August 5, 2025 • 28 mins
This week Simon and Abby speak to Melanie Hawkes - writer, advocate, and West Australian Director for Physical Disability Australia. Melanie is also a member of the Society of Women Writers WA and recent winner of the prestigious Jennifer Burbidge Short Story Award.
A strong advocate and bold communicator, Melanie shares her passion for self-exploration and creativity in a fun, engaging conversation.
You can read Melanie's award-winning story here.
Find out more about the Society of Women Writers WA and their upcoming events on their website.
Support Vision Australia Radio: https://www.visionaustralia.org/donate
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
S1 (00:17):
Hi I'm Abby.
S2 (00:18):
I'm Simon, and welcome to. In Plain Sight, a program
where we highlight people who are making a positive impact
within their community and the disability sector.
S1 (00:27):
Shining a light on those who might otherwise be hidden
in plain sight.
S2 (00:32):
And we share these stories on a weekly basis. Review
here on Vision Australia Radio.
S1 (00:40):
Hi, it's Abby here, and it's wonderful to be in
the studio today with my colleague and co-host and friend
Simon Chong. How are you?
S2 (00:48):
I'm great. Abby, great to join you in the studio.
And like we said last week, it's also great to
have these fabulous conversations with these people that we meet
each week, isn't it?
S1 (00:58):
It is. And today was a really, really good one.
It was so engaging and definitely a nice interview to
end my time with.
S2 (01:06):
Yes, and as we mentioned previously, this will be Abby's
last time in the studio in this way with us
on this program, and we had a really engaging conversation
with Melanie Hawkes that you'll hear very shortly, and we
hope that you enjoy it as much as we enjoyed
bringing it to you. And she made mention that she
(01:27):
has used assistive dogs in the past. And as this
program goes to air, it will be Assistive Dogs Awareness Week,
which is the first week of August. And Abby, what
can you tell us about Assistive Dogs?
S1 (01:41):
Assistance Dogs Australia was founded in 1996, and they train
and place unique dogs with Australians in unique situations. So
they currently train dogs that specialize in support for people
with a physical disability, autism or PTSD.
S2 (01:57):
Yeah that's right. And I was not aware of some
of the great tasks that these assistance dogs can do
for people with a physical disability in this regard. Our guest, Melanie,
talks about that in detail about what her dogs have
done for her as she's had them in the past
in a similar way to like what a guide dog
(02:18):
can do to assist a person with low vision to
navigate the world safely, and in a similar way that
a companion dog can assist people being calm who need
that kind of reassurance? Aren't they just wonderful what some
of these working dogs can do? And the assistance dogs,
just like any other kind of working dogs, um, are working,
(02:43):
so we have to treat them with respect that they
are due.
S1 (02:46):
That's a very important note to make and good to
make listeners and everyone aware of. Now, just like to
say so it's my last episode today, and I really
just want to say a massive thank you. Well, to you, Simon,
and to everyone at Vision Australia Radio. This has been
an amazing experience and I felt so lucky to be
(03:08):
involved and to be a part of this show. I've
learned so much, especially like being a panel operator and
editing and getting to meet all these people and interview.
And I've really enjoyed it, and I am genuinely very
sad to be leaving, but I'm hoping that I will
be back in the future. Maybe for a guest or
(03:30):
surprise episode. Such a rewarding experience. The people here are wonderful.
And yeah, I just want to say thank you. Thank
you to Vision Australia and to you, Simon. Thank you.
S2 (03:41):
Thank you very much, Abby. That was really well appreciated.
And I'd really like to thank you for all that
you've brought to the programme and all that you've brought
into my life here as well. And your contribution has
been invaluable. And it's been really bright and lovely and wonderful.
So thank you very much for that. And which takes
(04:02):
me into what we are going to hear very soon.
A conversation. It was with our guest Melanie, and it
was one of those interviews that did feel like a
very interactive conversation and that's what makes it very enjoyable.
And Abby, you brought a lot to the table in
this particular episode, so thanks for that.
S1 (04:21):
We hope you enjoy this very engaging episode.
S2 (04:28):
Thanks for joining us. And this week our guest is
Melanie Hawks. Melanie is the WA director for Physical Disabilities, Australia.
I'd like to welcome Melanie to the studio now. Hi, Melanie.
S3 (04:40):
Hello. Thank you for inviting me.
S2 (04:42):
Let's start with a bit of personal background first. Melanie,
how how old are you?
S3 (04:46):
Currently, I'm 45.
S2 (04:48):
Okay. Nice one. And can you tell us the nature
of your disability, please? Just so we get that out
of the way.
S3 (04:54):
Sure. Um, just before I turned two, I had a
virus which they called transverse myelitis, and it affected me
a bit like a spinal cord injury. It affected the
spinal cord and left me pretty much a quadriplegic as
I am now. So I'm a full time power user.
I can move my hands and fingers a little bit, um,
(05:18):
and get some things done, but my legs totally not.
Not movable. Um, but the strange thing is, I have
full sensation so I can feel everything to my toes,
to my head. Um, but I just can't move them.
S2 (05:33):
So, um, does that affect your circulation?
S3 (05:36):
Yes, yes. My feet are as cold as my hands
as well. I actually have heated socks on to keep
them warm.
S2 (05:44):
Okay. Have you noticed, um, over the time, many changes
within the disability services that you've been able to acquire
and how the public attitude is towards someone like yourself
with a physical disability?
S3 (05:59):
I think it's more accepted now. Um, definitely more pride
in people with disabilities, especially physical disabilities. Like, you can't
hide your disability. It's it's feasible. It's, you know, there's
no way of hiding it. So you have to be
up front and tell people what you need. And most
people are accommodating and understanding. I think it's yeah, I'm
(06:23):
definitely more proud of who I am because of my
disability now than I ever was.
S4 (06:27):
Tell us a little bit about what physical disability Australia is.
S3 (06:31):
We are a disabled peoples organization, and our board is
made up entirely of people with a physical disability. And
we advocate for, I guess, more awareness and understanding and
our rights as physical disabled people. Um, and across Australia.
