Yarning Disability

Heartfelt conversations and powerful storytelling from community voices across the country. 

Shenane Hogg from Connectivity discussed their work in raising awareness about Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and the dangers of head injuries, offering online courses and traveling to remote communities for education. Shenane Hogg explained Huntington's disease as a fatal genetic neurodegenerative disorder, clarifying its symptoms and noting its prevalence in the Top End, particularly Kununurra and...

In the third episode of Elevating Yarns by First Peoples Disability Network (FPDN) host Bernard Namok had a yarn with Natasha Phillips, Director of Gundarang Support Services and Sadiqa Phillips, Support Worker of Gundarang Support Services, a First Nations disability support work service that offers various services for NDIS participants, including community access, cleaning, and emotional suppor...

In the second episode of Elevating Yarns by First Peoples Disability Network (FPDN), host Bernard Namok had a yarn with Catherine Liddle, the CEO of SNAICC (National Voice for our Children) Catherine Liddle and Bernard Namok reflected on their long history working in First Nations Media across various region. Catherine also shared her journey to leadership and detailed SNAICC's work in early child...

In the first episode of Elevating Yarns by First Peoples Disability Network (FPDN), host Bernard Namok sits down with Aunty Kay Sadler, a proud Worimi woman of the Biripi nation and a passionate advocate for First Nations people with disability. Aunty Kay, who also serves on FPDN’s Board, shares her powerful lived experience navigating life as a First Nations woman with disability.  This heartfelt...

Strong Voices on Yarning Disability. A range of voices and stories from our mob advocating for the human rights of their children with disabilities every day. Systems that create barriers for our mob with disabilities. Shine a light on our FPDN Staff and the importance of inclusion and belonging.

Training and Engagement Officer for Northern Territory, Jordan Wishart is a Bidjara man from central Queensland, but spent most of his life on Arrernte Country in Alice Springs. Jordan struggles with severe Dyslexia and ADHD – but to him, he doesn’t see that as a disability.    This episode of Yarning Disability, FPDN's Bernard Namok and Jordan Wishart were on location to do community engagement i...

Stunning landscapes, remote communities and a strong and rich culture, Alice Springs, or known locally as Mparntwe is a remote town in the Northern Territory halfway between Darwin and Adelaide, both is 1500KM away.  In this episode of Yarning Disability, FPDN Advocate Jordan Wishart had a yarn with Joel Walker, who is paraplegic, about his disability and the long journey of emotions and healing t...

In this episode of Yarning Disability, you will hear from Jaunita Haynes, a Yamatji woman living in Albany, Western Australia. In 2013, Jaunita was studying to be a nurse when, sadly, the GP administered her with the wrong vaccine dose, which had caused a disability. She yarned with FPDN Rozy Bynder about the reaction it caused, how it changed her life, and her journey to recovery.

Traditional Torres Strait woman, Aunty Abigail Harry hails from Yam Island in the Torres Strait.  For over 40years Aunty Abigail Harry have lived and worked on Noongar, Boodja, Yamatji, Wongi country and now she is back living on Thursday Island and is actively involved in her community of Tamwoy Town when it comes to highlighting community issues. Isolation, Remoteness and Accessibilities are som...

On Saturday 14th of October, Australians will be ask to vote on an Indigenous Voice to Parliament. In this episode of Yarning Disability is the Minister for Indigenous Australians and Proud Wiradjuri Women, Linda Burney and Damien Griffis, CEO of FPDN and Proud Worimi Man. The vote will determine whether the Voice, a body providing advice to Government on issues particularly impacting impacting In...

Aboriginal man Brenton Bowen hails from the small Aboriginal community of Hopevale in Far North QLD and fulfilled his dream of becoming a professional sportsman, playing in the NRL for the North QLD Cowboys and the Gold Coast Titans. Brenton is now an ambassador for ‘Deadly Choices’, where he promotes healthy lifestyles for mob and and also an artist.   FPDN Advocate Carly Wallace spoke to Brenton...

This episode of Yarning Disability features Nancy Bates, a barkindji woman from far western New South Wales, a senior advocate for FPDN, and an accomplished singer-songwriter. Nancy balances her advocacy work with the guitar and songwriting, and is involved with a project called Songs Inside, where she works with women inside Adelaide Women's Prison. Songs Inside is a transformative story of a gro...

