May 27, 2025 • 28 mins
This week Simon and Abby chat with two guests. First up, Vanessa Jessett from People with disabilities Western Australia (PWdWA) about their upcoming State Conference; what’s planned, and why it matters.
Also joining us is the fabulous Mallika Macleod from Empowered Connections (a role linked with Valued Lives), sharing her work in peer support and her conference session on supporting homeschooled young people entering adulthood.
A lively and inspiring conversation with two passionate advocates!
People With disabilities WA State Conference
Thursday 19 and Friday 20 June 2025
The Esplanade Fremantle - by Rydges
For more information about the PWdWA conference and to register, head to their website: pwdwa.org/whats-happening/events/state-conference-2025
To find out more about Valued Lives, where Mallika works as Peer Groups Network Coordinator, head to their website: valuedlives.org.au
Support Vision Australia Radio: https://www.visionaustralia.org/donate
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
S1 (00:08):
Hi I'm Abby.
S2 (00:10):
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 (00:19):
Shining a light on those who might otherwise be hidden
in plain sight.
S2 (00:24):
And we share these stories on a weekly basis. Review
here on Vision Australia Radio.
S1 (00:29):
Hi Simon, how are you?
S2 (00:31):
I'm very good. Thanks, Abby. How are you?
S1 (00:33):
Tired?
S2 (00:34):
Okay.
S1 (00:35):
That time of semester?
S2 (00:37):
Right? Yeah. And hello to you listening out there. Thanks
for joining us. What have we got coming up this week, Abby?
S1 (00:43):
Well, this week, we're actually going to be talking to
two people, and we're going to be talking about the
upcoming PwC conference. If you don't know what that stands for,
it stands for people with disabilities WA.
S2 (00:55):
They have a conference every couple of years, and this
year it is coming up in June 19th and 20
to be held in Fremantle.
S1 (01:06):
Yeah. And the theme this year is participate and contribute.
So how do you contribute, Simon?
S2 (01:13):
A lot of people ask me that, and to be honest,
I probably contribute mostly to the community and society by
doing this actual radio program, which I'm very proud to
do with you alongside. And I only know that I'm
contributing by the fabulous feedback and responses that I get
from some people in our audience and some people in
(01:35):
within their community that we are talking to and representing.
I also try to contribute in other ways in the
general community, in my local community, and have done over
many years. And Abby, do you have areas that you
participate in? I know that you're at university studying journalism.
S1 (01:53):
Yes. So that takes up a lot of time. Uh,
I can say that I contribute in the university newspaper. Yes.
Which is a part of our my course. Anyway, so
we write news articles and we publish them in the
school paper.
S2 (02:07):
And you published one just recently. You got another one
coming out soon, is that right?
S1 (02:12):
Yes. The unit that I'm doing means that we have
a practical every week, and we have to write an
article in a day.
S2 (02:18):
Tell me what what's the name of that publication that
we can find online?
S1 (02:22):
The Kwenda.
S2 (02:23):
Kwenda.
S1 (02:24):
It's a murdoch University news site.
S2 (02:26):
Kwenda. Yes. And I believe Kwenda is a little marsupial.
S1 (02:29):
Yes. There's so many of them on campus. So that's
where the name came from.
S2 (02:34):
Lovely. And you recently had an article about our friend
Caitlyn Hannon. Williams?
S1 (02:40):
Yes, about the goalball championship. So just, um, surrounding the
episode that we had a couple of weeks ago. And
I also just wrote one about para dancing, and they've
got a championship coming up as well. Well, a World
Cup coming up in November.
S2 (02:55):
That's one thing too, when I noticed that the main
overall theme for the conference for PWA, which is participate
and contribute, I really am proud of this program because
we do bring to you every week people who are
participating and contributing in the community in so many different ways.
People who have a direct link and connection to the
(03:17):
disability world, and people who have an association with the
disability world. And we've had some great highlights over the
recent weeks, including Kay Fairbairn, who has a husband with
a disability and a son with a disability. And we
had a fabulous conversation with her that really highlighted people
who are contributing in so many ways, like she was
(03:38):
in the Navy and she is a fabulous community participant.
And I really love this aspect of our role that
we do here. Any highlights that stand out for you, Abby?
S1 (03:51):
Uh, off the top of my head, probably cow. We
have cow in and he is doing he's got two
different podcasts that he does, and he also volunteers for
Vision Australia. So he has a lot of different ways
that he gives back. And he's also quite a lively person,
so he was fun to have in the studio. We
also had Jade, who is also giving back in so
(04:12):
many different ways and involved in her community doing all
sorts of things. And I know that we also had
Lisa as well. Yes, her story was very good and
everything that she's doing as well.
S2 (04:25):
And I'd like to preview an upcoming interview that will
be broadcasting very soon with Karyn Bolton, who is a
contributor in her community because she is a person with
Albinism and Albinism Day on Friday the 13th of June.
And I really wanted to talk with her about so
(04:46):
many things, and I'm really looking forward to sharing that
conversation with you when it comes up. And also wanted
to make mention of one of our really favorite episodes
that went to air some time ago. That was with
Erica Webb. And she is a massive contributor to the
communities that she's involved in. And one of the communities
(05:07):
that Erica is involved in is the deaf blind community.
And I just wanted to make mention that in the
last week of June, it is Deaf Blind Week that
coincides with Helen Keller's birthday. So there's a lot coming
up to look out for in the future, people, uh,
for our show. And, uh, we hope you also enjoy
(05:27):
listening to this fabulous, dynamic conversation with the two contributors
that we've got coming up revolving around the PWD conference
coming up on the 19th and 20th of June.
S1 (05:40):
So this week, we've got two guests. We're going to
be speaking to Vanessa Jesser, organization development and engagement manager
at people with disabilities, WA. And we also have Malika McLeod,
project officer at Valued Lives.
S2 (05:55):
And it's great to have both these guests in. Today.
