14 Jun 2025

Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
S1 (00:39):
It's just gone. 5:00. As we celebrate the life of
the late, great Brian Wilson and do it again. Do
it again. That is. Welcome you warmly to the late
link here on Vision Australia Radio 1190 7 a.m. in Adelaide,
online at via radio.org via Radio Digital in Adelaide to
Darwin through the Community Radio Plus app. Look for Vision Australia,

(01:00):
Radio Adelaide our friends listening through 103.9 FM in Esperance
in Western Australia, also through the Reading Radio Network. A
big hello to you and our tremendous support from Disability
Media Australia. You can find out much more about them,
including link at Power Media. Peter Greco saying so great

(01:23):
to be here. Thank you for making time for us.
This program coming to you from Garner Land come to
you very shortly. We'll meet Groove Doctor be he's an
ophthalmologist by day and a groover by night. We'll find
out about him. We'll also catch up with Becca Fessey,
who tells us about some great work going on. As
far as thanking the wonderful work from our first responders. Rebecca,

(01:45):
coming up very soon, we'll also catch up with Kelly
Schultz from Noah will be fantastic news for Kelly. They've
just received their accreditation. As far as being a social
enterprise goes, what does that mean? Chelsea marchetti will join
us from the Flipper Academy talking about ice baths. Chelsea
is the physiotherapist. Are they good? Who are they good for?

(02:06):
Who should avoid them? We'll find out from Chelsea. I'll
also be joined by Sami Glastonbury. Talking about hot kids
and siblings. Australia. They're working closer together. Sami will share
her very personal story. As far as her family goes.
We'll also catch up with Emma Reid from Resthaven. Wonderful
supporters of the program. If you or someone you love

(02:27):
is looking to get into residential aged care. Emma's got
some really important information and Jim Cooper will join us
from continent South Australia. They are celebrating and marking World
Continence Week. Well, it's really fabulous to welcome to the
program groove Doctor B who's got some CDs out. It's

(02:50):
on YouTube. Groove doctor B, welcome. Thank you for your time.

S2 (02:53):
Thank you Peter.

S1 (02:54):
Now, uh, when you're about ten, you found a guitar
or saw a guitar and that kind of set you off?

S2 (03:00):
Oh, I did, yeah. I went up to visit my, uh,
my favorite uncles, uh, well, latest girlfriend who became his wife,
and they're still married a long time. And she had
a guitar. This was in Dolby. And I said, oh,
she played me a little folk song. And I went, oh,
my God, I got to play the guitar. It's so good.
And I said, mom, I got to get a guitar.
I got to get a guitar. And mom said, because

(03:22):
mom had played piano and and done all the exams
and everything as a kid and then never played it
again later in life. Uh, and she said, well, Robert,
if you want to play, you got to, uh, you know,
I'll get you a guitar, but you got to do
your practice and, you know, all you want to do
is play footy in the afternoon, and you've got to
do at least 10 or 15 minutes of guitar. Oh, yeah. Yeah,
I'll do that. And then for the first, uh, week,

(03:44):
I faithfully did my guitar and then went out and
kicked the footy around, uh, rugby league up here in
this area by the way of Redcliffe and, uh, you know,
then the next week it was like, no, don't want
to play the guitar. But mum made me and I
think if she didn't make me, I might have, uh,
you know, wilted on the vine way back then, but, uh,
it's been a source of great joy for me. And
it's been, uh, you know, something that is, you know, like,

(04:07):
it's a joyful thing for me to do, and it
helps me get through everything else in life. So. Thanks, mom.

S1 (04:13):
Yeah, it's interesting, though, isn't it? Because you can have
a a passionate ten by 12, you've kind of moved
on to the next thing. So you stuck at it
and obviously it's, uh, borne fruit.

S2 (04:22):
Yeah. Well, as Keith Richards said, it's amazing all the
combinations and permutations that you can get from, uh, six
strings and a, you know, a dozen or more or
16 or 18 or whatever number of frets you've got
on your guitar. 20 to 22 just keeps going. You
can just keep at it forever and ever.

S1 (04:38):
Yeah. And, uh, your, um, your, uh, talked about being
at redcliffs, of course, for those old enough, uh, groove
not to be. That's where the beaches came from.

S2 (04:47):
And they played just up the road from me at
the Redcliffe Showgrounds. Yeah, I'm a big Redcliffe Dolphins go
fins up. Fins up. Yeah, Dolphins. Sorry. I hope that
doesn't put off a lot of other people on the
listening end of this story. But, you know, we all
have our passions for our, our teams. And, uh, the team,
like I got I played rugby league for the Dolphins

(05:08):
juniors for, for years and years. And I've always had
a team approach to things. And that's the same with
music too, with a band and people supporting me. And it's, uh,
and in my job as a, you know, as a,
as an ophthalmologist, it's it's about a team. I mean,
I've got to deliver what I've got to deliver, but
we all depend on, on, on a, on a good
team around us.

S1 (05:27):
I'll come back to the ophthalmology before we wrap up.
But what about the performances that you do? As I said,
you're on YouTube, you've got CDs out, you do one plug,
you work in a band as well, so you're pretty versatile.

S2 (05:39):
Well, Peter, it's been an interesting journey for me because
it got diverted along the way because I started with,
you know, playing garage bands and literally in the garage.
And the police had come around. That's when we knew
we had the amplifier turned up to 1110. Um, and, uh,
that was it. Mhm. You know the back of my, my,
my house, my mom's house at Redcliffe and uh, but uh, yeah.

(06:00):
So we've, we've come from a background of, you know, soul, blues, rock,
garage rock, all that sort of stuff. But along the way,
I then diverged into another, uh, you know, a journey
in life, which was ophthalmology. But I never stopped playing in,
in sort of bands and I. But but about five
years ago or six years ago, I started, you know,
really knuckling down and going, well, I've got to stop

(06:23):
writing little ditties and journal entries into my little black
book and actually turn those lyrics and those tune ideas
and guitar chords and keyboard key changes into songs. So
we got encouraged to, uh, start recording. And, uh, then
with the, uh, recording, after about three albums, um, my, um,

(06:44):
recording studio, uh, people, uh, Jan and Smudge at Big
Note Studios, who Jen does all the gospel type backing, um,
on the on the tracks and, uh, smudges. Uh, he
did all the bass guitar and the drums and they said, well,
you've got to get a band back together. Um, so
I found an awesome drummer, and, uh, he's a great, uh,
backing vocalist and a great bass guitarist. So we we've, um, we've,

(07:07):
you know, we've got a big sound from a three
piece band, and we've got a lot of fun, and
we we that's what we're doing. We've got back into
playing music and they're supporting me playing, um, live original music.

S1 (07:19):
Is that a hard thing to do? Kind of. I mean,
I guess anyone can do covers, you know what I mean?
But to do your own stuff, that's kind of a
different level.

S2 (07:28):
Yeah, it actually is, because we we all love covers
and we we that's what we've played all our lives.
You know, we've all played the great cover songs that
we love and we know them off by heart. Strangely enough,
it's harder for me to to memorize my own lyrics.

S1 (07:43):
Um, yeah, I can, I can understand.

S2 (07:44):
That song that I knew from when I was, you know,
14 or 15. Um, you know, most of the ones
we now are, you know. But we do some covers.
And when we do covers like Pink Cadillac and that
we just do it completely differently. Um, but in a
way that people would like never, never, you know, sort of, uh,
digressing into sort of being like, uh, self-important. We always
want to make it so people can get up and

(08:05):
dance to it, or they can, you know, hum a
song to it. They can tap their toes to it
and pretty much instantly, you know, like it. So we're, um,
you know, that's how we focus our music. I always
love the Beatles because they could, um, take highbrow and
turn it into everyday, you know, lovable songs by that
everyday people could love.

S1 (08:26):
We've touched on the Beatles, the Bee Gees, you talked about, uh, blues, etc.
you've got a fairly eclectic taste as far as music goes,
which I guess kind of all melds into what, uh,
Groove Doctor Bee is and does.

S2 (08:39):
Yeah. Well, I think, you know, I often say it's
like that, uh, it's a gumbo of the southern fried boogie,
because I've been down to the South a lot, a
lot of times. And I Love it down there. And
it's always been what I've been interested in from from
about the age of 13 or 14 and then the
soul and the blues and, uh, and then a little
bit of garage rock, sort of pub rock, Aussie stuff, uh,

(09:00):
thrown in as well. But, you know, it's the blues
and the soul that, uh, and I love jazz too.
I used to go to, you know, put the vinyl
on and play Duke Ellington and Count Basie and Dizzy
Gillespie and all that sort of stuff.

S1 (09:13):
When I.

S2 (09:14):
Sleep at night. But, um, that's, uh, that was when
I had a bit more time in life and a
and an LP player.

S1 (09:21):
Yeah. Well, I guess, uh, you know, those LPs are
kind of, uh. Well, I was going to say gone
out of fashion. They're kind of gone out of fashion
maybe in more recent years. Come back with vinyl, haven't they?
I mean, you know, a lot of people like the
old streaming, you stream your favorite song or you have
your Spotify hit list and that's kind of it. But, uh, the,
the LPs kind of gave you great insight into the
artists overall, didn't it?

S2 (09:40):
Well, it was a it was a great era, wasn't it?
There was more, you know, for young young people coming
through the music industry. It was an era where, you know,
more money might flow to them rather than to Silicon Valley. Uh, and, um,
you know, some of them are buying LPs, but obviously
it's not the same, uh, volume that, uh, there would
have been back in the day. Um, but, you know,

(10:02):
I remember reading about, you know, like the Bob Dylan
album came out or Jimi Hendrix album came out. People would,
I believe, would have, you know, sort of get together
sort of significant parties to, to listen and open the
album and listen to it for the first time. So
I guess with streaming, it's kind of as the word, uh,
kind of hints at. It's just a constant stream of

(10:25):
music coming in. And so it's hard for young people
to get their their name up and, uh, you know,
onto the, into people's ears, uh, with so much coming out. But,
you know, on the other hand, I suppose it's democratized
music a bit. It's helped people, uh, kids make, uh,
you know, music in their, um, in their bedroom groove.

S1 (10:44):
Doctor B, you talked about also being an ophthalmologist by day.
What about kind of combining the two, particularly through studies,
because we hear how tough that study time can be?

