Have The Nerve: A Podcast About Disability

Send us Fan Mail

On our latest episode, Susan speaks to Ling Guan, SCIA’s Acute Peer Mentor working with the Peer and Family Support team.

In this emotional episode, Ling shares his story of caring for his late partner, Bradley, who sustained a spinal cord injury in the early stages of their relationship, and Susan discusses what it is like to be a person with a disability caring for an elderly parent. They talk about how their cultural background has influenced their view of duty, and how they have tried navigate work and studying at the same time.

In Australia, there are approximately 3 million unpaid carers according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

National Carers Week recognises the diverse range of cultures, ages, experiences and responsibilities of a carer, acknowledging the balance of caring responsibilities with other responsibilities like work, study and their physical and mental health.

Information in this episode

Peer and Family Support Team - Navigating Life with a Disability - https://scia.org.au/living-with-a-disability/navigating-life-with-a-disability/

Credits
This episode has been produced, written and edited by Susan Wood. Logo art by Cobie Ann Moore.

Spinal Cord Injuries Australia is part of the Royal Rehab Group, and is a for-purpose organisation that supports people with a spinal cord injury and other neurological conditions. For more information about our supports and services, visit our Resource Hub at https://scia.org.au/resource-hub/.

Send us Fan Mail

For this episode, Susan speaks to Alexa Locke, Director with the Australian Society of Rehabilitation Counsellors (ASORC) as she shares her story of growing up as a young carer caring for her father after he sustained a traumatic brain injury after a rock slide on a family holiday, how that experience shaped her career choice. 

In addition, you will hear from Alexa about she sustaining a spinal cord injury during a medical mishap and how these events have shaped her career, her perspective and her life.

Trigger warning, this episode does contain details about medical trauma – listener discretion is advised.

Information in this episode:

Australian Society of Rehabilitation Counsellors (ASORC) https://www.asorc.org.au/ 

Resilia Psych Rehab - https://resilia.com.au/

Credits
This episode has been produced, written and edited by Susan Wood. Logo art by Cobie Ann Moore.

Spinal Cord Injuries Australia is part of the Royal Rehab Group, and is a for-purpose organisation that supports people with a spinal cord injury and other neurological conditions. For more information about our supports and services, visit our Resource Hub at https://scia.org.au/resource-hub/.

Send us Fan Mail

Royal Rehab Group are proud to celebrate the 10th anniversary of World SCI Day, held each year on September 5th. 

This podcast is in collaboration with Spinal Cord Injuries Australia’s Resource Hub, alongside Royal Rehab Lifeworks, NeuroMoves, SCIA’s Peer and Family Support and Sargood on Collaroy.

Please be aware that this episode comes with a trigger warning for medical trauma and mental health struggles. Listener discretion is advised.

On this episode, you will be hearing from Lee Ferrier and Lachlan Cousins as they share their personal journeys living with an acquired spinal cord injury, as well as from Heidz Haydon and Dan Holt who share their perspective about what it’s like to be part of other people’s journeys as Peer and Family Support team members in the spinal units of Sydney, and out in the community.

Information in this episode

Royal Rehab Group - https://royalrehabgroup.com.au/

Royal Rehab LifeWorks - https://royalrehablifeworks.com.au/

NeuroMoves - https://neuromoves.org.au/

Peer and Family Support Team - https://scia.org.au/living-with-a-disability/navigating-life-with-a-disability/

Sargood on Collaroy - https://sargoodoncollaroy.com.au/

Adaptive Surfing Professionals - https://adaptivesurfingprofessionals.com/

Comvi Adaptive Clothing - https://comvi.com.au/

Credits
This episode has been produced, written and edited by Susan Wood. Logo art by Cobie Ann Moore.

Spinal Cord Injuries Australia is part of the Royal Rehab Group, and is a for-purpose organisation that supports people with a spinal cord injury and other neurological conditions. For more information about our supports and services, visit our Resource Hub at https://scia.org.au/resource-hub/.

Send us Fan Mail

On this episode, Susan is joined by former Australian Disability Discrimination Commissioner, and disability advocate, Professor Alastair McEwin AM. 

He shares his story of lived experience growing up with a disability, his work as a Royal Commissioner with the Disability Royal Commission, helping form the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD),  Professor at University of New South Wales and his lifelong mission to push for a more inclusive Australia. 

If a transcript doesn't automatically generate, you can find a transcript of this episode here.

