Grow Bold with Disability Announces Season Two

ABOUT FEROS CARE

We’re Feros Care. And what we care most about is helping people live bolder lives. Healthier. Better connected. More active. More fulfilling. We call it growing bold and we’ve been doing it for over 30 years.

Whether you need, home care, respite care, some clever technology to make life easier, help accessing community services and activities, someone to coordinate your local NDIS services or one of our growing number of allied wellness solutions, we can be there for you.

And because we’re a not-for-profit community organisation, you know we’re there for only you, with services awarded in Australia and internationally. What’s more, we know variety is the spice of life. So everyone is welcome and everyone matters at Feros Care.

www.feroscare.com.au

The success of Feros Care's new podcast, Grow Bold With Disability, saw another nine episodes added to the first series after its popularity prompted a host of new guests to volunteer to be involved.

The not-for-profit care provider and Local Area Coordinators for the National Disability Insurance Scheme is now launching a second season as it continues to shine a light on the way society deals with disability, amplify marginalised voices and create more inclusive communities.

Grow Bold With Disability talks to people who are either living with disability, caring for someone with a disability or working in the disability space and covers topics from art, love and relationships; to parenting, technology, employment and housing. The podcast is hosted by journalist and broadcaster Pete Timbs and co-host Tristram Peters of disability services comparison website, Clickability who lives with spinal muscular atrophy.

Guests in season one included comedians Adam Hills and Tim Ferguson, spinal research spearhead Perry Cross AM, author Carly Finlay and artist Priscilla Hutton.

Timbs said creating the podcast had unearthed some of his most interesting interviews in 20 years of journalism.

"These stories make you realise what is truly important in life - family, love, mateship, understanding, a helping hand, empathy, patience and being bold," he said.

“We've heard a wide variety of stories – from a professional surfer with quadriplegia finding love; to an amputee who creates art out of discarded prosthetic limbs - and they've all got one thing in common: they're living boldly, embracing disability and creating societal change.

“I’m sure listeners of the podcast will find these stories fascinating and walk away with a better understanding of what life is actually like for people with disability.”

The 20-minute episodes feature interviews with people from all walks of life including advocates, activists, celebrities, writers, sporting professionals and parents.

Peters said Grow Bold With Disability played an important role in giving people a voice.

"As a person with a disability, I'm constantly disappointed by the underrepresentation of people with disabilities in media, but this podcast knocks that for six," he said.

"It's been a thrill speaking to our guests, gaining their insights and perspectives, and letting them tell their stories in their own words.

"Our incredible guests will educate you, captivate you, make you laugh, tackle taboo topics, and share what living a bold life means to them."

Feros Care CEO Jennene Buckley said the organisation worked tirelessly to smash stereotypes around ageing and disability through its work in aged-care and as a partner in the community under the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

"Through our work with the NDIS as Local Area Coordinators, our mission is to help clients live bold lives by identifying their personal goals - and then helping create a clear path to achieve them," she said.

"We want the community to focus on what these people can do, rather than what they can't, and to spread that sentiment so people learn to look past disability and stop seeing it as a barrier. “Being heard helps people to understand each other and in the digital era, podcasts are the perfect platform to start conversations that will hopefully resound across the nation.

“By telling these real stories, we aim to provide rare insights into disability and educate our listeners in the hope we can contribute in some small way towards creating a more inclusive society.”

The full first season of Grow Bold With Disability is now available on the Feros Care website, Apple Podcast, Google Podcast or Spotify, with season two starting late July.

Vision of the immersive podcast launch can be found here.

For more information visit www.feroscare.com. au/grow-bold-podcast

HEARD ON GROW BOLD WITH DISABILITY

"There has been no call for global, institutional, governmental and social change in regards to people with disabilities. Employment of people with disabilities is the next tidal wave that must occur worldwide." - Tim Ferguson, episode 13.

"For too long, sex and intimacy have been pushed to the bottom of the list of needs for people with a disability, but we are seeing more people who are able to advocate for themselves, speak up and challenge this situation." Jodi Rogers - episode 14.

"Disability sport is not just about playing a game - it's about mental health; it's about friendship; it's about self confidence. If governments would realise that funding disability sport is the same as funding mental health then so much more could be achieved." Adam Hills - episode 16.

"Aboriginal people with disability participate in community and culture at the same rate as non-aboriginal people without disability, and it has a positive effect on their health. So how do we actually make this work in a service setting? It requires a mind shift so you no longer see people as needing to be a fixed or accommodated; it's about how to include them." Dr Scott Avery - episode 19.