We turn our attention to the United Nations declared International Day of Happiness, focusing on what defines happiness, and looking at what we can all do to bring more of it into our own lives, and also into the lives of others .. each and every day.

The theme for this years’ day is “Share Happiness” and focuses on the importance of relationships, kindness, and helping each other.

One of the major indicators of happiness is laughter, and our special guest this week is Heather Joy Campbell, Queensland’s leading Laughter Well-Being Facilitator and Trainer who shares with us …“How to be Joyful, and Find the Laughter Within”.

Also this week, we are celebrating Radio COTA’s second birthday ! Our sincere thanks to everyone at COTA Queensland, the Regional & Community Radio Stations who include our show each week in their programming, and the extensive list of expert guests who have given freely of their time to appear on our Podcast each week.

Most of all, thank YOU to our wonderful listeners who tune in every week, and who also show their support and appreciation via Social Media, Email and our Feedback Line.

So, make yourself a cuppa, put your feet up, and enjoy all that Radio COTA brings to you ..

Please keep sending us your feedback and suggestions, we love hearing from you ...

Call us on the Radio COTA Feedback Line … Phone: 3316 2907

Or Email us at ... [email protected]

Your host,

Andy Neil

We turn our attention to the United Nations declared International Day of Happiness, focusing on what defines happiness, and looking at what we can all do to bring more of it into our own lives, and also into the lives of others .. each and every day.

The theme for this years’ day is “Share Happiness” and focuses on the importance of relationships, kindness, and helping each other.

One of the major indicators of happiness is laughter, and our special guest this week is Heather Joy Campbell, Queensland’s leading Laughter Well-Being Facilitator and Trainer who shares with us …“How to be Joyful, and Find the Laughter Within”.

Also this week, we are celebrating Radio COTA’s second birthday ! Our sincere thanks to everyone at COTA Queensland, the Regional & Community Radio Stations who include our show each week in their programming, and the extensive list of expert guests who have given freely of their time to appear on our Podcast each week.

Most of all, thank YOU to our wonderful listeners who tune in every week, and who also show their support and appreciation via Social Media, Email and our Feedback Line.

So, make yourself a cuppa, put your feet up, and enjoy all that Radio COTA brings to you ..

Please keep sending us your feedback and suggestions, we love hearing from you ...

Call us on the Radio COTA Feedback Line … Phone: 3316 2907

Or Email us at ... [email protected]

Your host,

Andy Neil

Music has been proven over time to have remarkable healing qualities, particularly for older people and for people living with dementia.

We’re excited to bring you not one, but two special guests this week …

First up, we chat with Bridgit Hogan, the Executive Officer of the Australian Music Therapy Association. Bridgit talks about the history of the AMTA, and how it came into being. The AMTA now has over 600 members Australia wide, all qualified professional therapists who bring music to the table as an intervention that can bring about remarkable outcomes in people of all ages.

Our second guest is Dr Imogen Clark, a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow with the University of Melbourne. After receiving the prestigious Hazel Hawke Research Grant in Dementia, Imogen is a vital part of a team of experts in Dementia and Music Therapy who are conducting extensive research into improving the quality of life and well-being of people with Dementia, especially through the use of Music Therapy.

So, make yourself a cuppa, put your feet up, and enjoy all that Radio COTA brings to you ..

Please send us your feedback and suggestions, we'd love to hear from you ...

Call us on the Radio COTA Feedback Line on … 3316 2907

Or Email us at ... [email protected]

Your host,

Andy Neil

Music has been proven over time to have remarkable healing qualities, particularly for older people and for people living with dementia.

We’re excited to bring you not one, but two special guests this week …

First up, we chat with Bridgit Hogan, the Executive Officer of the Australian Music Therapy Association. Bridgit talks about the history of the AMTA, and how it came into being. The AMTA now has over 600 members Australia wide, all qualified professional therapists who bring music to the table as an intervention that can bring about remarkable outcomes in people of all ages.