We are mainly going to be focusing on what PWD,
WA is doing and their conference coming up. America is
one of the key contributors to that conference, as well
as being a key contributor to the disability sector and
many aspects of our community as well. But we'll start
with Vanessa. Hi, Vanessa. How are you going?
S3 (06:17):
Hi, Simon. I'm doing well. I'm so happy to be back.
S2 (06:20):
It's great to have you back. Now, there's a lot
of exciting things happening in the world of people with disabilities,
Western Australia. Can you give us a little rundown of
some of the things that have happened of recent, including
moving to a new office?
S3 (06:33):
That's right. We are actually moved now. So anyone who's
looking for us, we have moved to the Hub in Belmont.
It's a beautiful building. I'm actually there with Malika as well,
where we share the same floor. So we're at 213
right street in Cloverdale for anyone that's looking for us. Um, so.
And we will also be shutting down our Mandurah office.
S2 (06:53):
And you'll update the website with the new address and
phone number for the contact information.
S3 (07:01):
Already done, my friend. Already done. Yes.
S2 (07:03):
So that's good to know. What other exciting things have
been happening in PWA of recent? I know you held
a forum to do with the election that we recently had.
S3 (07:13):
Yes. So that was a big one that we had.
So for the federal election, we actually called on some
of our politicians. So we had the doctor, an Ali,
the MP for the Australian Labor Party. We had also
the shadow minister from the Liberal Party for NDIS. So
Senator Hollie Hughes and of course the ever wonderful Senator
(07:35):
Jordon Steele-john, who came along and they were just talking
about all things disability. They had quite a few questions
thrown at them. Um, around foundational supports, um, NDIS cuts
that keep we keep hearing about in the community, um,
disability discrimination. Um, and um, also about inclusion. So there
(07:56):
was a lot spoken about there. It's actually available on
YouTube if people do want to see that. But we've
we when we held it, we also had other other
organizations come along as well. So it's actually you can
find it on the wide end. So the Youth Disability
Advocacy Network.
S2 (08:13):
And we'll be talking about that later on, because one
of your keynote speakers is now the CEO of that organization,
I believe. Just give us a brief rundown on what
some of the key elements of PWD are doing currently.
What are they currently working on?
S3 (08:31):
So as our advocates are still working, we have both
our individual advocates and our systemic advocates. And obviously individually,
we're just working on all those things that people need
to have their voices heard. We don't, um, do legal advocacy, unfortunately,
but we can actually refer you on to organizations that
can do that. Um, systemically, we're looking at lots of things.
(08:53):
I recently just did a, um, consultation for the government
on the suicide prevention framework, especially around how that affects
people with disabilities since, um, you know, 3% of people
with disability choose death by suicide. So that is something that, um,
I was working on. And so out of what I
(09:16):
heard from the people I was interviewing, I actually put
through a whole range of different things that I think that, um, systemically,
we need to look at here in WA for people
with disability and their mental health.
S2 (09:28):
And I just wanted to sincerely make mention that our
hearts go out to everybody that is in that situation
of struggling with mental health or have a mental health
condition that they are having issues with at the current time.
And also, we know that within our community, unfortunately, suicide
touches just about everybody. And I wanted to make a
(09:52):
sincere acknowledgement of that fact. And I'm thinking of certain
people right now that are that has touched in my
own personal life. So it's a very serious and important topic, and,
and I'm glad it was raised within that sort of arena.
S3 (10:08):
Vanessa and I do encourage anyone, if you're listening to
this and you feel like you need to, please go
onto our website. I'll make sure that there are some
numbers that you can contact so that you can, um,
go and speak to the people that you need to
speak to.
S2 (10:20):
Including lifeline.
S3 (10:22):
13111 4 or 1 800, respect and the National. That's
the national helpline is 1800 737 732.
S2 (10:34):
That's fabulous. Thanks for that Vanessa. Moving on to more livelier,
happier topics. Tell us about the conference that's coming up
in the 19th and 20th of June.
S3 (10:44):
This is very exciting. I'm so excited. It's been a
while in the making. As you know, Simon, you were
part of the the original one back in 2020. PWD um,
had the idea to bring to Western Australian people with
disability a conference that was designed by them and for them,
making it one of the few in the world that
has actually has, um, people with disability not only just
(11:07):
in mind, but at the very heart of of the conference.
We are. This will be our third conference. So it
will be held on June 19th and 20th at the
Esplanade Hotel in Fremantle. Once again, we've been supported by
the Department of Communities. Now, we wouldn't be able to
put this on if we didn't have that backing, but unfortunately,
(11:30):
things are tight everywhere, including the government offices, so we've
actually only got a third of the funding that we
normally get. And so we've had to go looking for
other bits and pieces to see if we could still
put this conference on. Um, and that did make our tickets,
even though we're not making any profit from this and
we've tried to go as low cost as possible, we're
(11:51):
not actually paying for our emcee. Um, our speakers have
all volunteered our, you know, conference reference group of all volunteers.
S2 (12:00):
So say that again, your speakers are all volunteers.
S3 (12:02):
They've volunteered their time, you know, and our mic. So
the man who's going to be working for two two
full days has volunteered his time. Um, because we've got
our conference reference group, which is an amazing group of
of people who meet once a fortnight and have volunteered
their time just because we wouldn't be able to put
(12:22):
this on if you know the way it is. Um,
because prices have gone up and also to make it
truly accessible. Conference is is quite an expensive thing and
we really want to make sure that it's it's.
S2 (12:36):
Now that really highlights the overall theme of your conference
or this conference, which is to participate and contribute. Is
that correct?
S3 (12:45):
That's right. So the overall theme is participate and contribute.
But it's on education and young people, um, the workforce
community participation training. So all of those things.
S2 (12:57):
I noticed that um, some of the topics that will
be discussed are all around work and employment and education,
and you've got some fabulous speakers who are presenting, and
we'll just talk about one presenter that you'd like to
highlight right now, Vanessa. And then we'll go to our
guest who's actually here in the studio.