Information in this episode

UNSW Professor of Practice in Disability https://www.unsw.edu.au/staff/alastair-mcewin

Australia Disability Discrimination Commissioner (2016 - 2019) https://humanrights.gov.au/about-us/our-people/previous-office-holders/disability-discrimination-commissioner-mr-alastair-mcewin

Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability https://disability.royalcommission.gov.au/

Grattan Institute https://grattan.edu.au/disability/ 

Community Legal Centres NSW https://www.clcnsw.org.au/

People with Disability Australia https://pwd.org.au/

Credits
This episode has been produced by Anh Nguyen written and edited by Susan Wood. Logo art by Cobie Ann Moore.

Spinal Cord Injuries Australia is part of the Royal Rehab Group, and is a for-purpose organisation that supports people with a spinal cord injury and other neurological conditions. For more information about our supports and services, visit our Resource Hub at https://scia.org.au/resource-hub/.

Send us Fan Mail

What would you do if your car broke down on the side of the road and there were no available options for transport assistance to get you somewhere safe? To get you home?

 This year, Sarah-Jane (SJ) Staszak was stranded on the side of the M4 in New South Wales for four hours after her car broke down, because there wasn't an alternative option for her to be transported safely in her wheelchair when the tow truck arrived.

It just so happened that she knew someone who had a trailer to transport her power wheelchair – but what if she didn’t?

Also on the episode is Tony Jones, SCIA's Disability Inclusion and Insights Advisor, who worked with SJ on this case. 

Both share their insights on what it's like to live with a disability and heavily rely on accessible taxis for their primary form of transportation, as well as discussing the problem with accessible public transport when living in a regional, rural and even remote area in Australia.

Information in this episode

Advocacy & Your Rights https://scia.org.au/living-with-a-disability/advocacy-your-rights/

Navigating Life with a Disability https://scia.org.au/living-with-a-disability/navigating-life-with-a-disability/

Anti-Discrimination NSW https://antidiscrimination.nsw.gov.au/

Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) https://humanrights.gov.au/

Justice and Equity Centre https://jec.org.au/

Parliament of Australia - Contacting Senators and Members https://www.aph.gov.au/Senators_and_Members/Contacting_Senators_and_Members

Find Your Local Representative - Find My Electorate https://electorate.aec.gov.au/

Credits
This episode has been written, produced and edited by Susan Wood. Logo art by Cobie Ann Moore.

If you would like to email us with a podcast topic request email [email protected] with the subject heading 'Podcast Topic Request'

Spinal Cord Injuries Australia is part of the Royal Rehab Group, and is a for-purpose organisation that supports people with a spinal cord injury and other neurological conditions. For more information about our supports and services, visit our Resource Hub at https://scia.org.au/resource-hub/.

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode meet Luke Spencer and Kat Yee. At age 12, Luke was diagnosed with Fredrich’s Ataxia, and in May 2024, after a series of complications at the age of 25, he had a pacemaker put in that both Kat and Luke lovingly refer to C-3PO.

This is the story of how Luke wanted to snorkelling in Fiji after his pacemaker was put in at the age of 25, and how Kat supported Luke as an Exercise Physiologist at NeuroMoves Lismore, and then as his support worker and most importantly, his friend when they finally got to snorkelling in Fiji at the end of 2025.

We believe that stories lived experience is the best way for people to learn about disability and help take action. 

Information in this episode

NeuroMoves specialised exercise service https://neuromoves.org.au/

Friedreich Ataxia (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) https://www.ninds.nih.gov/health-information/disorders/friedreich-ataxia

Supanova Comic Con & Gaming https://www.supanova.com.au/

C-3PO (Star Wars) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C-3PO

Credits
This episode has been written, produced and edited by Susan Wood. Logo art by Cobie Ann Moore.

If you would like to email us with a podcast topic request email [email protected] with the subject heading 'Podcast Topic Request'

Spinal Cord Injuries Australia is part of the Royal Rehab Group, and is a for-purpose organisation that supports people with a spinal cord injury and other neurological conditions. For more information about our supports and services, visit our Resource Hub at https://scia.org.au/resource-hub/.

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode, meet 20-year-old Nioka Bush who lives with Cerebral Palsy and is on the autistic spectrum. 

Nioka shares her experience growing up with her disability, going through the schooling system, the women who have helped shaped her and her advice for the next generation of women growing up with disabilities. 

This episode has been made in celebration of International Womens Day, which celebrates the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women around the globe. 

We believe that stories lived experience is the best way for people to learn about disability and help take action. 

Information in this episode

Breakthru School Leaver Employment Supports https://breakthru.org.au/services/school-leaver-employment-supports/

Nioka Bush Instagram https://www.instagram.com/niokabush/

International Women's Day - https://www.internationalwomensday.com/

Credits
This episode has been written, produced and edited by Susan Wood. Logo art by Cobie Ann Moore.

