Transforming Perceptions offers a range of views on subjects that may have direct or indirect links to social, emotional and mental well-being and aims to promote de-stigmatisation of mental illness in the community, especially for people of multicultural, migrant and refugee backgrounds. Discussion links self-care and mental well-being with issues including mental health research, health, education, life style choices, or to activities such as gardening, yoga, meditation or spirituality. The…
Áine speaks with Professor Jongenelis, senior author and Co-Convenor of the Public Health Association of Australia’s, Alcohol, Tobacco and other Drugs Special Interest Group about a new study recently published in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health. The study ‘A day in the life: An ecological momentary assessment of people’s experiences with vaping’, was led by the University…
Áine spoke with Fred Smith OAM, acclaimed Canberra-based folk musician, author, diplomat and storyteller prior to his performances at the Australian War Memorial on the 15th August which coincided with the 5 year anniversary of the Fall of Kabul in Afghanistan in 2021. “The show combines the iconic ballads of Henry Lawson, Eric Bogle and John Schumann with songs written by Fred when meeting…
Áine chats with Ben Fioramonte about the recently released report ‘No Child Left Out – Designing Thriving Kids for a Diverse Australia’ and the role of SSI in partnership with the National Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Reform Committee (NCDRC) in the research. Ben shared that the “NCDRC was established in response to a recognised need for a collective and coordinated approach to inform…
Áine chats with Dr Piers Gooding, newly appointed Director of the La Trobe Mental Health and Disability Law Centre about his recently published international review. The co-authored paper published in The Lancet, reviewed “350 research papers across 35 years, finding a persistent gap between global human rights commitments and the lived reality experienced by people with psychosis in low and…
Áine chats with Juliana Nkrumah AM to discuss the early findings from the RISE Project, how the project came about and some of the key outcomes for Settlement Services International (SSI), its partner organisations and the women who participated. RISE stands for Realise, Inspire, Support, Energise, and was a “four-year initiative working with 25 organisations across Australia to break down…
Áine chats with well-known Canberra musicians and performers, Moya Simpson and John Shortis about their long performance history, music projects and how singing, creativity and humour can improve well-being. John and Moya have been honing their storytelling and particular political satire and cabaret artistry since the early 90’s. Moya is well known for her love of world music, vocal workshops;…
Áine speaks with Professor Ludmila Stern founder of the Master of Interpreting and Translation in Interpreting and Translation Studies at UNSW - a professional program endorsed by the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters (NAATI). Professor Sternhas played a key role in shaping translation and interpreting education in Australia over the past 20 years. Professor Stern…
Áine chats with local Canberra volunteer and businesswoman, Rosemary Dupont, about the theme for National Volunteering Week 2026 – “Your Year to Volunteer.” Rosemary shares her personal experience of volunteering and why formal and informal volunteering is so important to our communities and well-being. Statistics - According to Volunteering Australia - * Volunteering remains essential to…
In light of the recent announcements about cuts to the NDIS and the use of algorithmic assessment tools, Áine chats with Dr Georgia Van Toorn to unpack and explain in plain language what algorithms are; how they are created; and how they are being used in health and disability assessments. What is good governance? Do ethics and ethicalframeworks have a role in ensuring safety and good outcomes for…
Áine speaks with Jarrod Sandell-Hay from PWDA following on from the Australian Federal Minister Mark Butler’s announcement on Wednesday 22nd April 2026 of the government’s plans to make huge cuts to NDIS spending and exit 160,000 participants from the program. How will these huge changes affect people with disability and their families? What are they most concerned about? What supports are…
