The Imagine More podcast

In this episode, you’ll hear from Chris Oates, a senior financial adviser at RSM Financial Services Australia. Chris has extensive experience providing financial advice to individuals and families at all stages of life. Chris guides us through some of the financial decisions and strategies that can help families plan for the future with greater confidence. His presentation covers assets, superannu...

In this episode, you’ll hear from Stacey Bell, a Wills and Estates lawyer with a checklist for everything. Stacey guides us through many of the legal documents, decisions and conversations that can help families plan for the future and safeguard the people they love. Her presentation covers Wills, Trusts, Enduring Powers of Attorney, legal capacity, advance care planning and the importance of putt...

In this episode, you’ll hear from Josey McMahon, an independent consultant, advocate and board member who provides advocacy and capacity building to people with disability and their families. Josey shares the story of her twin sister Cathy, who is now an artist, friend, aunt and active member of her local community on the Gold Coast. Cathy’s life today is rich with relationships, creativity, famil...

In this episode, you’ll hear from Darcy Elks, an educator, consultant and human services evaluator who has spent more than 30 years working alongside people who are societally devalued to build full, meaningful and inclusive lives. Darcy also draws on her experience as the parent of three adult children, each of whom has a disability. Darcy explores why creating a clear, shared vision for a good l...

In this final episode of season two of the Imagine More Podcast, you’ll hear from Gus Reichelt and his father, Ronny. Gus works as a Research Technician at CSIRO and, more recently, as a Barber’s Assistant.  Gus explains how he landed each of his part-time jobs, beginning with his role at CSIRO, which he secured straight after Year 12 thanks to a workplace connection that recognised his abili...

In this episode, Michelle Wakeford, the founder of Ticket to Work, discusses the importance of creating meaningful employment opportunities for young people with intellectual disability and how families and schools can make this happen. She draws on her extensive experience as both a professional in systems change and a parent of a child with Down syndrome.  Research has shown that the key in...

Throughout the Opening Opportunities conference, Milton has introduced several essential elements of Customised Employment. In this, his fourth and final presentation, you’ll learn how Milton used these elements and the exact steps he took to support a young man named Sam as he started work in an equestrian centre.   Well before Sam started his first day, Milton used what he’d learned ab...

In this episode, we hear from Corinna Gilligan, a dedicated mother of three, as she shares the remarkable employment journey of her youngest son, Ryan. Since moving to Canberra several years ago, Ryan and his family have set high expectations for his capabilities and aspirations, defying the common deficit-based perceptions of disability and its impact on employment.  Corinna discusses the vi...

In this episode, Erosha Bakmiwewa discusses how she helped her daughter, Sethmi, develop a micro business based on Sethmi’s interests and ideal working environment. Erosha delves into the importance of Discovery, a process that helps identify Sethmi's strengths and motivations, and how Discovery was used in conjunction with Sethmi’s vision for her future.  As a result of a meticulous and unhu...

In this episode of "The Imagine More Podcast," we share a brilliant presentation from Helen Neale. Helen works for Community Living Project in South Australia as the lead of a project called Discover Micro Enterprise: Exploring Possibilities. She is also a parent of a young man who has had a very successful microenterprise for many years. Building on the theme of discovering potential, Helen share...

In this episode, we hear from Jack, a 21-year-old with a diverse range of interests and experiences, including being a CrossFit member, a Lifeline volunteer, and a reception worker at UniLodge. Jack shares how his Circle of Support, including his job mentor Julia, has played a crucial role in his journey toward employment.  Julia discusses her role as a job developer, emphasising the importan...

In this episode, Milton Tyree challenges us to rethink the fundamental question: "Who are you?" when we show up in workplaces as job supporters, and how our answer to that question can make or break employment success for people with intellectual disability. Drawing on Social Role Valorisation (SRV) theory, Milton unpacks the delicate balance between being an employee and being a client, and why g...