S3 (13:18):
If I had to pick one, actually, it wouldn't actually
be one. There's actually a panel that's happening which I'm very,
very excited about. So that panel is going to be
led by Samantha Jenkinson, who's the former CEO of people
with disabilities WA. And I believe it's also going to
have our current CEO, Cat Johns. And Danielle, um, is
(13:40):
also going to be on that panel, and it's going
to talk about leadership in disability. So I'm actually really,
really excited about that one. Um, and I'm also really
excited about, um, Malika's one, because we've been kind of
brainstorming together. Both of us are actually going to do
presentations for people with intellectual disabilities to empower them.
S2 (13:58):
We'll get to Malika in a sec. But one name
that stood out to me, um, well, two names that
stood out to me. One of those talking about, uh,
developmental disabilities, uh, was the fabulous Maxine Drake, who I've
met several times. We worked together, and she was she's
a fabulous person, and I'm looking forward to seeing that presentation.
(14:19):
And obviously, the other name that stood out to me
because someone that I've been wanting to meet and talk
with previously is Isabella Choate, and, um, she is now
working for Biden. So I think for me there, the
kind of standout ones that caught my attention, looking at
it on, on the paper now, we'll then introduce our
other guests in the studio now. Malika McLeod. Hello. How
(14:41):
are you?
S4 (14:41):
Good morning. I'm very well, thank you.
S2 (14:43):
Now you're currently doing a project for Valued Lives. Can
you tell us a little bit about that?
S4 (14:48):
Yes. Thank you. Uh, the project that I'm doing is
as a peer connector. So I'm working there to develop, uh,
resources and to, um, initiate peer networks. Peer groups. Sorry,
that form part of the peer network. And those are
people with disability, their families, their allies are coming together
to or to be peers. Which doesn't mean that they
(15:11):
have a really set, um, a set agenda or a
set program, but they're coming together to, to provide that
support that you just cannot get from a service provider. Yes.
And you may not be linked to a service provider.
You may not have an NDIS plan at this point
in time, but it's people who absolutely have that lived
experience either adjacent to or themselves with disability and and
(15:34):
need support just to, just to make it through. And
it's not about day to day necessarily, but sometimes it
is day to day. Yeah. And and it's so it's
it's yeah that's that's what I'm doing is working working
with peer groups.
S2 (15:46):
I'm a strong advocate for peer led and peer group, um, activities.
And I think because people to use that term who
have lived experience learn the most from other people in
a similar, if not the same lived experience.
S4 (16:02):
Agree.
S2 (16:03):
Um, can you also tell us a little bit about
who and what valued lives is, please?
S4 (16:08):
So Valued Lives has been around for since around 2012
I think is when it really kicked off and it's
gone through a couple of different iterations. I'm I'm really
new to it as a worker, but I was there
in the, in the back in the beginning. But it
has gone through some major changes over the last 18
months because it did become a service provider under the
(16:31):
NDIS and has now wound all of that back and
is really focusing on capacity building. So it's a capacity
building organisation and we work with not as an NDIS provider,
although there is a registration, but we're really looking at
those projects that build the skills and and connections between
(16:53):
people out in the community across Western Australia. Um, and
it really doesn't fall into a service delivery model that
you would, that you would purchase as a, as someone
with an NDIS plan. So, um, it's it's about having
people understand what their valued role is in, in the
world that they operate in and exploring where they can
(17:14):
make connections and impact, impact change outside of their own,
their own small circles that they may that they may
operate in. So I think really about that, it's that
capacity building, I think is really an important part of
what the work is.
S2 (17:29):
Yes. Yeah. And before we get into the actual topic
that you are presenting at the conference, can you give
us an example of some of the work that you
do within your project role at the moment.
S4 (17:41):
The work that I'm doing, which is around peer groups.
So supporting groups to to form and then to be self-sustaining.
What I've done because I've come in just as a
six month person. So it's a very short period of
time is I was really building the connections to industry.
(18:01):
So there are there are already this is this has
been going on for longer than I've been there. Uh,
building these peer groups. So there are existing peer groups
across metro Perth. Um, and we are building some in
we're supporting some to start up in some of the
regional areas.
S2 (18:18):
So does your role or does your the organisation that
you're working for act as a support to these groups?
S4 (18:25):
Yes. That's right. Yes. So the support that we do
is facilitator training. And we produce resources so that peer
groups can meet and be safe. And we will do
venue bookings. So if they're meeting in their local area
and they need to use a local, uh, local venue,
then we can book that and pay for that. Um,
but we'll also then have things like risk management plans,
all the, all the, all the behind the scenes stuff
(18:46):
that groups need in order to be ticking the boxes
of the of the those hosting bodies out there where,
where peer groups need to meet. We can do all
of that.
S2 (18:56):
Tell us about what you're doing at the conference, Malika.
S4 (18:58):
So at the conference, um, and this has been a
really great, evolving conversation with Vanessa. So I really think, Vanessa,
for being so open to open to conversations about it.
So it was a really good conversation about the other
presentations that were in the conference, and perhaps some of
the gaps that had come about in doing that programming
(19:22):
and really intellectual disability. There was not content delivered specifically
for in with enough variation. So it was really nice
to think about the presentation that I was going to do,
which is which was about people who have left the
education system to go homeschool are because homeschooling now I'm
(19:43):
I'm not even in my 30s. So, um, you know,
when I was in school, which was a long time ago, uh,
the homeschoolers were people who you really didn't know. You
didn't you didn't interact with them. And there was a
bit of a mystery about homeschooling, but especially through the pandemic,
it is a huge number of.
S2 (20:05):
Would there be more people doing home schooling that have
a disability?
S4 (20:08):
There is a really large proportion of of young people
who are taken from the education system, which I really
just think hasn't evolved like, like it should have to
be as inclusive as we expect it should have by
this point in time. And so it is it is
deemed more appropriate for young people to come out of
(20:30):
the formal education system and go to the home schooling system.