If you would like to email us with a podcast topic request email [email protected] with the subject heading 'Podcast Topic Request'

Spinal Cord Injuries Australia is part of the Royal Rehab Group, and is a for-purpose organisation that supports people with a spinal cord injury and other neurological conditions. For more information about our supports and services, visit our Resource Hub at https://scia.org.au/resource-hub/.

Send us Fan Mail

Meet Melbourne-based podcaster and disability advocate Peta Hooke. She is the host of 'The I Can’t Stand Podcast', and in 2025, she released a short podcast series called 'Eggs', where she chronicles her real-life experience navigating IVF and fertility with a Cerebral Palsy. 

On Have the Nerve, Susan and Peta talk a bit more about that podcast and the reception, medical equity and they discuss how our lifelong disabilities have shaped what gratitude means to them. 

Information in this episode

The I Can't Stand Podcast https://www.icantstandpodcast.com/

Eggs - The I Can't Stand Podcast https://omny.fm/shows/the-i-cant-stand-podcast/playlists

As a Disabled Woman, My Abortion Wasn't Questioned, but My Pregnancy Was - Article by Nicole Lee (April 27, 2020 Women with Disabilities Australia) https://oursite.wwda.org.au/stories/as-a-disabled-woman-my-abortion-wasnt-questioned-but-my-pregnancy-was

I Just Needed a Mammogram - Article by Asha Prasad (January 16, 2026 Spinal Cord Injuries Australia) https://scia.org.au/resource-hub/i-just-needed-a-mammogram/

Woman who uses wheelchair turned away from mammogram appointment - Article by Nas Campanella (July 9, 2025, Australian Broadcasting Corporation)  https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-07-09/woman-wheelchair-turned-away-from-mammogram/105464036

Credits
This episode has been written, produced and edited by Susan Wood. Logo art by Cobie Ann Moore.

If you would like to email us with a podcast topic request email [email protected] with the subject heading 'Podcast Topic Request'

Spinal Cord Injuries Australia is part of the Royal Rehab Group, and is a for-purpose organisation that supports people with a spinal cord injury and other neurological conditions. For more information about our supports and services, visit our Resource Hub at https://scia.org.au/resource-hub/.

Send us Fan Mail

In the final episode for Have the Nerve for 2025, meet Susan's mother, Alma. 

Alma came from Kabankalan, Negros Occidental in the Philippines to Australia in 1981. She shares her perspective of raising Susan, observations as she got older, advice for parents of children who have disabilities, and the switch from being the caretaker to being cared for by Susan at the age of 85.

This podcast would not be possible without funding from the Department of Social Services (DSS) as part of our Resource Hub. 

SCIA's Resource Hub is a collection podcasts, videos and articles by people with disability for people with disability, their family, academics - anyone interested in learning more from the people who live it!

Credits
This episode has been written, produced and edited by Susan Wood. Logo art by Cobie Ann Moore.

Spinal Cord Injuries Australia is part of the Royal Rehab Group, and is a for-purpose organisation that supports people with a spinal cord injury and other neurological conditions. For more information about our supports and services, visit our Resource Hub at https://scia.org.au/resource-hub/.

Send us Fan Mail

Today is International Day of People with Disability (IDPwD)! 

On this episode, Forrest, Declan and Maz from our EmployAbility team come on the podcast to discuss equity, the importance of lived-experience led training and social progress. 

This year's theme for IDPwD is 'Fostering disability inclusive societies for advancing social progress'. At SCIA, all of our services strive to empower people with disabilities, the people who support them and educate the next generations of people to help foster a society that excels for everyone.

Information in this episode

Let our EmployAbility team help you build a more inclusive workplace or help you find meaningful, inclusive employment. Visit https://employability.org.au/.

Episode 39: Something To Think About - People with Disabilities Need To Pay Bills Too, You Know https://scia.org.au/resource-hub/people-with-disabilities-need-to-pay-bills-too/

"We're not just ready to work, we're ready to take your jobs, alright?" Dylan Alcott Australian of the Year 2022 speech in full - https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-01-26/dylan-alcott-australian-of-the-year-speech-in-full/100783308

Credits
This episode has been written, produced and edited by Susan Wood. Logo art by Cobie Ann Moore.

Spinal Cord Injuries Australia is part of the Royal Rehab Group, and is a for-purpose organisation that supports people with a spinal cord injury and other neurological conditions. For more information about our supports and services, visit our Resource Hub at https://scia.org.au/resource-hub/.