S2 (10:53):
Well, actually, when I was a medical student, I played solo,
you know, acoustic guitar at one of the local the
Treasury pub in, in Brisbane. And that sort of helped
get me through. I had a job as a Storeman
and Packer, but um, I guess, um, you know, when
I'm doing my ophthalmology, it's definitely focused on that. And

(11:13):
then the, the band would be, you know, his weekend, uh, stuff, but, um,
you know, as I, as I evolve, I, you know,
I love music, and, I mean, I love, uh, doing surgery, too,
and I put my heart and soul into that. And, uh, I, um,
you know, always was, uh, wanted to do the right
thing by, uh, you know, doing the best job for people.

(11:34):
So I put my heart and soul into that, and
I still do, but, um. Yeah, the music would be
something I, you know, want to start pursuing a bit more.

S1 (11:42):
Be a guitar at ten. Got you on the music career.
What got you into the ophthalmology area?

S2 (11:47):
Oh, it's just beautiful. You know, like I like surgery.
I actually thought I was going to be a physician
because I thought it was like solving, you know, mysteries.
Like being Sherlock Holmes, trying to detect what was the diagnosis. Yeah,
but it actually is a lot of the time it's
pretty formulaic. And, uh, and then I realized surgery really,
really catapults people from bad disease into health very quickly.

(12:09):
And it's measurable. And, and then I thought there was
a few surgery disciplines I might follow. But then I
saw ophthalmology. I thought, well, this is really quite beautiful.
It's aesthetically very pleasing. You're looking down a microscope at
people's eyes and they're, you know, even just their iris
is very, you know, pretty. But, uh, and their retina,

(12:29):
it's it's like deep sea diving. And you go into
an eye and you start peeling away little membranes of
their retina and stuff. And so it was a it
was a challenge because technically difficult. But, you know, one
of the funny things people say, what did you you know,
what helped you with your becoming a doctor and a surgeon?
And I said, well, my surgery, it was actually knowing

(12:50):
that I could play the guitar like Johnny Winter, because
as a kid, I had to sit there with the
LP and try and go diddle diddle diddle and turned
that into each single note and work out what he played.
And when I realized I could do that the first
time I sat and put my my instruments inside somebody,
I obviously fell a bit of apprehension and I realized
the apprehension could turn into nervousness and therefore shaking. And

(13:11):
you know what I told myself? I said, hey, you
can play the guitar like Johnny Winter. You get in
that eye and you peel. You do what you got
to do in there. Like Johnny Winter would play the
guitar and it just calm down. And it might have
been false, but I needed it. I needed that, that
bravery to to do it.

S1 (13:31):
Yeah. Well, to quote John Lennon's song, whatever gets You
through the night, I guess.

S2 (13:35):
Yeah, absolutely.

S1 (13:37):
Hey, doctor. Doctor, what about in terms of your availability
of your music? And also, have you got any gigs
coming up, or have you got any tours coming up
that you'd like to tell us about?

S2 (13:49):
Yeah, I mean I'm available all weekends, but I particularly
got to make some time for a very exciting project
with a good colleague, uh, friend and, uh, music colleague
Drew Battese, who's this may strange sound like strange, um, uh,
music bedfellows, but he's doing a what happened to the
disco tour now, there's a lot of history to that.

(14:10):
But the thing I know about disco is that, as
you said, a lot of it kind of came from
a Red Cliff band called the Bee Gees.

S1 (14:19):
Yeah. Of course.

S2 (14:20):
Yeah. And, you know, I come from roots music. I love, uh,
all of everything that came from the blues. Had a
baby to call it rock and roll. But you know what?
If you look at all the notes that people use,
whether it's rap or funk or disco, it's it's all
the blues notes. And so people change the rhythms and
you know, that's that's the the progress in life rhythms change.

(14:43):
But I've always loved the boom boom boom ba boom
ba blues rhythm because that gets my toes tapping gets
me up and down. But I know what gets the
ladies up and dancing. And they they love to dance
to that as well. But they do love their disco.
And so we're going to be working with drew on
that tour. So there's going to be a lot of uh,
to start with, uh, you know, the, the rural sort

(15:04):
of uh, areas, regional areas, which is really exciting because
the people out there, they love their music and they
love live music. And we'd like to, you know, give,
give the, the live music back to them. So I'm
really looking forward to that. So later in the year
that's what we'll be doing.

S1 (15:20):
And some of them are doing it pretty tough at
the moment. Our country folks, so great to give a
little bit back to them and give them to, uh,
have something to smile about as well.

S2 (15:28):
Yeah. Well, music, that's what gets you through life.

S1 (15:30):
Yeah.

S2 (15:31):
Yeah, yeah. You know, I look at what I love
the the southern USA and the blues, the soul and that.
And you look at the sort of lives that they
had and what they had to go through and wow.
Back in the day. And yet they seem to have
managed to, uh, enjoy, uh, life through music. And that's
what music does for you. It's, uh, it's, uh, chicken.
What is it? Chicken soup for the soul.

S1 (15:53):
You. I'm going to, uh, make sure I get some
of these quotes out of this interview, because you've got
so many cool sayings that too many to remember, but
I'll write them all down and use them in the future.

S2 (16:03):
You know, sometimes people come back and say, but I
always remember that you said this to me.

S1 (16:07):
Yeah.

S2 (16:07):
I don't remember saying that. It sounds like something I
might have said, but I don't really remember it. But, you.

S1 (16:12):
Know, it's not rehearsed. Not rehearsed? Yeah. All off the
top of your head. Magnificent. Spontaneous. Now you've got a
website we'll put the information about, uh, you and your website.
And also you've got a YouTube channel. You've got everything.
So if people want to check out your music and
a bit more about you, and I guess when the

(16:33):
tour dates are more established. That'll be up on your
website as well.

S2 (16:36):
Yeah, we'll make sure everybody knows about it. I've got
a great team behind me. I'm not a big user
of the social media. I just love focusing on my music.
But there's a good team behind me and I'll let
you know and everybody know when we're doing the stuff.

S1 (16:51):
Groove doctor, it's been great fun. It's been also very
interesting and sort of some serious points, which I guess
is kind of part of the person that you are
as well. I mean, you, you love a bit of fun,
you love a bit of music, but you've also got
a serious side and you've shared a little bit of
that with us. Thank you for doing that. And also
thanks to drew. He's been great having us get together.
So a big shout out to drew as well.

S2 (17:11):
Yeah thanks Pete. And yeah Drew's a great part of
the team. He's a fantastic.

S1 (17:16):
We don't want to talk about him too much.

S2 (17:18):
Uh, I can see his head getting bigger and bigger
as we talk, but, uh, isn't that good? It's good
to feel good about yourself.

S1 (17:24):
Good to have good mates. Yeah. Groove doctor me. Thanks again.
And we wish you well. Hopefully we can speak to
you again in the future.

S2 (17:30):
Hey. My pleasure. I hope to do so. Thanks very much, Pete.

S1 (17:34):
Ophthalmologist by day and raconteur. Musician and entertainer by night.
Groove a groove. Doctor B. And we'll put the details
of his website up on our show notes so we
can always go there. And as always, if you missed them,
you can always give us a call here at the
radio station and we'll pass them on. Through. During the week,

(18:00):
we thanked first responders. A really important message to tell
us a bit more about, particularly Rebecca's role and also
some of the challenges that first responders have. We've got
Rebecca on the line, who's community engagement officer at Forum Australia. Rebecca,
lovely to meet you. Thank you for your time.

S3 (18:17):
Thanks for having me, Peter.

S1 (18:19):
This is such an important thing to do. And I
guess in a little way at least, we can kind
of show how much we do appreciate it, because the
kind of always there, aren't they?

S3 (18:26):
Well, that's right, absolutely. Our first responders Is a really
an integral part of our community. However, they do endure
a lot of repeated traumatic events and a lot of
stresses in their day to day work. So research actually
tells us that 33% of first responders experience high or

(18:47):
very high psychological distress. And we also know that 15%
live with anxiety and or depression, and 23% are affected
by post-traumatic stress disorder, which is commonly referred to as PTSD.
And I think when you take a step back and
you consider these statistics, I think it really highlights the

(19:10):
emotional toll of the critical work our first responders do.
But it's also important to understand that it's not just
the first responders that are affected, it's their families as well.
So it does have a flow on effect. And family
members often face impacts of trauma and stress second hand.
So it's really vital and super important that the whole

(19:32):
family unit is supported.

S1 (19:35):
And these first responders, they come from all walks of
life in kind of different professions. And also of course,
many are just want to say just that they're volunteers.
So it's kind of something they do away from, you know,
their regular job.

S3 (19:46):
Absolutely. That's exactly right. Yes.

S1 (19:49):
So what about some of the role that you play then?
Tell us a bit about Fortnum Australia, who you are
and what you do. I'm pretty sure it's the first
time I've spoken to anyone from Fordham, Australia. Yeah. Talk
a bit about your role and how you kind of
help both the individual but also the family.

S3 (20:05):
Absolutely. So Fordham Australia support the mental health and wellbeing
of first responders and their families in a number of ways,
using a holistic approach. So we offer social connection activities,
which is where I come in, and I'll talk about
that more in a moment. We also offer clinical mental
health support, career management and mental health literacy programs as well.

(20:25):
So we're a not for profit organization, and we do
rely on donations, partnerships and grants to deliver all of
these crucial services that promote resilience, recovery and general overall well-being.
So all the work that we do ensures that first
responders and their families have the support they need to
manage the impacts, I guess. Um, so that they can

(20:48):
really thrive in their personal and professional lives. So where
I come into the picture is, um, I organize the
social connection activities, also known as our well-being activities in Victoria. Um,
and as you've already sort of alluded to, our first responders,
the demographic is is so huge. Um, the activities that

(21:10):
I offer really need to be dynamic. Um, and they
need to appeal to many different people of sexes, ages, Backgrounds. Um,
and some of those activities are things like paddle boarding, uh,

(21:31):
indoor rock climbing, tenpin bowling. Art classes, music. Um, I
took a group of first responders to an AFL match
on Saturday, for example, in lieu of a first responder day.
So all the activities are really dynamic, and it's really
about getting first responders and their family members out. Um,

(21:54):
it might be trying something new, but it's really about
coming out, having fun, spending time with each other. So
within the family unit, but also having a chance to
meet other first responders within their areas and develop a
social network so that when they do endure these traumatic
events and they do need to rely on that support network,

(22:17):
they've got, they've got the right people around them.

