Áine speaks with Brian Corley, CEO, Community Options ACT about the difficult decision to withdraw from providing services under the National Disability and Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and Commonwealth funded Aged Care Services by June 30, 2025.

Community Options ACT has been providing specialised support to the ACT community for over 30 years.

The decision follows significant changes to Commonwealth aged care programs and the evolving NDIS framework. An exhaustive review of the new reforms found the continuation within these service models financially unsustainable long term".

Community Options will continue to operate as an independent, grassroots case management service, supporting at-risk individuals and families across various sectors.

"PWDA is calling on state and territory governments to stop delaying and commit to properly funding foundational supports now".

Áine chats with Trinity Ford, president of PWDA about why PWDA are calling for state and territory governments to implement vital foundational supports; the impacts of the delays on people living with disabilities and their families and carers. Foundational supports have always been the responsibility of state and territory governments. When the NDIS was introduced many walked away from disability services and are now refusing to step up when people need support the most.

Ms Ford discusses the challenges being faced - "People with disability are being squeezed from both sides. The NDIS is tightening access, reducing the supports available to many participants, and now states and territories are refusing to deliver the services they were always responsible for."

Trinity is a research and policy consultant and a training lawyer, with six years’ experience in the disability sector. She is a proud neurodivergent trans woman with physical, neurological, psychosocial and sensory disability. Her main disability policy interests are desegregation and rights instruments.

"Data reveals that a staggering 1.16 million (19%) young people lack access to a laptop or desktop computer intheir home – including 400,000 Aussies who are high school age and above. With schools across the country having orrolling out mandatory ‘bring your own device’ (BYOD) requirements, insufficient access to technology can interfere with students’ ability to learn and keep up with homework. In fact, digital inclusion is increasingly important foreducational outcomes, with one report noting students who have positive homework behaviour, have a higher chance of completing Year 12 and increasing their likelihood of entering the workforce."ÁIne chats with Caroline McDaid, CEO of WorkVentures to discuss why device donations are an essential part of closing the digital gap; the importance of digital inclusion for disadvantaged students and how a National Device Bank is working to refurbish and distribute donated devices to digitally excluded communities.

Áine speaks with Peter Heggie, Carer Co-Chair of the National Mental Health Consumer Carer Forum (NMHCCF), and a representative of Carers Australia.

We discuss the concerns of those living with disability about the NDIS reforms and the Amendment bill that was passed in the Senate on Thursday 22nd August 2024.  The lack of proper co-design and consultation and how the process has impacted the disability community, the

"In late March many in the disability community were surprised when the government introduced a new piece of legislation to get the NDIS “back on track”. The route of the bill through parliament has not been easy and many in

Áine chats with Sonia who was interim CEO of MARRS

Sonia was born in Australia to Italian migrants.  Growing up in Australia she is keenly aware of the challenges faced by migrant children who navigate a life between two cultures – that of the old country of their parents and family, and that of the new country, Australia.  She

She is a solicitor and human rights lawyer

Dale Barlow, is an internationally renowned Australian Jazz Saxophonist, Multi-Instrumentalist, Clarinettist, Flautist and Composer. He is winner of several ARIA Awards, Album of the Year/ Jazz performer of the year/ International Artist of the Year/ Bicentennial Artist of

Áine chats with Dale about his life and experience of playing and creating music.  Dale grew up surrounded by music.  His father was a professional musician, his

In Australia and South East Asia Dale has performed with many artists and groups, includinCg Keys Music Association, The Benders, Bruce Cale, Roger Frampton, , Matt Finish, Vince Jones, Margaret Ulrich, Kate Cebrano, Indra Lesmana, and Dwiki Dharmawon.  Dale's group 'The Wizards of Oz' with Paul Grabowsky, Lloyd Swanton and Tony Buck, was the first Australian group to

Dale has played and toured and recorded with many other jazz greats including Sonny Stitt, Chet Baker, Gil Evans, Jackie McLean, Billy Cobham, Dizzy Gillespie, Curtis, fuller, Eddie, Palmieri, Benny Golson, Lee Konitz, Helen Merrill, Mulgrew Miller, Kenny Barron, Ray Drummond, Dave Kikoski, Richie Cole, Billy Higgins, Freddie Hubbard and Wynton Marsalis, Cindy Blackman, Ernie Wattsm Eddie Henderson, Jeff Watts, Essiet Essiet, Bennie Green and Mike Nock.  He played with the Gil Evans' Big Band, and was a member of the Billy Cobham band for 3 years.

Áine speaks with Howard Conkey, author the book Tad’s Legacy.  The book documents the tragic death of his

It raises questions about the supports available to vulnerable people living with both alcohol and mental health issues; the drug and alcohol support systems in ACT and the need for reforms to the Mental Health Act to better protect people at risk of self-harm. 

“Tad Kahsai came to Australia from worn-torn Eritrea. 

“Howard ... said his friend Tad’s death was a tragedy best described as a train wreck of what could go wrong did.  Mr Kahsai went missing from Calvary Hospital while hallucinating and judged not to be competent at the end of 2015.  A missing person investigation by police and on-ground search failed to find him and his body was discovered by chance by students near Bruce Stadium three months later”.

 Áine speaks with Vesna about her multicultural women’s project - An Unexpected Life, a collection of personal stories of migrant woman.  The project was a labour of love and collaboration with the wonderful women she met over the years through the process of establishing herself in Canberra Australia after leaving Serbia 34 years ago. 

A few years ago Vesna became involved in writing and performing poetry in her mother tongue, through the

 There are 12 stories from woman who came from Afghanistan, Bosnia, Chile, Ghana, Macedonia, Malaysia, Peru, Romania, Serbia, Sri Lanka and South Africa

The Book is being launched on at 10am Saturday 20th April 2024 at the Gorman Arts Centre in Ainslie Avenue Canberra City. 

Áine speaks with Amanda Hughes a registered music therapist about music therapy as a career pathway for musicians.  Amanda completed her Master of Music Therapy at the University of Melbourne in 2023, and a

She specialises in mental health, alcohol and other drugs (AOD), Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), early childhood and adolescents, and family relationships, tailoring

Amanda believes “in the transformative power of music and strive[s] to make a meaningful impact on the lives of those [she] work[s] with in her practice”.

Áine speaks with Maree Patsouras about her research on the experiences of working mums drinking during Covid.  The new studies by La Trobe University have shed light on the impact of additional responsibilities women assumed by ‘default’ during the COVID-19 pandemic, influencing a spike in drinking among working mothers.  Participants noted the lack of control they felt over their everyday lives and drinking as they juggled working from home, parenting, household, and teaching roles combined

Maree is currently a PhD student at the