Interview Highlights from Vision Australia Radio

The Vision Australia Annual General Meeting was held on Tuesday the 27th of October 2025 at the Kooyong office. The MC for the event was Ian Finlayson and the event commenced with a Welcome to Country followed by formal proceedings.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pet theft can happen when an opportunity presents itself, but there are practical steps pet owners can take to reduce the risk. Vision Australia Radio catches up with Adam Bloomfield from Crime Stoppers Victoria to discuss pet theft, sometimes referred to as "pet napping", and why owners should think carefully about their pets' security. Adam shares practical tips including microchipping and regis...

Sam Taylor, Vision Australia's Access Technology Service Development Lead, explains how screen reader users can verify what's real online, and what makes some scams harder, or easier, to catch by ear. We're Talking Cyber Security" is a podcast unpacking scams, fraud and cyber threats affecting the blind and low vision community. Across six episodes, guests from CyberCX, Commonwealth Bank, Vision A...

How can artificial intelligence help create a more accessible and inclusive future? Ahead of the Outlook AI event in Melbourne on 12 November , ambassador Dhruv Sharma joins Vision Australia Radio to discuss why he takes a “glass half full” approach to AI. Dhruv explores the opportunities AI presents for people with disability, the importance of including lived experience from the begi...

Bec Caldwell from CyberCX unpacks the scams and threats becoming more common right now, and what they actually mean for your day-to-day life at work and at home. "We're Talking Cyber Security" is a podcast unpacking scams, fraud and cyber threats affecting the blind and low vision community. Across six episodes, guests from CyberCX, Commonwealth Bank, Vision Australia and members of the blind and...

Looking for work, starting a new role or needing support to stay and thrive in your current job? Peter Greco speaks with Georgia Miller, National Manager for JobAccess, about the practical support available to people with disability across Australia. Georgia explains how JobAccess can assist with workplace adjustments, assistive technology and the Employment Assistance Fund, as well as advice and...

What does assistive technology look like when it is designed around the realities of living in regional Victoria? Vision Australia Radio’s Jason Gipps speaks with Ben Werner from Astec Services, a Ballarat-based assistive technology provider with more than 30 years of history supporting people with disability. Ahead of the ATSA Expo Local in Bendigo , Ben discusses Astec's range of products...

How can Victorians who are blind or have low vision vote independently and accessibly in the 2026 state election? Vision Australia Radio’s Peter Greco speaks with Victorian Electoral Commissioner Sven Bluemmel about the accessible voting options available this November, from telephone-assisted voting and Braille postal ballots to assistance at voting centres. Sven also explains low-sensory v...

Assistive Technology Suppliers Australia is bringing its inaugural ATSA Local event to Bendigo, giving people with disability, older Australians, families and allied health professionals a chance to discover assistive technology closer to home. In this interview highlight, Vision Australia Radio’s Peter Greco speaks with ATSA CEO Serena Ovens about why the organisation is taking its popular...

Crime fiction writer Ruth McIver joins Kate Cooper on Emerging Writers to explore a lifelong fascination with storytelling, crime and the complicated ethics of drawing inspiration from real events. Ruth discusses her Irish-Australian identity, discovering writing at a young age, the long road to publication and the extraordinary experience of having her work recognised with major literary prizes....

In this Vision Australia Radio Interview Highlights episode, Emerging Writers host Kate Cooper speaks with Sharon Flindell, curator and producer of the 2026 Totally Lit: Adventures in the Port City Festival. Now in its second year, the festival returns to Fremantle from 2 to 16 October with more than 60 events celebrating books, storytelling, poetry, history, crime writing and community connection...

With the 2026 Blind Australian of the Year Awards just days away, Jason Gipps speaks with Terry O'Neill from Link Vision and special guest Reggie Bird about the history, impact and future of the awards. They reflect on how the awards have grown from a small community initiative into a nationally recognised celebration of excellence among Australians who are blind or have low vision. The conversati...

International White Cane Day is celebrated around the world each year on 15 October, recognising the white cane as a powerful symbol of independence, confidence and safe travel for people who are blind or have low vision. In this episode, Vision Australia's Regional Client Services Manager, Grant Wilson, joins Peter Greco to discuss why the white cane remains such an important mobility tool, the d...