S1 (22:19):
Really great point you make there, Rebecca, because I guess,
you know, you can do what you can do with
the best of your intentions. And I'm sure you do
that very well. But I guess if they're speaking to
people who are going through, who have been through similar things,
that message is kind of another message, but equally important.

S3 (22:34):
Absolutely. And, you know, first responders understand other first responders, right.
So it's, um, I get to go out on all
the well-being activities. And I absolutely love my job. And
it's so great to see different individuals come together and
organically just start talking about things that they have experienced

(22:55):
in the past, things that they are currently experiencing. But
it's also an environment where there's no pressure to talk
about that either. So, um, people can choose to if
they want to, but they don't have to if they
don't want to. So I, I think what Fortum offer
is such a great opportunity and environment for first responders. Um,

(23:16):
and they are so appreciative to they come out to
the well-being activities and they're always say thank you and
always super appreciative that we have that service there for them.

S1 (23:26):
Do you want to tell you the person who might
be interested in rock climbing, rather than someone who might
be interested in music and sort of tailor make the
activity to suit the person's interests or the people's interest?

S3 (23:36):
Uh, yes, in a way. So, um, yeah, like like
we've sort of spoken about, you know, you've got some
first responders are super really into fitness, and others are
not interested in fitness at all. Um, and yeah, some
are into to more subdued activities. Um, so we really
try to cater for, um, yeah, the vast, uh, demographic that,

(23:58):
that we have, um, within our first responder community and
family members as well.

S1 (24:03):
I guess talking to them, working with them, you pick
up the the benefits of things like this, maybe, you know,
it's one of those things, I guess if you don't know,
you know, you don't know what you've got till it's gone,
if I can put it that way. Can't they be
appreciative of the fact? But if they if it wasn't there,
they probably wouldn't know. They appreciate it because it wasn't
been there if that kind of makes any sense.

S3 (24:20):
That's exactly right. And I love hearing about first responders
who come to our activities and then go back to
their stations and their units and their offices and say,
you know, went to a Fordham, Australia activity, um, the
other night or on the weekend. And it was so
much fun because word of mouth is, you know, one
of the most underutilized marketing ploys, I suppose. And I

(24:43):
love for people to go back to their colleagues and, and,
and tell them that we exist, because it also is about, um,
people knowing that we're there. They may not necessarily want
to or need to engage with us at the time,
but to know, for example, down the track if they
need our free psychology services, just to know that we're

(25:03):
there and that they can pick up the phone and
contact us.

S1 (25:06):
You're based in Victoria. Is Fordham Australia, Australia wide or
just in Victoria?

S3 (25:11):
Yes. So we're Australia wide. So I'm yeah, I'm in
Victoria and I organise all the wellbeing Being activities in Victoria. Um,
my counterparts who do a similar role to me are
based in most of the major cities around Australia. So
in addition to that, we also offer virtual wellbeing activities.
So it doesn't matter where you are based in Australia,

(25:34):
if you don't have any activities happening close to you,
you can jump online and you can attend one of
our virtual activities. And some examples might be we have
some cooking activities, uh, we have some yoga, those sorts
of things. So yeah, lots, lots and lots on offer.
So all of our activities are advertised on our website

(25:56):
which is for Australia. So jump on there, have a
look at our wellbeing activities. And for anything that listeners
might be interested in um, who are first responders or
family members of first responders, they can simply register and
come along and join us.

S1 (26:12):
Alright, we'll repeat those details before we wrap up. I
was going to ask you about maybe not just the
metropolitan or city areas, because of course, a lot of
them do work in more remote or rural areas as
well in Australia, because it's a big brown wide land
that we talk about.

S3 (26:27):
Yes, it's it's huge. It's very large. I do travel
out to Western, it's East Gippsland when I can. Um,
but yeah, it is, it is very tricky of course,
in terms of funding, like I said, not for profit organisation.
And it can sometimes be difficult to be able to offer, um,

(26:48):
an activity as well as cover, um, you know, travel
expenses and those sorts of things as well. So yeah,
we do have some challenges, um, which is why we
have our virtual activities available as well, because it does
not disclose or, you know, it includes everybody, our virtual activities. So, um, yeah,
really good option. Um, for those that, that don't live

(27:10):
near a location where a physical wellbeing activity is being offered.

S1 (27:15):
We talked about the first responders and their kind of
response to the work that you do. I guess equally,
their families have been really pleased as well because, you know,
as you say, can be a problem. Shared can be
a problem halved as well. If the family can kind
of join in the activities, the fun as well, and
maybe see their loved one also, perhaps a bit more
relaxed and sort of enjoying life a bit, that can
be a very important thing as well.

S3 (27:36):
Yeah that's right. And I have actually witnessed on some
of our wellbeing activities, um, for example, family members of
police officers connecting with other family members of police officers, um,
because they too, like I said, first responders get first
responders and family members of first responders also connect in
in a similar way. So, um, they understand what it's

(27:57):
like to be, you know, a husband or a wife
of a police officer or a paramedic, um, for example. So, yeah,
they can, um, you know, they've exchanged contact details and
they continue to catch up outside Fordham, Forum Australia, which is,
you know, it's it's such a nice thing to see,
to be able to provide that opportunity for people to
connect in that way.

S1 (28:19):
Yeah. There's such a great point. And you also touched
on the fact that I know you kind of do
more of the fun stuff, Rebecca, which is good luck
to you. But you also do have, um, I guess,
a more serious side in terms of the psychological support
you provide as well, or was that you that provide
that or you kind of refer, uh, first responders on
how does that work?

S3 (28:36):
Yeah. So we have our central service that first responders
can contact, um, if and when they feel the need
to use our psychology service. Um, it is free for
first responders to use and family members as well. So
we have a general contact number, um, for people to
make initial contact with us, in addition to mental health
literacy programs and an online resource library as well. So

(29:01):
sometimes people don't necessarily want to make that first step.
And um, register with our psychology service, they might want
to do some reading and jump online, um, you know,
within sort of their own homes. Um, all of our
PDF resources available for download 24 seven. There's some great

(29:24):
resources online. I was just having a look at one
earlier that was in relation to, um, understanding emotions. So really,
really good resources for people, um, to, to read family
members might find it useful. We have some resources there
on dealing with someone that you know who has PTSD,

(29:44):
for example. So yeah, we've got we've got some great resources,
great services. So for us to be able to get
our name out there and for people to know that
we exist is a really, really great thing for us.

S1 (29:57):
Well, thank you to the first responders and thank you
to you, because I guess in a sense, you're doing
preventative work. You're hopefully, uh, you know, um, stopping, uh,
maybe some less than good things happening in the future
to our first responders by the programs that you employ
as well, that you put out there as well?

S3 (30:14):
Yeah, absolutely. And, you know, speaking from a well-being, um,
activity point of view, it's really about, um, prevention to
be able to.

S1 (30:22):
Get.

S3 (30:22):
People out and about to, you know, try and prevent, um,
first responders to getting to that point. So to provide the,
you know, the right support network, get them out, having fun,
spending time with their families, because that can be particularly hard, um,
especially if first responders are on shift work, for example,
to spend time with their kids. So, yeah, I love

(30:43):
my job, and I love meeting the first responders that
I meet when I go out, um, doing wellbeing activities.
And yeah, I think what we offer is a really
great service.

S1 (30:53):
I think we've picked up on the fact that you
love your job, Rebecca. So thank.

S3 (30:56):
You. I'm glad. I really do.

S1 (31:00):
I know we believe you. Believe you? Me? How can
we find out more? I guess, you know, it goes
without saying. I guess if people are feeling like they
might like to contribute to an organization that's making a
huge difference, um, you're obviously always available for people to donate, etc..

S3 (31:14):
Yeah, absolutely. So, um, listeners can go to our website,
Fortum Australia. Um, but in addition to that, we have
just had thank a first responder day, which was on
the 11th of June. And we also do have a
thank a First Responder Day website open that we, um,
are still taking donations from. So that website is thank

(31:36):
a first responder.org. And you'll also be able to jump
online and see some of the messages of gratitude and
support towards our first responders, which is always really heartwarming
to see. So listeners can go to either of those websites,
learn a little bit more about us, and uh, yeah,
hopefully engage with us. If you've got any questions, um,
please get in contact.

S1 (31:57):
All right. We'll put those details up with our shout outs. Rebecca,
keep up the great work.

S3 (32:01):
Fantastic. Thank you. Peter.

S1 (32:03):
So That's Rebecca Peaty there, who's a community engagement worker with, uh,
with the Forum Australia for Forum Australia. All those details
up on our show notes. And as always, if you've
missed any of them, you can always give us a
call at the radio station and we'll pass them on.

(32:24):
With your regulars on the program last week we caught
up with Kelly Schultz from Nobull, who talks about accessible
voting and the survey that Kelly had done. Kelly is
back with us. Kelly, great to catch up again.

S4 (32:33):
It was like I never left. Peter.

S1 (32:35):
Oh you haven't. Now, Kelly, you've got some good news
for the last little while, kind of putting a bit
of an exclamation mark to the work that you're doing.

S4 (32:42):
I have, and thank you for for acknowledging it. To Peter,
we have knowable. Me has recently achieved its social enterprise certification,
which is a really, really big milestone for us.

S1 (32:53):
And we're having a quick chat before coming to where.
And this is kind of interesting how it's all come
about or how it all hasn't come about.

S4 (32:59):
Well, social enterprises in Australia, you might hear lots of
different things, and people call themselves a social enterprise. So
for people who don't know, a social enterprise needs to
have a purpose that is about social improvement, employment, environment
or cultural. And so that's different from a a charity
because social enterprises need to actually do trade. So they

(33:21):
need to sell something, sell a product or a service.
So they could be not for profit or they could
be for profit. But a social enterprise does have that
mission and impact and purpose. And to be certified, you
actually have to prove to people to the certifying body
that more than you give back, more than you take effectively.
So it's actually quite a big deal. And we're in

(33:44):
market research, and a lot of the times people will hear, oh,
market research, you're the people who phone up and want
to ask me questions or stop me straight or, you know,
it can feel a bit exploitative at times. Market research, sure,
but I don't want it to be a dirty word.
I really want us to show that market research, particularly
what we do with people with disabilities, can have a really,

(34:05):
really big impact on everything.

