Dóchas Podcast by the Irish Support Agency

Gambling is deeply woven into Australian culture, from sports betting and pokies to online casinos, and while many people engage casually, Australia also records some of the highest gambling participation rates in the world. For members of the Irish community, this can be particularly confronting. In Ireland, gambling is not as visible or widespread, which can leave Irish migrants especially vulne...

Christmas is synonymous with home, family and tradition. But not everyone can be home for Christmas. Our feelings of homesickness can intensify during the festive season, this is because home is more than just a geographical location. Often, our sense of home refers to the people, the food and the sense of familiarity, safety and connection we find there. But while this time of year can be difficu...

Join us as we explore the epidemic of loneliness, why we feel shame to admit that we are lonely, the importance of connection, and how we can seek out connection in adulthood despite a fear of rejection. Humans have a fundamental need to form and maintain supportive interpersonal relationships. When this need goes unmet, people may experience a variety of negative consequences, including lonelines...

A conversation about the uncertainties of life, balancing between the familiar comforts of home and the new experiences in Australia, and the challenge of committing to long-term decisions as an expat. The in-betweens are the moments we’re unsure—of who we are, where we’re going, what we should be doing next. Existing in the in-betweens means finding a way to let go of all the expectations that we...

Dóchas is back for a new season! To kick off the new season, we’re taking it back to basics. With the growing number of Irish people relocating to Australia, navigating the country’s complex mental health system can be challenging. Join us as we explore the support options available to you,  with or without Medicare.  We'll also delve into the different types of mental health services on offer...

We are returning to further reflect on our relationship with alcohol. Our last episode really seemed to resonate with the community and so as a New Year begins, we wanted to continue this conversation. Alcohol can not only affect our physical health, but it can also significantly affect our mental health and emotional wellbeing. When the morning after comes, we can be riddled with the ‘fear’ and a...

As 2023 comes to a close, many of us will be feeling the pinch financially, with the cost of living rising. So with this in mind, we will be joined by Jessica Brady, a leading licensed financial adviser in Australia and has over 17 yrs experience in the Financial Services industry, working with some of the biggest names in finance including, Macquarie Bank, CBA and Zurich. Recently she launched, T...

The original recording was a webinar, hence the reference to slides, the audio content is still very worthwhile. If you would like to see the slides used, please go to the Youtube epsiode. Unresolved trauma can cast a long shadow over our lives, leaving a profound and enduring impact on our emotional, psychological, and physical well-being. The wounds of the past can manifest in various ways, from...

Have you ever had a poor night's sleep and you notice your mood, energy and attention span has completed depleted? Sleep plays a pivotal role in maintaining and promoting good mental health. Sleep is also a cornerstone of good physical health. It serves as the body's natural reset button, allowing the brain to consolidate memories, process emotions, the immune system strengthens, and hormo...

In this episode of Dóchas, we will be looking at relationships, in particular with a partner. As an expat, often romantic relationships can have additional stresses put on them, so we want to create a safe space where we could talk about the issues that we can face in terms of boundaries, communication and expectations. We are delighted to be joined by Katie O’Donoghue, originally from Cork, Katie...

In this episode of Dóchas, we will be hearing from members of the community who have made the return home to Ireland. Everyone has their own story to tell and experience to share. Some have found the move to be exactly what they hoped for, that returning to Ireland has filled a void that was present as an expat. Being close to our loved ones is the driving force behind many people’s choice to retu...

The wellbeing movement has seen a huge surge in its following over the past 15 years. From healthy eating, to exercise programs, and self-care strategies, the amount of information that is being shared is vast, but how can we distinguish between fads and trends, and research and science backed approaches? Join Roisin Trainor, Founder of Mind Yourself, Mental Health First Aid Training and Wellbeing...

Have you ever felt pressure to achieve a certain milestone—a career, marriage, education or motherhood—by a certain age? At some point, many of us will have witnessed how society’s expectations of what we should have in our lives—and by when—affects us. How it demoralises us. How it becomes a driving force in our lives and the inflection point of our decisions. So how can we get a better understan...

Join us as we explore the choice that Irish emigrants make on permanently settling in Australia. We will be chatting with a number of people who have chosen to call Australia home. Some have lived here longer than others, and some have found the decision easier to make than others, but for their own personal reasons, they chose to emigrate to Australia and permanently settle here. As an expat, we...

Hear from people who have had this experience and a professional's guidance if you find yourself in this situation. A diagnosis of cancer,  or other serious illness can be devastating. But there are ways to cope with the emotional distress and preserve your quality of life. Many serious health problems seem to develop unexpectedly, upsetting your life out of the blue. You may feel overwhelmed...

Join us as we examine our relationship with alcohol, especially during the festive season and how to recognise problem drinking and addiction in ourselves and our loved ones. The festive season is a good time to reflect on our drinking culture and the way we drink. Alcohol can not only affect our physical health but it can also significantly affect our mental health and emotional wellbeing. Some p...

Supporting a loved one through a crisis is one of the most difficult things you’ll ever have to do, and so often we tough it out alone. We do our best with the skills and knowledge we have, but often we’re fumbling in the dark, unsure of whether we’re on the right track, afraid of doing more harm than good. While most people have some intuition and the best of intentions when it comes to caring fo...

On Monday 10th October, on World Mental Health Day, we explored eating disorders, in all of their complexity. We were delighted to be joined by Kate Mulray from The Butterfly Foundation. The Butterfly Foundation is the national charity for all Australians impacted by eating disorders and body image issues, and for the families, friends and communities who support them. We were also joined by Jane...