Loop Me In

Rob Hale host of podcast Dad-Ability joins Dr Lisa Interligi and Kristine Christopoulos to explore experiences of dads of children with all types of disabilities. Rob shares about his personal emotional journey with raising his son Leo, and how this brought him to a breaking point. Rob has used this to connect and support other fathers. This is a special conversation not to be missed.

Rebecca Challoner chats to Dr Lisa Interligi and Kristine Christopoulos. Powerhouse mum of two neurodiverse children, Rebecca is the founder of My Spirited Child. An organiser of ADHD conferences, My Spirited Child provides information, strategies and support to parents, carers and educators of neurodivergent children. The PEKE Centres provide multi-disciplinary support for neurodiverse people acr...

Hosts Dr Lisa Interligi and Kristine Christopoulos chat with Professor Mark Bellgrove about ADHD - what it is, how the condition is diagnosed, gender differences and heritability. Mark is Director of Research at the Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, and a Professor in Cognitive Neuroscience at Monash University.

Darrell Dalton, ex nurse for acquired brain injury and senior PGA member, turned running the largest golf program for people with intellectual disabilities. Not-for-profit Golf Programs Australia Inc is also an affiliate of the Special Olympics program. Darrell is joined by partner Michelle to chat about how the program works, the health and social benefits of playing golf.

Hosts Dr Lisa Interligi and Kristine Christopoulos welcome Melanie Dimmitt -broadcaster, journalist and editor Melanie is a mum of two and author of her book 'Special ' in which shares the raw experience of coming to terms with her son Arlo's cerebral palsy diagnosis. Melanie also works for HireUp as an advocate and produces a magazine The Blend Lifestyle for the tube feeding community.

Sevastine Katsakis joins co-hosts Dr Lisa Interligi and Kristine Christopoulos to chat about her amazing journey from being a patient at Melbourne's Royal Children's Hospital to joining forces with her childhood therapists to improve mental health and wellbeing of children and young adults with cerebral palsy at the Murdoch Children's Research Institute's CP-Achieve.

Chantelle Otten is an experienced and certified Psycho-Sexologist, Scientist, and Sex and Relationship Expert. She is an expert in educating and supporting people with disabilities with sexual health. Host Kristine Christopoulos chats Chantelle about topics from a parent's perspective such as safety and consent, education and the right to experience.

Hosts Dr Lisa Interligi and Kristine Christopoulos talk with Patricia McKenzie about her journey as a mother of three - an oldest daughter with Down's Syndrome, daughter, and a son who survived childhood leukaemia. All while navigating her career. Today, Patricia and her family are in a happy place. Her oldest daughter has found independence sharing a home with friends, and is enjoying a full life...

Dr Lisa Interligi and Kristine Christopoulos welcome Dr Annie Banbury from Coviu an Australian telehealth platform for doctors, therapists and hospitals. Annie talks about the benefits of telehealth for children and adults in regional, remote and city settings, particularly in accessing medical and allied health services.

This episode hosts Dr Lisa Interligi and Kristine Christopoulos chat with child psychologist and author Danuta Bulhak-Paterson about the girls and women with autism and how they present and experience autism differently compared with males.

The Victorian College for the Deaf is Australia's leading education school for children who are deaf. Principle Marg Tope chats with hosts Dr Lisa Interligi and Kristine Christopoulos about being the experts in teaching young deaf people in Auslan and English, and innovative hubs to provide work readiness skills. Marg also has some important advice for parents in creating life options for their ch...

Hosts Dr Lisa Interligi and Kristine Christopoulos chat to Sue and Tonia from the Inclusion Foundation, a dual purpose organisation providing opportunities for young people with Down's Syndrome to dance and to work. Inclusion Foundation was established by mom Cate Sayers after her 6 year old daughter was excluded from joining a dance class.

Hosts Dr Lisa Interligi and Kristine Christopoulos chat to Ryan Goodwin about the Focus on Ability film festival. In its 14th year, and with films from all parts on the world, entries are 5 minutes long and feature a disability theme. Ryan, Creative Director, talks about the festival's role in building inclusion, reducing bullying and providing a resource for parents.

Hosts Dr Lisa Interligi and Kristine Christopoulos chat to James Loveday from Empowered Liveability about Special Disability Accomodation (SDAs), transition planning that parents can do to prepare for their children's future living arrangements, and the value in engaging people with similar disabilities in planning.

Tommy Trout is rare gem promoting true inclusivity. Another entrepreneur who has taken, love and his family circumstance to positively impact the lives of people with a disability. Lisa and Kristine talk to Tommy about how his fitness company - We Flex - is making difference to people to disabilities aged 7 years and up. Boxing, yoga, Zumba, PT, gym - whatever it takes to be active, healthy and mu...

The recently elected Australian Government campaigned on a collaboration with people with a disability to review effectiveness of the National Disability Insurance Scheme. This forum discusses the views on NDIS from the special position of parents and their role as first line carers.

Hosts Dr Lisa Interligi and Kristine Christopoulos kick off Season 3 with another pair of entrepreneurs. Occupational Therapists Emma and Molly founded accessible fashion label Jam The Label which designs for the needs of young people with disabilities and the fashion conscious, recently showing at Australian Fashion Week.

We welcome another entrepreneur and warrior for disability in Steve Dresler, founder and CEO of What Ability. Hosts Dr Lisa Interligi and Kristine Christopoulos chat to Steve about his inspiration to bring happiness to people with a disability and challenge them to be the best they can be.

Hosts Dr Lisa Interligi and Kristine Christopoulos chat with Hampton Surf Lifesaving members Kerry and Zoe about the all abilities surf lifesaving program - Starfish - the importance of celebrating small steps, building confidence and having fun.

Andy chats to Dr Lisa Interligi and Kristine Christopoulos about the community philosophy of Giant Steps school and college. Based on a successful model from Montreal Canada, Giant Steps in Australia educates and develops children and young adults with high needs autism.

Paralympian swimmer Braedan Jason returns with brother Nathan, also legally blind and an elite athlete to chat with each other about the importance of failing, having a go and playing Fortnite with no sight.

Our guest from Season 2 episode 4 'Fierce Fleur' was Fleur Armstrong. She expressed an interest in podcasting, so we wanted to give her some experience. This episode she takes over as host and interviews Tim Marchinton from Adventure Therapy company - Purple Soup.

Fierce Fleur Armstrong talks to hosts Dr Lisa Interligi and Kristine Christopoulos about how after a car accident at 19 she overcame a prognosis of being in a persistent vegetative state to setting her sights on being a podcaster.

Dr Lisa Interligi and Kristine Christopoulos chat with Edwina and Lynzi from Riding for the Disabled (RDA) about the benefits of riding horses both as therapy and recreation for children with a range disabilities.