S2 (06:49):
And I'm kind of curious. It might be a naive question,
but how would you define a physical disability? Like, I
know what a sensory disability is, someone who's has problems
with their sight or their hearing or a like, and
there's intellectual disability, but what's a physical disability?
S3 (07:06):
I think anything that affects how the body moves. Like
most of us need mobility equipment to get around or
could have pain and arthritis. Is is one or amputees
have a physical disability. There's lots and lots of different things.
So people like cerebral palsy. Muscular dystrophy.
S2 (07:27):
Okay. Yeah that was my question. So it doesn't matter.
The nature of how you acquired your disability just means
that it affects you in a physical manner.
S3 (07:37):
Yes.
S2 (07:38):
Okay. So physical.
S4 (07:40):
Disability.
S2 (07:40):
Australia has branches across the nation.
S3 (07:44):
No, no. Um, all our staff just work from home.
We don't really have an office. Oh, we're very small.
S4 (07:51):
But you have.
S2 (07:52):
Representation.
S3 (07:53):
In every state and territory except Northern Territory, because our
last member left and we haven't replaced them on the
board yet. But, um, every other state and territory we
have generally two. But I'm the only one in WA
at the moment because we haven't found an associate either.
S2 (08:07):
And can you tell us maybe 2 or 3 things
that the physical disability Australia have covered in their advocacy
over the time that you've been involved.
S3 (08:17):
Our CEO, Jeremy is on a lots and lots of
different committees and things, so he represents PDA as they're
known as on multiple different committees, but also bringing people's
awareness of of us to those big national forums and
(08:37):
making sure that we're at the table because nothing about
us without us. Of course, we also started up Physical
Disability Awareness Day, which is the first Sunday of every
February now. And um, this year in February, we had
a national online forum where we had different speakers and
(08:59):
encouraged people to get together and have a disability. So
a cup of tea with a friend and I went
over to some members friends and had a laptop set
up for the online, and we had quizzes and yeah,
did all sorts of things. And just getting people together
to celebrate our physical disabilities and what attributes they can
enrich our lives with, not just be a pain.
S2 (09:22):
It's interesting. Um, that was a big that's been a
big theme across the entirety of this program is how
to not only bring awareness to people with disabilities for
the general public, but you use the term there celebrate.
S3 (09:37):
Yeah. My physical disability has given me so many opportunities
that I would never have dreamed of. Yeah, I think
it started back in 1987 when I was a telethon child. Okay.
You know, getting to meet Stevie Wonder and making ads
with Richard and at Disneyland Park and all these wonderful opportunities.
And I was a celebrity at school because I was
on TV. And, yeah, I would never have got that
(09:59):
without my disability. But also, um, when I was in
year five, I was at physio and I hated physio
and I never stopped talking because I love to talk.
And my physio said to me one day it's like, well,
you should be an interpreter. And I was like, what
do they do? And she's like, oh, they can translate
(10:21):
different conversations and get paid for it. And I went, what?
I could get paid to talk. This is incredible. So
from there, I went to peak in year six and
learnt a term of Italian and hated it and switched
to Japanese, the term after and loved it. It was
like instant switch on in my brain and it dictated
(10:42):
what I would do at high school. And then I
went on to uni and did Japanese for another four years,
including a year in Japan.
S5 (10:50):
Yeah. So tell us about that experience.
S2 (10:52):
In Japan, Melanie.
S3 (10:53):
It was incredible. Um, yeah. I was the first person
with a physical disability to go on exchange to Japan,
and I became an instant celebrity there. Everyone wanted to
know me and talk about me and film me and
write about me. And, yeah, made waves everywhere I went. Incredible.
What happened to make my dream of going on exchange
(11:15):
to Japan a reality?
S2 (11:17):
How old were you?
S3 (11:18):
19.
S2 (11:20):
How long were you there for?
S3 (11:21):
For ten months.
S2 (11:23):
Wow. Okay.
S3 (11:24):
Um. I came back in February 2000. And an opportunity that.
Just that chance conversation I had with my physio. That
wouldn't have happened if I didn't have a disability.
S2 (11:33):
Got to take advantage of those chance conversations. They can.
You never know where they're going to lead you.
S3 (11:38):
Exactly.
S1 (11:39):
You've been back to Japan since.
S3 (11:41):
Only once. In 2001, I started volunteering for volunteering WA
as a referral officer, and we had a lot of
Japanese people wanting to do volunteer work. So I got
to use my Japanese there and tell other Japanese people
what volunteering they could do in Perth. And 2001 was
also the International Year of Volunteers, and they had a
(12:03):
youth volunteer summit in Tokyo that, um, I got sponsored
to go to back to Japan to. Yeah to be
part of this World Youth volunteer summit.
S2 (12:15):
So you're working for volunteers wa at the time.
S3 (12:18):
Volunteering WA yeah. As a volunteer, it was hard to
find a job just because I'd done five years of
high school and four years at uni, including a year
in Japan. Didn't mean I was qualified as an interpreter.
I had to go back to TAFE, then to do
an interpreting course, became an interpreter, and found out that
there wasn't too much work in Perth and telephone interpreting
is really poorly paid.
S2 (12:38):
Did you envisage any issues being physically disabled within that
line of work? You just mentioned that you were probably
looking at doing telephone interpreting. Was that because of your
disability you couldn't do in person?
S3 (12:52):
Yeah, the biggest paid jobs were at the courts, but
they used to start like 830 in the morning and
go till 430, 5:00 at night. And with my physical disability,
there's no way I could get to Perth by 830
unless I'm getting up at 6 a.m.. And who wants
to do that?
S2 (13:09):
Yeah.
S3 (13:10):
Um, but that's also I need someone to help me
at lunchtimes to help me to the toilet. And if
it's a one off job, it's hard to organise those when.
So I can only really accept half day jobs. Mhm. Um,
which limited the options or telephone interpreting and. Yeah telephone
interpreting wasn't well paid. Yeah. So it kind of limited
(13:32):
my employment.
S2 (13:33):
Uh, now working in a different line of work for
a government department here in Perth, I am. And how
long have you been doing that job?
