In Plain Sight

There's far more to Mel Stephens than first meets the eye. Mel is a passionate storyteller, disability advocate and content creator who is blind, sharing her life, experiences and adventures with audiences across Australia and beyond. Living in regional Victoria, Mel describes herself simply: *"I'm just a country girl. I love horses, I love footy, I love travel. I just happen to experience the wor...

Introducing Martin Stewart a long term campaigner, activist & advocate of rights and needs for people who are blind.  Martin was born blind and in 2002 was seriously injured  an horrific public transport accident. In his current role at Blind Citizens Australia (BCA) as the National Individual Advocacy Officer he assists people who are blind or vision impaired to empower them to achi...

Join us this week as we celebrate the lives and stories of Deafblind Western Australians. Simon and Andrew have a chat with Linni Oliver and Jason Rowland from Deafblind WA (DBWA) to help us celebrate and acknowledge Deafblind Awareness Week which runs from June 22nd to the 28th. This year's theme is 'Connected by touch: Breaking barriers, building bridges." While we can't connect via touch in thi...

This week we enjoyed the company of Matt Spencer, a well respected member of the Blind Community in Perth. We really appreciate learning about such positive and active people, and to be able to share their stories with you. Matt is one of those wonderful people who is actively involved in many aspects of community and we aim to bring his story to light, which would otherwise be hidden in plain sig...

This week on In Plain Sight we have compiled a very special show to highlight some of the prominent people who have featured in Simon’s life who have demonstrated leadership and acted as role-models, within the Blind Community in Perth and beyond. We start the program with a fresh conversation with Dr Scott Holier as we explore & examine aspects of leadership, community connections and h...

This week we have the pleasure of talking with Emma Vardy, who has recently participated in the Young Leaders program conducted and organised by DeafBlind Western Australians (DBWA). Emma describes the complexities of becoming a leader and exploring one's own internal leadership. She proudly illustrates her journey from little knowledge to demonstrating her strength and confidence gained from part...

This week we present a special program in collaboration with Blind Sports WA, featuring Ben Rowe, Executive officer at Blind Sports WA. Simon was moved and inspired by a recent BSWA podcast by Ben called "How do we perceive ourselves as blind or vision impaired?" This episode serves as a clip show of this great discussion by Ben to generate a conversation around perception and personal confidence....

This week on In Plain Sight we had the pleasure of interviewing Glenn Wilson a Digital Accessibility Analyst for the Centre for Accessibility Australia. Glenn discusses his background as an educator in fields including computing and manual arts, and how that serves as a scaffold to his current role of ensuring that websites and digital documents are accessible for people with disability.  Sim...

This week on the show Simon and Andrew have a chat about the recent changes to NDIS funding and the role this scheme plays in the life of those receiving support. Our feature interview for this episode is with the ever positive Melanie Hawkes, the WA Director for Physical Disability Australia and disability advocate recognised for her creativity, leadership and commitment to strong inclusive commu...

This week we are revisiting an insightful conversation from last year with prominent author, lawyer and Attorney General of Western Australia Tony Buti. The discussion delves into his personal experience as a father raising a child with Cri-du-chat, and the struggles Tony and his wife Mandy faced along the way.  On the 5th day of the 5th month we recognise 5P or Cri Du Chat Syndrome with an i...

This week on In Plain Sight, Simon Chong and Andrew Williams have a chat with two very special guests. Fabulous passion and dedication alongside a lifelong association with dog guides are some of the motivations behind the great work of Guide Dog Mobility Instructor Katie Crawford. It was wonderful to learn about all that is required to train dogs as guides and trusted companions.  It was a p...

Nothing brings people together like group sports. This week on the show join Simon and Andrew as they have an enlightening conversation with Julie Cavallo, Development Officer for Blind Sports WA. Julie takes us inside her journey with the Australian Women’s Blind Cricket team at the 2025 T20 World Cup in India, revealing the passion, inclusion, and electric atmosphere of blind cricket in on...

This week on In Plain Sight we re-visit Simon and Abby's insightful conversation with Lisa Burnette from last year. Lisa is a passionate advocate, volunteer and double amputee as a result of Meningococcal Disease. She talks about her passion for volunteering in multiple roles and communities, and her personal connection to our recent highlighted topic, Parkinson's Disease, which her Husband Aaron...

