a single for Christmas entitled Paper Hats and Mistletoe, alongside her new album Christmas with Summer. Then finally to wrap up we get the latest on the Telelink January interest groups from Telelink programs coordinator Maria Markou, and Frances joins the show with a Reader Recommended.Support this Vision Australia Radio program: https://www.visionaustralia.org/donate?src=radio&type=0&_ga=2.182040610.46191917.1644183916-1718358749.1627963141See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sam welcomes back Santiago Velazquez Hurtado, who is one of six ambassadors for this year's International Day of People with Disability. He talks about his role, the day itself and what days like this can do to raise awareness and provoke positive change for people with disabilities. You'll also hear from Liz Dalakouras as she gives a final run down of For Your Information for 2025, and we finish up with a Reader Recommended.Support this Vision Australia Radio program: https://www.visionaustralia.org/donate?src=radio&type=0&_ga=2.182040610.46191917.1644183916-1718358749.1627963141See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sam speaks to Kathryn Carey from Impact Institute about their recent Melbourne Disability Expo which wrapped up on Saturday 22 November, as well as the other work Impact is doing in the disability space. You'll also hear from Moonee Valley City Council's Kelly Armstrong, she tells us about an upcoming event in Flemington to mark the lead up to International Day of People with Disability on December 3.Support this Vision Australia Radio program: https://www.visionaustralia.org/donate?src=radio&type=0&_ga=2.182040610.46191917.1644183916-1718358749.1627963141See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.