S3 (13:42):
A long time. I started in 2004.
S2 (13:44):
Okay.
S3 (13:45):
So this is my almost 21 years.
S2 (13:48):
Wow. Did you need any other qualifications to get that?
S3 (13:51):
No. Everything I learnt was on the job. So, um,
my employment agency called me up one morning, one Monday
morning and said, would you like to go for an
interview at Pfizer? And, um, yeah, I got in for
a three month trial, and it was September that I started.
And by December, By bushfires are ramping up and I'd
(14:11):
got to know the video producer that was in house there. And, um, yeah,
in the January they said they couldn't do without me
and wanted me. The two days a week made me permanent.
S2 (14:22):
Excellent.
S3 (14:23):
The building was at Hay Street in the old fire station,
which is now the Western Hotel, got demolished after we
moved out in 2012. They only had one like wheelchair
friendly toilet and it wasn't on the floor that I
worked on, so I had to go downstairs every time
I had to use the toilet. Mhm. Um, it's where
(14:44):
I brought my first assistance dog as well. And he
had trouble opening the big doors and things that um,
so when they moved to Coburn in a purpose built building,
I was like right there making sure that they had
electric doors and all these things that like and made
sure they had a toilet out the front for my
dog and gardens and everything. And, uh, and it's I
(15:07):
think that's why I haven't left. It's such a difference
having a nice building that is easy to get to
from the train station and easy to get in and
out of, and, um, it's that's probably the hardest thing
about choosing an employer. Um, is the physical, like getting
around and to the building and in and out.
S2 (15:29):
You just briefly mentioned that you had an assistance dog,
and you told me this once before.
S3 (15:33):
Yes.
S2 (15:34):
Coincidentally, when this goes to air, the first week of
August is Assistance Dog Awareness Week. Just like to mention that,
tell us what an assistance dog is from your point
of view, Mel, and how they assisted you when you
had one?
S3 (15:48):
It became my arms and legs, pretty much my dog.
So I've had three currently. I've still got Upton, my
third one, who failed after six months, but I chose
to keep him because his skills are amazing. So they're
trained to pick up things that you might drop, um,
open and shut doors. So I have tags on all
(16:09):
my pool doors like the fridge and the freezer. Have
pool tags for him to grab in his mouth. He
can push sliding doors with his nose, including my big
glass sliding door at the back. He can jam his
nose in the handle and push it open and shut.
He can take off my shoes and socks. He can
take off my hat. He can pull a scarf off me.
Just anything.
S1 (16:28):
It's a lot of training. How long would that have taken?
S3 (16:32):
Not too long. You came with the basics. So he
knew how to pick things up off the floor. And
it's just a matter of teaching him where to put it.
S2 (16:39):
We can't leave this conversation, Melanie, without talking about one
of the things that really kind of not made you famous,
but made you well known, is that you brought yourself
into the public sphere talking about an experience that you
had that really woke you up in a very personal way.
And you talked about learning about relationships, physical relationships.
S3 (16:59):
Yes, yes I did. I was 43 and had never
been kissed, never had a boyfriend and I had a
chance conversation with one of my support workers, and, um,
she told me about, yeah, escorts and how it was legal.
And you didn't. You didn't have to, you know, hide
(17:20):
it from everyone. And so I found an escort here
in Perth, and his name's Chase, and he changed my life.
We had, um, amazing seven sessions together, and he taught
me everything about the bedroom. It led me to my
now partner, James. And he moved in last year. And
(17:40):
without that, I would never have put myself out there
to look for love. And it's just incredible how he
brought me up to speed and taught me everything that
my body could and couldn't do, and what I liked
and what I didn't.
S2 (17:53):
And yeah, it's great. I know some people find this
conversation a bit confronting and a bit controversial, but it
is something that we all enjoy doing. And for people
with a disability, A lot of things that other people
take for granted are not readily available, and often have
(18:14):
to be done in a somewhat public sphere.
S3 (18:17):
Yeah, well, the only thing I was ashamed about was
not starting 20 years ago.
S2 (18:21):
Fair enough.
S3 (18:22):
If someone could have told me that this service was existing,
you know, I would have jumped at the chance to
do it earlier or.
S2 (18:29):
Well, I'd like to say well done, you for taking
up that opportunity to. But I'd like to also ask
you why you felt comfortable and confident enough to talk
about it.
S3 (18:38):
I didn't want anyone else getting to their 40s in
my situation and not in not enjoying it, not knowing
what they could and couldn't do. Yeah. No one had
thought to ask me when I was going to settle
down with a partner. I thought I was happy being single,
but now that I know what love is like, I
don't want to ever change that again. No. Yeah. To
(18:59):
look at a different side. Like I saw myself as
a woman for the first time and with the same
needs as any other woman.
S1 (19:08):
You're currently listening to In Plain Sight on Vision Australia
Radio with Simon Chong and Abbie Green. This week we
are speaking to Melanie Hawkes, West Australia Director for Physical
Disability Australia. She is also a member of the Society
of Women Writers and recent winner of the Jennifer Burbidge
(19:29):
Short Story Award.
S2 (19:32):
Recently won a Writers Award.
S3 (19:35):
I did, yes, I found out that there was a
competition called the Jennifer Burbage Short Story Award. And it's
for anyone with a disability in Australia to write up
to 3000 words on a fiction or non-fiction story on
a theme of disability. And I wrote about my first
session with Chase in this story and where I am now.
(19:56):
And I called it a new chapter in my life,
and finished with the good news that I'm currently living
with my partner, James. And how this one session changed
my whole perspective and led me to find love. And
I won it.
S2 (20:12):
That's so great. Yeah. Well respected award.
S3 (20:14):
Yeah.
S2 (20:15):
That's so great. That one you won that award. Two
that you decided to enter it, and three, that they
were bold enough to let you enter that particular story
and thought it worthy of being first winner.
S3 (20:28):
Yeah. And I've since read all the other shortlisted ones
because we all got printed in anthology and they posted
it to me and, um, yeah, there were some very
other worthy winners, but thankfully the judges recognised that this
isn't spoken about and how, I guess, brave and bold
it was to put this out there.