This week on the show, join Simon and Andrew as they chat to the CEO of Parkinson's WA, Yasmin Naglazas, about how this disease affects West Australians with Parkinson’s and what they do to make their lives less restricted. With a focus on community through support groups and connections, those effected can find hope and meaning.  This episode is the second in our spotlight during Parki...

This week Simon and Andrew talk with Aaron Burnette about his experience living with Parkinson's Disease as April is Parkinson's Awareness Month. Parkinson's is a progressive, degenerative condition of the central nervous system that has no known causes or cure. The disease is complex, with more than 50 symptoms, and can often be misunderstood.  Aaron tells his story from being diagnosed in 2...

This week on the show join Simon and Andrew as they chat to Joe Teakle about his career as a filmmaker and host of Film Talk on radio DADAA. He recounts his experience making the documentary 'Theatricality' (2024) for SBS and future plans for acting and film making.  His love of movies has expanded to hosting the show Film Talk on the newly launched Radio DADAA every Wednesday from 11am to 12...

On this week's episode join Simon and Andrew as they chat to Cassandra Hughes, the CEO of Down Syndrome WA, about the importance of World Down Syndrome day. The day, this year on the 21st of March, is themed around the phrase 'together against loneliness' meant to combat social isolation and promote inclusion for individuals with Down Syndrome. The campaign highlights that true inclusion requires...

This week on In Plain Sight join your hosts Simon and Andrew as they talk with Gaela Hilditch, the volunteer coordinator for the Perth Glaucoma Support Group. In her twenties Gaela was hit in the eye during a game of squash, which years later she discovered had been a trigger behind her glaucoma diagnosis. Since this discovery she has been a strong advocate for increasing awareness of the disease...

Grinding out  a career as “That Blind Guy”. Karan Nagrani, known online as "That Blind Guy," is a Melbourne-based disability advocate, content creator, and 2025 Midsumma Festival Community Ambassador. Karan shares his story of how he moved from denial to pride: appreciation and awareness for who he is, and his acknowledgement of the complexities of identity and belonging. Karan is...

Due to complications with Type 1 Diabetes Colleen was in need of a heart transplant, and now as a transplant recipient she is fully energised and bright zest for life. She has also taken on board all the knowledge she has acquired through the numerous significant events she has experienced to sharing her story of resilience in the hope it will help, inspire and encourage people to appreciate what...

There's more to Geraldine than meets the eye. This week Simon chats to Geraldine Lane, a dog guide and wheelchair user, and Matt Wood, a Seeing Eye Dog instructor; about the importance of having a service dog and the confidence they bring.  When Geraldine's health was affected by a lung disease she was seriously concerned that her independence and physical activity would be restricted, not ne...

On this week's episode Simon has a chat with Paralympian and project officer at Rebound WA Natalie Alexander. Natalie discusses her wheelchair basketball career from winning silver in the U25 World Championships in 2011 and 2015 to competing in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.  She uses her passion for sport, community and resilience in her Project Officer role at Rebound WA, a not-for-profit organis...

This week Simon revisits his chat with Louisa Norman, Engagement and Regional Manager at Perth Festival. Perth Festival will light up Perth city for a massive summer of art and culture from 6 February to 1 March (with the Lotterywest Films program already underway). The Festival will activate the city and your imagination across a dazzling array of art forms, with numerous venue locations, there's...

On this episode of In Plain Sight Simon and Andrew interview filmmaker Tony Sarre on his project "Road to Paran" which he made last year with his project partner Lincoln MacKinnon. Paran is a small community that rests at the foothills of the Andes north of Lima, Peru and is known for having high rates of blindness. There, Tony and Lincoln got to know the locals and learn about their daily experie...

This week Simon revisits his chat with Maxine Drake , a powerful voice for inclusion and human rights. As an advocate with Developmental Disability WA, Maxine stands up for students with disabilities and brings passion, heart, and action to the disability movement. In this thought-provoking chat, Simon and Maxine explore advocacy, pride, dignity, and what it really takes to create an accessib...