S1 (34:08):
That's the point that we talked about last week, wasn't
the fact that the information that you've gained is now given,
or going to give everyone a bit more of an
idea of how accessible the information to vote was and
some of the experiences, etc. and hopefully some positive action
can be taken from that.

S4 (34:23):
Yeah, we'd love to see the positive action. It's one
of the things that's really clear in the customers we
work with is that we want to hear back, hear
what's changed and all that comes from feedback from people.
And sometimes it's little things about the accessibility of, you know,
we've we've had feedback from our our gift card website.
So we reward people with gift cards. And there's been

(34:47):
some screen reader issues on their website. And so we
provided them that feedback and they've fixed it. You know
it's okay. You know that wasn't necessarily a survey that
we did or a piece of work for a customer,
But that kind of feedback and that constant dialogue is
what we do, and that's what we want to do.
And it's out there. So sometimes it's a customer who

(35:07):
is getting that information for themselves, but sometimes it's us.
So the election one we talked about last week that's
freely available, anyone can look at that and quote those
stats and make those improvements.

S1 (35:19):
What's involved with getting this tick of approval?

S4 (35:21):
They want to see every single financial document I've ever
had for a start. So it's a quite a forensic
look into your business practices and structure. So they actually
look at your structure and how the company is, you know,
how shareholding works or where the money goes to make
sure that you can't just wind back that social impact.

(35:45):
It's actually enshrined into your business structure, your constitution, your documentation,
and then it also has to be enshrined in your finances.
That has to be really clear when you're looking at
a A balance sheet or profit and loss or some
sort of financial document where those funds are coming from
and going and where the beneficiaries are. So it's it's

(36:06):
quite a forensic look. Um, as well as, you know,
what our strategy is and what our plans are for
the future, because we're not very old yet. So hopefully
there's a lot more to come.

S1 (36:15):
You talked about, uh, for profits can also kind of
have that shingle, if you like. That's right, isn't it?

S4 (36:21):
That is right.

S1 (36:22):
Yeah, but they've still got to go through the hoops
of proving that what they are giving back.

S4 (36:27):
That's right. And you have to give more than you take.
So it has to be more than 50% of profits or,
or gains reinvested or, or given back to the purpose
of the organisation.

S1 (36:40):
This is a little bit of a tongue in cheek question, Kelly,
but how accessible is that process to kind of fill
out the forms?

S4 (36:46):
Uh, that's actually all online, so not a bad job.
I actually think the hardest part is the fact that, uh,
none of the government website. So try being a blind
business owner in this country is a bit of a
problem for things like basic, and filling out those types
of government things is the harder part, but social traders
who we worked with were great.

S1 (37:07):
What about as far as, uh, is it an ongoing
kind of accreditation? Or once you've got the stamp of approval,
that's it, or for a certain amount of.

S4 (37:15):
Time, because we're a startup, we're quite young in our
in our journey. We have to do it every year. Um,
but at the point at which you reach some sort
of stability, I think they do it for three years
once you're once you're established. But at the moment, for us,
it's a yearly recertification process.

S1 (37:30):
And what does it mean for you sort of both
personally and professionally, as far as you know, having that, uh,
shingle that you can, you know, put up in lights.

S4 (37:38):
I know it's not always, you know, what people like
to hear, but I'm really proud of it. I'm really
proud to be able to prove that we can do
market research for good. And as a business, it means
that other businesses who are buying from us can also
show that they are doing good by supporting a social enterprise.
So there's kind of benefits for everybody. Then the disability

(38:00):
insights and the accessibility insights that they need, they're also
supporting a social enterprise. So it looks good from everyone's perspective.
And like I said about market research, sometimes it can
feel a bit meh. Not sure that people want to participate.
So hopefully this also helps us build more people and
build that trust with our members so that they do

(38:20):
want to give of themselves to to help us make
make the world better.

S1 (38:24):
Well, I guess in a sense, what you're saying is
that if people do take part in your surveys or do, uh,
sort of join in the work that you're doing, then
their work is being valued as well. It's not just
another market research or just another survey I'm filling out,
but this could actually potentially make make a big difference.

S4 (38:40):
That's right. And they also know that we are not
just sitting here profiting off their insights. Um, because that's
the thing. So often it can feel really exploitative, particularly
for people with disability who so often share things that
have need to be fixed, or they provide feedback and
nothing happens, well, this is proof we we we're giving
back and things will happen.

S1 (39:02):
Fantastic. Well, if people want to find out more and
it's really good that you've got this social enterprise, that
badge of honor. So congratulations on that. It sounds like
you've certainly had to work for it both off and
on the government website. So you kind of had to
do it in, in your own office and then through the,
the right channels as well. So congratulations on that. If
people want to find out more about what you do

(39:23):
and what you've got coming up, where can we find you?

S4 (39:26):
You can find us at noble k o w a
b l e dot m e. Um, and thanks for
your support, Peter.

S1 (39:34):
All right. I'm sure it won't be too long before
we speak again.

S4 (39:37):
Looking forward to.

S1 (39:37):
It. Kelly Schultz there. The person who stood up with
me and now has that accreditation of being a social enterprise.
They're going through all the channels and doing the right
thing and literally making a real difference. It's hard to

(40:12):
hear from our resident physiotherapist all the way from the
Flipper Academy here in Adelaide. Chelsea McCarty. Chelsea, great to
have you back with us.

S5 (40:20):
Great to be here, Peter. Happy one month that I
see you again.

S1 (40:24):
Yeah, it's a whole lot of my month. I just
the the weather, the way the weather's been lately. We're
going to talk about ice baths. So maybe if we
just step outside. We've kind of been one almost now.

S5 (40:34):
I think you might be right. Um, not not too
hard to find. Um, the cold weather and the cold
water at this point in time. Definitely.

S1 (40:44):
What is an ice bath for those that might not
be aware, I guess they're they mainly associated with particularly
elite sporting groups.

S5 (40:51):
Yeah. Um, so an ice bath essentially is like a
bath that would be set at around 10 to 15 degrees.
And the idea behind it is to help with essentially
pain relief and recovery. Um, what it can potentially do
is the cold temperature can help calm down your nervous system. Um,

(41:11):
and also help relax your muscles. And, um, that's why
you see a lot of athletes post a game getting
straight into a nice ice bath. Um, just to help
with pain relief and resetting all those recovery mechanisms so
that they're ready to go again, um, in the next week.

S1 (41:27):
But they've been around a fair while.

S5 (41:28):
I believe they've been around for a while. I think
they're getting more and more evidence behind them. So there's
been more and more use. We definitely see them, like
I said, at the Athletic, um, high elite level, but
lots of people use them, um, for recovery in their
daily sport. Um, and I guess the other opposition to
that would be like Saunders. So the idea is that
we're kind of relaxing the body, reducing the pain relief, um,

(41:51):
potentially kind of reducing inflammation from, you know, undergoing a
really intense bit of exercise. And that just really helps
with the muscles, um, being able to repair themselves and
bounce back a bit quicker.

S1 (42:02):
The thought has certainly been around a very long time,
but going way, way, way back. So I guess it's
kind of from one extreme to the other.

S5 (42:10):
Absolutely.

S1 (42:11):
So what about in terms of the benefits then you
kind of touched on it. I mean, you talked about
relaxing the muscles. I'm not sure about you, but if
I ever get any place cold, I tend to tense up.

S5 (42:21):
Yeah, it's a bit of a process. So I think
initially it's one of those things that you do have
to get used to, but the idea behind it is
that you would get in and be a bit frantic initially,
and the idea is that you really breathe through it,
and that just kind of really helps calm your nervous
system down. Uh, and the cold water just kind of
really reduces that so that your muscles can relax and

(42:44):
repair and take in the benefits of the cold. Like
I said, it's probably more like a form of pain relief.
Like if you think about when you hurt yourself and
you put some ice on your bruises. Um, it's a
little bit like that type of concept. It's definitely not
something that we use to prevent injury, but really a
recovery tool. So it'd be like, you know, if you
were going to go for a massage, like comes in

(43:06):
conjunction with those types of recovery and repair mechanisms that
we use to try and help ourselves feel better after
a really intense bit of exercise or I guess, trauma
to the body for lack of a better term.

S1 (43:19):
I was going to ask you about that because of course,
you know, we all have heard about the rice principle.
Rest was it rest, ice compression and elevation?

S5 (43:29):
Yeah.

S1 (43:30):
So it's kind of along those sort of lines because
I guess particularly if you're, you know, maybe cop a knock,
it can maybe help a bit with the swelling and
stuff like that.

S5 (43:38):
Yeah, absolutely. It's essentially the same concept. That's why you
often see elite athletes will do it straight after a game.
They won't do it like 2 or 3 days after
a game, because you lose the effects. When you're doing that,
you're really doing it immediately after or straight away the
next day. Um, because you want them, you want it
to do them within that 24 hour window so that
you're really getting that initial, um, effect of the ice. Um,

(44:01):
that's like when you ice a bruise, we'll often say,
you know, ten minutes on, ten minutes off, or we
do it straight away. We don't say ice it, you know,
three days later, um, because you're not getting the effects
of the ice at that point in time. Um, and
you can be at risk of other things like secondary, um,
hypothermia to the blood and those sorts of things. So
we really want to, um, get in the bath as

(44:22):
soon as we've finished our really intense exercise. Only in
there for a, you know, a space of ten minutes
and then getting out and doing our other recovery mechanisms
like potentially stretching or, um, massage or something like that.
And the idea is that we're just reducing the pain,
helping our body recover so that we can bounce back again.
We're not preventing injury or doing anything like that with

(44:44):
these types of mechanisms.

S1 (44:46):
So I think they are available to the general public
if you kind of search high and low for them.
What about in terms of precautions? If you know someone's
maybe kind of a weekend athlete if you like, or
they play a bit of sport on the on the weekend.
Would you recommend them for something like that, or are
there any precautions or any things that we should be
aware of before kind of jumping in one?