S1 (20:49):
If anyone wants to read this story, is there any
way they can access it?
S3 (20:53):
Yeah, it's on their website now. Just Google the Jennifer
Burbidge Short Story Award 2025 winner and you can download
my PDF The Winning Story.
S1 (21:03):
We'll put that in the podcast link for anyone that's
interested in having a raid.
S2 (21:07):
So I'm assuming that you have a great interest in
writing or you just that sparked your interest?
S3 (21:13):
Um, no. In 2000, I joined the Society of Women Writers,
and I've been to most of their retreats and most
of their meetings and entered their competitions and other things.
S2 (21:24):
Do you have any other published works?
S3 (21:26):
Yes. Um, every year since 2000, I've been in their anthology.
So the Society of Women Writers put up an anthology
every year, and yeah, I've had works in there.
S2 (21:38):
This might be an impertinent question or quite an awkward question,
but as I sit here, I notice your physical disability.
How do you physically write and do do that kind
of work?
S3 (21:50):
So I have a special keyboard at home that has
a built in trackball, because I'm not very good at
using a mouse. So it's compact and it can sit
on my tray. I'm not the fastest typer. I can
only really use one knuckle on each hand. Um, but
I find if I'm writing from scratch. And I've got
an idea and I don't really know what I'm writing.
I use my phone because it's smaller and I can
(22:12):
do that one handed. I'm much quicker and faster at
typing on my phone, and then once I've got a draft,
I can copy it and email it to myself and
open it up on my desktop and do my editing
on there much easier.
S2 (22:26):
So you don't use dictation.
S3 (22:28):
I have in the past, but I find it not
the most accurate. And I if I'm writing especially fiction,
it's harder for me to form ideas and I can't
get my words out quick enough as I can think.
So the speed that I type is the speed that
I come up with. Ideas in fiction.
S2 (22:45):
Hmm. Nice one. And what? Getting back to mundane things.
What type of assistance do you require in your workplace?
S3 (22:55):
So I have the same keyboard at work. Um, I
have a height adjustable desk, which I love. I never
used to, so it's only new this year. It's easier
than I can drive under it easier to get a drink,
or I can lower it to push the keyboard on
and off my tray. But that's pretty much it.
S2 (23:13):
That's excellent times running away from us. Melanie. It's been
a really great and informative chat. I've really been looking
forward to meeting you and to having this conversation. I
know that you have so many different interests, and I
remember you telling me that you're also on the disability
advisory group for the Perth Festival, is that right?
S3 (23:33):
Yes I am, yeah. Access and inclusion committee. It's probably
the best committee I've ever been a part of. Why
is that? They are really passionate about making it easier
for people with disabilities to. Well, for one, attend shows
that they put on, but also to showcase disabled stories
and have disabled artists as part of the programme. It's
(23:53):
a real pleasure to be a part of the Perth
festival and know that they're really keen to make a difference.
S2 (23:59):
From every aspect of what they are trying to put on.
Needs to be accessible and inclusive, from accessing the website
to buying the tickets to actually entering the venue. Yeah,
if you.
S3 (24:12):
Especially like the companion card ticketing, which makes things even harder. Mhm. Um,
and being able to do that. Yeah. It makes such
a big difference if you can do it easily yourself.
S2 (24:23):
Well there's two reasons why we need to get you
in again early next year. So you can tell us
about the events that you're doing with Physical Disabilities Australia.
That you said you've got something coming up in February.
Is that right?
S3 (24:36):
Yes. Physical Disability Awareness Day is the first Sunday in February. And, um,
we run an online disability. So like a morning tea
for us in WA, um, get together with the disabled
people and share the love and how physical disabilities can
bring everyone together.
S2 (24:53):
And and maybe you can merge.
S3 (24:55):
Each other.
S2 (24:55):
Into your role of being involved with the Perth festival,
which is also in February.
S3 (25:01):
Yes, that's in February. Yep. Runs through till the early March.
An amazing three weeks in Perth.
S2 (25:06):
All right. So we have to finish up soon. Um, Melanie,
is there anything else you'd like to leave us with
before we close this conversation?
S3 (25:13):
I think if anyone is unsure about how they want
to help someone like me, always just ask. I think
that's the best way. If you're not sure if I
need assistance, I might be having trouble tagging on a
bus or a train. And, um, you want to help me?
Just ask what you can do to help.
S2 (25:31):
And you also mentioned that one of the directors for
the West Australian, um, and you need another person to
jump in. What would the role require if we were
to ask someone to partake in that role?
S3 (25:45):
Um, so you'd join as WA Associate Director on Physical
Disability Australia? We meet every second month online for zoom
meetings to see the overall operation of PDA, how we
can do things better, what we can do to listen
to our members here in WA and bring those issues
to the National Committee. We also encourage people to write blogs,
(26:09):
and we're featuring like the top five of, um, Australian
disability blogs now because of the blogs that we write.
And it's a great way for me to be published
as well and further my publishing career. So I've written
a number of blogs for PDA, but it's also just
a great community. We do a social hour every month, um,
(26:30):
with any member can join and and just chat pretty much.
S2 (26:33):
That's right. And that's why I mentioned it, just to
remind people that if you feel you, you can have
a go at something like this and you'll find the
benefits are really rewarding. Not only are you doing something
to help others, but you will find lot of rewards
for yourself and it's a great way to get connected
to others. And also, it's a great way of contributing
(26:57):
to the conversation that helps make change.
S3 (27:00):
Very well said.
S2 (27:01):
Thank you. And we have to finish up now. I'd
like to thank you greatly for coming in to speak
with us this morning, and it's really been a fun
and lovely chat.
S3 (27:10):
Thank you very much. It's been my pleasure.
S2 (27:11):
Okay, folks, that's all we got time for this week.
Thanks for joining us once again. Look forward to speaking
to you another time. It's Simon Zhong signing off.
S1 (27:19):
And it's Abbie Greene signing off for the very last time.
S2 (27:22):
Yes. Thanks very much.
