Áine chats with Tim Heffernan, about the launch of the advocacy toolkit on 12th February 2026 at Parliament House Sydney, NSW designed to assist and support individuals and organisations to argue the case for NSW to adopt a Human Rights Act. 

A human rights Act would not only provide protections for vulnerable people living in the community, especially those living with disabilities and mental illness, but would also strengthen and support frameworks and structures that already exist in legislation and provide a human rights lens through which to create new legislation.

Tim is an experienced Peer Worker with a demonstrated history of working from a lived experience perspective mental health.  He is skilled in Peer work, non-profit organisations, Social Services, Coaching, and Crisis Intervention.  Tim is a strong communityand social services professional with a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) focused in English and Australian History from University of NSW (UNSW) and a Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work from MHCC.

In Conversation Samantha James, Director at the Sensory Specialist:

Áine chats with Sarah James, a small business commentator, Founder of the Sensory Specialist and disability advocate, who contributes to public conversations around inclusion, accessibility and consumer issues.  Sarah speaks about the concerns expressed by families around the upcoming reforms to the NDIS, changes to the Assessment tools and the introduction of Thriving Kids Program which are scheduled for mid-2026.

As a former Psychology teacher, Sarah has worked closely with children of all needs and abilities.  This lived experience hashelped her to curate and develop inclusive tools that actually work for children and adults with a range of abilities. 

The Sensory Specialist is an NDIS registered provider which opened in 2020 and is based in Melbourne.  Sarah has recently been featured in The Age, The Herald Sun, The Sydney MorningHerald, 9Honey and ABC Radio Melbourne.

Karen is an Author, Veterinarian and Podcaster and lover of Australian wilderness, flora and fauna. I chatted with Karen Viggers about her journey to becoming an author. She has written five novels all based in Australia and is currently working on her sixth novel. Her stories have been set on the south eastern coast of Australia; Brunei Island and Antarctica; Canberra; and also Tasmania and include - The Stranding (2008), The Lightkeeper’s Wife (2011), The Grass Castle (2014), The Orchardist’s Daughter (2019) and Sidelines (2024).

Her work is set in Australian landscapes and communities, and explores contentious issues, such as dying with dignity, displacement of First Peoples, wildlife conservation, clear-felling of native forests, and now, modern parenting and junior sport. She also co-hosts a podcast Secrets From the Green Room where she interviews writers and other book industry colleagues about books and writing.

I really enjoyed chatting with Karen about her work. It made me think about my own love of writing and storytelling and how luxurious it might be to enjoy reading her stories across the festive season, either reading at home, on a beach, in the bush, or early on Christmas morning in bed.

Áine speaks with Dr Georgia Van Toorn. We discuss concerns about the potential negative impacts of the recently announced changes to the NDIS assessment process. The federal government has announced the introduction in mid- 2026 of computer-based algorithmic tools to standardise decision-making for individuals who are participants of the NDIS. These participants, who are living with disability, often have complex and very unique experiences and needs. It is unknown whether these changes will live up to the expectations of the disability community and the underpinning principles of the NDIS which was created to provide choice and control for people living with disabilities.

Dr Van Toorn is a senior lecturer at the School of Social Sciences at the UNSW, and an associate investigator at the ARC Centre of Excellence for Automated Decision Making and Society. Her research explores the growing impacts of data analytics and algorithmic decision-making in the public sector, with a particular focus on disability and social justice.

Coming into the festive season when many have an expectation of spending time with family and friends, and when many others experience loneliness and dislocation, Áine speaks with Josh about family and relationship breakdown that results in an estrangement of that/those relationships.

We discuss what estrangement is, how it occurs and how we can address it across the festive season to ensure that we are making wise and healthy choices for ourselves.

Josh has extensive experience working with community members and over a decade of frontline and leadership roles across the mental health and community sector. At EveryMan Australia, he leads the Violence Prevention Services, Counselling Service and Men’s Accommodation Support Services; and manages multidisciplinary teams delivering trauma-informed, evidence-based interventions to men with high and complex needs. He is also a skilled psychologist and family therapist.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Australian Mental Health Prize, a decade of recognising Australians whose leadership, research and lived experience have transformed how we understand and respond to mental health. Established by the University of NSW (UNSW) Sydney in 2016, the Prize has honoured advocates, clinicians, researchers and community leaders who have changed lives and shaped national conversation. The 2025 winners reflect that legacy, by celebrating two national trailblazers and two emerging change-makers whose work is strengthening care, culture and connection across Australia.

