Saturday Magazine

Macca and Paul to our recently appointed CEO, Paul Scott-Williams, about the year that was and what’s down the road for JOY in 2026.

The post 25/12/2025: Christmas Magazine: Paul-Scott Williams, CEO Joy Media appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Macca and Paul are back doing their annual special Christmas show with the with some of our most special and favourite guests from the Community and Politics.

Joe Ball (he/him) is the Victorian Commissioner for LGBTIQA+ Communities, appointed in 2024.  A proud transgender man and long-time advocate, Joe has an extensive background in social services, mental health support and LGBTQIA+ community work. Previously associated with Switchboard Victoria, he has championed initiatives such as Rainbow Door and programs supporting survivors of family violence. Joe focuses on improving access to services, reducing stigma, and ensuring Victorian LGBTIQA+ communities are included in policy decisions.

Commissioner Ball (he/him) is a proud transgender man. He is a longstanding LGBTIQA+ advocate with a 25-year career in disability, housing and homelessness, and social services.

Commissioner Ball is a member of the Expert Advisory Group for the Federal Government’s 10-Year LGBTIQ+ Health and Wellbeing Plan. He has previously participated in several leading social service advisory committees and boards. This includes the Victorian Family Violence peak body Safe and Equal, the Community Advisory Committee for 1800RESPECT, the Victorian LGBTIQA+ Taskforce, the Victorian Family Violence Reform Advisory Group, and the National Suicide Prevention Governance Committee.

Joe was previously CEO of Switchboard Victoria for eight years, where he led the establishment of Rainbow Door, the state-wide LGBTIQA+ family violence and mental health helpline.

Throughout his expansive career, Joe has drawn upon the strength and guidance of LGBTIQA+ history and most importantly, the work of activists who have paved the way, the courageous voices with lived experience and the wisdom of LGBTIQA+ elders.

In 2020, Joe was honoured as an award recipient in the 50 Outstanding LGBTI+ Leaders in Australia.

The post 25/12/2025: Christmas Magazine: Joe Ball, Victoria Commissioner LGBTIQ+ Communities appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Macca and Zoe are joined live in the studio by Kent Burgess, Interim CEO – Thorne Harbour Health; Update from Thorne Harbour Health, as they discuss 2025 from THH; Monkey Pox, Funding and so much more.

The post Sat, 20th Dec, 2025: Kent Burgess, Interim CEO – Thorne Harbour Health; Update from Thorne Harbour Health appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Zoe and Macca are joined live on air by, Rex Patrick, “Transparency Warrior” & Former Federal Senator as they discuss the high court fight on political donations

Former Senator Rex Patrick was known as the ‘Transparency Warrior’ during his time in the Federal Parliament.

In addition to the normal tools used by senators to enforce transparency of Government (e.g. questions at question time, written questions on notice, Senate Estimates questioning, Inquiries and Senate orders for the production of documents) Rex also made extensive use of Freedom of Information request in the Federal domain and subsequent reviews by the Information Commissioner and the Administrative Appeals Tribunals (AAT).

Rex also made numerous requests under South Australian FOI laws and sought Ombudsman reviews and South Australian Civil and Administrative Tribunal Reviews.

Rex believes that transparency is a critical element of a representative democracy. Without transparency citizens cannot properly participate in democracy – and the likelihood of corruption or maladministration occurring increases.

The post Sat, 20th Dec, 2025: Rex Patrick, “Transparency Warrior” & Former Federal Senator, High Court Fight on Political Donations appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Zoe and Macca talk to Christopher McDermott, Deputy Chair, Mental Health Victoria.

Christopher is a member of the Victorian Bar and has a broad civil law practice. He specialises in employment and industrial law, anti-discrimination law, human rights and administrative law. Christopher is the Secretary of the Victorian Bar’s Indigenous Justice Committee, a member of the Industrial Bar Association Committee, the Australian Bar Association’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee, and the Victorian Bar’s LGBTIQ Working Group (which he helped to establish).

The post Sat, 20th Dec, 2025: Christopher McDermott, Deputy Chair, Mental Health Victoria appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Professor Dr. Jason Ong is a distinguished academic and sexual health physician dedicated to advancing research and improving health outcomes for marginalized populations. With a rare combination of expertise as a clinician, health economist, and epidemiologist, he leverages his diverse skill set to address complex public health challenges. His research focuses on amplifying the voices of underserved communities and tackling taboo topics to promote informed decision-making and policy development.

Since 2019, Professor Ong has served as an advisor to the World Health Organization (WHO), contributing to global efforts to eliminate HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) as public health threats. In addition, he holds leadership roles as Vice-President of the Australasian Society for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, and Sexual Health Medicine (ASHM) and as a Board Director of Health Equity Matters, reflecting his unwavering commitment to equity in healthcare.

The post Sat, 20th Dec, 2025: Prof. Dr Jason Ong, Dir. Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, Alfred Health appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Veteran Australian Journalist and Broadcaster, Neil Mitchell, best known for his dominant 34-year career at Melbourne talkback station 3AW, joins Macca, Zoe and Misha as they discuss the year that was in politics, news and more.

The post Sat, 20th Dec, 2025: Neil Mitchell, Veteran Australian Journalist and Broadcaster, Musings on 2025 appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Zoe and Macca are joined live in the studio by Misha Ketchell, Editor-in-Chief, The Conversation, as they discuss the year that was in politics and current affairs

The post Sat, 20th Dec, 2025: Misha Ketchell, Editor-in-Chief, The Conversation: The Year That Was In Politics appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Former ABC Journalist and Independent MP for Goldstein is this week’s co-host. She joins Macca as they discuss life post federal politics, Zoe’s history, and what’s coming up on this week’s show.

Zoe is a respected journalist and author, and is the former independent federal MP for Goldstein, after making history in 2022 as the seat’s first female representative.

In Parliament, she championed reforms in women’s safety, economic equality, student debt, healthcare, climate legislation, and digital safety, and mental health, particularly support for eating disorder services.

The post Sat, 20th Dec, 2025: Weekly Wrap Up with Macca and Zoe Daniel: Life Post Politics appeared first on Saturday Magazine.

Macca and Nevena talk to Ged Kearney, MP Cooper, Asst Min for Prevention of Family Violence & Asst Min Social Services; about the year that was, new legislation on family, domestic & sexual violence in LGBTQIA+ relationships protections.

Macca and Nevena are also joined in the studio, well rather ambushed by Josh Burns, Georgie Purcell and Peter Khalil to announce the delivery of $250,000 from the Federal Australian Government to fund Joy Media.

Special delivery of the cheque is from 6:57 minute mark.

The post Sat, 13th, Dec, 2025: Ged Kearney, MP Cooper; Josh Burns MP, McNamara; Peter Khalil MP, Wills: Special Announcement appeared first on Saturday Magazine.