Belonging Matters Podcast

How effective can innovative supports be in setting up a business for a person with a disability? Anthea and Marc Lema's vision for their son Cameron not only focused on creating the best life possible for Cameron, but also adopted innovative supports. 14 years later and Cam Can Services is continuing to thrive, as is Cameron.

Anthea and Marc Lema

Marc and Anthea Lema are the parents of seven children. The concept of creating CAM CAN, a Disability Services Organisation, was borne out of Marc and Anthea’s personal experience in creating innovative supports for their son Cameron who has an intellectual disability. At the age of 32, Cameron is the proprietor of his own business which has been successfully operating for 14 years. Cam also moved into his own home at the age of 18 where he continues to live with his flat mate, now good friend. Cam lives a meaningful and active life in his local community.

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This podcast is an edited version taken from: Lema, A. & Lema, M. (2017). Can Can Services - Your Time is My Business. In Thinking About 19 Stories of Social Inclusion (Special Edition) Issue 33, pp 20-23. Belonging Matters: Melbourne

What does is take to set up a micro business for a person with a disability? Sally Richards has successfully demonstrated exactly what is takes through supporting her son Jackson to establish JACKmail. In this episode Sally describes the operational and administrative tasks involved in running JACKmail and discusses matters relating to employment and staffing.

Sally Richards

Sally Richards is mother of Jackson West and has supported Jackson in setting up and operating JACKmail, a micro courier business operating in Canberra since 2007. JACKmail offers mail pickup and delivery to and from various businesses and the post office and has 15 clients. The service is carried out by Jackson West with his support worker Sandor. Sandor drives the work vehicle, facilitates interaction between Jackson and JACKmail clients, and supports Jackson in all aspects of the work tasks.

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This podcast is an edited version taken from: Richards, S. (2017). JACKmail, A Microbusiness. In Thinking About Micro Businesses. Issue 30, pp 16-18. Belonging Matters: Melbourne

What can be achieved with the support of family and friends when starting a business? Deezines is a boutique on line gift card shop established by Dee Holmes with the support of family and friends. In this podcast, Dee explains how she founded Deezines; what she needed to plan and implement in order to commence the business, and reflects on some achievements.

Deearne Holmes

Dee runs an on line greeting card micro business, Deezines, which has been operating in Melbourne for several years. Dee has always enjoyed fund raising for charities and making cards for friends and family. She decided to combine her two passions of meeting people and making cards as a means to earning some money.

This podcast is an edited version taken from: Holmes, D & Rouget, D. (2017). Can You Believe It: Deezines. In Thinking About Microbusinesses. Issue 30, pp 8-10. Belonging Matters: Melbourne

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This podcast is an edited version taken from: Holmes, D & Rouget, D. (2017). Can You Believe It: Deezines. In Thinking About Microbusinesses. Issue 30, pp 8-10. Belonging Matters: Melbourne

Are there alternatives to day programs, sheltered workshops, and institutional offerings? In this episode Jayne Barrett tells the story of Community Living Project's Micro Business Project which offers people with disability an opportunity for typical employment with typical wages.

Jayne Barrett

Jayne Barrett has been employed by Community Living Project incorporated, CLP, since 1984. CLP is an agency that facilitates highly individualised and inclusive community living opportunities for people with disabilities. In 2011 Jayne managed the design and training of a new project, CLPs' Micro Enterprise Project. This assists people who live with significant disabilities to have their own small businesses as an alternative to day programmes.

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This podcast is an edited version taken from: Barrett, J & Neale, H. (2017). Community Living Project: Micro Business Project. In Thinking About Microbusiness. Issue 30, pp 19-23. Belonging Matters: Melbourne

Is there work for people with disability after leaving school? Absolutely! In this episode Meg talks about her job at the Hume Bank, a role she had held for 7 years since leaving school. Meg shares some of the challenging times, but focuses on a raft of benefits she has experienced through her post high-school employment.

Meg Pargeter

Meg Pargeter completed year 12 in 2016 at the age of 19 and accepted a Trainee Administration Assistant Role at the Hume Bank in Albury Victoria. Although she has Kabuki Syndrome, she strives for an ordinary life in her community, doing all the same things as other young people her age. Meg does not hesitate to try new things, to step up and share her story, to work hard to achieve her goals, and to be a positive role model for others.