Our second guest is Dr Imogen Clark, a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow with the University of Melbourne. After receiving the prestigious Hazel Hawke Research Grant in Dementia, Imogen is a vital part of a team of experts in Dementia and Music Therapy who are conducting extensive research into improving the quality of life and well-being of people with Dementia, especially through the use of Music Therapy.

So, make yourself a cuppa, put your feet up, and enjoy all that Radio COTA brings to you ..

Please send us your feedback and suggestions, we'd love to hear from you ...

Call us on the Radio COTA Feedback Line on … 3316 2907

Or Email us at ... [email protected]

Your host,

Andy Neil

Music has been called the “Language of Love” as well as the “International Language”. In addition to that, music has been proven over time to have remarkable healing qualities, particularly for older people and for people living with dementia.

Our special guest this week is Sally Cooper. Sally is a qualified Music Therapy practitioner with a Masters in Musical Therapy along with other related qualifications. Sally has been working for some time with our older folk around a number of Brisbane’s Aged Care Facilities, and firmly believes that music has a powerful effect on the people she works with, helping them to recall times, places and people that would have seemed to have been all but forgotten.

Additionally, Sally is a professional musician and entertainer and has enjoyed success as a performer both in Australia and overseas. We’ll even be playing some of Sally’s original song, “Love Will Rise” during the podcast.

We have an update on Queensland Seniors Week, exciting news about our new Radio COTA Feedback Line, the News and a whole lot more.

So, make yourself a cuppa, put your feet up, and enjoy all that Radio COTA brings to you ..

Please send us your feedback and suggestions, we'd love to hear from you ...

Call us on the Radio COTA Feedback Line on … 3316 2907

or send an Email to ... [email protected]

Your host,

Andy Neil

Music has been called the “Language of Love” as well as the “International Language”. In addition to that, music has been proven over time to have remarkable healing qualities, particularly for older people and for people living with dementia.

Our special guest this week is Sally Cooper. Sally is a qualified Music Therapy practitioner with a Masters in Musical Therapy along with other related qualifications. Sally has been working for some time with our older folk around a number of Brisbane’s Aged Care Facilities, and firmly believes that music has a powerful effect on the people she works with, helping them to recall times, places and people that would have seemed to have been all but forgotten.

Additionally, Sally is a professional musician and entertainer and has enjoyed success as a performer both in Australia and overseas. We’ll even be playing some of Sally’s original song, “Love Will Rise” during the podcast.

We have an update on Queensland Seniors Week, exciting news about our new Radio COTA Feedback Line, the News and a whole lot more.

So, make yourself a cuppa, put your feet up, and enjoy all that Radio COTA brings to you ..

Please send us your feedback and suggestions, we'd love to hear from you ...

Call us on the Radio COTA Feedback Line on … 3316 2907

or send an Email to ... [email protected]

Your host,

Andy Neil

Chronic Pain is truly one of the most urgent issues our society needs to address, and deal with. When the experts, (as they have), start calling it a phenomena of “epidemic proportions”, it’s a truly concerning reality !

Chronic pain management or treatment differs from person to person, and because pain is subjective, locating and diagnosing the pain relies on patients and healthcare professionals working together to identify the causes and to find ways to relieve the pain.

The main goal of treatment of Chronic Pain is to reduce that ongoing pain as much as possible, and improve function in order for the person to be able to lead a happy and fulfilling life.

This week, we look at what steps we can take so that we can look our Chronic Pain square in the eye and say, “ I’m not going to take this from you anymore. From now on, I’m in charge here !”

If you are one of the 1 in 5, or 1 in 3 people over the age of 65 living with Chronic Pain, remember … You are NOT alone ... You are NEVER alone !

So, make yourself a cuppa, put your feet up, and enjoy all that Radio COTA brings to you ..

Please send us your feedback and suggestions, we'd love to hear from you ...

Email us at ... [email protected]

Or call us on the Radio COTA Feedback Line on … 3316 2907

Your host,

Andy Neil

Chronic Pain is truly one of the most urgent issues our society needs to address, and deal with. When the experts, (as they have), start calling it a phenomena of “epidemic proportions”, it’s a truly concerning reality !