S1 (27:33):
That concludes in Plain Sight for this week. Join us,
Abby Greene and Simon Chong at the same time next
week on Vision Australia Radio VA radio digital and online
at VA radio. You can also listen on demand by
searching for In Plain Sight wherever you get your podcasts,
or ask your smart device to play in Plain Sight
(27:56):
by Vision Australia Radio. Thanks for listening.
Hi I'm Abby.
S2 (00:18):
I'm Simon, and welcome to. In Plain Sight, a program
where we highlight people who are making a positive impact
within their community and the disability sector.
S1 (00:27):
Shining a light on those who might otherwise be hidden
in plain sight.
S2 (00:32):
And we share these stories on a weekly basis. Review
here on Vision Australia Radio.
S1 (00:40):
Hi, it's Abby here, and it's wonderful to be in
the studio today with my colleague and co-host and friend
Simon Chong. How are you?
S2 (00:48):
I'm great. Abby, great to join you in the studio.
And like we said last week, it's also great to
have these fabulous conversations with these people that we meet
each week, isn't it?
S1 (00:58):
It is. And today was a really, really good one.
It was so engaging and definitely a nice interview to
end my time with.
S2 (01:06):
Yes, and as we mentioned previously, this will be Abby's
last time in the studio in this way with us
on this program, and we had a really engaging conversation
with Melanie Hawkes that you'll hear very shortly, and we
hope that you enjoy it as much as we enjoyed
bringing it to you. And she made mention that she
(01:27):
has used assistive dogs in the past. And as this
program goes to air, it will be Assistive Dogs Awareness Week,
which is the first week of August. And Abby, what
can you tell us about Assistive Dogs?
S1 (01:41):
Assistance Dogs Australia was founded in 1996, and they train
and place unique dogs with Australians in unique situations. So
they currently train dogs that specialize in support for people
with a physical disability, autism or PTSD.
S2 (01:57):
Yeah that's right. And I was not aware of some
of the great tasks that these assistance dogs can do
for people with a physical disability in this regard. Our guest, Melanie,
talks about that in detail about what her dogs have
done for her as she's had them in the past
in a similar way to like what a guide dog
(02:18):
can do to assist a person with low vision to
navigate the world safely, and in a similar way that
a companion dog can assist people being calm who need
that kind of reassurance? Aren't they just wonderful what some
of these working dogs can do? And the assistance dogs,
just like any other kind of working dogs, um, are working,
(02:43):
so we have to treat them with respect that they
are due.
S1 (02:46):
That's a very important note to make and good to
make listeners and everyone aware of. Now, just like to
say so it's my last episode today, and I really
just want to say a massive thank you. Well, to you, Simon,
and to everyone at Vision Australia Radio. This has been
an amazing experience and I felt so lucky to be
(03:08):
involved and to be a part of this show. I've
learned so much, especially like being a panel operator and
editing and getting to meet all these people and interview.
And I've really enjoyed it, and I am genuinely very
sad to be leaving, but I'm hoping that I will
be back in the future. Maybe for a guest or
(03:30):
surprise episode. Such a rewarding experience. The people here are wonderful.
And yeah, I just want to say thank you. Thank
you to Vision Australia and to you, Simon. Thank you.
S2 (03:41):
Thank you very much, Abby. That was really well appreciated.
And I'd really like to thank you for all that
you've brought to the programme and all that you've brought
into my life here as well. And your contribution has
been invaluable. And it's been really bright and lovely and wonderful.
So thank you very much for that. And which takes
(04:02):
me into what we are going to hear very soon.
A conversation. It was with our guest Melanie, and it
was one of those interviews that did feel like a
very interactive conversation and that's what makes it very enjoyable.
And Abby, you brought a lot to the table in
this particular episode, so thanks for that.
S1 (04:21):
We hope you enjoy this very engaging episode.
S2 (04:28):
Thanks for joining us. And this week our guest is
Melanie Hawks. Melanie is the WA director for Physical Disabilities, Australia.
I'd like to welcome Melanie to the studio now. Hi, Melanie.
S3 (04:40):
Hello. Thank you for inviting me.
S2 (04:42):
Let's start with a bit of personal background first. Melanie,
how how old are you?
S3 (04:46):
Currently, I'm 45.
S2 (04:48):
Okay. Nice one. And can you tell us the nature
of your disability, please? Just so we get that out
of the way.
S3 (04:54):
Sure. Um, just before I turned two, I had a
virus which they called transverse myelitis, and it affected me
a bit like a spinal cord injury. It affected the
spinal cord and left me pretty much a quadriplegic as
I am now. So I'm a full time power user.
I can move my hands and fingers a little bit, um,
(05:18):
and get some things done, but my legs totally not.
Not movable. Um, but the strange thing is, I have
full sensation so I can feel everything to my toes,
to my head. Um, but I just can't move them.
S2 (05:33):
So, um, does that affect your circulation?
S3 (05:36):
Yes, yes. My feet are as cold as my hands
as well. I actually have heated socks on to keep
them warm.
S2 (05:44):
Okay. Have you noticed, um, over the time, many changes
within the disability services that you've been able to acquire
and how the public attitude is towards someone like yourself
with a physical disability?
S3 (05:59):
I think it's more accepted now. Um, definitely more pride
in people with disabilities, especially physical disabilities. Like, you can't
hide your disability. It's it's feasible. It's, you know, there's
no way of hiding it. So you have to be
up front and tell people what you need. And most
people are accommodating and understanding. I think it's yeah, I'm
(06:23):
definitely more proud of who I am because of my
disability now than I ever was.
S4 (06:27):
Tell us a little bit about what physical disability Australia is.
S3 (06:31):
We are a disabled peoples organization, and our board is
made up entirely of people with a physical disability. And
we advocate for, I guess, more awareness and understanding and
our rights as physical disabled people. Um, and across Australia.
S2 (06:49):
And I'm kind of curious. It might be a naive question,
but how would you define a physical disability? Like, I
know what a sensory disability is, someone who's has problems
with their sight or their hearing or a like, and
there's intellectual disability, but what's a physical disability?
