Transforming Perceptions

Professor Jayashri Kulkarni, AM FAHMS, is a Professor of Psychiatry and Director Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre.  Professor Kulkarni specialises in the area of women's mental health. She has written about Premenstrual syndrome, using hormones to treat schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and depression in women. Professor Kulkarni discusses the importance of RU Okay Day, the impact of Co...

This week with RU Okay Day on the 9th September and World Suicide Prevention Day on the 10th September Áine chats with Royina Bakshi about the development of the app #ChatStarter and how that can assist in starting conversations about well-being. Royina, is a 24 year old student living in Melbourne. She graduated university last year after a year of online study due to the pandemic and now works i...

Áine chats with local ACT musician and songwriter Matt Dent about the  making of his new album ‘Stories’. Matt is a well-seasoned regional  singer/songwriter performing throughout Canberra and regional NSW, from the Southern Highlands to Nowra and Eden on the south coast.  Matt, like many performers, has lost so much work due to Covid that his only option to survive, feed his family...

Áine Ní Tighearnaigh speaks with Dr Emma Tseris, Senior Lecturer in Social Work and Policy Studies, School of Education and Social Work, University of Sydney. “Much of Emma's work is centred on the question: How are dominant understandings and responses to mental distress embedded in relations of power, and how can alternative and marginalised perspectives be made more visible?” Áine and Emma disc...

Today on our Energising Your Life segment our theme is Transformation,  Taking the Steps to Change. I replay an interview from October 2019 with Gabrielle Conescu, Artist,  Speaker and Mentor about her decision to change her life and pursue her  dream of being an artist. How many of us wish that we could follow our  passion? How many of us wish that we could embrace our true se...

Zakia and I discuss the changing role and work of the Multicultural Hub in Canberra and the barriers faced by people of multicultural backgrounds in gaining mental health services and information. Zakia has an extensive network within the community sector, with a particular passion for young people in the community, especially young people from a migrant back ground. Zakia is an advocate for migra...

The final report from the Royal Commission into the Victorian Mental Health System was formally released on the 2nd March 2021. Áine Ní Tighearnaigh speaks with Dr Kathryn Daley, Senior Lecturer & Program Manager, Youth Work and Youth Studies at RMIT University about the recommendations, proposed changes and initiatives and whether they meet the needs of youth. Kathryn was a youth alcohol and...

The final report from the Royal Commission into the Victorian Mental Health System was formally released on the 2nd March 2021.   Áine Ní Tighearnaigh speaks with Chris Maylea, Senior Lecturer at RMIT University and Deputy Chair of the Victorian Mental Illness Awareness Council (VMIAC) about the recommendations, proposed changes and initiatives. Chris speaks from his experience as a ment...

Kate Taylor, is an innovative business woman working within the recruitment industry, telehealth and corporate health and well-being.  Kate has expanded her business in 2021 and knows the benefits of keeping her team’s mental health top of mind, as well as her own, especially through the challenging COVID-19 period. “Small Businesses are the largest employers in Australia. They account for al...

“Small Businesses are the largest employers in Australia. They account for almost 98% of all actively trading businesses in NSW and have an increased risk of mental ill-health due to the unique stress factors they face, in particular financial stress. With the additional stress of COVID-19, there has never been a tougher time to be in business, especially for those who survived the challenges pres...

2020 has been a difficult year and Transforming Perceptions has been covering all issues that connect mental health and well-being, diversity and the impact of Covid-19 pandemic.   Put to air on the 5th December 2020, this is the last discussion in the series around Aged Care and Covid for 2020 featuring insights from Associate Professor Jeffrey Looi.  Áine and Jeff also dive into the Pr...

Celebrating the rich mythology, customs and traditions of our countries has many benefits for our physical and mental well-being helping us to maintain social connection and community. At a time when we are living in the new paradigm of a Covid-19 world, it is even more important to get together and share these fun and special cultural festivities. Ambassador Ó Caollai, shares the background of th...

Celebrating the rich mythology, customs and traditions of our countries has many benefits for our physical and mental well-being helping us to maintain social connection and community. At a time when we are living in the new paradigm of a Covid-19 world it is even more important to get together and share these fun and special cultural festivities. Political and Cultural Attache of the Embassy of M...