S5 (45:07):
Yeah. So I think it's really important to check with
a medical professional before you get into any of these
mechanisms or any of these baths. One of the things
that I guess would be a really big precaution would
be pregnancy. So you want to make sure that, um,
you know, if you are pregnant, that you're checking that
with your doctor and looking at, I guess, what stage

(45:27):
you're at and whether that would be something that would
be harmful, um, to the baby. Other things as well,
like we want to be if you've got not very
good circulation or blood flow, um, being in the cold
water for extended periods of time, um, can be really
constrictive to your blood vessels. So you just want to
really make sure that if you're planning on doing this
type of thing for recovery, that, you know, you've gone

(45:49):
to your local doctor giving them a call and just said, look,
given my history, given what I've got, do you think
this would be something that's safe for me to do?
Is there anything I need to to bear in mind?
So that stuff's really important? Other things like heart conditions
and those sorts of things. Low blood pressure is another one.
Like if you feel faint or dizzy doing an ice bath,
it's a similar thing to a sauna. Those extreme kind

(46:12):
of temperatures can really put your body at risk. So
you want to make sure that your body is in a, um,
appropriate state and can withstand those extreme temperatures.

S1 (46:21):
And I guess the other thing, without wanting to maybe
have the mentality, if you like, of an elite athlete,
it's kind of, well, if you want to do it,
why do you want to do it? What are you
seeking to achieve from it that you might not be
able to get doing something else? I guess rather than
just doing it because, you know, all the superstars do,
it doesn't mean it's going to be good for you,
or indeed, the issues that you've got are going to
be helped at all by something like this.

S5 (46:42):
Absolutely. Yeah, absolutely. And look, I think it's also like
age dependent. Um, I think, I mean, I probably wouldn't
be recommending this type of recovery mechanism for someone that's
over 65. Um, I'd probably be more so recommending, um,
more of a heat benefited type of version of this,
like a sauna or something dependent on the patient's, um, history. Um,

(47:04):
because I just think it's it's not comfortable. It can
be really, um, debilitating to some, some older people just
with the way that our body goes with temperature and
the way it can struggle sometimes to regulate temperature, we
really just want to make sure that you were being safe.
And we're recommending the right things. So look, like I said,
it's worth just running past your allied health professional or

(47:26):
your GP, um, and just making sure that it is
a safe mechanism for you. And like you said, Peter,
is it something that you want to do and why
do you want to do it? What benefit are you
going to get out of it? Is it because you've,
you know, been running really hard and training for marathons
and your body just needs to recover? Is there anything
else that you could do to help that same goal?

(47:46):
Do you like the cold? Does it benefit you? Um,
it's kind of in your own preference as well as
to what you like. Because if you really hate something,
it's not going to be a good recovery tool for
you anyways.

S1 (47:56):
Might scar you mentally, if nothing else. So just thinking
it might be a bit of a shock as well,
mightn't it? Because you know, if you get into something
so cold and I mean, I guess if you're expecting it. Yeah. But, uh,
you know, it's kind of different than getting into a,
even if getting into a cold shower. I mean, I
don't know what that temperature is, but it's probably less
than the the ice bath might be.

S5 (48:15):
Yeah. Yeah. Absolutely, absolutely. And, um, you know, I guess
you could even test it with a cold shower. Some
people do, like hot, cold showers. So, you know, you
do cold for two minutes, do hot for one minute.
Do cold for two minutes. Just so you're not kind
of sitting in that cold for an extended period of time,
then you can increase that time if you're tolerating that. Okay.

(48:36):
It's really up to you and what what you think
would benefit you and what would be good for you
and your body.

S1 (48:42):
I know there's one school of thought that says that
if you have a shower right at the end of it,
make it quite cold because it's supposed to accelerate you and, uh,
you know, when you get out, you kind of warm
up quicker afterwards. But I've kind of almost tried that,
but I chickened out once. It gets a bit too cold,
I think. Well, no, this isn't this isn't for me. So, um,
if it's not for me, someone else can do it

(49:04):
for me.

S5 (49:06):
It's definitely not for me. I can say that, Peter,
I did do an ice bath once, and. Oh, I
wouldn't do it again. It was just, um, not not
my cup of tea, personally.

S1 (49:16):
But your teeth. Your teeth are still chattering.

S5 (49:19):
They are. They definitely are.

S1 (49:21):
All right, Chelsea, thanks for that. Now, how are things
going at the academy?

S5 (49:25):
They are going really well. Uh, we have just currently
Looking for another physio to help us out down at
Seaford State. Swim. Um, they've, um, opened up some hours
on a Friday for us. They have lots of kids
there that that want to learn their swimming and do
their hydro. Um, so we are on the hunt uh, for,
for physio down there. Uh, and we're potentially looking at

(49:47):
expanding into our northern areas of Adelaide as well. So
north and south are our next two kind of locations
that we're looking at, just with the demand we've been getting.
So all going, well, um, we do have our July
school holiday program coming up in the school holidays, um,
on the 11th of July and the 18th. Um, so
definitely can contact us if you're interested in that. Um,

(50:10):
and yeah, you can find us at WWE Academy.com. And
if you want to email us about the school holiday
program or, um, any, you know, anything about someone that
could come and help us out at Seaford or you
want to enroll your child at Seaford? Um, give us
an email at inquiries at flippa. Academy.com.

S1 (50:32):
We've certainly got to know you pretty well over the
last couple of years. You seem a very genuine person.
You set the Flipper Academy up because you saw there
was a need. It's obviously been affirming for you by
the virtue of the fact that you have so many
people that are wanting to come along and get benefits
from it, and they can also find out much more
through the NDIS. So as I say, your genuineness is very,
very obvious. I think you'd be a great person to

(50:54):
work for so people can contact you through your website
and go from there.

S5 (50:58):
Yeah. Thank you so much Peter. That's really, really lovely
for you to say. So yeah, we just want people
that are really passionate about what we do, really want
to help our kids achieve their goals. So if you're
passionate about kids and you're doing physio and you want
to learn a bit more, definitely reach out.

S1 (51:14):
Make a difference one session at a time.

S5 (51:16):
We try. We definitely try.

S1 (51:19):
Chelsea. We'll catch up next month.

S5 (51:20):
Absolutely. Thanks, Peter.

S1 (51:22):
Chelsea marchetti there from the Flipper Academy. If you want
to contact Uh, Chelsea Academy.com. As always, all that information
up with our show notes. Some really interesting news during
the week regarding heart, Kids and Siblings Australia. Let's talk
a bit about it with Sammy. Glastonbury. Sammy, great to

(51:43):
meet you and thank you for your time.

S6 (51:45):
Thanks for having me, Peter.

S1 (51:47):
Tell us a bit about this. Uh, two very well
known organizations that, uh, are kind of working more together now.

S6 (51:53):
Yeah, we're really excited for the partnership. I, I probably
liken it to the fact that we're experts in all
matters of, of the heart and that journey and what
that looks like for families, um, and people on the
journey getting their little ones, um, off for open heart
surgery and what they face before and after. Um, so
then to partner with Siblings Australia, who wrap around the

(52:16):
other siblings in the household because they're on that journey too.
So it's a really synergistic partnership and we're really excited
to to take it broader.

S1 (52:26):
I remember speaking about Siblings Australia way back when it
first started. It was 20 odd years ago.

S6 (52:31):
Yeah, that would be right, I believe 25.

S1 (52:34):
Yeah. So obviously a very, very important thing. I think
Kate Strahan was recognised last year for the great work
that Kate had done. Well, tell us a bit about
your involvement because it's very much a personal involvement.

S6 (52:44):
Yeah, that's right Peter. So I've been blessed with three
beautiful children, and my youngest was born with a C
or a defect in the heart that required open heart surgery.
So we were thrust into the medical system quite quickly. Um,
and at the time, there wasn't a lot of, um,
there wasn't a lot of resources or fact sheets like

(53:06):
we have now on the Heart Kids website going back
11 years ago. Um, to really sort of guide families through.
And we definitely didn't have a helpline like we have now.
So it's really wonderful today. As families face this, we
can direct them through to our website resources and we
can help them navigate that journey. So as I was navigating,

(53:27):
I had to just go into the mode of taking
care of my little baby. And for me, it wasn't
just about taking care of a baby. It was about
keeping him alive. So literally every single day about making
sure that he was breathing, that his heart was working, uh,
that he wasn't losing oxygen. So it meant lots of
trips in ambulances. Um, we were living regionally at the time.

(53:49):
We were living in the Barossa Valley down here in
South Australia. So a lovely part of the world, but
a pretty scary place to be in when you've got
a sick little baby. So as I said, lots of
ambulance rides and, uh, in the end, chopper rides down
to the hospital. So my personal experience was probably I
had to just focus on him. So I know that

(54:10):
my girls missed out. They missed out as really young
little toddlers, um, and kindy kids not having their mum,
not having their mum be there for the first day
of kindy, or not picking them up from childcare at
the end of the day, because my son and I
were down in in hospital in Adelaide, um, which then

(54:30):
subsequently led to us being over in Melbourne for open
heart surgery, where we were separated for for several weeks.
So I've, I'm very acutely aware of the impact that
our families face, and I've faced it myself. Um, and
I've had the mother guilt very much. Had the mother
guilt that I haven't been there for them. Um, so

(54:51):
then to now actually be working for the organisation, as
in Heart Kids and working closely with Siblings Australia who
work closely with my daughters as teens. Um, it just
really warms my heart because the support and the validation
that they're getting from siblings Australia makes them feel not alone. Um,

(55:11):
they know that and they care and they love their brother. Um,
but I'm sure that they would would definitely attest to
the fact that they didn't understand why I wasn't home.
They didn't understand why as young kids, um, you know,
mummy wasn't there. Um, so the, the pressure it placed,
I know on our immediate family was, was was huge.

(55:32):
And I know that we're one of many. My story
is is is very common, Peter.

S1 (55:38):
I guess it's one of those things where, okay, kids
maybe don't know exactly what's going on, but maybe if
their friends at school are seeing their parents, sort of
pick them up or, uh, you know, come to, uh,
different events, etc. they kind of think, well, hang on,
I'm a little bit different.