S3 (07:06):
I think anything that affects how the body moves. Like
most of us need mobility equipment to get around or
could have pain and arthritis. Is is one or amputees
have a physical disability. There's lots and lots of different things.
So people like cerebral palsy. Muscular dystrophy.
S2 (07:27):
Okay. Yeah that was my question. So it doesn't matter.
The nature of how you acquired your disability just means
that it affects you in a physical manner.
S3 (07:37):
Yes.
S2 (07:38):
Okay. So physical.
S4 (07:40):
Disability.
S2 (07:40):
Australia has branches across the nation.
S3 (07:44):
No, no. Um, all our staff just work from home.
We don't really have an office. Oh, we're very small.
S4 (07:51):
But you have.
S2 (07:52):
Representation.
S3 (07:53):
In every state and territory except Northern Territory, because our
last member left and we haven't replaced them on the
board yet. But, um, every other state and territory we
have generally two. But I'm the only one in WA
at the moment because we haven't found an associate either.
S2 (08:07):
And can you tell us maybe 2 or 3 things
that the physical disability Australia have covered in their advocacy
over the time that you've been involved.
S3 (08:17):
Our CEO, Jeremy is on a lots and lots of
different committees and things, so he represents PDA as they're
known as on multiple different committees, but also bringing people's
awareness of of us to those big national forums and
(08:37):
making sure that we're at the table because nothing about
us without us. Of course, we also started up Physical
Disability Awareness Day, which is the first Sunday of every
February now. And um, this year in February, we had
a national online forum where we had different speakers and
(08:59):
encouraged people to get together and have a disability. So
a cup of tea with a friend and I went
over to some members friends and had a laptop set
up for the online, and we had quizzes and yeah,
did all sorts of things. And just getting people together
to celebrate our physical disabilities and what attributes they can
enrich our lives with, not just be a pain.
S2 (09:22):
It's interesting. Um, that was a big that's been a
big theme across the entirety of this program is how
to not only bring awareness to people with disabilities for
the general public, but you use the term there celebrate.
S3 (09:37):
Yeah. My physical disability has given me so many opportunities
that I would never have dreamed of. Yeah, I think
it started back in 1987 when I was a telethon child. Okay.
You know, getting to meet Stevie Wonder and making ads
with Richard and at Disneyland Park and all these wonderful opportunities.
And I was a celebrity at school because I was
on TV. And, yeah, I would never have got that
(09:59):
without my disability. But also, um, when I was in
year five, I was at physio and I hated physio
and I never stopped talking because I love to talk.
And my physio said to me one day it's like, well,
you should be an interpreter. And I was like, what
do they do? And she's like, oh, they can translate
(10:21):
different conversations and get paid for it. And I went, what?
I could get paid to talk. This is incredible. So
from there, I went to peak in year six and
learnt a term of Italian and hated it and switched
to Japanese, the term after and loved it. It was
like instant switch on in my brain and it dictated
(10:42):
what I would do at high school. And then I
went on to uni and did Japanese for another four years,
including a year in Japan.
S5 (10:50):
Yeah. So tell us about that experience.
S2 (10:52):
In Japan, Melanie.
S3 (10:53):
It was incredible. Um, yeah. I was the first person
with a physical disability to go on exchange to Japan,
and I became an instant celebrity there. Everyone wanted to
know me and talk about me and film me and
write about me. And, yeah, made waves everywhere I went. Incredible.
What happened to make my dream of going on exchange
(11:15):
to Japan a reality?
S2 (11:17):
How old were you?
S3 (11:18):
19.
S2 (11:20):
How long were you there for?
S3 (11:21):
For ten months.
S2 (11:23):
Wow. Okay.
S3 (11:24):
Um. I came back in February 2000. And an opportunity that.
Just that chance conversation I had with my physio. That
wouldn't have happened if I didn't have a disability.
S2 (11:33):
Got to take advantage of those chance conversations. They can.
You never know where they're going to lead you.
S3 (11:38):
Exactly.
S1 (11:39):
You've been back to Japan since.
S3 (11:41):
Only once. In 2001, I started volunteering for volunteering WA
as a referral officer, and we had a lot of
Japanese people wanting to do volunteer work. So I got
to use my Japanese there and tell other Japanese people
what volunteering they could do in Perth. And 2001 was
also the International Year of Volunteers, and they had a
(12:03):
youth volunteer summit in Tokyo that, um, I got sponsored
to go to back to Japan to. Yeah to be
part of this World Youth volunteer summit.
S2 (12:15):
So you're working for volunteers wa at the time.
S3 (12:18):
Volunteering WA yeah. As a volunteer, it was hard to
find a job just because I'd done five years of
high school and four years at uni, including a year
in Japan. Didn't mean I was qualified as an interpreter.
I had to go back to TAFE, then to do
an interpreting course, became an interpreter, and found out that
there wasn't too much work in Perth and telephone interpreting
is really poorly paid.
S2 (12:38):
Did you envisage any issues being physically disabled within that
line of work? You just mentioned that you were probably
looking at doing telephone interpreting. Was that because of your
disability you couldn't do in person?
S3 (12:52):
Yeah, the biggest paid jobs were at the courts, but
they used to start like 830 in the morning and
go till 430, 5:00 at night. And with my physical disability,
there's no way I could get to Perth by 830
unless I'm getting up at 6 a.m.. And who wants
to do that?
S2 (13:09):
Yeah.
S3 (13:10):
Um, but that's also I need someone to help me
at lunchtimes to help me to the toilet. And if
it's a one off job, it's hard to organise those when.
So I can only really accept half day jobs. Mhm. Um,
which limited the options or telephone interpreting and. Yeah telephone
interpreting wasn't well paid. Yeah. So it kind of limited
(13:32):
my employment.
S2 (13:33):
Uh, now working in a different line of work for
a government department here in Perth, I am. And how
long have you been doing that job?
S3 (13:42):
A long time. I started in 2004.
S2 (13:44):
Okay.
S3 (13:45):
So this is my almost 21 years.
S2 (13:48):
Wow. Did you need any other qualifications to get that?