And homeschooling doesn't mean that you're just at home and
isolated from other kids. It really is about there are
lots of opportunities to connect people, connect families and the
and their young people up in all sorts of activities. However,
with the disability experience, doing those things may be as
(20:53):
difficult as it was in the formal education system, the
mainstream education system, and that pressure on parents who may
not have the ability to do that connection themselves. Selves. Um,
I think that's a really big pressure. So the opportunity
for young people to remain a little bit isolated and,
and not be connecting like we know homeschoolers are able
(21:15):
to do now, I think is, um, it's a risk
for young people who become young adults and who then
are forced because the workplace forces us to interact, um, have,
have social occasions where you don't get left behind at
water cooler conversations. All the things that that are they're
almost intangibles about being an adult when those things aren't repeatedly, um,
(21:42):
taught in the in a homeschool environment or in the
mainstream schooling environment, when those things are the difficult conversations
that parents may have every now and then, but we
actually learn those from our peers in high school. We learn.
We learn about relationships. We learn about all the things,
especially age of consent. We learn about a lot of
things that are through those interactions with our other teenage pals.
(22:04):
If those are not done or they're only being delivered
by parents in homeschooling, those those conversations can become very
awkward and and difficult. And the expectation on every parent
in homeschooling to be able to do that in the
same way is a very that's a big that's a
that's a big assumption that we're making that they can
do that. And I know that that's not that's not
(22:27):
a uniformly delivered bit of education or knowledge imparted on
young people.
S2 (22:32):
So do you know where you are scheduled within this conference?
S3 (22:35):
Day one at 435 to 455 at this stage, yes,
but but you're not just going to be doing homeschooling anymore.
That's kind of grown, this beautiful. Yes. This beautiful plant
of an idea.
S4 (22:47):
Yeah. So the idea really is to think about the
people who are attending, um, with an intellectual disability or
cognitive disability may even be brain injury, but the individuals
who will often have people either answering for them, speaking
for them, making decisions on their behalf, um, whether rightfully
or or incorrectly, that that that is happening. And so
(23:10):
the but the topic is the same. It's just that
it's not necessarily about homeschool. So it is about those
awkward conversations. Um, doing a bit of a workshop on
the things I wish I'd known. Uh, the things that I,
that I don't get enough information about, the things that I,
you know, the things that are breaking my heart. Um,
because I haven't, I haven't experienced I've seen all my
friends pair up with boyfriends, girlfriends, whatever it is that
(23:32):
young people do now. And I'm not part of that.
I have no.
S2 (23:35):
Idea what young people.
S4 (23:36):
Do. Uh, same, Simon. Same. But I think having having a, um,
having conversations, workshopping, that is what I'm what I'll be doing.
And at the end of it is to generate a
list of these are the things that we that young
people want and we haven't we haven't addressed it. Or
parents in homeschooling situations have found it difficult to be
(23:56):
able to cover this with to the extent that is
needed for young people to get it, that they actually
get it, and they feel competent and confident to go
and explore things themselves.
S2 (24:04):
Great. We have to finish up soon, so we'll leave
your discussion there. Can you just tell us where we
can find your valued lives and your your position there
to get involved with that project that you're doing with
the peer groups?
S4 (24:19):
Yes, you can find us at Empowered Connections.
S2 (24:23):
Empowered connections.
S4 (24:24):
Yes, empowered connections. It is a project, um, that we
are that is being run by valued lives. Um, but
if you don't get there, you can go to the.
Website and click on the links to find empowered Connections.
And that's where all the peer stuff is located.
S2 (24:42):
Thank you Malika. So Vanessa, tell us about the core
things about the the conference coming up. When is it,
where is it and how do people get involved?
S3 (24:50):
Okay, so once again it is on Thursday, June the
19th and 20th. It's actually a one and a half
day conference, um, at the Esplanade in Fremantle. You can
go on to our website. Um. I've just got some
actually great news I'd like to announce. So we have
just been given a grant from Lotterywest. This grant is
(25:14):
for people with disability, whether they're a member or not.
A discounted ticket to attend our conference until that grant
runs out. Yes. There is a section of that grant
that is actually for regional, rural and remote people with disability,
and they can also contact us. And so what that
will happen is we will be able to arrange and
(25:34):
pay for travel and accommodation for them.
S2 (25:36):
Excellent.
S3 (25:37):
So for them to do that one, if they're interested
in the rural and regional remote grant, could they contact
Candice at. Um, otherwise look on our website, click on it,
follow the links and you can actually go onto a waitlist. Um,
because we haven't actually had the grant put into our
bank account at the moment. So you can go on
a waitlist. And once that grant comes through, we will
(25:59):
actually make sure that you can actually access a discounted ticket.
S2 (26:02):
Excellent. So all the information's on the website, and you
also have a regular newsletter that goes out through email
and other methods. Tell us how you can find out
about the newsletter. Vanessa.
S3 (26:14):
Well, the easiest way is to become a member. That's
the best way. Membership is free. People with disability, um,
are a full member. They are the only people that
actually have a say in our organisation. Um, you know,
our boards or people with disability. Um, we are at
the very people disability at the very centre of our organisation.
So if you become a member, you will get the
newsletter meant to be every two months. But I've been
(26:35):
a bit, been a bit busy lately, so this one's
a little bit delayed. Um, but yeah. So that's the
easiest way to sign on to the newsletter. Otherwise you can,
I think, just go on through MailChimp. But, um, I'm
old and I'm not. I'm not that technically savvy.
S2 (26:49):
If you're listening to the podcast In Plain Sight by
Vision Australia Radio, you can find the descriptions and we
will of our podcast there. And you, we will include
all the links to the conference and to everything that
we've been talking about to do with valued lives and
people with disabilities. Western Australia and all the key information.
(27:10):
So I'd like to thank our guests that have joined
us today, Vanessa and Malika. Thank you very much for
coming in. It's been a fabulous, very interesting and dynamic
conversation as I thought it would be. Thanks very, very
much for coming in, Vanessa.