S6 (55:51):
That's exactly right. And that's exactly what my daughters would say.
They would say that they felt that they didn't relate
to other kids in the playground, that exactly that that
I it wasn't just through when Frank, my my youngest
was sick. It's the it's the ongoing effects of having
a heart kid. So they're really susceptible to the common cold.
If you can imagine the heart and lungs are very

(56:12):
closely linked. So just the common cold would put Frank
in hospital. So even after he had open heart surgery
and he was so-called fixed, it's this is a lifelong condition.
And because of that lifelong condition, RSV, rhinovirus, which is
aka the common cold, actually puts them in hospital on

(56:32):
oxygen or in some cases and in in our case
can put them in ICU. So it's the ongoing effects
of having a heart kid until their body gets to
a point where it's stronger. But you can imagine if
you've had open heart surgery as a little one takes
a little while for all those organs and everything to
be working at full steam. So it was it's been ongoing.

(56:54):
There's been many, many milestones. I've missed many. And it
breaks my heart even now, saying that because that's something
that I can never get back. Um, and another reason
why I'm, I'm really keen and happy to to to
talk to you, Peter, and share it out there to the,
to the wider Australian audience, how important this relationship is,

(57:16):
and for those siblings to be to be supported to.

S1 (57:20):
Well, is there something about you as a family, though?
Because I believe your girls are quite much involved with
the siblings Australia and kind of their input into the
whole setup as well. So that's just something about you
as a family.

S6 (57:30):
Yeah, I suppose, um, we see it as you know,
if you if you have the opportunity to help shine
the light on the path or make the path a
little bit smoother for someone else. Um, and I suppose
the girls have seen myself and my husband do that, so. Yeah.
So now both girls sit on the Consultative Committee for
Siblings Australia. So they exactly that. So when the board

(57:52):
and when the organisation is looking at running new programs,
they run it past um, the committee, uh, which my
girls are on that with a whole group of other
kids across Australia. Um, I'm not sure how many. I
think there might be sort of ten. Not always ten
can be present. Um, and that's just great because it
gives siblings Australia a real deep understanding of what these

(58:14):
kids are facing today. Because as you said, when when
Kate created the organization all those years ago, she, you know,
had that foresight of understanding there was a need but understanding. Now, Peter,
the needs are different. We're in a digital world now, um,
and our kids are facing different challenges. And so we
need to make sure we, we meet them where they
need it.

S1 (58:35):
Thank you. That lived experience. I mean, doesn't matter what
walk of life you talk about or what areas of
life you know, your daughters with their lived experience. I mean,
that that feedback, that connection they have with the group
would be invaluable. And obviously, for the group to kind
of take on board what they're thinking and how they're feeling, etc.,
and the other members of the group.

S6 (58:52):
Yeah, absolutely. And a lot of the times, that's what
my daughters say, that someone else will say something online
that they say, oh my gosh, I felt the same way.
Or I want to say that too, which is, you know,
I think we all need that reassurance in life and
validated validation that you're not the only one. Um, so
I know that they have that feeling every time they
have a meeting.

S1 (59:13):
I guess they're growing up and kind of literally before
your eyes and their feelings and their awareness and that
sort of stuff also changes. So it's kind of, um,
you know, a moving feast, if I can put it
a bit crudely.

S6 (59:23):
Oh, no. Absolutely, Peter. Absolutely. It's ever evolving. It's ever
evolving with the different stages of of their life. Absolutely.
Obviously their needs, uh, when they're little, is very different
to when they're in primary school and now in high school, uh, and,
and will be and that will change again. I'm not
I'm not at the university level yet, but I'm sure
it will be or, you know, post school doesn't necessarily

(59:45):
have to be university. Yeah.

S1 (59:47):
Well, I guess the other thing is it probably holds
them in very good stead to perhaps have, um, well,
careers that might really make a difference to the broader community.
I'm sure many kids do think that way, but their
outlook on life might be just a little bit different.
Maybe have a bit more compassion, a bit more sensitivity, perhaps.

S6 (01:00:02):
Oh, without a doubt. I think compassion in spades. I
think they have compassion in spades. I think, uh, a
lot of these. These kids. I think we underestimate them.
What they pick up, what they see, hear, feel. Um,
their EQ is usually a lot more attuned than probably
a lot of adults, um, because they, they feel deeply. Um,

(01:00:23):
and I think you're right. Definitely. I know, for instance,
one of my daughters is is keen to, uh, pursue
a career in, in law and in particular around human rights.
And I know that that definitely has stemmed from her childhood,
her upbringing.

S1 (01:00:38):
I'm sure there'll be plenty of calls on, uh, that
sort of expertise in the future, in a way, sadly, but, uh,
important that people like that will be around. So obviously
you're involved with fundraising and kind of keeping the organisation
ticking over as well.

S6 (01:00:50):
Yeah. For heart kids. Yes, I am indeed. So yes,
we're in we're in campaign mode at the, at the moment. Uh,
so obviously it's uh tax time. So we've got a
tax appeal out there asking people to generously to, to donate, uh,
to our cause. As you can imagine, Peter, obviously it's
a it goes both ways. You get that tax benefit,

(01:01:11):
but also to, you know, that you're helping families, uh,
like like mine, like mine did all those years ago. Um,
but also to, uh, why we get up every day.
Everyone in our entire organization gets up with the, with
the purpose to to do more and be more for
families that are going through this and facing it every day.
The statistics aren't great. We know that eight babies will

(01:01:33):
be born, um, today, Peter, um, with a CEO and 50%
of those will need life saving surgery. So that's the reality.
The other really sad and harsh reality is for little
ones lose their life every single week. So it's it's
quite confronting. And it's really important to have these opportunities

(01:01:53):
like I have with you now in just talking about the,
the true, the true, real and raw facts of what
it actually looks like.

S1 (01:02:01):
How can we find out more? How can we help?
Where can we go?

S6 (01:02:04):
Peter, you can head to our website. So. You can
donate there. You can find out more about what we do.
We have a podcast. You can inform yourself more by
listening to stories. We talk to clinicians. We talk to
play therapists. We talk to families. We talk to bereaved families. Um,

(01:02:25):
so but definitely the biggest thing that you can do is,
is donate. Uh, we get minimal government funding, uh, like,
probably a lot of people in the sector. Um, and
what we try to do every day is just be there.
We're we're the first call of support. We're the first
face they see, uh, with with their diagnosis after the clinician.
And we try to be there for them, not just

(01:02:47):
through the surgery part and the really rough part, but
also to after that, it's ongoing, helping them to, uh,
help transition their little ones into childcare. What that looks like.
Because when you say to a kindy director or a
primary school principal or a teacher that your child has
a heart condition. You can imagine their face. Peter. Um.

(01:03:07):
It's a it's a challenge. But that's why we're here.
We've created fact sheets and resources to to help them
on that journey. So. Yeah, absolutely. Head to our website,
follow us on Instagram or Facebook and, um, feel free
to leave a very generous donation and take that one
to your accountant.

S1 (01:03:24):
Okay. So we appreciate you spending some time with us. Very,
very much appreciated.

S6 (01:03:28):
Lovely. Thank you so much for having me. Peter.

S1 (01:03:31):
It's Glastonbury talking about hard kids and also siblings Australia,
working closely together for the benefits of the kids and
the families.

S7 (01:03:44):
Come on in.

S8 (01:03:45):
We open our doors to people we trust and care about.
And for over 85 years, South Australians have been opening
their doors to Resthaven. In turn, we've been opening doors
to an easier, better life at home from personal care
to help with the shopping and social outings, you'll welcome
the care that Resthaven brings.

S1 (01:04:06):
Let's hear from our wonderful friends, our long time friends
at Resthaven celebrating a very special anniversary this year. Let's
catch up with Emma Reed, who's the manager for residential
and funding services at Resthaven. And I'd love to speak
to you again.

S9 (01:04:20):
Thank you. Peter, thanks for having me.

S1 (01:04:21):
Now, uh, just a little bit about about your role,
but a bit about your team, because I guess that's really,
really important. Because they make the manager look good, don't they?

S9 (01:04:29):
Yeah, they certainly do. They're an awesome team. I've got
actually quite a few teams. But today I'll talk about
we've got accommodation team and we've got a funding team.
But the accommodation team are really the team that are
here to be able to support anyone in the community
that's looking for residential care. They're really the first port
of call for someone to be able to make a
phone call or contact us through our website, and to

(01:04:50):
be able to enquire about residential care that we offer.
We offer residential, permanent and residential respite care.

S1 (01:04:56):
Emma. What happens? I guess mainly people tend to kind
of come to you sort of saying, oh, look, you know,
I'm now in need of this, or are people pretty
well prepared or do a lot of planning before making
that move?

S9 (01:05:08):
I think there's a variance. You do get those that
are prepared really know the system. They've got everything in place.
They've got their referral codes through their Acad assessment, they've
got their financials in order and they really know. But
then you do have quite a few people that really
need to be guided through that process. And that might
be that they don't even realize that you need to
go through my aged care to get codes, to be

(01:05:31):
able to receive care because we can't care for someone
until they've had that assessment, because that's the government basically
guiding us on what the particular person is able to
receive in subsidies from the government. So we need that
piece of information. So we do we do help people
through that process with legals as well. People may not
have enduring powers of attorney or advanced care. Directives is

(01:05:55):
a big one. So really, in most circumstances, need to
have those pieces of information or documents so that we
can know how we're caring for that person and be
able to place them appropriately.

S1 (01:06:07):
With the act. So someone's receiving community services. I know
over the time, we've spoken a lot about community services
that resthaven offering a wide variety and obviously a wide
range of geographical areas. If someone's receiving community services, they
would have a managed care number, would they?

S9 (01:06:24):
They would absolutely have a managed care number, but they
might not have referral codes for residential. So that is
something that they would need to refer back to their
documentation or have contact with my aged care to determine
whether they need to then have a further assessment so
that they can be funded through residential care.

S1 (01:06:43):
Now, obviously we love speaking to people from Resthaven who've
been great supporters of us for a long time. But
you don't do the acat, do you? That is done
kind of independently. So people might have heard Resthaven on
the radio, I think. Or have they seen really good people.
I'd love to access their services. They need this a
cat first.

