The Imagine More podcast

In this episode, you’ll hear from Nathan Basha, an actor, university student, filmmaker, and a staff member at the “coolest radio station in Sydney”. He is also an ambassador for the NSW government's 'Living Life My Way' campaign.

Nathan shares his lived experience of many things: expectations (both high and low), the power of his family’s vision, his various experiences of employment, and plenty of advice for people with disability, their families, and potential employers.

You can watch Nathan’s presentation on our website.

Click here to read the transcript of this episode. Please note that the transcript provided may contain occasional errors.

On our website, you’ll also find

• all the presentations from our Opening Opportunities conference in 2023
• many other resources about helping a person with disability find meaningful employment
• events related to employment and other topics relevant to people with disabilities seeking to enjoy a typical life.

Follow Nathan at

• facebook.com/NBnathanbashanobarriers/
• instagram.com/nathanbasha/
• linkedin.com/in/nathanbasha

Many thanks to Osher Marks, who is the voice of this season of the Imagine More podcast.

This season, we're bringing you powerful presentations and personal stories from the 2023 Opening Opportunities conference, held in Canberra. 

The conference featured speakers, including young people with disability, their families, and professionals from Australia and overseas who have opened up opportunities using a proven framework called Customised Employment.

By listening to these sixteen presentations, we hope you’ll come to understand that employment opportunities for people with disability are abundant in a vast range of industries, just waiting to be discovered.

Many thanks to Osher Marks, who is the voice of this season of the Imagine More podcast.

On our website, you’ll also find

• all the presentations from our 2023 Opening Opportunities conference available in video format
• many other resources about helping a person with disability find meaningful employment
• events related to employment and other topics relevant to people with disabilities seeking to enjoy a typical life.

This session is for anyone who has ever

• felt that their life is filled with therapy appointments
• wondered if there are ways to apply therapy in the real world, away from therapy sessions and the therapist’s office
• struggled to implement a student’s therapy needs into the school day
• noticed that the person receiving therapy finds it
• demotivating
• boring and repetitive, or
• inappropriate for their age and stage in life.

In her former role as an Orientation & Mobility Specialist with Guide Dogs NSW/ACT, Anne worked alongside many therapists. She noticed that some people enjoyed much better outcomes from their therapy sessions than others. The best results were achieved by therapists whose approach

• was role and goal-focused
• didn’t only consist of weekly or fortnightly therapist-led sessions in a clinical setting
• could be integrated seamlessly into the person’s regular day
• recognised and incorporated the experiences and expertise of the individual and their support network.

In this presentation, Anne will use real-life examples to identify the critical elements of successful therapy. You’ll see how these elements are universal. They can be applied irrespective of the individual’s goals or support needs.

This will be a valuable session for families and anyone who works alongside therapists.

This session was introduced by Charlie Herbert.

Hi, I am Charlie. I am in year 11. I am an (RFS) firefighter. I am the chef of my own small business.

I am here to tell you about the lovely Anne Keep. Anne has helped people with disability. 

Now she works at Imagine More. Today Anne will tell how therapy fits with getting the good things in life. 

Everybody here Is Anne.

Anne is the Typical Pathways Initiative Project Coordinator at Imagine More.

Before she joined us, Anne was an Orientation & Mobility Specialist with Guide Dogs NSW/ACT. In this role, Anne worked with individuals and their families in their homes, workplaces, schools and local community, often alongside other therapy providers.

Anne learned much from her experiences of working with individuals of all ages and with varying support needs. She’s become a strong advocate for inclusion in all aspects of life. She has a particular interest in promoting best practices in therapy.

Anne is the mum of two amazing and entertaining children and three fur babies. In her spare time, she enjoys various crafts and getting out in nature by running, bushwalking and camping.

• Anne can be contacted at Imagine More

• Vision - Resources about vision on the Imagine More website
• A Good Life - Resources about a good life on the Imagine More website
• Valued Social Roles - John Armstrong’s presentation What It Takes to Craft a Valued Role examines the key elements of a valued role and the part supporters and parents play in facilitating these conditions.
• Getting a Good Start in a Good Job talks about task analysis. You can listen to this presentation in Episode21-23 of this podcast series.
• Your child, your family and early childhood intervention: Family Perspectives is a short video from Reimagine Australia shown in this presentation
• Task analysis - In this presentation, Tom Bevitt from the University of Canberra discusses the process of Task Analysis and how to use it to help people with disability in the workplace

As young people with disability progress through the secondary school years, they and their family members often wonder:

• what they will do after school?
• what will they be able to do?

