West Gippsland Week

Busstop films is a production, training and work placement organization that develops opportunities for people with disabilities to make films and gain work in the media both behind and in front of the camera. With recent success in several people working on the TV coverage of the Paralympics and many submissions to film festivals, this episode explores how and why Busstop films achieves these win...

All those wooden pallets moving around the world (and often only used once) use up forest resources, but from where? Here Ian Hill explains.

Jason and Kerry Rantall experienced the impact of depression, bi-polar, suicide thinking, self medication and worked their own way through those difficulties. In the process saw that there was an important gap in the services available. Here we discuss the service and a major awareness (and fundraising) project.

The Royal Automobile Club of Victoria is a long standing organist largely representing drivers. In this episode we discuss a recent campaign to improve our understanding of road crashes and their causes and the recent survey of the condition of country roads.

It would seem obvious that we all hope for the opportunity to age with dignity, but for many aging can bring loneliness and depression. Here we discuss a lovely volunteer service which arranges visits with elderly folk either in nursing homes or in their own home to build a friendly relationship to supplement any paid support services.

In this day of open conversations there are still taboos, and they can mean some people have unfair restrictions. One such problem is incontinence. It is something that can confine people to home and is still not discussed, shocking often not even with medical professionals! Find out more with Sharron Parteous from the Continence Foundation.

Aging with Grace is a charity that arranges friendly visits to people in aged care or on a home care package. As CEO Esis Tawfik explains this is not about providing services, but companionship. There is opportunity for volunteers to help in a way that only a volunteer can - you can't really pay someone to be your friend. Currently there are places for both volunteers and clients - so if you k...

A new centre is being established in Gippsland to provide support for and research into the use of artificial intelligence in rural areas, especially in small to medium business. Simon Wilson is CEO of the project team, and discusses what is planned.

Disconnection in today's society is thoughtto be a significant contributor to the rise in vrious mental health issues such as anxiety, depression and more. Psychotherapist Chris Roering agrees and here discusses what he has seen and why he thinks it occurs. In his view it has much to do with the example set by adults beside the attraction of the applications.

Working Dogs are now a vital part of farming, making up a great deal for the lack of human staff.

Cattle noses could be used like fingerprints or facial recognition to help in working farms.

Chris Roering is a Gippsland Psycothrapist who chats with Paul about the ways in which our thinking can affect our sleep and techniques to help get a good night.

This is an inspiring autobiography by Annie Pateman, who has experienced a rare cancer and found a way to live a good life. In the book she share her life lessons as she struggled to get a diagnosis, to manage the drastic treatment while pregnant, and build a life that defied the medical predictions.

We seem to be under inctreasing assault by viruses. Is it getting worse? What is happening with disease crossing from animals to humans? How do viruses "hide" in our body a come out later in life? This all links the latest outbreaks of shingle, COVID, Bird Flu and "traditional" flu. We find out how this all works.

A recnt survey found that financial literacy at schools are declining, with girls disproportionally affected. The Financial Basics Foundation. founded by a Debt Recovery company, is established to offer supporting material for schools to provide more appropriate financial lieracy programs. Here CEO Katrina Samios explains.

The Australian Continence Foundation supports an annual event asking the public to add public toilet locations to the National Public Toilet Map, Here we find out why and how...

A recent seminar presented by the Warragul and District Garden Club explored the value of Horticultural Therapeutics with international author Sue Stuart-Smith. Here we speak with two Australian practicioners, including one hospital based and discuss the increasing evidence that supports the anecdotal ideas many of us have of the mental health benefits from nature and gardening.

The ‘Well-Gardened Mind’ is a unique book published in mid-2020. It describes, with many examples how our well-being can be affected and restored through contact with gardening. Dr Sue Stuart-Smith, Psychiatrist, Psychoanalyst & Author of the “Well-Gardened Mind” here discusses the book, the science behind the wide experience and talks about where it can lead in our health system and cities.

Ian Hill explores some recent information about the possibilities of Hemp as an industry for Gippsland and Victoria,

Social enterprise is a business model that sits between charity and commerce. It's possible role in identifying gaps in the current employment service model is discussed with Carmel Riley, CEO of Consulting Re-imagined Social Enterprise Group.

A recent Australian Federal Parliament review into employment services reported, and Gippsland Employment Service provider has said they were "mostly" happy with the recommendations. We discuss the report with Workways management member Ria Thornton, and talk about the punitive approach of the current system.

VicGrid, a Victorian State Government entity, has been charged with undertaking wide consultations to identify zones that are appropriate for renewable energy projects, and importantly, the transmission lines that will connect it all up. In this episode we explore how this might reduce the conflict over the required land uses.

VicGrid (a Victorian Government Entity) has been given the task of developing a plan for defining Renewable Energy Zones in the state, and planning the transmission network to support the delivery of that power. This is already a fraught problem in some areas of the state, but they are undertaking a consultation process that attempts to start with the basics of a plan and develop a community view...

Like many areas of health there is much information, misinformation and myths about healthy aging. But there are relatively simple things we can do, and specific and tailored programs that can be developed to help us achieve the best we can. Find out more here or at geriatriccareaustralia.com

Leading up to Christmas there is a new COVID wave breaking over Australia. Infectious diseases Researcher Prof Stuart Berzins brings us up to date.