Welcome listeners,

This week we are chatting with Denis Bartrum, a career physician and surgeon who also has a long career in the Army Reserve.

He migrated to Australia from the UK with his parents in 1962 at the age of 10 and after school went on to study medicine at UQ, became a hospital doctor, and later emergency doctor working in Ipswich. He also had a stint with the Royal Flying Doctors.

Some funny and intriguing anecdotes from reserve exercises and time working as a doctor in Papua New Guinea and Bougainville. Denis joined ARES in in Mackay in 1995, as part of 11 BASB.

No stranger to operation service, Denis was the RMO for 1JSU during Interfet, Jan 2000, looking after captured personnel. He also served as an Emergency Consultant in Iraq in 2004.

Great to have a veteran doctor in our midst, and cheers for the chat Denis.

Enjoy listeners

VCA Team

Good morning listeners,

We are aiming go squeeze in as many valuable podcasts as we can before the year runs out and X-mas is here.

During the Veterans Retreat we grabbed Dr John Barletta for a brief interview, in between his many sessions.

John was the principal facilitator on the course, while the rest of us regular staff took a well earned rest in the cool seat.

John is a clinical psychologist with a back ground in education, academia and counselling.

No stranger to the veteran space, John participated in TA3 in Timo-Leste and has worked with a number of veterans including Michael and Gary Stone.

He also runs workshops in the corporate space, in the medical sphere and for entrepreneurs.

In the session John talks about veteran social network, the nuances of working with ex-Defence members and talks through some accessible and practical models such as R.A.I.S.E. for navigating post-traumatic growth and positive self care.

A great session, cheers John.

Enjoy listeners

VCA Team

Hello listeners,

We are back with another podcast capture from the recent VCA Veteran's Retreat at St Georges on the Gold Coast (Oct/Nov 22).

For those who have attended one of our programs you will be well aware of the fantastic charity called Quilts of Valor.

This time we decided to give a little back and had Barbara and Bill Kenny from QOV stay with us for the program and have some R& R of their own.

We didn't stop that from grabbing an opportunity to sit down with them both and have them tell us a little about what QOV is and what the charity does for veterans.

The charity started following the helicopter crash in Afghanistan in 2010 that claimed the lives of three Australian soldiers.

Kicking off in Victoria, the organisation has been operating through out the country and has delivered somewhere between 3500 - 4000 quilts to veterans as a gesture of gratitude. Barbara and Bill are based in Boonah, QLD and are active all over the state.

A great initiative that our participants and staff thoroughly appreciate.

Cheers to you both and QOV.

Enjoy listeners.

VCA Team

Welcome back listeners,

With the VCA Veterans Retreat all wrapped up a few weeks ago it's time for the final round of podcast interview for 2022!

And what a year that has flown by!

Our first interview is with an Australian Navy veteran couple - Katrina Wood and Justin Ansell.

Justin was Seamen Officer and Air Intercept Officer and served for nearly 7 years, with service all over the place, Timor-Leste in 1999, SE Asia, Phillipines, China, Korea and Japan. He served on patrol boats on illegal fishing operations and with HMAS Sydney.

Katrina was a logistic officer on HMAS Platypus and with a Clearance Diver team. She also served in Iraq in 2003 and well as in a whole host of other roles and responsibilities.

Insightful reflections all round from Navy service all round from the two.

Katrina also outlines some fantastic tertiary study opportunities for veterans with Australian Catholic University, where she is currently the National Manager of Direct Admissions.

The Veterans Entry Program sounds like a great initiative indeed.

Well worth a listen!

Cheers Katrina and Justin

Enjoy listeners

VCA Team

Hello listeners,

We have the last episode in the three part series with Beth McLaughlan, our relationship expert, who continues with more of a description of the various attachment styles, and how they impact all our relationships. If you are yet to hear an attachment style that sounds very much like you, stay tuned, you soon will!

This last episode also includes Q & A with some of the audience members, as well as some of Beth’s intriguing stories of working with clients over the course of her career.

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A three part series taken from the hour and a half session Beth ran at St Georges Holiday Suites on the Gold Coast during TA20 earlier this year.

One of the key messages from Beth is that we are in relationships all all types our how life, yet we have little or no training in how to manage them.

With a thorough understanding of attachment styles, we can not only understand ourselves better, but understand others - leading to more compassion.

An absolute must listen.

Cheers Beth for a great session.

Enjoy listeners

VCA Team

Hello listeners,

We have the next episode in the three part series with Beth McLaughlan, our relationship expert, who continues with more of a description of the various attachment styles, and how they impact all our relationships.

----------

A three part series taken from the hour and a half session Beth ran at St Georges Holiday Suites on the Gold Coast during TA20 earlier this year.

One of the key messages from Beth is that we are in relationships all all types our how life, yet we have little or no training in how to manage them.

With a thorough understanding of attachment styles, we can not only understand ourselves better, but understand others - leading to more compassion.

An absolute must listen.

Cheers Beth for a great session.

Enjoy listeners

VCA Team

Hello listeners,

Welcome back to a new round of podcasts.

We have a special treat for you over the next few weeks..

Beth McLaughlan, our relationship expert speaks about the various attachment styles, and how they impact all our relationships.

A three part series taken from the hour and a half session Beth ran at St Georges Holiday Suites on the Gold Coast during TA20 earlier this year.

One of the key messages from Beth is that we are in relationships all all types our how life, yet we have little or no training in how to manage them.

With a thorough understanding of attachment styles, we can not only understand ourselves better, but understand others - leading to more compassion.

An absolute must listen.

Cheers Beth for a great session.

Enjoy listeners

VCA Team

G’day again folks,

We are closing off the TA20 podcasts with another great chat with one of the peer mentees, Cindy Waugh.

Cindy is a current serving member and a new to service chaplain, with 2 CER. With her busy and demanding role, Cindy has had her fair share of personal fatigue from tending to other’s needs.

Returning to the Timor Awakening peer mentoring program, Cindy aimed to both refill her own bucket, and learn skills to take back to her role as a unit Madre, both aims of which were achieved over the course of the program.

A far north Queensland girl, she certainly found the ice bath a mission, but persevered!

Cheers for the chat Cindy and enjoy listeners

VCA Team

G’day again listeners,

Welcome back to another TA20 peer mentor podcast.

Today we have a quick chat with Dawn Uebergang, a previous TA participant and wife of Lee Uebergang.

Dawn is a veteran in her own right, having dedicated 15 years of her life to volunteer work in places such as Nairobi and Lao, where she combines her love of travel, natural medicine and commitment to projects that give back to communities.

Dawn’s husband Lee is also a keen community developer, whose passion involves bringing water supply to remote villages, with Timor Leste in his sights.

A fascinating story and a true commitment to those in need.

Cheers for the chat Dawn and enjoy listeners.

VCA Team

G'day listeners,

We are steaming ahead with more TA20 peer mentor program podcast interviews.

Next up we have Daniel McKenzie, a former UN nurse who served in Timor Leste and Afghanistan.

Dan has completed a TA as a participant and has come back to do mentor training.

Dan stresses the importance of empathy and willingness to listen when interacting with veterans.

Equally, he emphasises the importance of veterans taking ownership for their own improvement, with mentors helping them drive the solution.

Another great short listen.

Cheers Dan and enjoy listeners.

VCA Team