S9 (01:07:00):
They absolutely do. So every single person that resides within
residential care across Australia has had an a cat assessment,
and that is organised either by the person themselves or
by their representative. And that's through my aged care. So
they're my aged care website is a good place to
start my care.gov, and that's where they can put their

(01:07:22):
information in and start the process for an assessment, or
an acat team or an assessor to come out and
assess them. Sometimes when people are in hospital and they
are in need of residential care, the Acat team is
organised through the hospital planners that will organise that for them.
But if you're in the community, you're at home and

(01:07:42):
you know that, as an example, your mother needs to
potentially go into residential care in the future or in
the near future, then you would need to, um, step
out and have contact with my aged. Care Educate yourselves.

S1 (01:07:54):
Look, if you can't comment on how long that process
might take, I guess it depends on, you know, any
particular point in time there might be a busy or
less busy times.

S9 (01:08:03):
Yes, I have experienced this personally, and from my personal
experience it was quite an extended time. It was about
six month wait. Okay. Yeah. And that was quite shocking.
So I think that if you are looking to potentially
need to be placing a loved one into residential care
or if they're even, I always say it's just it's

(01:08:24):
the ticket in. So even if you think, well, they've
got years and years left behind, left still to be
able to be at home, they might still be need
to just have that in the background sitting, waiting for
a time when they might need it. Because you don't
want to be faced with an emergency situation where your
loved one might need to be placed into residential care

(01:08:44):
and you don't have those referral codes, then you have
to take the time then to await to get those
codes before you will be placed.

S1 (01:08:51):
Because as Because people can imagine that it puts stress
on the family in general. Why don't you might have
both people working and want to keep working, and maybe
one of them might have to take some time off or,
you know, they set up at home might not be
as good as you'd like for your loved one that
you wanted to put into aged care. So yeah, there's
a lot of stresses around it if you're not a
little bit organized.

S9 (01:09:11):
Yeah. That's right. And I think by having the referral
codes ready to go through your ACA assessment, then that's
just one stress you don't have to worry about. If
I know it's safe for my parents, if I know
that they have their referral codes, then I know that
if there is a time in the future where they
may need to be placed into residential care, then I
can start that process without any concerns.

S1 (01:09:33):
I mean, you talked about residential care or respite care,
so obviously there's a difference. But can you talk a
bit about what that is and how that works?

S9 (01:09:40):
Rest Haven do respite care differently to other providers. And
our focus for respite care is really true respite. So
we try to put focus on the carers and ensuring
that they have time out so that, as an example,
they might want to go on an overseas holiday or
they might be having surgery. And so our respite is

(01:10:02):
dedicated respite. So where we will place a person for
two weeks at a minimum, and their carer can then
go off and know that they're well cared for without
any concerns, and they can then have their own respite
away from their loved one to be able to recuperate
and then come back to pick them up and do
it all again. So it's really quite a different way

(01:10:25):
of doing respite. But we do place our focus on
ensuring that the resident obviously is well looked after when
they're with us, but we're also taking care of the
person that does the caring normally.

S1 (01:10:36):
For something like that. Again, to have to have the
a cat and then go through my aged care, have
the a cat and sort of follow those bouncing balls.

S9 (01:10:42):
Yes. So the assessment will give you residential permanent and
residential respite.

S1 (01:10:48):
Spot. Yeah. What about as far as waiting times to
get into respite rather than residential? Can that be different
or is that different?

S9 (01:10:55):
It is different. Our residential respite. We are actually quite
booked out because it is quite popular. People do want
to make plans, they do want to go overseas or
whatever it might be, and so it is generally quite
booked out for a permanent admission. Then it is a
little bit different. So it would be more so based
on vacancies that come up depending on what site. We

(01:11:16):
have 12 residential sites. So it depends on how that
might look. But for respite it is a bit different
because it is it's almost like a hotel if you
want to think of it in that way, where you're booking,
you book out and then the next person gets booked
in and there's a time frame to that stay.

S1 (01:11:31):
And the cost. Can you chat a bit about that?
I guess we don't want to get too confused or
get people too confused with different costs and that sort
of stuff. But just in general terms, can you chat
a bit about that?

S9 (01:11:41):
Sure. So respite. So basically with respite there is 85%
of your a single person's pension and that is the
cost that people are charged, which as of current today
is $63.82 per day. And so that's that's really what
you would pay if you were coming in for respite.
If someone was coming in for permanent care, then they

(01:12:03):
would pay that 85% of a single person pension that's
expected of everyone to pay. And that's not resthaven. We
don't set the fee that is across Australia nationally, but
that is the fee set. And so everyone would be
paying that. And then depending on your means, as far
as your financial status is concerned, you may be required

(01:12:26):
to pay towards an accommodation payment and also a means
tested care fee, but that is dependent on your finances.
At Resthaven, we are very, very supportive of making sure
that we have residents that are fully supported. That means
someone that potentially doesn't have the means or asset to
really pay anything more than the required basic daily fee

(01:12:50):
of the $63.82 a day. And so we offer places
to those that have the finances and those that supported
and needs financial support from the government.

S1 (01:13:00):
It's good to know that. And of course, over the
time we've spoken to a number of people that work
at Resthaven, I think we worked out with Julie. I
think we've probably done over 250 interviews, so we've got
to know quite a few of the staff quite well.
It's a good place for people to stay. Uh, people do, uh,
love what you do and the way you do it.

S9 (01:13:17):
Absolutely. I mean, we've been around for 90 years, so
we're experts in the field. We know what we're doing.
We really take great care of our residents. It's quite daunting,
actually coming in. If you're coming in for permanent care,
we're well aware of it. Can be. It can cause
people anxiety. Yeah. You know, there's a lot of potential

(01:13:37):
fear around that. But we take we're we're aware of that.
We look after our residents, ensuring to get to know them,
ensuring to get to know their families as well, which
is really important, and just giving them really good holistic care.
And that might be with ensuring that they have outstanding
meals and that the dining experience is is five star,

(01:14:00):
but also ensuring that they have the clinical supports, whether
that be with through the GP, a geriatrician support, the
dietician speech therapist. So just ensuring that the person is
looked after is treated as a person, as an individual,
and that we take care of them and really get
to know them.

S1 (01:14:20):
That's very reassuring. And if people do want to find
out more, I mean, obviously you've got to go through
the right channels in terms of my aged care and
your cat, etc. but if people do want to find
out more, how can we get in touch with you?

S9 (01:14:30):
Please have contact with us through the Rest Haven website
if that's your preference, that's resthaven. Otherwise, our friendly accommodation
team here at Wayville in South Australia. Would love to
hear from you. The number is 08 8373 9013.

S1 (01:14:49):
We'll put that up on our show notes. Am I
good to talk to you? I know that's a very
good year. A very big year for Resthaven being your
90th anniversary. It was a great event at government House
not so long ago, and I'm sure there's other events
planned throughout the year. Thank you for spending a bit
of time with us.

S9 (01:15:02):
Thank you, Peter, for having me.

S1 (01:15:04):
That's Anne Marie there from Resthaven. That's some pretty important information.
Very reassuring. To which obviously is very good for everyone's
peace of mind. Well, coming up is World Continence week.

(01:15:26):
Let's chat a bit about it. And some really interesting
research that's been undertaken by continent South Australia. Their CEO
Jim Cooper is on the line. Jim, great to catch up.
Thanks for your time.

S10 (01:15:35):
Hi Peter. It's good to talk to you again now.

S1 (01:15:38):
Well, this is an important week. I guess it's the
message that people like you kind of think about sort
of 24 over seven, but you need a week to
kind of focus the the public's attention to it.

S10 (01:15:48):
Yeah, yeah. World Continence Week comes up every year in
the middle of the year. And, uh, as you said,
it's a really good chance to stop and, uh, and
tell all of your listeners that, uh, if they're not
enjoying full continence health, if they've got any kind of
troubles with their bladder or their bowels, um, from sort
of slight issues to more serious issues, uh, this is

(01:16:08):
a chance where we say, um, have a think about
it and go and get it checked out because, uh,
you can improve the situation from where you are. Now.

S1 (01:16:17):
You've recently undertaken some research, haven't you, which has thrown
up some rather interesting stats which maybe you knew about,
but probably the general public might not know.

S10 (01:16:25):
Well, the biggest, um, interesting statistics that we're coming across
is just how prevalent, uh, incontinence issues are across the
Australian population and, uh, across all age groups. So it's
not just older Australians who are affected, it's everyone from
young children, um, who maybe haven't learned how to, uh,

(01:16:49):
go to the toilet properly. Uh, and then all the
way through young people, teenagers, uh, women who've had babies, um,
men who've got prostate issues and then moving into the
older Australians, uh, people's, uh, who are suffering, uh, bladder
and bowel challenges. What we've found from our statistics is
it's not just old people, it's a cross section of

(01:17:10):
the Australian population.

S1 (01:17:12):
And the perception was that it's more something that impacted
or affected older people.

S10 (01:17:17):
Yeah. Yeah. That's right. And uh, and if I concentrate
then on older people, uh, another one of our, uh,
interesting findings from, uh, review of Statistics is that, uh,
a lot of older Australians just think, oh, this is
just a feature of me getting older. I'm just going
to put up with it. And, uh, in the office.
My colleagues all exclaim, and they said, no, there is

(01:17:39):
a lot you can do. There's so much you can
do about it. And our message out is, do not
put up with it, because in many cases we think
we can manage. Uh, your, your leaking, uh, bladder or
bowel and there's many things that you can do, um, to,
to make life better for you.

S1 (01:17:58):
I'm going to assume that part of the issue, if
you like, is that people feel a bit embarrassed or
uncomfortable talking about it, even if it's, say, to their GP.

