On Saturday 14th of October, Australians will be ask to vote on an Indigenous Voice to Parliament. In this episode of Yarning Disability is the Minister for Indigenous Australians and Proud Wiradjuri Women, Linda Burney and Damien Griffis, CEO of FPDN and Proud Worimi Man. The vote will determine whether the Voice, a body providing advice to Government on issues particularly impacting impacting Indigenous people, will be enshrined in the Constitution. 

If you’d like easily accessible and easy to read information on the voice to inform your vote on the referendum, Go to www.haveyoursay.net 

Aboriginal man Brenton Bowen hails from the small Aboriginal community of Hopevale in Far North QLD and fulfilled his dream of becoming a professional sportsman, playing in the NRL for the North QLD Cowboys and the Gold Coast Titans. Brenton is now an ambassador for ‘Deadly Choices’, where he promotes healthy lifestyles for mob and and also an artist.  

FPDN Advocate Carly Wallace spoke to Brenton on Yarning Disability about his football career, his artwork and the day his life changed with news about his health with a brain tumour. 

This episode of Yarning Disability features Nancy Bates, a barkindji woman from far western New South Wales, a senior advocate for FPDN, and an accomplished singer-songwriter. Nancy balances her advocacy work with the guitar and songwriting, and is involved with a project called Songs Inside, where she works with women inside Adelaide Women's Prison. Songs Inside is a transformative story of a group of women prisoners in a groundbreaking music program that aims to keep vulnerable women from returning back to the prison system.

To connect with Nancy, visit her website at www.nancybates.com

This week's episode of Yarning Disability features Sandy Dann, a Nyul Nyul woman from Broome in the Kimberleys. Sandy was diagnosed with congenital glaucoma at a young age. Sandy has been broadcasting for over 30 years and hosts a 2 hour radio show on Goolarri Media. The second hour of her program is networked live to the whole of Australia on the National Indigenous Radio Service. FPDN Community Engagement Roz Bynder, also spoke with the Chief Operations Officer of Goolarri Media, Kira Fong and Broadcast Manager Kim West about inclusiveness in the workplace.

FPDN Advocate Carly Wallace discusses the complex and sensitive topic of Psychosocial disabilities with Wiradjuri/Wolgalu, First Nations Aboriginal man Joe Williams. Joe is a man with his own psychosocial disability, living with Biploar Disorder and is a staunch mental health and trauma advocate. 

To connect with joe, visit his website at www.joewilliams.com.au 

If this episode raises concerns for you, there is help available. You can contact:

13 Yarn on 13 92 76 or 

Beyond Blue on 1300 22 46 36

Or lifeline- 13 11 14 

This week's episode of Yarning Disability is a proud Yanyuwa, Garrawa and Kuku Yalanji man from Borroloola and Cairns in Far North Queensland. Clarence is also a proud wheelchair basketballer and was born with Fibula Limb Deficiency – meaning, since childbirth his right leg wasn’t formed properly and it’s a lot shorter that his left leg, but this hasn’t stopped him from playing wheelchair basketball and made the decision to go to college in the United States. 

This week's episode of Yarning Disability, features Deputy CEO of First People's Disability Network; Aunty June Riemer, a proud Gumbaynggirr and Dunghutti woman from the north coast of New South Wales, has been working in the sector for over 40 years, leading and inspiring her team as they navigate the changes in the national disability sector and was honoured for her life's work. Dedicated to creating systemic change to improve the lives of first peoples with disability and their families.

This week's Yarning Disability guest embodies the philosophy of 'A culture of inclusion' for mob with disabilities. Clinton  Bennell shares his story of inclusion as a brother to a sibling with an intellectual disability and as a father to child with Noonan syndrome and hearing loss. 

This week's episode of Yarning Disability, features a proud Yindinji Women and FPDN's NSW Advocacy Manager, Deb Lee. 

FPDN Advocate, Bernard Namok Jnr had a yarn with Deb Lee about what inspired her to become an advocate

This week’s episode FPDN Advocate, Bernard Namok Jnr had a yarn with Founder and CEO of Full Back Group, Kanat Wano. 

Kanat is a Zenadth Kes man from the eastern island of Mer and is the Founder and CEO of Full Black Group based in Meeanjin, which focus for equity and inclusion and advice around NDIS. Bala Kanat, who is also a gifted motivational speaker took me on a journey of learning and understanding.