S3 (27:22):
Thank you for thank you for having us.
S4 (27:23):
Thank you. Thank you so much.
S2 (27:24):
Look forward to speaking to you again next time. And
that's all from us today at In Plain Sight on
Vision Australia Radio.
S1 (27:39):
That concludes in Plain Sight for this week. Join us,
Abby Green 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
(28:01):
by Vision Australia Radio. Thanks for listening.
Hi I'm Abby.
S2 (00:10):
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 (00:19):
Shining a light on those who might otherwise be hidden
in plain sight.
S2 (00:24):
And we share these stories on a weekly basis. Review
here on Vision Australia Radio.
S1 (00:29):
Hi Simon, how are you?
S2 (00:31):
I'm very good. Thanks, Abby. How are you?
S1 (00:33):
Tired?
S2 (00:34):
Okay.
S1 (00:35):
That time of semester?
S2 (00:37):
Right? Yeah. And hello to you listening out there. Thanks
for joining us. What have we got coming up this week, Abby?
S1 (00:43):
Well, this week, we're actually going to be talking to
two people, and we're going to be talking about the
upcoming PwC conference. If you don't know what that stands for,
it stands for people with disabilities WA.
S2 (00:55):
They have a conference every couple of years, and this
year it is coming up in June 19th and 20
to be held in Fremantle.
S1 (01:06):
Yeah. And the theme this year is participate and contribute.
So how do you contribute, Simon?
S2 (01:13):
A lot of people ask me that, and to be honest,
I probably contribute mostly to the community and society by
doing this actual radio program, which I'm very proud to
do with you alongside. And I only know that I'm
contributing by the fabulous feedback and responses that I get
from some people in our audience and some people in
(01:35):
within their community that we are talking to and representing.
I also try to contribute in other ways in the
general community, in my local community, and have done over
many years. And Abby, do you have areas that you
participate in? I know that you're at university studying journalism.
S1 (01:53):
Yes. So that takes up a lot of time. Uh,
I can say that I contribute in the university newspaper. Yes.
Which is a part of our my course. Anyway, so
we write news articles and we publish them in the
school paper.
S2 (02:07):
And you published one just recently. You got another one
coming out soon, is that right?
S1 (02:12):
Yes. The unit that I'm doing means that we have
a practical every week, and we have to write an
article in a day.
S2 (02:18):
Tell me what what's the name of that publication that
we can find online?
S1 (02:22):
The Kwenda.
S2 (02:23):
Kwenda.
S1 (02:24):
It's a murdoch University news site.
S2 (02:26):
Kwenda. Yes. And I believe Kwenda is a little marsupial.
S1 (02:29):
Yes. There's so many of them on campus. So that's
where the name came from.
S2 (02:34):
Lovely. And you recently had an article about our friend
Caitlyn Hannon. Williams?
S1 (02:40):
Yes, about the goalball championship. So just, um, surrounding the
episode that we had a couple of weeks ago. And
I also just wrote one about para dancing, and they've
got a championship coming up as well. Well, a World
Cup coming up in November.
S2 (02:55):
That's one thing too, when I noticed that the main
overall theme for the conference for PWA, which is participate
and contribute, I really am proud of this program because
we do bring to you every week people who are
participating and contributing in the community in so many different ways.
People who have a direct link and connection to the
(03:17):
disability world, and people who have an association with the
disability world. And we've had some great highlights over the
recent weeks, including Kay Fairbairn, who has a husband with
a disability and a son with a disability. And we
had a fabulous conversation with her that really highlighted people
who are contributing in so many ways, like she was
(03:38):
in the Navy and she is a fabulous community participant.
And I really love this aspect of our role that
we do here. Any highlights that stand out for you, Abby?
S1 (03:51):
Uh, off the top of my head, probably cow. We
have cow in and he is doing he's got two
different podcasts that he does, and he also volunteers for
Vision Australia. So he has a lot of different ways
that he gives back. And he's also quite a lively person,
so he was fun to have in the studio. We
also had Jade, who is also giving back in so
(04:12):
many different ways and involved in her community doing all
sorts of things. And I know that we also had
Lisa as well. Yes, her story was very good and
everything that she's doing as well.
S2 (04:25):
And I'd like to preview an upcoming interview that will
be broadcasting very soon with Karyn Bolton, who is a
contributor in her community because she is a person with
Albinism and Albinism Day on Friday the 13th of June.
And I really wanted to talk with her about so
(04:46):
many things, and I'm really looking forward to sharing that
conversation with you when it comes up. And also wanted
to make mention of one of our really favorite episodes
that went to air some time ago. That was with
Erica Webb. And she is a massive contributor to the
communities that she's involved in. And one of the communities
(05:07):
that Erica is involved in is the deaf blind community.
And I just wanted to make mention that in the
last week of June, it is Deaf Blind Week that
coincides with Helen Keller's birthday. So there's a lot coming
up to look out for in the future, people, uh,
for our show. And, uh, we hope you also enjoy
(05:27):
listening to this fabulous, dynamic conversation with the two contributors
that we've got coming up revolving around the PWD conference
coming up on the 19th and 20th of June.
S1 (05:40):
So this week, we've got two guests. We're going to
be speaking to Vanessa Jesser, organization development and engagement manager
at people with disabilities, WA. And we also have Malika McLeod,
project officer at Valued Lives.
S2 (05:55):
And it's great to have both these guests in. Today.
We are mainly going to be focusing on what PWD,
WA is doing and their conference coming up. America is
one of the key contributors to that conference, as well
as being a key contributor to the disability sector and
many aspects of our community as well. But we'll start
with Vanessa. Hi, Vanessa. How are you going?
S3 (06:17):
Hi, Simon. I'm doing well. I'm so happy to be back.
S2 (06:20):
It's great to have you back. Now, there's a lot
of exciting things happening in the world of people with disabilities,
Western Australia. Can you give us a little rundown of
some of the things that have happened of recent, including
moving to a new office?