Families tell us they inevitably arrive at a narrow set of ‘post-school options’. These vary depending on the young person’s assessed readiness for work.

In this session, Fiona introduces participants to the concept of customised employment. It’s a great approach for people with disability who are looking for meaningful work. It helps everyone involved to imagine a broader range of employment possibilities. You may find that your understanding of “work readiness” will shift dramatically!

Participants will get an insight into creating customised employment opportunities. You’ll learn that the most successful approaches always

• align with the interests of the young person, and
• benefit the employer.

These insights will be revealed through interactive exercises and actionable information.

This session was introduced by Max Grinsell-Jones.

Hi, my name is Max. I would like to tell you about Fiona McIntosh. Fiona works with Imagine More. She leads their ‘School to Work’ project. She likes to help young people with disability find good and interesting work. 

Fiona will be joined by Genna and Jessie Ward. Jessie is in year 12. She loves drama and singing. She is doing an ASBA at a primary school. Jessie wants to help people with disability to be treated fairly.

Genna is Jessie’s Mum. She is an advocate for inclusion. She has always wanted Jessie to have a good life. Fiona, Jessie and Genna will talk about using discovery to find work. 

I hope you enjoy this presentation.

Fiona is the School to Work Project Coordinator at Imagine More. This three-year project aims to strengthen the capacity of young people with disability and their families to achieve valued paid employment and self-employment.

Fiona has over 25 years of experience in policy and program development in the ACT Government and local non-government sector.  This experience spans housing, homelessness, child welfare and twelve years in the disability sector.

Fiona has a strong interest in creating employment opportunities for young people with disability.

She is a solo mum to a young daughter.  In her free time, she loves connecting with nature through camping and walking, creating her own small enterprise, and creating surreal collages.

• Fiona can be contacted at Imagine More

Jessie is a Canberra-based Year 12 student. She is currently doing a Business ASBA (Australian School Based Apprenticeship) at a local primary school.

Jessie is a dog owner, a circus trainee, and a drama enthusiast who thrives on performing in the school productions. She is also a member of a youth singing group called the Octaves.

Jessie lives with the gifts and disabilities of Koolen de Vries, a super-rare genetic condition. She is passionate about changing discrimination against people with disabilities.

Jessie is very excited about her new job as a Peer Worker in a project collecting the wisdom of people with disabilities.

Genna Ward is Mum to daughter Jessie and a passionate practitioner of and advocate for inclusion. Genna and her partner Kim are very committed to laying the foundations for Jessie’s good life. They are helping her to

• establish her place as a respected member of her community
• have her contributions valued, and
• enjoy belonging to a rich, diverse, and exciting community.

In her work life, Genna is a Clinical Psychologist who works in private practice.

• School to Work Project - This is a three-year project funded by the Department of Social Services. It will run until June 2023. The project hopes to see the trend reversed on poor disability employment figures. When work goals are set early in a child’s high school years, there are many potential benefits
• Marc Gold and Associates
• Milton Tyree’s presentation, mentioned during this presentation, can be found in Episodes 21-23 of this podcast series: Getting a Good Start in a Good Job
• Jacob’s story: The Essential worker is told in Episode 11 of this podcast series

This session will draw from stories shared throughout the conference. John and Jan’s conversation will look at:

• how people with disability exceeded expectations when they had the opportunity
• how being known can keep people safe
• why being present is the first step to being known
• why you don’t need to speak to make connections and hold valued roles
• how support can act as a bridge to connection

This session was introduced by Charlie Herbert.

Hi, I am Charlie. I am in year 11 and a member of the fire brigade. I am (here to tell you about) John Armstrong and Jan Kruger. 

John lives in Melbourne. He is an SRV (Social Role Valorisation) trainer. He has helped (a lot of) people. John has been working in this field for more than 40 years. John is good at explaining things.

Jan is the heart of Imagine More. Jan has studied SRV (Social Role Valorisation) and uses this to guide her work. She has helped people (with disability) to have valued roles and inclusive lives.

Everybody, here’s John (and) Jan. 