Chronic pain management or treatment differs from person to person, and because pain is subjective, locating and diagnosing the pain relies on patients and healthcare professionals working together to identify the causes and to find ways to relieve the pain.

The main goal of treatment of Chronic Pain is to reduce that ongoing pain as much as possible, and improve function in order for the person to be able to lead a happy and fulfilling life.

This week, we look at what steps we can take so that we can look our Chronic Pain square in the eye and say, “ I’m not going to take this from you anymore. From now on, I’m in charge here !”

If you are one of the 1 in 5, or 1 in 3 people over the age of 65 living with Chronic Pain, remember … You are NOT alone ... You are NEVER alone !

So, make yourself a cuppa, put your feet up, and enjoy all that Radio COTA brings to you ..

Please send us your feedback and suggestions, we'd love to hear from you ...

Email us at ... [email protected]

Or call us on the Radio COTA Feedback Line on … 3316 2907

Your host,

Andy Neil

This Episode, entitled “You Are Not Alone”, examines the prevalence, and life changing effects that Chronic Pain has on so many of us in our 21st century society, and focuses on the ways assistance and support can be easily found for those who suffer with this debilitating disorder.

Chronic Pain is truly one of the biggest and most urgent issues we need to deal with. When the experts, (as they have), start calling it a phenomena of “epidemic proportions”, it’s the plain truth … expressing a truly concerning reality !

Broadening awareness of the many faces of Chronic Pain and having that conversation at every level possible is paramount to creating educated and meaningful understanding of the disease in its many forms, and in finding appropriate and timely interventions that can help to ease the suffering.

On this week’s show, we welcome our Special Guest, Elizabeth Carrigan, the CEO of the Australian Pain Management Association.

Elizabeth, a person who has herself a long-time lived experience with Chronic Pain, shares with us the very valuable work the APMA performs, along with the many other organisations and individuals who work tirelessly on the front line, urging Governments and the worldwide community to focus on addressing this most important issue, and in providing meaningful support and help to those who live with Chronic Pain.

Above all, ALWAYS remember… If you are one of the 1 in 5, or 1 in 3 people over the age of 65 living with Chronic Pain ..

You are NOT alone ... You are NEVER alone !

So, make yourself a cuppa, put your feet up, and enjoy all that Radio COTA brings to you ..

Please send us your feedback and suggestions, we'd love to hear from you ...

Email us at ... [email protected]

Your host,

Andy Neil

This Episode, entitled “You Are Not Alone”, examines the prevalence, and life changing effects that Chronic Pain has on so many of us in our 21st century society, and focuses on the ways assistance and support can be easily found for those who suffer with this debilitating disorder.

Chronic Pain is truly one of the biggest and most urgent issues we need to deal with. When the experts, (as they have), start calling it a phenomena of “epidemic proportions”, it’s the plain truth … expressing a truly concerning reality !

Broadening awareness of the many faces of Chronic Pain and having that conversation at every level possible is paramount to creating educated and meaningful understanding of the disease in its many forms, and in finding appropriate and timely interventions that can help to ease the suffering.

On this week’s show, we welcome our Special Guest, Elizabeth Carrigan, the CEO of the Australian Pain Management Association.

Elizabeth, a person who has herself a long-time lived experience with Chronic Pain, shares with us the very valuable work the APMA performs, along with the many other organisations and individuals who work tirelessly on the front line, urging Governments and the worldwide community to focus on addressing this most important issue, and in providing meaningful support and help to those who live with Chronic Pain.

Above all, ALWAYS remember… If you are one of the 1 in 5, or 1 in 3 people over the age of 65 living with Chronic Pain ..

You are NOT alone ... You are NEVER alone !

So, make yourself a cuppa, put your feet up, and enjoy all that Radio COTA brings to you ..

Please send us your feedback and suggestions, we'd love to hear from you ...

Email us at ... [email protected]

Your host,

Andy Neil