S3 (06:33):
That's right. We are actually moved now. So anyone who's
looking for us, we have moved to the Hub in Belmont.
It's a beautiful building. I'm actually there with Malika as well,
where we share the same floor. So we're at 213
right street in Cloverdale for anyone that's looking for us. Um, so.
And we will also be shutting down our Mandurah office.
S2 (06:53):
And you'll update the website with the new address and
phone number for the contact information.
S3 (07:01):
Already done, my friend. Already done. Yes.
S2 (07:03):
So that's good to know. What other exciting things have
been happening in PWA of recent? I know you held
a forum to do with the election that we recently had.
S3 (07:13):
Yes. So that was a big one that we had.
So for the federal election, we actually called on some
of our politicians. So we had the doctor, an Ali,
the MP for the Australian Labor Party. We had also
the shadow minister from the Liberal Party for NDIS. So
Senator Hollie Hughes and of course the ever wonderful Senator
(07:35):
Jordon Steele-john, who came along and they were just talking
about all things disability. They had quite a few questions
thrown at them. Um, around foundational supports, um, NDIS cuts
that keep we keep hearing about in the community, um,
disability discrimination. Um, and um, also about inclusion. So there
(07:56):
was a lot spoken about there. It's actually available on
YouTube if people do want to see that. But we've
we when we held it, we also had other other
organizations come along as well. So it's actually you can
find it on the wide end. So the Youth Disability
Advocacy Network.
S2 (08:13):
And we'll be talking about that later on, because one
of your keynote speakers is now the CEO of that organization,
I believe. Just give us a brief rundown on what
some of the key elements of PWD are doing currently.
What are they currently working on?
S3 (08:31):
So as our advocates are still working, we have both
our individual advocates and our systemic advocates. And obviously individually,
we're just working on all those things that people need
to have their voices heard. We don't, um, do legal advocacy, unfortunately,
but we can actually refer you on to organizations that
can do that. Um, systemically, we're looking at lots of things.
(08:53):
I recently just did a, um, consultation for the government
on the suicide prevention framework, especially around how that affects
people with disabilities since, um, you know, 3% of people
with disability choose death by suicide. So that is something that, um,
I was working on. And so out of what I
(09:16):
heard from the people I was interviewing, I actually put
through a whole range of different things that I think that, um, systemically,
we need to look at here in WA for people
with disability and their mental health.
S2 (09:28):
And I just wanted to sincerely make mention that our
hearts go out to everybody that is in that situation
of struggling with mental health or have a mental health
condition that they are having issues with at the current time.
And also, we know that within our community, unfortunately, suicide
touches just about everybody. And I wanted to make a
(09:52):
sincere acknowledgement of that fact. And I'm thinking of certain
people right now that are that has touched in my
own personal life. So it's a very serious and important topic, and,
and I'm glad it was raised within that sort of arena.
S3 (10:08):
Vanessa and I do encourage anyone, if you're listening to
this and you feel like you need to, please go
onto our website. I'll make sure that there are some
numbers that you can contact so that you can, um,
go and speak to the people that you need to
speak to.
S2 (10:20):
Including lifeline.
S3 (10:22):
13111 4 or 1 800, respect and the National. That's
the national helpline is 1800 737 732.
S2 (10:34):
That's fabulous. Thanks for that Vanessa. Moving on to more livelier,
happier topics. Tell us about the conference that's coming up
in the 19th and 20th of June.
S3 (10:44):
This is very exciting. I'm so excited. It's been a
while in the making. As you know, Simon, you were
part of the the original one back in 2020. PWD um,
had the idea to bring to Western Australian people with
disability a conference that was designed by them and for them,
making it one of the few in the world that
has actually has, um, people with disability not only just
(11:07):
in mind, but at the very heart of of the conference.
We are. This will be our third conference. So it
will be held on June 19th and 20th at the
Esplanade Hotel in Fremantle. Once again, we've been supported by
the Department of Communities. Now, we wouldn't be able to
put this on if we didn't have that backing, but unfortunately,
(11:30):
things are tight everywhere, including the government offices, so we've
actually only got a third of the funding that we
normally get. And so we've had to go looking for
other bits and pieces to see if we could still
put this conference on. Um, and that did make our tickets,
even though we're not making any profit from this and
we've tried to go as low cost as possible, we're
(11:51):
not actually paying for our emcee. Um, our speakers have
all volunteered our, you know, conference reference group of all volunteers.
S2 (12:00):
So say that again, your speakers are all volunteers.
S3 (12:02):
They've volunteered their time, you know, and our mic. So
the man who's going to be working for two two
full days has volunteered his time. Um, because we've got
our conference reference group, which is an amazing group of
of people who meet once a fortnight and have volunteered
their time just because we wouldn't be able to put
(12:22):
this on if you know the way it is. Um,
because prices have gone up and also to make it
truly accessible. Conference is is quite an expensive thing and
we really want to make sure that it's it's.
S2 (12:36):
Now that really highlights the overall theme of your conference
or this conference, which is to participate and contribute. Is
that correct?
S3 (12:45):
That's right. So the overall theme is participate and contribute.
But it's on education and young people, um, the workforce
community participation training. So all of those things.
S2 (12:57):
I noticed that um, some of the topics that will
be discussed are all around work and employment and education,
and you've got some fabulous speakers who are presenting, and
we'll just talk about one presenter that you'd like to
highlight right now, Vanessa. And then we'll go to our
guest who's actually here in the studio.
S3 (13:18):
If I had to pick one, actually, it wouldn't actually
be one. There's actually a panel that's happening which I'm very,
very excited about. So that panel is going to be
led by Samantha Jenkinson, who's the former CEO of people
with disabilities WA. And I believe it's also going to
have our current CEO, Cat Johns. And Danielle, um, is
(13:40):
also going to be on that panel, and it's going
to talk about leadership in disability. So I'm actually really,
really excited about that one. Um, and I'm also really
excited about, um, Malika's one, because we've been kind of
brainstorming together. Both of us are actually going to do
presentations for people with intellectual disabilities to empower them.
