Carer Conversations

This month, Patty Kikos interviews Kristina Duke, an expert on decluttering and home organisation. As a mum and wife who lives with 3 very different neurodivergent people in her home, Kristina has the lived experience of understanding the varied needs that many require in order to function with joy, ease and sustainability. Kristina is passionate about bringing this level of respect and empathy to...

This month, Patty Kikos interviews Margaret Skagias, a social worker who founded a charity called CaringKids, which offers practical support for young carers aged 18 years or less, who provide care for a family member living with a disability or chronic illness. CaringKids provides Toy Boxes (or Joy Boxes) to young carers Australia-wide, containing toys, books, puzzles, games, arts and craft mater...

Patty Kikos interviews Justin Bott from Services Australia, who explains the difference between a Carer Payment and a Carer Allowance. We discuss the Age Pension, the Disability Payment, as well as other financial supplements that carers might be eligible for. Justin also offers tips on how to apply for payments either online, in person or over the phone.    GUEST: Justin Bott - https://www.servic...

Patty Kikos interviews Mitch Gibson, who shares her journey of loving, caring and ultimately losing the love of her life to pancreatic cancer. Not only did Mitch sell her yoga school to care for Mark, but 2 years later, Mitch has found a new calling in life, that not only helps her to heal her wounds, but also holds a space for others who are navigating their own grief by becoming a grief counsell...

Patty Kikos has the pleasure of interviewing Way Ahead CEO, Sharon Grocott, whose daughter Amber, was born with a physical and mild intellectual disability. She was not able to kick or catch a ball or experience feeling on the balls of her feet, but Amber could ride a horse and compete in dressage comps. Despite learning to thrive, Sharon’s family’s lives were turned upside down when Amber was hos...

Patty Kikos interviews Sophie Hennessy from Dementia Australia who helps us understand the various types of dementia that people can experience from when they’re as young as in their 30’s. We discuss the wonderful resources you can access from Dementia Australia, including counselling, referrals to service providers and education for carers and staff through easy to access Artificial Intelligence....

This month, Patty Kikos interviews Paul Koury, the founder of the digital (and physical) magazine called The Australian Carers Guide. Paul shares the inspiration behind him creating such an incredible resource for carers when he and his sister needed information while caring for their mum many years ago. He is passionate about carers having as many resources as possible and has generously given ou...

In honour of NAIDOC week, Patty Kikos interviews Sierra, a proud First Nations Wiradjuri woman who lives in the Central West of NSW with her mother. In part 2 of this interview series, Sierra shares the tumultuous journey she faced when she was unable to complete high school and had to work to support her mother and younger brother when her older sister moved out. Her story of triumph had some mor...

In honour of NAIDOC week, Patty Kikos interviews Sierra, a proud First Nations Wiradjuri woman who lives in the Central West of NSW with her mother, attends university at Charles Sturt University and is studying to become a registered nurse. She became a young carer at 9 when her mother was diagnosed with early dementia, and Sierra had to help look after her mum and her younger brother. Part 1

Patty Kikos interviews sisters Marissa and Lauren who are the co-founders of Careseekers, an online marketplace, connecting people looking for in-home carers, with people looking for work as care or support workers. They combine their skills in law and marketing, along with their passion for this sector, after seeing the gaps in the market when their grandparents needed care. This is a great liste...

This month, Patty Kikos interviews Debbie Atherton, who has worked as an occupational therapist, and in Aged Care assessments. In our chat today, Debbie opens up about one of her 3 beautiful daughters who has a condition called Ehlers Danlos Syndrome. Her story highlights Debbie’s resilience, attention to detail and impressive organisational skills when balancing work and her caring role.

This is part 2 of Dr Fiona Aldridge’s interview, where Patty Kikos asks her about a variety of different assessment tools that can be used to help diagnose autism such as the ‘ADR’, which is the ‘Autism Diagnostic Interview Revised’, which is quite a lengthy interview process. Fiona also outlines 2 other tools such as the ‘ADOS’, which is the ‘Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule’, and ‘CARS’ or...

Patty Kikos interviews Dr Fiona Aldridge for part 1 of this interview series. Fiona is a clinical psychologist who joined ‘Autism Spectrum Australia’, also known as ‘Aspect’, in 2008 and is currently the manager of Aspects Assessments. She shares how the DSM 5 criteria helps define autism around social and social communication skills, along with the presence of restricted and repetitive behaviours...

This month, Patty Kikos interviews Jessica Dallish, who shares her experience of growing up as a Young Carer, along with the challenges she navigated and the ways she transcended them. Jess is now a passionate Young Carer Coordinator for Carer Gateway, and curates amazing experiences for Young Carers to feel less isolated, as well as opportunities for them to be qualified in trainings that will as...

Rachael Bennett is a strong Aboriginal Dharawal woman, who is dedicated to helping her people achieve their goals and rise above the stigma. She was taken into care, at the tail end of the Stolen Generation, placed into foster care, and ended up in a loving home where she was eventually adopted. Rachael helped look after her brother Mick who has cerebral palsy and toured Country as a singer and al...

Are you living in Australia as someone who has emigrated from another country? Do you find that navigating these different customs and systems that are unfamiliar to you can be a little challenging? Well today we have an inspirational story to share with you with our guest, Siavash Manouchchehpour. Not only did he emigrate for his native Iran, but he was also inspired to change his profession from...

Do you care for someone with a disability, or are you living with a disability yourself? Patty Kikos interviews Mackenzie Sedger-Small, who works as a Partnership Specialist for the Disability Gateway (an organisation with a ‘no wrong door policy’). Mackenzie helps define what is considered a disability and also shares some positive stories of how he has been able to assist carers when they have c...

If your son had been in a tragic car accident and doctors and specialists repeatedly told you that he wouldn’t live, how would you cope? Patty Kikos interviews Cheryl Koenig OAM, who not only received the Order of Australia Medal, was named Woman of the Year, but also authored 5 books. Cheryl is passionate about advocating for carers voices to be heard. She also shares about her son’s miraculous j...

GUEST: Lauren McGurgan https://www.disabilitygateway.gov.au/   SOCIAL MEDIA: Follow Patty on Instagram Follow The Benevolent Society on Instagram Follow Carer Gateway on Facebook Follow The Benevolent Society on Facebook   CREDITS: Host – Patty Kikos Producers – Patty Kikos and John Hresc Sound Engineer – John Hresc   GET IN TOUCH: Carer Gateway is proud to offer emotional and practical services a...

Carer Gateway is the Australian Government's national carer hub providing reliable services, supports and advice specifically for carers. Services are free to access for anyone caring for a family member or friend who is living with a disability, a long-term medical condition, mental illness, alcohol or drug dependency or someone who is frail due to age. Carer Gateway is accessed from the national...

Carer Gateway is the Australian Government's national carer hub providing reliable services, supports and advice specifically for carers. Services are free to access for anyone caring for a family member or friend who is living with a disability, a long-term medical condition, mental illness, alcohol or drug dependency or someone who is frail due to age. Carer Gateway is accessed from the national...

Carer Gateway is the Australian Government's national carer hub providing reliable services, supports and advice specifically for carers. Services are free to access for anyone caring for a family member or friend who is living with a disability, a long-term medical condition, mental illness, alcohol or drug dependency or someone who is frail due to age. Carer Gateway is accessed from the national...