When Paul Kelly stepped into the role of Chief Medical Officer in June 2020, the world was at the start of the COVID pandemic. Now five years on, he reflects on those early days of the pandemic and the critical decisions he had to make to try and keep the nation safe. 

Guest: Former Chief Medical Officer, Paul Kelly

Inspiring individuals talk about a pivotal moment in their personal histories. This week, Jenny May, Australia's newest National Rural Health Commissioner.

This week's mystery caller hunts insects on its scythe-like wings high up in unstable air – the Pacific Swift.

Sit, Stay, Grow  is a new book by trauma counsellor and clinical supervisor Angelika van Sanden about the healing potential of dog walking. 

When a blight hit the American Chestnut tree last century, over 4 billion trees died over a fifty year period. Rural Americans lost a valuable source of food and wood and a significant cultural icon. Now scientists are working to bring it back to the American forests through hybridisation and genetic engineering. But should they?

Guest : Bruce Beehler, research associate in the Division of Birds at the Smithsonian Institution’s Museum of Natural History and he wrote an article for the Washington Post you can find it here.

Despite an eleven-point swing against the Labor at the West Australian election, the party secured a landslide victory. 

Each year the Commonwealth acknowledges the critical community work done across the globe by its youth. Bethalyn Kelly from the Solomon Islands and Ruby Riethmuller from Australia are two of the finalists from the Pacific region who have developed innovative organisations to address issues of pollution and mental health in their communities. 

Update: Bethalyn Kelly was announced the Pacific Regional winner of the Commonwealth Youth Award. 

Guests: 

Bethalyn Kelly, President of the Resilience Innovation and Social Change Girls Club (RISC-GC) (Solomon Islands)

Ruby Riethmuller, founder and CEO of Womn-Kind (Australia)

In his latest book John Green writes about the history and injustice of tuberculosis, a disease which kills 1.25 million people a year even though it has been curable since the 1950's.

The New York Times best selling author discusses why he remains hopeful that the lung disease will eventually, not exist.

When Nyamal woman Tracy Westerman became the first Indigenous person to complete a PHD in Clinical Psychology, she already knew there was a huge need for Indigenous experts in the field of psychology. So she set up a foundation offering scholarships for Indigenous students wanting to pursue a career in psychology.  She has developed innovative approaches to addressing the mental health challenges of Indigenous Australians - particularly in the Pilbara where she works.

Guest: Dr Tracy Westerman, founder of the The Westerman Jilya Institute for Indigenous Mental Health and author of Jilya: How one woman from the remote Pilbara transformed psychology (UQP)

Tracy is speaking at the All About Women festival at the Sydney Opera House.

Lismore was scene of devastating flooding in 2022 and one of the many towns bracing itself as now ex Tropical Cyclone Alfred was approaching.