This is an on air conversation I had with my father Jim Tierney and Baoxuan Ong, a young Singaporean student in January 2014.   I did this interview with Jim and Baoxuan when he was visiting to attend a performance of the Celtic Woman who were travelling Australia at that time.  I wanted to honour my father, who passed away a few years after the interview was undertaken and have now...

Today regular guest clinician, Associate Professor Jeffrey Looi, Researcher in Neuro-degenerative Diseases, Specialist in Dementia Care, Head of Addiction Medicine and Psychiatry Department at the Australian National University Medical School, Canberra, and Áine Ní Tighearnaigh, consumer/carer advocate continue their conversation on the most recent recommendations from the Royal Commission into Ag...

Transforming Perceptions - Saturday 17th October 2020 - 2 - 3:30 pm (AEDST), Áine Ní Tighearnaigh speaks with Mary Ivec, Convener, Canberra Restorative Community Network and Rhiân Williams, an Independent Social Researcher and Dispute Resolution Consultant about Restorative Justice Practices, ACT Child Protection and it's impact on the social and emotional well-being of Canberra’s Indigenous commu...

Transforming Perceptions - Saturday the 10th October 2020 is World Mental Health Day  Associate Professor Jeffrey Looi, Dr Doris Kordes and Áine Ní Tighearnaigh discuss Mental Health and the Federal Budget, Covid-19 and the impact on mental well-being and Aged Care within the context of the theme for World Mental Health Day - Mental Health for All: Greater Investment – Greater Access. Bringin...

OCTOBER is Mental Health Month in the ACT and we are celebrating 10 years on air working to promote the de-stigmatisation of mental illness. Transforming Perceptions will be showcasing some of our best of shows from our archives as well as new interviews on topics relevant to today's sector. Saturday 3rd October 2020 2 pm - 3:30 pm (AEST) we are bringing you an extremely relevant interview from ou...

Áine Ní Tighearnaigh speaks with Catriona Bisset, middle-distance runner and Tokyo Olympic 2021 hopeful about the National Mental Health Commission's campaign #GettingThroughThisTogether and her personal experience of recovery from an eating disorder.  Catriona is based in Northcote, Victoria and is currently living under Stage 4 restrictions. Catriona has a personal lived experience of anxie...

Shame is a complex feeling that can be carried from childhood and remain into adulthood.  Equally younger and older adults can experience situations in which they are 'shamed' by others, or may feel 'ashamed' of failures in their own actions or the actions of others. Shame is viewed as a taboo topic, one that it is not appropriate to share or in some communities, of which to speak. Áine and N...

Naeem Zaman is a member of the Transforming Perceptions Team assisting with discussions around health, mental health and well-being, sharing insights from his own experience and as part of our Energising Your Life segments.  Naeem works as a fitness instructor teaching body balance and is studying Psychology with a view to undertaking a Masters in Social Work.   Naeem used this meditatio...

Naeem Zaman is a member of the Transforming Perceptions Team assisting with discussions around health, mental health and well-being, sharing insights from his own experience and as part of our Energising Your Life segments.  Naeem works as a fitness instructor teaching body balance and is studying Psychology with a view to undertaking a Masters in Social Work.   In this episode Naeem tak...

Áine Ní Tighearnaigh is in Conversation with Associate Professor Jeffrey Looi, Researcher in Neuro-degenerative Diseases, Specialist in Dementia Care, Head of Addiction Medicine and Psychiatry Department at the Australian National University Medical School, Canberra.  Many elderly, approximately 295 people nationally (at the time of interview), who are living in government-subsided residentia...

On Transforming Perceptions on Saturday 28th September 2019, Áine Ní Tighearnaigh and David Lovegrove are in conversation with Associate Professor Jeffrey Looi, ANU and Dr Tony Schumacher Jones, Churchill Fellow Award Winner 2013 on the topic - The Politics of Loneliness – Humane Aged Care: Robot or Human? Tony and Jeff discuss the politics around dealing with loneliness in our communities, especi...

We are in conversation with Dr Anthea Rhodes, a practising developmental and behavioural paediatrician at The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne. Anthea is the Director of the Royal Children's Hospital National Child Health Poll. She has a clinical interest in the health needs of the vulnerable child, and has speciality training in immigrant health and paediatric forensic medicine.  "As Dire...