S2 (13:58):
We'll get to Malika in a sec. But one name
that stood out to me, um, well, two names that
stood out to me. One of those talking about, uh,
developmental disabilities, uh, was the fabulous Maxine Drake, who I've
met several times. We worked together, and she was she's
a fabulous person, and I'm looking forward to seeing that presentation.
(14:19):
And obviously, the other name that stood out to me
because someone that I've been wanting to meet and talk
with previously is Isabella Choate, and, um, she is now
working for Biden. So I think for me there, the
kind of standout ones that caught my attention, looking at
it on, on the paper now, we'll then introduce our
other guests in the studio now. Malika McLeod. Hello. How
(14:41):
are you?
S4 (14:41):
Good morning. I'm very well, thank you.
S2 (14:43):
Now you're currently doing a project for Valued Lives. Can
you tell us a little bit about that?
S4 (14:48):
Yes. Thank you. Uh, the project that I'm doing is
as a peer connector. So I'm working there to develop, uh,
resources and to, um, initiate peer networks. Peer groups. Sorry,
that form part of the peer network. And those are
people with disability, their families, their allies are coming together
to or to be peers. Which doesn't mean that they
(15:11):
have a really set, um, a set agenda or a
set program, but they're coming together to, to provide that
support that you just cannot get from a service provider. Yes.
And you may not be linked to a service provider.
You may not have an NDIS plan at this point
in time, but it's people who absolutely have that lived
experience either adjacent to or themselves with disability and and
(15:34):
need support just to, just to make it through. And
it's not about day to day necessarily, but sometimes it
is day to day. Yeah. And and it's so it's
it's yeah that's that's what I'm doing is working working
with peer groups.
S2 (15:46):
I'm a strong advocate for peer led and peer group, um, activities.
And I think because people to use that term who
have lived experience learn the most from other people in
a similar, if not the same lived experience.
S4 (16:02):
Agree.
S2 (16:03):
Um, can you also tell us a little bit about
who and what valued lives is, please?
S4 (16:08):
So Valued Lives has been around for since around 2012
I think is when it really kicked off and it's
gone through a couple of different iterations. I'm I'm really
new to it as a worker, but I was there
in the, in the back in the beginning. But it
has gone through some major changes over the last 18
months because it did become a service provider under the
(16:31):
NDIS and has now wound all of that back and
is really focusing on capacity building. So it's a capacity
building organisation and we work with not as an NDIS provider,
although there is a registration, but we're really looking at
those projects that build the skills and and connections between
(16:53):
people out in the community across Western Australia. Um, and
it really doesn't fall into a service delivery model that
you would, that you would purchase as a, as someone
with an NDIS plan. So, um, it's it's about having
people understand what their valued role is in, in the
world that they operate in and exploring where they can
(17:14):
make connections and impact, impact change outside of their own,
their own small circles that they may that they may
operate in. So I think really about that, it's that
capacity building, I think is really an important part of
what the work is.
S2 (17:29):
Yes. Yeah. And before we get into the actual topic
that you are presenting at the conference, can you give
us an example of some of the work that you
do within your project role at the moment.
S4 (17:41):
The work that I'm doing, which is around peer groups.
So supporting groups to to form and then to be self-sustaining.
What I've done because I've come in just as a
six month person. So it's a very short period of
time is I was really building the connections to industry.
(18:01):
So there are there are already this is this has
been going on for longer than I've been there. Uh,
building these peer groups. So there are existing peer groups
across metro Perth. Um, and we are building some in
we're supporting some to start up in some of the
regional areas.
S2 (18:18):
So does your role or does your the organisation that
you're working for act as a support to these groups?
S4 (18:25):
Yes. That's right. Yes. So the support that we do
is facilitator training. And we produce resources so that peer
groups can meet and be safe. And we will do
venue bookings. So if they're meeting in their local area
and they need to use a local, uh, local venue,
then we can book that and pay for that. Um,
but we'll also then have things like risk management plans,
all the, all the, all the behind the scenes stuff
(18:46):
that groups need in order to be ticking the boxes
of the of the those hosting bodies out there where,
where peer groups need to meet. We can do all
of that.
S2 (18:56):
Tell us about what you're doing at the conference, Malika.
S4 (18:58):
So at the conference, um, and this has been a
really great, evolving conversation with Vanessa. So I really think, Vanessa,
for being so open to open to conversations about it.
So it was a really good conversation about the other
presentations that were in the conference, and perhaps some of
the gaps that had come about in doing that programming
(19:22):
and really intellectual disability. There was not content delivered specifically
for in with enough variation. So it was really nice
to think about the presentation that I was going to do,
which is which was about people who have left the
education system to go homeschool are because homeschooling now I'm
(19:43):
I'm not even in my 30s. So, um, you know,
when I was in school, which was a long time ago, uh,
the homeschoolers were people who you really didn't know. You
didn't you didn't interact with them. And there was a
bit of a mystery about homeschooling, but especially through the pandemic,
it is a huge number of.
S2 (20:05):
Would there be more people doing home schooling that have
a disability?
S4 (20:08):
There is a really large proportion of of young people
who are taken from the education system, which I really
just think hasn't evolved like, like it should have to
be as inclusive as we expect it should have by
this point in time. And so it is it is
deemed more appropriate for young people to come out of
(20:30):
the formal education system and go to the home schooling system.