John Armstrong has worked with people and families of people with a disability for over 40 years. He has worked as a trainer and consultant across many settings with individuals, families and agencies throughout Australia and New Zealand.

John is one of only two Senior Trainers of SRV (Social Role Valorisation) in Australia. He has presented on the topic of SRV in many international forums. More recently, he has written two chapters of the recently-published book: Aging and the Good Things of Life: The Application of Social Role Valorization to Supporting people as They Age.

• Website: https://johnarmstrong.media/

Jan Kruger is the Executive Director of Imagine More. She has been a strong advocate for people to live valued and inclusive lives for many years.

In 2013, Jan co-founded Imagine More in the ACT to strengthen family leadership and advocacy for people with a disability. She advocates for people with disability to

• hold valued social roles
• develop meaningful relationships and
• live typical lives in their communities.

Jack, Jan’s son, has been her most valuable teacher. He’s helped her understand how to support people with disability to get the good things of life by following a typical life path. Jan’s ongoing study of Social Role Valorisation (SRV) taught her the importance of valued roles. She became aware that valued roles allow people to participate in and contribute to their community, and relationships can flourish. The SRV framework now guides Jan’s family and Imagine More. Jan has also invested in learning about customised employment. This knowledge was invaluable in preparing Jack for life after school.

Jan and her family continuously work towards building an ordinary, inclusive life for Jack. Over the years, the family have seen Jack flourish and become a valued member of his community.

• Jan can be contacted at Imagine More

• John and Jan reflect on Erosha’s story about her daughter Sethmi’s school journey. You can hear this presentation in Episode 17: Reflections on a Journey of School Inclusion
• Valued Roles in Schools - In this workshop, John Armstrong discusses the importance of valued roles in schools for students with disability.
• John and Jan reflect on Jack’s story of finding employment. You can hear this presentation in Episodes 21-23: Getting a Good Start in a Good Job
• Nurturing freely given relationships - You can hear about this in Janet Klees’s presentations Episodes 7-10: Building a Powerhouse Team: Families and Their Support and Episodes 12-14: Towards Mastering the Essentials of the Powerhouse Team
• John and Jan reflect on Jacob’s story shared by his mum Annette about becoming a valued team member and employee. You can hear this presentation in Episode 11: The Essential Worker
• Becoming More Competent - In this workshop with Imagine More, John Armstrong presents solid strategies based on the principles of Social Role Valorisation (SRV) to facilitate learning for people with impairments.
• John and Jan reflect on Tia’s story of following interests to build her roles and her own business. You can hear this presentation in Episode 19: From School to International Fashion Runways
• What It Takes to Craft a Valued Role - In this presentation from Imagine More’s 2018 National Inclusion Conference, John Armstrong talks about valued roles and what is needed to create them.
• John and Jan reflect on Katie’s story of finding a home of her own and being a valued neighbour. You can hear this presentation in Episode18: Preparing for when we fall off our perch
• Bringing the Community Along - In this workshop, John Armstrong explains how positive roles allow people with disability to participate and belong.

Because we are social creatures, we are ‘hardwired’ for kindness and cooperation. It’s our natural state. The sense of ‘belonging’ is therefore essential to our mental and emotional health.

But the social changes of the past 30-40 years have been pushing us in the opposite direction. We’ve become more socially fragmented, less cohesive, and more isolated. The consequences are obvious: epidemics of loneliness, anxiety and depression.

In his presentation, Hugh will help us reconnect with the magic of kindness. He’ll explain how building connections can start with small acts of kindness in your neighbourhood. We hope participants will be motivated to use these techniques in their own lives.

This session was introduced by Jessie Ward.

Hello My name is Jessie Ward. I am a year 12 student, and I’m in a choir called Octave.

I am here to introduce a highly celebrated Author, Hugh Mackay

Hugh is a social psychologist. He has spent the past 60 years in social research. He is an honorary  professor at ANU. He has written 22 books and 8 novels. His most recent book is called The Kindness Revolution. Today Hugh will talk to us about  Kindness, Connection and Community. 

Please welcome Hugh Mackay 

Hugh Mackay is a Canberra-based social psychologist and researcher, and the bestselling author of 22 books, including eight novels. His latest book, The Kindness Revolution, was published in 2021.