Former teacher Bev Walker spent decades inspiring students in regional Victoria before unexpected vision loss changed her life. In this heartfelt conversation, Bev shares the emotional impact of losing her independence, the challenges of living with low vision in a rural community, and how support from Vision Australia helped her reconnect with the things she loves most. From accessible technology...

Amazon has launched Alexa+ in Australia, marking a major step forward in conversational artificial intelligence and voice-first technology. In this special Vision Australia Radio interview, Jason Gipps speaks with Amazon's Alexa Country Manager Australia, Kate Gooden, about how Alexa+ is making technology more natural, intuitive and accessible for everyone. The discussion explores new features inc...

How often do we stop and listen to the wisdom of our grandparents? In this heartfelt conversation, Anushka Singh shares the profound influence her late grandfather, Mr. Sethi, had on her life and the values that continue to shape her today. From kindness, community service and respect, to hard work, gratitude and family, Anushka reflects on the lessons learned through years of conversations, walks...

Ahead of Radiodays Asia 2026 in Jakarta, Vision Australia Radio's Jason Gipps speaks with Australian media executive, educator and broadcaster Steve Ahern OAM about the trends shaping the future of radio, podcasting and digital audio. Drawing on decades of experience across broadcasting, journalism and media innovation, Steve reflects on radio's evolution from analogue transmission to today's conn...

This interview highlight explores Melbourne Airport's proposed  Noise Sharing Plan for the future third runway, due to open in 2031. Peter speaks with Romina Cavallo from GHD , the independent team leading community engagement on the project, about how aircraft noise could be distributed across Melbourne rather than concentrated over specific suburbs. They discuss the challenges of balancing...

Melbourne Airport is preparing for significant growth, with a third runway, terminal expansions, and major changes to passenger access planned over the coming years. In this highlight, Peter Greco speaks with Rosie Offord, Head of Planning at Melbourne Airport, about the airport's future and the upcoming public exhibition of the Melbourne Airport Master Plan. Rosie explains how a projected increas...

Do you know someone making a positive difference in their community? Nominations for the 2027 Australian of the Year Awards are open, but not for much longer. In this episode, Peter Greco speaks with Todd Greenberg, Interim CEO of the Australian of the Year Awards, about the importance of recognising everyday Australians whose actions inspire others and create meaningful change. Todd explains how...

The Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF) returns from 6–23 August, bringing hundreds of films and a strong commitment to accessibility and inclusion. In this episode, MIFF Operations Manager Hamish Reid joins us to discuss the festival's growing accessibility program, including audio-described screenings, sensory-friendly sessions, step-free venue access, baby-friendly screenings, on...

Vision Australia's Anushka Singh joins Peter Greco to discuss the  Hear and See Me project, a national podcast initiative celebrating the lived experiences of people who are blind or have low vision. The project is currently seeking participants aged 18 to 64 who speak Arabic, Cantonese, Mandarin, Vietnamese, or are First Nations people who speak English. No media experience is required, and...

Australia is preparing for the first national test of its new OZ Alert mobile emergency warning system, and millions of compatible devices are expected to receive a notification and 10-second alert tone simultaneously. In this episode, host Peter Greco speaks with Megan Hebert about how the new cell broadcast technology works, why it is being introduced, and what Australians can expect when the te...

Darwin Fringe Festival’s much-loved  Secret Art exhibition is back, showcasing unreleased works from talented young artists aged 12 to 25 across Darwin and the Northern Territory. In this episode, Peter speaks with emerging curator and local artist Ifa Sadiq , who shares her journey from exhibiting in Secret Art since 2020 to curating the exhibition in 2026. They discuss the importance...

Former Senator Gerard Rennick joins Peter to discuss the formation of the People First Party , his departure from the Liberal Party, and his vision for Australia's political and economic future. In this wide-ranging conversation, Gerard outlines the party's focus on federal economic reform, reducing government duplication, supporting regional Australia, and proposed changes to taxation, housing an...