S10 (01:18:05):
Yeah, yeah, this is probably our biggest, biggest issue at
the moment is, uh, after the the point that it's
highly prevalent in Australia. There's a lot of cases of incontinence.
Our second my second argument is that we're not a
well known medical situation. And uh, that's there's a number
of reasons for that. People don't die from incontinence, but

(01:18:28):
they definitely really impacts the quality of their life. Um,
and um, and our point of view is that, um,
if you are brave enough to raise it with your GP,
there's a pathway through there, um, where you can be
referred on and we can diagnose exactly what's going on. But, uh,
continence is quite, a, quite a complex issue. Um, and another,

(01:18:52):
another feature that we're finding is there's not just a
single continence doctor that you need to go and see
quite often. You might need to go and be referred
to any one of a number of, um, sex, um,
sort of specialists. Um, some of the simplest ones are
physiotherapists who can teach men and women how to do
pelvic floor exercises and strengthen their muscles. And, uh, and

(01:19:15):
that's a sort of an often forgotten, uh, part of
incontinence world that, um, with a bit of training about
how to exercise your pelvic floor muscles, both men and women,
can really improve their, um, their health in a, in
a continence way.

S1 (01:19:30):
And I think with any kind of condition. They're in
quotes sort of thing that if I can do something
to help myself, that kind of makes you feel a
bit more empowered.

S10 (01:19:40):
Yes, yes. That's right, that's right. Well, we're not only, um,
is it world continence week, but just, um, about the
same time as Men's Health Week as well in Australia. And, uh,
one of the messages there is we're encouraging, uh, particularly
men to go and have an annual health check. Um,
and I've just done that myself. Uh, Peter and I
have my annual health check next week, but I've done

(01:20:01):
my bloods and my doctor jokingly refers to it. He says, Jim,
this time it's a hamburger with the lot, and he
always has a belly laugh. And I check everything from
my PSA to my blood sugars, my kidney function. And
there's about, uh, and I have an ECG as a
man in my 50s. Um, and I'm a great advocate, um,

(01:20:22):
for telling men, just go and have a simple blood
test that takes ten minutes and then go and sit
down with your GP JP and go through the results.
You might just pick something important up and you can
get onto it early and and fix it.

S1 (01:20:37):
And if you don't have anything picked up then you beauty,
you know, you go on with your life for the
next 12 months. So sort of a bit more carefree
happy days.

S10 (01:20:45):
And you can do it as long as you do it. Uh,
men often say, um, and it's the same with going
getting your eyes checked and going to see you going
to see, uh, even having your hearing checked and going
to get your teeth checked, um, once a year. Uh,
it's a bit like taking your car in and having
the the oil changed. Uh, it's just a good practice
to get into.

S1 (01:21:05):
And it was the old thing. I. Men tend to
look out for their cars more than their own bodies,
which is a bit of a sad reflection on, uh,
perhaps the way that some men think. But we won't
be judgmental by that, Jim. There is lots that can
be done, and I guess things are improving all the
time as far as, uh, either surgically or, as you said,
things you can do for yourself and just the amount
of research that goes into it. Or is there always
more room for more funding for more research?

S10 (01:21:27):
Wow. That's a that's a really good question. Um, well,
the first answer is there is more that can be
done by us, just by better diagnosis of why persons
having bladder or bowel, um, troubles. Um, and there are
existing treatments uh, for those. And as I, as I said,
it might be as simple as doing pelvic floor exercises.

(01:21:50):
There might be medications that are required. Um, there might
be surgery that's involved. Um, or there might be products
that you can use. Uh, and so there's many, many
things that can be done, um, rather than just on
the second part of your question, does it just need
more funding? Um, my answer would probably, um, be a
bit more complex than that. I would say we need

(01:22:12):
to spend our money better than we are. And so
what I'm finding across Australia's, um, health, um, health services
is that because continence is not as well known as, um,
Mental health. Um. Menopause. Um. Some of the higher profile
medical issues that are now on the national radar, um,

(01:22:35):
continence is not talked about as much as that. And
yet it probably hits more Australians than most other health conditions. Um,
I think we're not managing that amongst the health services
as well as we can be. And that's that's where
our organisation, Continence Health, has an opportunity to come in,
perhaps work out how we can navigate the health system

(01:22:55):
a lot better.

S1 (01:22:57):
So I guess that's like talk to politicians. That kind
of part of the, the, the sort of jigsaw puzzle.

S10 (01:23:02):
Yeah, definitely. Um, in fact, it's it's coincidental you mentioned
that because, uh, we've just done a new strategic plan
at Continence Health Australia, and our our purpose is continence health, um,
for people of all ages in Australia. And our purpose is, uh,
to make sure we're looking after everybody underneath that, uh,

(01:23:22):
awareness is low across the country. And so we know
we need to do more general advertising. Um, we need
to talk to the politicians more and say, when you're
handing out your federal dollars, we think we can spend
them better, uh, and get better outcomes. Um, one of the,
one of the issues for people with continence is, um,

(01:23:44):
you can for older Australians, use pads. And there are,
there are pads for men and pads for women. And, um,
quite often they're used very successfully. One of the big
opportunities is in addition to using those to control your condition,
if you go along and see your GP and then
the GP might say, I'm going to refer you on
to somebody else with more technical knowledge, we might be

(01:24:07):
able to actually improve your underlying situation. That removes the
need for you using pads. So, um, we don't like
saying that the solution for everything is just to use
a continence pad. We think there are there are more
sophisticated treatments out there and we just need to refer
people in.

S1 (01:24:24):
A very positive thing. Kim, you talked about, uh, recently, uh,
talking to politicians or. I guess you're doing that all
the time. You're kind of doing a good thing, literally,
as we speak. You're at a conference which we were
chatting about a little bit earlier.

S10 (01:24:36):
Yeah. A fantastic conference, one of the one of the, um,
the bench of medical experts that you might talk to
if you've got Commons challenges, uh, so-called geriatrician doctors and, um, I've,
I've had cause to deal with geriatrician doctors in the
last year helping one of my elderly relatives. And I
found that, um, of all the specialist doctors that you

(01:24:57):
might go and see, geriatricians are the most wonderful form
of doctor. Um, they're incredibly knowledgeable about, um, issues affecting
older people. And, uh, so I've decided it was worth
the investment of three days this week coming up, we're
in Sydney and we're at the, um, scientific annual scientific
conference of the geriatrician society. So, um, I'm meeting, uh,

(01:25:22):
a lot of very clever, uh, young Australian doctors. And
there's a lot of overseas specialists have come into Sydney
this week, and we've got three days of amazing sessions
talking about how to manage, uh, geriatric issues. They're focusing
on dementia that, um, very closely, very closely associated with dementia, uh,

(01:25:43):
incontinence issues. So you'll find that if an Australian person
might be, uh, might be moving into a dementia world,
they often have incontinence challenges as well. And so, um,
that's one of the reasons we're here. And we're talking
to these very clever, um, very personable, I think geriatricians,
because they have to deal with older people on a

(01:26:03):
regular basis. Uh, they're all smiling. They're very personable and
very welcoming type people. And, uh, I have to say,
I really like talking to them.

S1 (01:26:12):
Well, the great thing about it is, from a professional
point of view, we're all living longer, hopefully. So, you know,
the sort of scope for the amount of work that
they'll be doing just opens up, doesn't it?

S10 (01:26:23):
Yeah. It does. And, uh, you know, we just had
a very the opening speaker today was a very experienced geriatrician,
a lady from Sweden. And, uh, that was one of
her messages. Peter, at the start of her talk, she said, look,
we've got an aging population in Sweden, as you do
in Australia, as China does. Um, there's lots of parts
of the world where, um, they have an aging demographic.

(01:26:44):
And so she just said, there's just so much work
for geriatricians across the board, um, that, uh, there's a
lot of payback for the specialization.

S1 (01:26:54):
And an exciting Kim. Well, let's get back to your conference.
And obviously doing a great deal of good PR work for, uh,
continents awareness. So world Continents week coming up, and, uh,
you're with Continents Health Australia. People can get in touch
with you via your website. And also, you've got a
toll free number that people can use as well.

S10 (01:27:11):
CSM if I can advertise the National Continents helpline, if
you've reached the end of your tether or you don't
know who to talk to. Both as a person who's
maybe experiencing incontinence, or if you're a family member who's
looking after someone, or even if you're a doctor, you
can call our one 803, double zero, double six. Um,

(01:27:31):
Monday to Friday, 8 to 8. It's a free service.
It's staffed with some very experienced, uh, nurse continence specialists,
and they've got all the time to talk to you
if you need 40 minutes to go through, um, where
to turn next and solve your situation. It's the best
place to call.

S1 (01:27:48):
We'll put that up with that. Jim, great to catch up.
Keep up the good work. Enjoy the conference and I
look forward to next time we talk.

S10 (01:27:54):
Thanks, Peter. Great to chat.

S1 (01:27:56):
Susan Cooper there. The CEO for a continent Health Australia.
That's a world Continence week coming up. We'll put those
details up with our show notes but very positive message,
which was great to uh or great of him to
share it with us. A couple of quotes before we go.

(01:28:18):
Susan has sent a quote through. I don't think Susan
only one s in. Susan. As far as the contact
for us goes, Susan's quote is build a team so
strong that no one from outside can point out the leader.
Thank you Susan for that. Might apply to Susan with
two S's as well. And Henry, our correspondent from prospect,

(01:28:39):
has sent an acronym that his name represents Henry. It
says high earners not rich yet. So that's Henry. High earners,
not rich yet, Henry. I don't know where he came
up with these things, but thank you for your excellent contributions.
Some birthdays before we go. Happy birthday to Joe Walters,
former Miss South Australia finalist, and also doing great work

(01:29:00):
in accommodation for people with disabilities. Happy birthday to you, Joe.
Julian Yance having a birthday. Talented, talented artist doing great
work with tutti. So happy birthday to you, Julian. And
Phil philanthropy. Having a birthday from Focal Point fame. Phil
being involved with radio for the print Handicapped for over
45 years. Phil, a happy birthday to you. Hope you

(01:29:22):
have a great day during the week. That's it for
the program. Sam, Richard, thanks so much for your Pam Green.
Thanks so much for yours. A sterling job done amazingly
well as always. Thank you Pam. We really do appreciate
all you do. Now, before we go. Reminding you that
if you're listening through 1190 7 a.m. in Adelaide, don't
go anywhere. Vicki Cousins is here very shortly with Australian

(01:29:45):
Geographic's A program no one misses. And if you do,
the weakness doesn't seem the same. Be kind to yourselves,
be thoughtful and look out for others all being well.
Let's link back at the same time next week on
Vision Australia Radio and the Reading Radio Network. This is
leisure link.

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