He has had a 60-year career in social research and was also a weekly newspaper columnist for over 25 years. He is currently an honorary professor in the Research School of Psychology at ANU and a patron of the Asylum Seekers Centre. Among other honorary appointments, he has been deputy chairman of the Australia Council for the Arts, the inaugural chairman of the ACT government’s Community Inclusion Board and an honorary professor at Macquarie, Wollongong and Charles Sturt universities.

Hugh is a Fellow of the Australian Psychological Society and the Royal Society of NSW. In recognition of his pioneering work in social research, he has been awarded honorary doctorates by Charles Sturt, Macquarie, NSW, Western Sydney and Wollongong universities. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2015.

• Australian Bureau of Statistics
• Lim, M., & Australian Psychological Society. (2018). (rep.). Australian loneliness report: a survey exploring the loneliness levels of Australians and the impact on their health and wellbeing. Australian Psychological Society and Swinburne University. 

• Website:  https://sites.google.com/view/hughmackay

Most people experience a micro-business when they are young. They might look after a friend’s pet or mow a neighbour’s lawn and receive some money or other item of value in return. Such micro-businesses teach young people valuable lessons about work, money, saving, and contribution.

Unfortunately, young people with disability often miss out on enjoying such experiences of work.

When COVID-19 changed Chloe’s plans for employment, Chloe and her family decided to think big and try a microenterprise.

In this presentation, Chloe and her mother, Jodie will outline how they

• identified Chloe’s skills and interests
• utilised their personal networks
• and developed a successful microenterprise.

This session was introduced by Gus Reichelt

Hi, my name is Gus. I am here to introduce Chloe and Jodie Reid.

Chloe is 21 years old. She lives in Canberra. Chloe really likes fashion and design. She is great at sewing. Chloe uses this interest and skill in her own micro business. 

Jodie Reid is Chloe’s mum. She thinks inclusion is very important. She believes that everyone has a talent that can lead to meaningful roles. 

Today we will hear how Chloe started her own business by following her interest and talent in fashion. I hope you enjoy listening to Chloe’s story.

Chloe Reid is a 21-year-old Canberra local with a strong interest in fashion and design.

With her mum Jodie’s support, she established a small business called Mrs Clompys Closet. A conversation with one of Jodie’s work colleagues led to an order of scrunchies for a local girls’ soccer team. Suddenly, Chloe found herself with an exciting niche!

Chloe has recently launched her virtual shop on Etsy. She now sells hair scrunchies and beautiful lavender pillows to customers across Australia. Mrs Clompys Closet can be found on Etsy, Instagram and Facebook.

Jodie Reid is a passionate and enthusiastic parent who loves talking about inclusion with anyone who wants to listen (and occasionally with some who don’t!). She believes that everybody has “their thing”- a talent, a passion, a skill – of value to contribute to those around them.

In her professional life, Jodie has worked in a range of government policy and program areas. She enjoys working collaboratively and looking for simple, creative solutions to complex problems. Just because no one has done it that way before doesn’t mean it can’t be done.

Jodie and her husband have two children, 15 and 21. Their daughter attended her local schools, from preschool to secondary college, and completed Year 12 in 2018. With Jodie’s help, she then followed her interest in fashion and sewing and runs a successful small enterprise in Canberra.

School to Work Project

• This is a three-year project funded by the Department of Social Services. It will run until June 2023. The project hopes to see the trend reversed on poor disability employment figures. When work goals are set early in a child’s high school years, there are many potential benefits

The Barefoot Investor

• Jodie read Scott Pape’s book and found ideas for typical work opportunities for young people.

Vision

• Resources about vision on the Imagine More website

Employment and Microenterprise

• Resources about employment and microenterprise on the Imagine More website

• Mrs Clompy’s Closet on Etsy
• Mrs Clompy’s Closet on Facebook
• Mrs Clompy’s Closet on Instagram

Email [email protected]

When Tom was preparing to leave school, and no one was offering any suitable post-school work options, his parents knew they had to come up with the answer. Skip forward 5 years, and Tom is happily and successfully running his own lawn maintenance business with approximately 50 regular clients.

Ground Control by Major Tom came into being because his family

• chose to focus on Tom’s interests and skills, and
• had a goal that Tom would have a valued role in the community.