And homeschooling doesn't mean that you're just at home and
isolated from other kids. It really is about there are
lots of opportunities to connect people, connect families and the
and their young people up in all sorts of activities. However,
with the disability experience, doing those things may be as
(20:53):
difficult as it was in the formal education system, the
mainstream education system, and that pressure on parents who may
not have the ability to do that connection themselves. Selves. Um,
I think that's a really big pressure. So the opportunity
for young people to remain a little bit isolated and,
and not be connecting like we know homeschoolers are able
(21:15):
to do now, I think is, um, it's a risk
for young people who become young adults and who then
are forced because the workplace forces us to interact, um, have,
have social occasions where you don't get left behind at
water cooler conversations. All the things that that are they're
almost intangibles about being an adult when those things aren't repeatedly, um,
(21:42):
taught in the in a homeschool environment or in the
mainstream schooling environment, when those things are the difficult conversations
that parents may have every now and then, but we
actually learn those from our peers in high school. We learn.
We learn about relationships. We learn about all the things,
especially age of consent. We learn about a lot of
things that are through those interactions with our other teenage pals.
(22:04):
If those are not done or they're only being delivered
by parents in homeschooling, those those conversations can become very
awkward and and difficult. And the expectation on every parent
in homeschooling to be able to do that in the
same way is a very that's a big that's a
that's a big assumption that we're making that they can
do that. And I know that that's not that's not
(22:27):
a uniformly delivered bit of education or knowledge imparted on
young people.
S2 (22:32):
So do you know where you are scheduled within this conference?
S3 (22:35):
Day one at 435 to 455 at this stage, yes,
but but you're not just going to be doing homeschooling anymore.
That's kind of grown, this beautiful. Yes. This beautiful plant
of an idea.
S4 (22:47):
Yeah. So the idea really is to think about the
people who are attending, um, with an intellectual disability or
cognitive disability may even be brain injury, but the individuals
who will often have people either answering for them, speaking
for them, making decisions on their behalf, um, whether rightfully
or or incorrectly, that that that is happening. And so
(23:10):
the but the topic is the same. It's just that
it's not necessarily about homeschool. So it is about those
awkward conversations. Um, doing a bit of a workshop on
the things I wish I'd known. Uh, the things that I,
that I don't get enough information about, the things that I,
you know, the things that are breaking my heart. Um,
because I haven't, I haven't experienced I've seen all my
friends pair up with boyfriends, girlfriends, whatever it is that
(23:32):
young people do now. And I'm not part of that.
I have no.
S2 (23:35):
Idea what young people.
S4 (23:36):
Do. Uh, same, Simon. Same. But I think having having a, um,
having conversations, workshopping, that is what I'm what I'll be doing.
And at the end of it is to generate a
list of these are the things that we that young
people want and we haven't we haven't addressed it. Or
parents in homeschooling situations have found it difficult to be
(23:56):
able to cover this with to the extent that is
needed for young people to get it, that they actually
get it, and they feel competent and confident to go
and explore things themselves.
S2 (24:04):
Great. We have to finish up soon, so we'll leave
your discussion there. Can you just tell us where we
can find your valued lives and your your position there
to get involved with that project that you're doing with
the peer groups?
S4 (24:19):
Yes, you can find us at Empowered Connections.
S2 (24:23):
Empowered connections.
S4 (24:24):
Yes, empowered connections. It is a project, um, that we
are that is being run by valued lives. Um, but
if you don't get there, you can go to the.
Website and click on the links to find empowered Connections.
And that's where all the peer stuff is located.
S2 (24:42):
Thank you Malika. So Vanessa, tell us about the core
things about the the conference coming up. When is it,
where is it and how do people get involved?
S3 (24:50):
Okay, so once again it is on Thursday, June the
19th and 20th. It's actually a one and a half
day conference, um, at the Esplanade in Fremantle. You can
go on to our website. Um. I've just got some
actually great news I'd like to announce. So we have
just been given a grant from Lotterywest. This grant is
(25:14):
for people with disability, whether they're a member or not.
A discounted ticket to attend our conference until that grant
runs out. Yes. There is a section of that grant
that is actually for regional, rural and remote people with disability,
and they can also contact us. And so what that
will happen is we will be able to arrange and
(25:34):
pay for travel and accommodation for them.
S2 (25:36):
Excellent.
S3 (25:37):
So for them to do that one, if they're interested
in the rural and regional remote grant, could they contact
Candice at. Um, otherwise look on our website, click on it,
follow the links and you can actually go onto a waitlist. Um,
because we haven't actually had the grant put into our
bank account at the moment. So you can go on
a waitlist. And once that grant comes through, we will
(25:59):
actually make sure that you can actually access a discounted ticket.
S2 (26:02):
Excellent. So all the information's on the website, and you
also have a regular newsletter that goes out through email
and other methods. Tell us how you can find out
about the newsletter. Vanessa.
S3 (26:14):
Well, the easiest way is to become a member. That's
the best way. Membership is free. People with disability, um,
are a full member. They are the only people that
actually have a say in our organisation. Um, you know,
our boards or people with disability. Um, we are at
the very people disability at the very centre of our organisation.
So if you become a member, you will get the
newsletter meant to be every two months. But I've been
(26:35):
a bit, been a bit busy lately, so this one's
a little bit delayed. Um, but yeah. So that's the
easiest way to sign on to the newsletter. Otherwise you can,
I think, just go on through MailChimp. But, um, I'm
old and I'm not. I'm not that technically savvy.
S2 (26:49):
If you're listening to the podcast In Plain Sight by
Vision Australia Radio, you can find the descriptions and we
will of our podcast there. And you, we will include
all the links to the conference and to everything that
we've been talking about to do with valued lives and
people with disabilities. Western Australia and all the key information.
(27:10):
So I'd like to thank our guests that have joined
us today, Vanessa and Malika. Thank you very much for
coming in. It's been a fabulous, very interesting and dynamic
conversation as I thought it would be. Thanks very, very
much for coming in, Vanessa.
S3 (27:22):
Thank you for thank you for having us.
S4 (27:23):
Thank you. Thank you so much.
S2 (27:24):
Look forward to speaking to you again next time. And
that's all from us today at In Plain Sight on
Vision Australia Radio.
S1 (27:39):
That concludes in Plain Sight for this week. Join us,
Abby Green 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
(28:01):
by Vision Australia Radio. Thanks for listening.
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