Áine speaks with Professor Pat Dudgeon (Perth, WA), prize winner in the category of Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander. Pat was Australia’s first Aboriginal psychologist and a national leader in Indigenous mental health and suicide prevention. She was born and raised in Darwin, descending from the Bardi people of Kimberley. “As Director of the Centre of Best Practice in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention at the University of Western Australia, she has been instrumental in embedding cultural, strengths-based and lived experience perspectives into policy and services. She led the landmark Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention Evaluation Project (ATSISPEP), whose 2016 report ‘Solutions That Work’ reframed national understanding of suicide prevention by centring Indigenous-led and culturally grounded responses. A founding chair of the Australian Indigenous Psychologists Association, her work continues to shape research, policy and frontline practice across Australia”.

Chris discusses the findings of the recently released landmark report, the Mental Health Compass, conducted by Australians for Mental Health. The report has revealed “the diversity of attitudes towards the issue of mental health” and that the nation desire” more from their governments, communities and services.” Key findings include 59% of the population acknowledging that “Australia is experiencing a mental health crisis that requires urgent action”, and “76% believing that it can be addressed through the right approach, investment and leadership”. Better policy development and legislation with a focus on a whole-of government approach was seen as a solution; with loneliness being widely experienced and how that is impacting mental well-being. Other factors such as the cost of living crisis; and critically the impact of the rise of AI and other technology based mental health supports were also key issues of concern.

Australians for Mental Health, is a grassroots mental health advocacy group who are urging governments to get serious about the root causes of mental-ill-health. As Chris said “the public wants policy decisions weighed against their mental health consequences, and they want systems and environments that make it easier to live well. It’s very clear what needs to happen. Governments must make mental health outcomes part of every major policy decision.”

Áine speaks with Markus Fischer following up on the interview they had in October 2021. 

With the proliferation of gambling ads on the TV, social media and internet they discuss the impact on younger people, youngmen and women and about the importance of raising awareness and taking action around gambling harm every day.

Markus shares updates on the changes happening in the sector and in Canberra; especially the new drop in sessions available in the ACT to better support family members and friends of those at risk of gambling harm; and how the language being used to explain gambling is changing.  He discusses the need for role models and mentors from all sections of the community, especially the sporting community - people willing to share their experience and help young people to make better choices for their well-being.

Markus has a lived experience of gambling harm, and works within the ACT Gambling Support Service at Relationships Australia Canberra as a Peer Worker providing education, support and awareness-raising in the ACT region.  Markus shares his personal story and insights into the harmful impactsof gambling addiction and how that may affect a person’s mental health and well-being and relationships with families and friends. 

In this interview from October 2025, Áine chats with Croatian-Australian, local musician, artist and creative, Michael Simic, also known as Mikelangelo from Mikelangelo and the Black Sea Gentlemen, about his latest solo show, 'In the Belly of the Whale' which he was touring through the eastern states and being performed at Smith's Alternative in Canberra.

This rollicking and revealing tale, combining songs, storytelling, comedy, and physical theatre was co-created with writer/director Tracy Bourne, who has worked extensively in Australian music and theatre.. Michael shares a deeply personal story within the mythological imagery of "what happens when a man meets his alter ego in the belly of the whale?" Who is he when confronted by his darker self? What are his desires, his fears? How is he a man amongst other men? How is he a father, an artist, a husband?

Michael is musician, performer and mentor, professional singer, songwriter, who has released over 17 independent albums, and toured across Australia, NZ and Europe and the UK. He is well-known for his work with his long term group Mikelangelo and the Black Sea Gentlemen. Michael has recently been named the 2025 Canberra Artist of the Year.

For more about Michael see -

https://humecon.nsw.edu.au/michael-simic/

https://www.facebook.com/mikelangelo.bsg/

In advance of Melbourne Cup Day Áine speaks with Kate Seselja, Founder of the Hope Project, Co-Chair Canberra Gambling Reform Alliance, Co-Chair of GHLEE-Gambling Harm Lived Experience Experts, Recovery Coach, Community Educator andPublic Speaker, on the impact of gambling addiction and harm.

Kate established the Hope Project in 2015 to help others in the community who were struggling with gambling addiction. 

Using her own lived experience, Kate speaks truth to power.  

As an advocate and recovery coach she works to free others from the shame and stigma that can be an outcome of gambling addiction. 

In her advocacy work she in involved across a number of organisations and advocacy groups at both the state at national level to lobby for systemic change to legislation, gambling reform including putting safeguards around gambling products, holding the gambling industry to account, and for increasedfunding for education and support for those living with, and at risk of gambling harm.