Tom’s Circle of Support, which was established at the same time as his business, still meets regularly. The Circle’s roles are

• to support Tom in his decision making
• to provide new social and recreational opportunities
• and to hold and protect his vision of a good life.

Helen, Tom’s mum, will describe the pathway from its beginnings, where she dreamed of a Microenterprise for Tom, to today, where the dream is a reality. In her presentation, Helen will

• discuss their use of formal (paid) and informal supports
• share strategies for sustainability, business growth, skill development and independence
• provide tips on “thinking typical”.

Outside-the-box-thinkers will appreciate the ideas, tactics, and strategies that abound in Tom’s story.

This session was introduced by Gus Reichelt

Hi, I am Gus. I am here to tell you about Tom Neale and Helen Neale.

Tom is a young man who is nearly 24 years old. He has his own lawn mowing business. Tom likes to travel, go to the pub, and hang out with friends. He is a valued and busy community member. 

Helen Neale is Tom’s mum. Helen works for “Community Living Project” in South Australia. Today Helen will tell us how Tom’s business started and grew. 

I hope you enjoy listening to Tom’s story. 

Tom is nearly 24, a hard worker who has had his microenterprise “Ground Control by Major Tom” for almost five years. He is a good friend to many and loves to help out where he can, whether raising funds and awareness for the homeless or being a good neighbour.

Tom has a vision for a good and typical life- he loves to travel, go to the pub, hang out with friends, and one day wants a modern house of his own. Tom has Autism, but this doesn’t define him.

Helen is Tom’s mum as well as his current social secretary! She has always had high expectations for Tom and hasn’t let the narrow mindedness of others change his life trajectory.

Helen now works for Community Living Project in South Australia, an organisation driven by strong values. In this role, she shares information about microenterprise as a career option for people with disability.

• Community Living Project (South Australia) - CLP provides a range of Core Support and Capacity Building services under the NDIS, including assistance to live in your own home and to participate in the community.
• Vision - Resources about vision on the Imagine More website
• Employment and Microenterprise - Resources about employment and microenterprise on the Imagine More website
• Getting the Support Right - Resources about support on the Imagine More website
• How Ground Control by Major Tom found greener pastures, The Advertiser, April 20, 2019 - an article about Tom’s business in the Adelaide Advertiser which includes the photo discussed in the podcast.
• Circles of Support - Resources about circles of support on the Imagine More website

• Ground Control by Major Tom on Facebook

Sue and Susan have known each other for over 20 years. During this time, Sue has been Susan’s Citizen Advocate and has supported her to get the good things in life.

One of these good things was a place to call home. Susan lived in a group home for many years, but it wasn’t a place where she felt relaxed or in control. In this presentation, Sue will describe Susan’s steps to move into a place of her own.

In July 2021, just before Susan turned 67, she hosted a PATH plan that drew inspiration from the NZ Ageing Well Strategy. Susan is well on her way to living her best life.

This session was introduced by Gus Reichelt

Hi, my name is Gus. I am here to introduce Sue Robertson. Sue lives in New Zealand. She has worked with people with disability for over 30 years. Sue believes in inclusion and family leadership. Sue has been an advocate for Susan for more than 20 years. And today, she will tell Susan’s story. It’s called “Ageing and Living Well”. I hope you enjoy listening to Sue. 

Sue Robertson has more than 30 years of experience in the disability sector. She has dedicated her career to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible and is a fearless champion for families. Sue has spoken internationally on inclusion, family leadership and family governance. She is a facilitator of PATH plans and bespoke personal planning.

Somewhere in this journey, Sue completed a Bachelor of Social Sciences and a Diploma in Care Coordination to add to her teaching qualifications. She constantly learns from leaders and mentors with lived experiences of impairment, especially about the disabling impact of societal attitudes about disability. She is encouraged by stories from people who generously share their insights and wisdom.

Currently, Sue is Change and Practice Manager with a large disability service provider in New Zealand. In this role, she co-designs and manages projects and initiatives that influence how current and future services are delivered.

Sue is a trustee for the Disability Trustee Ltd and an Advisor for Family Network. For nearly 20 years, Sue has been a Citizen Advocate for her friend Susan. Sue has previously worked for Imagine Better as the Family Strategy Manager in New Zealand. She was involved in the development of the NZ Autism Guidelines.

