The Strength of Us

Brooke Coleman and Mark Chapman both work in the Mental Health Hub at Wellways in Warrnambool, Australia. Like so many people who work in the care industry, they have their own lived experience and stories that led them to to the important work that they do today.
In this episode, you will not only learn about their paths but how Wellways is making a difference to so many lives across Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria an...

Vicki Jellie is currently serving as the Mayor of Warrnambool but before she entered into this role, Vicki was already considered a local hero, not only in our eyes but was officially named The Australian Local Hero of 2017 receiving her award from, then Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull.

This interview is the first time that Vicki Jellie has told her whole story. It is a story of grief, courage, community and above all, love. 

This e...

Jasmin Newman was awarded the 2021 Mediator Peacemaker of the Year. She is a Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner, also known as a Family Mediator for couples and families that need support when navigating separation and divorce. Jasmin helps parents to make child-centred decisions as they go through the changes in their family structure and is a co-parenting coach.
In this episode,  Marnie, Lisa and Jasmin explore how fear i...

People may recognise Darren Mort from shows such as Neighbours and Blue Heelers, but it's his real-life role that continues to make such a great impact on Australian families. As a barrister, Darren Mort has worked in the family law courts for almost 30 years and has seen what happens to children during this difficult time.
In this episode, Darren talks about putting the needs of the children first and how his acting and l...

John Parkinson grew up near Port Fairy & one of his first jobs was at Warrnambool’s Brierly Mental Hospital. He has seen a lot change in the world of mental health but wants to do more.

After a shocking increase of suicide in his community and getting to know the parents of the late Sam Fitzgibbon, John and other locals got together to find a way to get more people talking. 

That’s when they started Let’s Talk whose mission it is...

In 1974, when my sister, Tanya, who has Down Syndrome was born they called her a Mongoloid. Institutions were still closing around Australia and a lot of the general public were afraid of people with intellectual disabilities because they were simply not seen. Not on the streets, not in schools, there was obviously no internet back in the day and people who didn’t fit the social norm were certainly not on TV.

So it was no wonder tha...

Emily Quattrocchi had been a competitive cheerleader, netballer, keen film student and was just beginning her career when everything changed on that terrifying day when she was driving to work.

Lisa chats with her baby cousin Emily about her accident and injuries and how the failed airbags and her seatbelt contributed to her spinal injury but also saved her life. 

Emily is now a paraplegic, a wheelie, a recognised short film maker, a...

Kerryn Harvey was a triathlete and after a 2013 cycling accident in the Adelaide Hills, Australia, she contracted a flesh eating bacteria, referred to as Necrotizing Fasciitis resulting in a four quarter arm amputation which includes her whole arm, shoulder and some chest and back muscles.

With toxic shock and organ failure, Kerryn’s loved ones had to decide whether to amputate to try and save her life, or say their goodbyes. Fortun...

The Man Cave is a preventative mental health and emotional intelligence charity that empowers boys to become great men. Behind the charity, the academy and its programs is a diverse team including Al Green who is the Head of Community and an inspiring man who gives us hope that the future for men's mental health is bright.  

In this episode we discuss suicide, the rights of passage boys enter to become men and how The Man Cave ...

Callum MacPherson is the host of the Young Blood - Men's Mental Health podcast and isn't used to being in the interviewee chair! Raised in Adelaide by two teachers, he is a well-read, philosophical man who knew from a young age that he had the presence and ability to write and deliver stories.
Callum's work in the media started at his local radio station Fresh 92.7 and then he moved to Port Lincoln to deliver lo...

Jill Emmer's greatest lessons in life have come from raising her non-binary child in the provincial area of Long Island, New York. In her previous role as a graphic designer for UNICEF, Jill's eyes opened up to the unequal opportunities in the world and  as the Arts Director at New York’s Adelphi University, Jill continued to ensure that the visibility of minority groups was highlighted in her work. After becoming a mothe...

When teacher, Catherine from Port Fairy in Victoria fell in love with Tanzania, it wasn't just for the fauna and flora. She fell in love with the people and one person in particular, local man Seif.
This episode tells their story and what Seif thought when he first arrived in our beautiful country coastal town of Port Fairy. Within a week, Seif starting working in the local supermarket and it was then that he encountered f...

Seafarers are incredibly hard working humans with a thankless job. They are at sea for weeks at a time but thanks to Covid and changing or unchanging laws, we have seafarers unable to step off ships for more than two years.
Seafarers usually disembark at every port to stretch their legs, see the sites, buy some treats and necessities and most importantly, purchase a local phone card so that they can facetime and call their fam...

In this episode, Lisa meets a GP (doctor) with a colourful history. He knows the horrific impact of taking large amounts of drugs over an extended period as it led to him entering a psychosis. He was hearing and seeing things that weren't there and got himself into some dangerous situations. It wasn't until he finally went home that his parents entered him into a psych ward (mental health facility).  It was from there tha...

In this episode, guest host Marnie shares her story of how she navigated her separation and divorce. From identifying her own mental health issues during her second pregnancy, Marnie set out to understand herself and her marriage resulting in the decision to separate. She was determined that her separation and divorce would not affect the mental health of their two little girls and after a few years, she is ready to tell her story....

Britta Boeckmann from BoldB jewellery tells us about her industrial design education, her creative childhood in Germany through to moving to Wangaratta in regional Victoria then starting her own family business in Melbourne. 
In this episode, Britta explains how she and her co-founder Michael researched and visited manufacturing sites to finally choose a place in the Philippines that not only met their values of sustainable an...

Lindy Muto grew up in a typical Italian household with 7 older brothers. To say that her upbringing was strict and cultural limits were placed on her is an understatement. Her father's wish was for her to always live next door and look after them into their old age, but from a young age, Lindy set her sites on world travel and personal success.
It was once uncommon for Italian girls to be allowed to further their education...

Host, Lisa, wasn't sure whether to release this episode. It's raw and truthful about her journey from wanting to be a mother from a young age through to abortion, marrying late, IVF and becoming childless.  But so many other wonderful things, such as teaching, being a big sister, a godmother and much more, have allowed Lisa to nurture and love throughout her life. So you decide, is she a mum after all?

If you are...

Deloitte, Google and Energy Australia named Karen Bryant as one of the outstanding LGBTI+ Leaders of 2020. Karen Bryant received this acknowledgement because she is an example of how passion, energy, resilience, visibility, courage and authentic leadership can drive a successful career.

This award was given to individuals who are changing perceptions and creating more inclusive workplaces and communities. Karen Bryant inspires ...