S3 (13:51):
No. Everything I learnt was on the job. So, um,
my employment agency called me up one morning, one Monday
morning and said, would you like to go for an
interview at Pfizer? And, um, yeah, I got in for
a three month trial, and it was September that I started.
And by December, By bushfires are ramping up and I'd
(14:11):
got to know the video producer that was in house there. And, um, yeah,
in the January they said they couldn't do without me
and wanted me. The two days a week made me permanent.
S2 (14:22):
Excellent.
S3 (14:23):
The building was at Hay Street in the old fire station,
which is now the Western Hotel, got demolished after we
moved out in 2012. They only had one like wheelchair
friendly toilet and it wasn't on the floor that I
worked on, so I had to go downstairs every time
I had to use the toilet. Mhm. Um, it's where
(14:44):
I brought my first assistance dog as well. And he
had trouble opening the big doors and things that um,
so when they moved to Coburn in a purpose built building,
I was like right there making sure that they had
electric doors and all these things that like and made
sure they had a toilet out the front for my
dog and gardens and everything. And, uh, and it's I
(15:07):
think that's why I haven't left. It's such a difference
having a nice building that is easy to get to
from the train station and easy to get in and
out of, and, um, it's that's probably the hardest thing
about choosing an employer. Um, is the physical, like getting
around and to the building and in and out.
S2 (15:29):
You just briefly mentioned that you had an assistance dog,
and you told me this once before.
S3 (15:33):
Yes.
S2 (15:34):
Coincidentally, when this goes to air, the first week of
August is Assistance Dog Awareness Week. Just like to mention that,
tell us what an assistance dog is from your point
of view, Mel, and how they assisted you when you
had one?
S3 (15:48):
It became my arms and legs, pretty much my dog.
So I've had three currently. I've still got Upton, my
third one, who failed after six months, but I chose
to keep him because his skills are amazing. So they're
trained to pick up things that you might drop, um,
open and shut doors. So I have tags on all
(16:09):
my pool doors like the fridge and the freezer. Have
pool tags for him to grab in his mouth. He
can push sliding doors with his nose, including my big
glass sliding door at the back. He can jam his
nose in the handle and push it open and shut.
He can take off my shoes and socks. He can
take off my hat. He can pull a scarf off me.
Just anything.
S1 (16:28):
It's a lot of training. How long would that have taken?
S3 (16:32):
Not too long. You came with the basics. So he
knew how to pick things up off the floor. And
it's just a matter of teaching him where to put it.
S2 (16:39):
We can't leave this conversation, Melanie, without talking about one
of the things that really kind of not made you famous,
but made you well known, is that you brought yourself
into the public sphere talking about an experience that you
had that really woke you up in a very personal way.
And you talked about learning about relationships, physical relationships.
S3 (16:59):
Yes, yes I did. I was 43 and had never
been kissed, never had a boyfriend and I had a
chance conversation with one of my support workers, and, um,
she told me about, yeah, escorts and how it was legal.
And you didn't. You didn't have to, you know, hide
(17:20):
it from everyone. And so I found an escort here
in Perth, and his name's Chase, and he changed my life.
We had, um, amazing seven sessions together, and he taught
me everything about the bedroom. It led me to my
now partner, James. And he moved in last year. And
(17:40):
without that, I would never have put myself out there
to look for love. And it's just incredible how he
brought me up to speed and taught me everything that
my body could and couldn't do, and what I liked
and what I didn't.
S2 (17:53):
And yeah, it's great. I know some people find this
conversation a bit confronting and a bit controversial, but it
is something that we all enjoy doing. And for people
with a disability, A lot of things that other people
take for granted are not readily available, and often have
(18:14):
to be done in a somewhat public sphere.
S3 (18:17):
Yeah, well, the only thing I was ashamed about was
not starting 20 years ago.
S2 (18:21):
Fair enough.
S3 (18:22):
If someone could have told me that this service was existing,
you know, I would have jumped at the chance to
do it earlier or.
S2 (18:29):
Well, I'd like to say well done, you for taking
up that opportunity to. But I'd like to also ask
you why you felt comfortable and confident enough to talk
about it.
S3 (18:38):
I didn't want anyone else getting to their 40s in
my situation and not in not enjoying it, not knowing
what they could and couldn't do. Yeah. No one had
thought to ask me when I was going to settle
down with a partner. I thought I was happy being single,
but now that I know what love is like, I
don't want to ever change that again. No. Yeah. To
(18:59):
look at a different side. Like I saw myself as
a woman for the first time and with the same
needs as any other woman.
S1 (19:08):
You're currently listening to In Plain Sight on Vision Australia
Radio with Simon Chong and Abbie Green. This week we
are speaking to Melanie Hawkes, West Australia Director for Physical
Disability Australia. She is also a member of the Society
of Women Writers and recent winner of the Jennifer Burbidge
(19:29):
Short Story Award.
S2 (19:32):
Recently won a Writers Award.
S3 (19:35):
I did, yes, I found out that there was a
competition called the Jennifer Burbage Short Story Award. And it's
for anyone with a disability in Australia to write up
to 3000 words on a fiction or non-fiction story on
a theme of disability. And I wrote about my first
session with Chase in this story and where I am now.
(19:56):
And I called it a new chapter in my life,
and finished with the good news that I'm currently living
with my partner, James. And how this one session changed
my whole perspective and led me to find love. And
I won it.
S2 (20:12):
That's so great. Yeah. Well respected award.
S3 (20:14):
Yeah.
S2 (20:15):
That's so great. That one you won that award. Two
that you decided to enter it, and three, that they
were bold enough to let you enter that particular story
and thought it worthy of being first winner.
S3 (20:28):
Yeah. And I've since read all the other shortlisted ones
because we all got printed in anthology and they posted
it to me and, um, yeah, there were some very
other worthy winners, but thankfully the judges recognised that this
isn't spoken about and how, I guess, brave and bold
it was to put this out there.
S1 (20:49):
If anyone wants to read this story, is there any
way they can access it?
S3 (20:53):
Yeah, it's on their website now. Just Google the Jennifer
Burbidge Short Story Award 2025 winner and you can download
my PDF The Winning Story.