Sue lives in New Zealand with her husband Neil. They have three adult children. Katie, their middle child, has been in the first wave of social change since she was born in 1984. Katie lives a great life and has been a source of inspiration for every member of their family. 

Advocacy and Human Rights

• Resources about Advocacy on the Imagine More website

Citizen Advocacy 

• Citizen Advocacy Auckland 
• Citizen Advocacy Australia

A Place to Call Home

• Resources about home on the Imagine More website

A Good Life

• Resources about a good life on the Imagine More website

Much has been learned through the years about open employment. There is much evidence that shows what works and what doesn’t work. When the well-established guiding principles of customised employment are applied, desirable results will likely follow.

In this presentation, we will look at how a local family applied these principles in the workplace.

Jack Kruger, a recent school leaver, will provide an overview of his work roles over the years. He’ll explain how these have led to him securing employment at Government House in Canberra.

Then Jan Kruger, Jack’s mum, and Julia Shumaker, Jack’s job mentor, will describe the process of developing Jack’s Government House job. They will explain

• how they worked with the employer to define Jack’s responsibilities
• the nature of Jack’s relationships with his co-workers, including their instructional roles
• adjustments that the employer made to help Jack learn and master his role, and
• lessons learned along the way.

Finally, Milton Tyree will connect Jack’s story with the customised employment principles that he described in his pre-conference webinar.

This session has been split into three parts. This is part three.

Milton, who is based in the US, has professional and personal experience over decades of helping people with disabilities have strong work roles. He uses the principles of SRV (Social Role Valorisation) as a foundation for his work.

Milton helps individuals and organisations include, involve, and appreciate people who are so often unknown, misunderstood, and rejected. He’ll share his insights about customised employment and how to get the job set up well right from the start.

In 2013, Milton received The Marc Gold Award for Employment. This award is presented annually to an individual who has significantly contributed to increasing access to community and integrated employment for people with significant disabilities.

Milton is a Project Associate for the University of Kentucky. He owns Milton Tyree Employment Consulting LLC.

• [email protected] 

Jack Kruger is a CrossFit member, bike rider, movie enthusiast, employee, Learner driver, friend, and happens to have Down syndrome.

Jack attended local schools along with his sisters, and as a result, he is well known in his community. He finished school in 2020 at Daramalan College in Canberra.

Jack started his working life at the age of 14 and held several jobs while still at school. Since leaving school, Jack has been crafting a meaningful week of work, study, sport and leisure time. He is currently working as an After-School Care Educator and as a Government House Household officer.

Julia Shumaker is in her early 20s, a good friend to many, and a vibrant member of her community. She has a keen interest in teaching and supporting people to thrive. Julia has been working alongside Jack Kruger in various roles over the last 4 ½ years. One of her most impactful roles has been as Jack’s job mentor.

Julia has been learning about customised employment through workshops and mentoring. Implementing this learning has resulted in some wonderful employment outcomes for Jack.

As well as working with Jack, Julia runs her own small business. She is a member of a local dance studio and enjoys being outside with nature.

Jan Kruger is the Executive Director of Imagine More. She has been a strong advocate for people to live valued and inclusive lives for many years.

In 2013, Jan co-founded Imagine More in the ACT to strengthen family leadership and advocacy for people with a disability. She advocates for people with disability to

• hold valued social roles
• develop meaningful relationships and
• live typical lives in their communities.

Jan’s son, Jack, has been her most valuable teacher. He’s helped her understand how to support people with disability to get the good things of life by following a typical life path. Jan’s ongoing study of Social Role Valorisation (SRV) taught her the importance of valued roles. She became aware that valued roles allow people to participate in and contribute to their community, and relationships can flourish. The SRV framework now guides Jan’s family and Imagine More. Jan has also invested in learning about customised employment. This knowledge was invaluable in preparing Jack for life after school.

Jan and her family continuously work towards building an ordinary, inclusive life for Jack. Over the years, the family have seen Jack flourish and become a valued member of his community.

• Jan can be contacted at Imagine More 

• Vision - Resources about Vision on the Imagine More website
• Circles of Support - Resource about circles of support on the Imagine More website
• Support - Resources on support on the Imagine More website
• NDIS Self-Management - Resources about self-managing NDIS on the Imagine More Website
• Employment - Resources about employment on the Imagine More website