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This podcast is an edited version taken from: Pargeter, M. & Tait, J. (2017). My Traineeship. In Thinking About 19 Stories of Social Inclusion, Issue 32, pp 12-14. Belonging Matters: Melbourne

We all hear it right? 'Follow Your Dream', well, Nathan Basha is 'Living The Dream' as a motivational speaker and media professional. He tells his story in this episode of the Belonging Matters Podcast.

Nathan Basha

Nathan Basha is a motivational speaker who is pushing the boundaries. Nathan might happen to have Down syndrome, but he says 'That's not who I am!". He has spoken at international conferences, political forums, universities, schools, workshops, and in the corporate sector, sharing his insights about his inclusive life. Nathan has worked at NOVA radio station in Sydney for 10 years, and is a homeowner and filmmaker. In this podcast, Nathan shares his experience of following his passion for film and working for the coolest radio station in Sydney.

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This podcast is an edited version taken from: Basha, N. (2019). Living The Dream. In Thinking About 19 Stories of Social Inclusion. Issue 32, pp 9-11. Belonging Matters: Melbourne

How do we reconcile disability with productivity? First things first, we can, and in this episode Michael Callan explains how by introducing the Productivity Fallacy.

Michael Callahan

Michael Callahan has consulted throughout the US, Canada and Europe in the area of employment and transition for the past forty years. He has worked with Marc Gold & Associates (MG&A) for forty-three years, and has served as president of the organisation since Marc Gold’s death in 1982. MG&A is a network of consultants that provides technical assistance to systems, agencies and families interested in ensuring the complete community participation of persons with significant intellectual and developmental disabilities.  In 2000, Michael joined three other colleagues to form a non-profit organisation, Employment for All. Michael’s current work focuses primarily on Customised Employment, Discovery and Systematic Instruction/Job Coaching for adults and youth with significant intellectual and developmental disabilities. 

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This podcast is an edited version taken from: Calllahan, M. (2010). The Productivity Fallacy: why people are worth more than just how fast their hands move. In TASH Connections Spring 2010 vol.36, #2.

Ever had a job that changed your life? David has. In this episode David talks about his job at Woolworths, why he loves it, and the positive impact it has had on his life.

David Holowko

David is employed at Woolworths and, like all people, he enjoys and values his independence. Through David’s employment at Woolworths he has the same opportunities as everyone else to boost his success, independence and self-esteem. David’s connection with the local community means that he has a sense of belonging and feels safe.

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This podcast is an edited version taken from: Holowko, D. (2016). My Job has changed My Life. In Thinking About Work. Issue 28, pp 8-10. Belonging Matters: Melbourne

How do you plan for the future of your children? Listen to Kathie Snow's approach to set a pathway of achievement for her son Benjamin, diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy at birth, and visit her website www.disabilityisnatural.com

Kathie Snow

Kathy Snow is a wife and mother as well as an author, public speaker, trainer, consultant, and host of the website, "Disability is Natural". Her son Benjamin was born in 1987 in Texas, and diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy. She took Benjamin to therapy, welcomed therapists and early intervention people and would have won, hands down, the therapy 'Mom of the Year award', but within a year, she began to question the conventional wisdom of disability world. In this podcast, Kathy shares many of Benjamin's achievements attained on his journey from childhood and teenage years, through to adulthood, including community participation, literary accomplishments, and award winning short film and a master's degree.

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This podcast is an edited version taken from: Snow, K. (2013). Big Dreams, High Hopes, Great Expectations. In Thinking About Life After School. Issue 15, pp 4-9. Belonging Matters: Melbourne

Looking for examples of people with disability in long term employment? In this podcast Cameron explains his journey to find a job and the benefits of employment.

Cameron Skinner

Cameron Skinner has been a receptionist at the Jeremiah Group in Warragul, Victoria, a payroll and bookkeeping business, for over 16 years. He works permanent part time Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and loves the independence his job provides. Largely on account of his job, Cameron is a well-known identity in the Warragul community, although, he is an avid Collingwood supporter!

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This podcast is an edited version taken from: Skinner, C. (2017). The Receptionist. In Thinking About Employment. Issue 28, pp 14-15. Belonging Matters: Melbourne