S1 (21:03):
We'll put that in the podcast link for anyone that's
interested in having a raid.
S2 (21:07):
So I'm assuming that you have a great interest in
writing or you just that sparked your interest?
S3 (21:13):
Um, no. In 2000, I joined the Society of Women Writers,
and I've been to most of their retreats and most
of their meetings and entered their competitions and other things.
S2 (21:24):
Do you have any other published works?
S3 (21:26):
Yes. Um, every year since 2000, I've been in their anthology.
So the Society of Women Writers put up an anthology
every year, and yeah, I've had works in there.
S2 (21:38):
This might be an impertinent question or quite an awkward question,
but as I sit here, I notice your physical disability.
How do you physically write and do do that kind
of work?
S3 (21:50):
So I have a special keyboard at home that has
a built in trackball, because I'm not very good at
using a mouse. So it's compact and it can sit
on my tray. I'm not the fastest typer. I can
only really use one knuckle on each hand. Um, but
I find if I'm writing from scratch. And I've got
an idea and I don't really know what I'm writing.
I use my phone because it's smaller and I can
(22:12):
do that one handed. I'm much quicker and faster at
typing on my phone, and then once I've got a draft,
I can copy it and email it to myself and
open it up on my desktop and do my editing
on there much easier.
S2 (22:26):
So you don't use dictation.
S3 (22:28):
I have in the past, but I find it not
the most accurate. And I if I'm writing especially fiction,
it's harder for me to form ideas and I can't
get my words out quick enough as I can think.
So the speed that I type is the speed that
I come up with. Ideas in fiction.
S2 (22:45):
Hmm. Nice one. And what? Getting back to mundane things.
What type of assistance do you require in your workplace?
S3 (22:55):
So I have the same keyboard at work. Um, I
have a height adjustable desk, which I love. I never
used to, so it's only new this year. It's easier
than I can drive under it easier to get a drink,
or I can lower it to push the keyboard on
and off my tray. But that's pretty much it.
S2 (23:13):
That's excellent times running away from us. Melanie. It's been
a really great and informative chat. I've really been looking
forward to meeting you and to having this conversation. I
know that you have so many different interests, and I
remember you telling me that you're also on the disability
advisory group for the Perth Festival, is that right?
S3 (23:33):
Yes I am, yeah. Access and inclusion committee. It's probably
the best committee I've ever been a part of. Why
is that? They are really passionate about making it easier
for people with disabilities to. Well, for one, attend shows
that they put on, but also to showcase disabled stories
and have disabled artists as part of the programme. It's
(23:53):
a real pleasure to be a part of the Perth
festival and know that they're really keen to make a difference.
S2 (23:59):
From every aspect of what they are trying to put on.
Needs to be accessible and inclusive, from accessing the website
to buying the tickets to actually entering the venue. Yeah,
if you.
S3 (24:12):
Especially like the companion card ticketing, which makes things even harder. Mhm. Um,
and being able to do that. Yeah. It makes such
a big difference if you can do it easily yourself.
S2 (24:23):
Well there's two reasons why we need to get you
in again early next year. So you can tell us
about the events that you're doing with Physical Disabilities Australia.
That you said you've got something coming up in February.
Is that right?
S3 (24:36):
Yes. Physical Disability Awareness Day is the first Sunday in February. And, um,
we run an online disability. So like a morning tea
for us in WA, um, get together with the disabled
people and share the love and how physical disabilities can
bring everyone together.
S2 (24:53):
And and maybe you can merge.
S3 (24:55):
Each other.
S2 (24:55):
Into your role of being involved with the Perth festival,
which is also in February.
S3 (25:01):
Yes, that's in February. Yep. Runs through till the early March.
An amazing three weeks in Perth.
S2 (25:06):
All right. So we have to finish up soon. Um, Melanie,
is there anything else you'd like to leave us with
before we close this conversation?
S3 (25:13):
I think if anyone is unsure about how they want
to help someone like me, always just ask. I think
that's the best way. If you're not sure if I
need assistance, I might be having trouble tagging on a
bus or a train. And, um, you want to help me?
Just ask what you can do to help.
S2 (25:31):
And you also mentioned that one of the directors for
the West Australian, um, and you need another person to
jump in. What would the role require if we were
to ask someone to partake in that role?
S3 (25:45):
Um, so you'd join as WA Associate Director on Physical
Disability Australia? We meet every second month online for zoom
meetings to see the overall operation of PDA, how we
can do things better, what we can do to listen
to our members here in WA and bring those issues
to the National Committee. We also encourage people to write blogs,
(26:09):
and we're featuring like the top five of, um, Australian
disability blogs now because of the blogs that we write.
And it's a great way for me to be published
as well and further my publishing career. So I've written
a number of blogs for PDA, but it's also just
a great community. We do a social hour every month, um,
(26:30):
with any member can join and and just chat pretty much.
S2 (26:33):
That's right. And that's why I mentioned it, just to
remind people that if you feel you, you can have
a go at something like this and you'll find the
benefits are really rewarding. Not only are you doing something
to help others, but you will find lot of rewards
for yourself and it's a great way to get connected
to others. And also, it's a great way of contributing
(26:57):
to the conversation that helps make change.
S3 (27:00):
Very well said.
S2 (27:01):
Thank you. And we have to finish up now. I'd
like to thank you greatly for coming in to speak
with us this morning, and it's really been a fun
and lovely chat.
S3 (27:10):
Thank you very much. It's been my pleasure.
S2 (27:11):
Okay, folks, that's all we got time for this week.
Thanks for joining us once again. Look forward to speaking
to you another time. It's Simon Zhong signing off.
S1 (27:19):
And it's Abbie Greene signing off for the very last time.
S2 (27:22):
Yes. Thanks very much.
S1 (27:33):
That concludes in Plain Sight for this week. Join us,
Abby Greene and Simon Chong at the same time next
week on Vision Australia Radio VA radio digital and online
at VA radio. You can also listen on demand by
searching for In Plain Sight wherever you get your podcasts,
or ask your smart device to play in Plain Sight
(27:56):
by Vision Australia Radio. Thanks for listening.
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