This week's episode of Yarning Disability features Sandy Dann, a Nyul Nyul woman from Broome in the Kimberleys. Sandy was diagnosed with congenital glaucoma at a young age. Sandy has been broadcasting for over 30 years and hosts a 2 hour radio show on Goolarri Media. The second hour of her program is networked live to the whole of Australia on the National Indigenous Radio Service. FPDN Community...

FPDN Advocate Carly Wallace discusses the complex and sensitive topic of Psychosocial disabilities with Wiradjuri/Wolgalu, First Nations Aboriginal man Joe Williams. Joe is a man with his own psychosocial disability, living with Biploar Disorder and is a staunch mental health and trauma advocate.  To connect with joe, visit his website at www.joewilliams.com.au  If this episode raises concerns for...

This week's episode of Yarning Disability is a proud Yanyuwa, Garrawa and Kuku Yalanji man from Borroloola and Cairns in Far North Queensland. Clarence is also a proud wheelchair basketballer and was born with Fibula Limb Deficiency – meaning, since childbirth his right leg wasn’t formed properly and it’s a lot shorter that his left leg, but this hasn’t stopped him from playing wheelchair basketba...

This week's episode of Yarning Disability, features Deputy CEO of First People's Disability Network; Aunty June Riemer, a proud Gumbaynggirr and Dunghutti woman from the north coast of New South Wales, has been working in the sector for over 40 years, leading and inspiring her team as they navigate the changes in the national disability sector and was honoured for her life's work. Dedicated to cre...

This week's Yarning Disability guest embodies the philosophy of 'A culture of inclusion' for mob with disabilities. Clinton  Bennell shares his story of inclusion as a brother to a sibling with an intellectual disability and as a father to child with Noonan syndrome and hearing loss. 

This week's episode of Yarning Disability, features a proud Yindinji Women and FPDN's NSW Advocacy Manager, Deb Lee.  FPDN Advocate, Bernard Namok Jnr had a yarn with Deb Lee about what inspired her to become an advocate

This week’s episode FPDN Advocate, Bernard Namok Jnr had a yarn with Founder and CEO of Full Back Group, Kanat Wano.  Kanat is a Zenadth Kes man from the eastern island of Mer and is the Founder and CEO of Full Black Group based in Meeanjin, which focus for equity and inclusion and advice around NDIS. Bala Kanat, who is also a gifted motivational speaker took me on a journey of learning and unders...

Quaden and Yarraka Bayles are a formidable force. The mother and son duo went viral in 2020 after Yarraka shared a video of Quaden in distress after being bullied at school for having Achondroplasia, a form of dwarfism. This week on Yarning Disability, FPDN caught up with Quaden and his mum Yarraka to see how life is going now for their family.

This week's episode of Yarning Disability features Badu Island man Karim Yorkston seen a need to start up a support service in Cairns for families travelling down from the Torres Strait Islands and the Cape communities for medical reason. UME Support not only answer your questions about NDIS, they also offer Cultural Activities, One on One with youth and Community Access.  UME Support motto is: 'D...

This week’s episode of Yarning Disability features Renay Barker-Mulholland, a a proud disabled, Biripi / Dungutti woman and mother of children with disabilities dedicated to fighting for disability justice. Renay describes herself as an intersectional feminist, an abolisitionist, and defys the colonial boundaries imposed on First Nations people.

‘Spicy Brain’ is the way Gomoroi and Tattoo Artist Mat Fink describes his recent diagnosis of adult ADHD and Autism. In this week’s Yarning Disability episode, Mat spoke with FDPN Advocate Carly Wallace about his disability journey spanning from his childhood, to his time in the Australian Defence force while in the navy, and now as a person living with neurodivergent disabilities.

In episode 2 of 'Yarning Disability', the FPDN Podcast, FPDN Advocate Carly Wallace spoke to First Nations mother Katrina McKechnie about her journey as a single mother of children with disabilities living in Woolgoolga in NSW The Yarning Disability podcast is presented and produced by the First Peoples Disability Network