In this episode, Anna and Will Coventry share their journey in finding meaningful work for Will, who has embraced both paid and volunteer roles since leaving school. It’s a fabulous story about meaningful employment, support networks, and the importance of pursuing one's passions. Will discusses his experiences as a junior administrative assistant in various firms, highlighting the tasks he enjoys...

Daisy was in year 12 and working as a trainee vet nurse when she and her mother, Gillian, described their journey from school to meaningful employment. They discuss the unique challenges faced by young people with disability, particularly when traditional educational systems often overlook their potential. When Daisy struggled to attend school during her early high school years, Gillian chose to s...

Jessie was a recent school leaver when she gave this presentation with her mum, Genna, and Job Supporter, Cassandra. Jessie had undertaken work experience in high school and was offered an ASBA (Australian School-based Apprenticeship) in Business Administration in Year 12; however, she finished school without a clear employment pathway.  Genna was keen to use a Customised Employment (CE) appr...

Milton Tyree continues his explanation of Customised Employment in this, his second presentation for the Opening Opportunities conference. This time around, Milton encourages the listener to avoid being a ‘creature of habit’ by making unhelpful assumptions about people with disability and employment. He explained that creatures of habit use traditional job development methods like the old "place a...

Milly Whitehead was just 18 years old and planning her move from school to work when she gave this presentation along with her Mum, Simone, and work experience employer, Ros. She describes her interests, her microenterprise, Made by Miss Milly, and what type of work she hopes to do in the future. Simone Whitehead has spent a lot of time thinking about and working towards Milly’s vision of a good a...

Milton Tyree, from Marc Gold and Associates, opens his presentation by encouraging us not to believe everything we think, explaining how personal and societal assumptions can be unhelpful when it comes to finding meaningful employment for people with disability.  Instead, Milton encourages us to take a person-centred approach to employment by beginning with a process called Discovery. You’ll...

In this episode, Dr. Jenny Crosby, a seasoned advocate with 35 years in the disability sector, discusses the persistent barriers that hinder economic participation for young people with intellectual disability in Australia.  Jenny’s PhD research highlights systemic issues and advocates for an 'employment ecosystem' perspective to address these obstacles. You’ll learn about the multiple levels...

In this episode, you’ll hear from Nathan Basha, an actor, university student, filmmaker, and a staff member at the “coolest radio station in Sydney”. He is also an ambassador for the NSW government's 'Living Life My Way' campaign. Nathan shares his lived experience of many things: expectations (both high and low), the power of his family’s vision, his various experiences of employment, and plenty...

This season, we're bringing you powerful presentations and personal stories from the 2023 Opening Opportunities conference, held in Canberra.  The conference featured speakers, including young people with disability, their families, and professionals from Australia and overseas who have opened up opportunities using a proven framework called Customised Employment. By listening to these sixtee...

Making the Most of Therapy with Anne Keep This session is for anyone who has ever felt that their life is filled with therapy appointments wondered if there are ways to apply therapy in the real world, away from therapy sessions and the therapist’s office struggled to implement a student’s therapy needs into the school day noticed that the person receiving therapy finds it demotivating boring and...

I'm Ready for Work, Are You? With Fiona McIntosh, Jessie Ward and Genna Ward As young people with disability progress through the secondary school years, they and their family members often wonder: what they will do after school? what will they be able to do? Families tell us they inevitably arrive at a narrow set of ‘post-school options’. These vary depending on the young person’s assessed readin...

Shifting the ‘yes, buts’ and how being known can keep you safe with John Armstrong and Jan Kruger This session will draw from stories shared throughout the conference. John and Jan’s conversation will look at: how people with disability exceeded expectations when they had the opportunity how being known can keep people safe why being present is the first step to being known why you don’t need to s...

Because we are social creatures, we are ‘hardwired’ for kindness and cooperation. It’s our natural state. The sense of ‘belonging’ is therefore essential to our mental and emotional health. But the social changes of the past 30-40 years have been pushing us in the opposite direction. We’ve become more socially fragmented, less cohesive, and more isolated. The consequences are obvious: epidemics of...