The Family Voices Podcast is a new series featuring casual conversations with families of children with disability and/or developmental delay and the professionals they work alongside. This podcast aims to support and build families’ knowledge, skills and confidence when navigating the early childhood intervention (ECI) landscape. It is also an avenue for parents to share their individual stories of everyday life in a family with a child diagnosed with disability and/or developmental delay. Bought to you by Early Childhood Intervention Australia - Victoria/Tasmania (ECIA VIC/TAS) - a membership-based not-for-profit organisation proudly working alongside families, practitioners and other organisations that provide supports for young children with disability and/or developmental delay for over 35 years. To learn more about the podcast and our organisation please visit: www.eciavic.org.au
Episodes
Friday Apr 19, 2024
Putting parents in the driver’s seat
Friday Apr 19, 2024
Friday Apr 19, 2024
In this episode, Melo shares his story about parental agency as he talks with our host, Simone Dudley. Melo stresses never to underestimate the importance of a parent’s influence on their child’s development, as experienced with his own daughter.
Listen to Melo as he defines hope as having a goal, believing you can make a difference, and having a pathway to follow. This as well as the benefit that comes from peers sharing their stories truly highlights that parents are a rich resource for one another, for their lived experience incorporates deeper meaning to any message they deliver, and it was this that helped guide Melo back into the driver’s seat. This led Melo to realise – if you believe it to be possible, you begin to see possibilities.
Learn more about the Envisage program mentioned in the episode >>
Download transcript here >>
In an effort to continually improve, we are asking our community for feedback on the podcast via this short survey. Please share your thoughts with us :)
Wednesday Mar 20, 2024
The power of knowledge
Wednesday Mar 20, 2024
Wednesday Mar 20, 2024
In this episode Ciara talks with our host, Simone Dudley, about the importance of building knowledge and finding your voice. Ciara describes how gaining an understanding of best practice empowered her and her husband to find and advocate for the right supports for their son. This, alongside firsthand experience, led them to establish a peer support group for parents and carers of children on the spectrum. Ciara reminds us that with the right information and supports parents and carers are better equipped to make decisions that lead to better outcomes for them and their children.
Download transcript here >>
In an effort to continually improve, we are asking our community for feedback on the podcast via this short survey. Please share your thoughts with us :)
Monday Feb 19, 2024
Creating a culture that celebrates disability within a family
Monday Feb 19, 2024
Monday Feb 19, 2024
In this episode our host Simone Dudley, talks with Kara about her family and work. Kara is a mum and researcher from Cincinnati, who studies parenting with disabilities. Kara and her husband are both disabled parents of three children with and without disabilities. Listen to Kara as she shares insights into how her family creates a culture that celebrates disability and how she advocates and builds support for people with disabilities through inclusive practices.
Download transcript here >>
In an effort to continually improve, we are asking our community for feedback on the podcast via this short survey. Please share your thoughts with us :)
Wednesday Dec 20, 2023
Making an impact in the lives of children with rare diseases
Wednesday Dec 20, 2023
Wednesday Dec 20, 2023
In this episode, we hear from Falak, a mother, wife and research and evaluation manager at Rare Voices Australia (RVA). Falak talks with our host, Simone Dudley about her children, two of whom have rare diseases and how her lived experience has deepened her professional role at RVA.
In this conversation, Falak helps to remind us of the importance of trusting our instincts as we continually build our capacity. She also describes the power of gratitude and how giving back to communities that supported her and her family, created a sense of belonging and purpose.
Download transcript here >>
Tuesday Nov 28, 2023
Working from strengths and priorities
Tuesday Nov 28, 2023
Tuesday Nov 28, 2023
In this episode, our host Simone Dudley talks with Cassie (Emily’s mum) about her experience with early supports and pioneering the NDIS. Cassie talks about the need for professionals to recognise the strengths of children and work from these when developing goals with the family.
Goals for Cassie and her family needed to reflect the values they held strong for Emily. These included having the same opportunities and experiences that Emily’s siblings had, and being and belonging in her everyday life and community.
These align so well with the principles of family-centred and strengths-based practice, and inclusive approaches as outlined in the National Early Childhood Intervention Best Practice Guidelines. Cassie provides great insights for families who are starting their journey and for professionals to learn from.
Download transcript here >>
Friday Nov 03, 2023
Friday Nov 03, 2023
In this episode we are joined again by Leanne (Angus’s mum). This time, Leanne talks with our host Simone Dudley about her personal story of being identified 10 years after her son as autistic and ADHD. Leanne describes how the process of being identified has really helped with understanding herself and with the way she supports her son.
Download the transcript here >>
Thursday Oct 19, 2023
Remote living – accessing resources and supports
Thursday Oct 19, 2023
Thursday Oct 19, 2023
In this episode, our host Simone Dudley talks with Leanne about what life was like living in an extremely remote location in Australia, while navigating therapy supports and education for her son, Angus. In this remarkable story, hear how Leanne made the most of her family’s circumstance while achieving Angus’s goals through telehealth and home education.
Download the transcript here >>
We would like to welcome Simone Dudley as the new Family Voices Podcast host.
Friday Sep 01, 2023
A journey in advocacy – paediatric childhood stroke supports and treatment
Friday Sep 01, 2023
Friday Sep 01, 2023
In this episode, our host Trish McIvor talks with Dee, Emma's mum and co-founder of Little Stroke Warriors Australia. Dee shares her story about co-founding Little Stroke Warriors after Emma was diagnosed as having a stroke while in utero. Dee talks about how her own experience has forged the need for improved resources and treatment of paediatric childhood stroke and how this is coming to fruition. She also shares personal insights and on how to be the best support for your child.
Wednesday Jun 14, 2023
Advocacy: the art of being gently persistent
Wednesday Jun 14, 2023
Wednesday Jun 14, 2023
In this episode, our host Dr Kerry Bull talks with Penny (Al’s mum). Penny shares her insights and wisdom about being an advocate and how this has shaped an incredible path for Al. Being an advocate and accessing support can be a powerful influence in children’s wellbeing, inclusion, participation and contribution to family and community life. We hope you enjoy this inspiring story.
In this episode, we mention a video featuring Al's story. To watch on YouTube, please click here >>
Download the transcript here >>
In an effort to continually improve, we are asking our community for feedback on the podcast via this short survey. Please share your thoughts with us :)
This is Kerry’s final episode as the Family Voices Podcast host. We thank Kerry for her invaluable contribution and wish her all the very best.
Thursday May 25, 2023
Importance of being heard
Thursday May 25, 2023
Thursday May 25, 2023
In this episode, Dr Kerry Bull talks with Maya (Lloyd's mum) about her experience of being a young mum of a child with a disability and the importance of being heard. Maya talks about the need for professionals to assume competence of parents. This phrase fits so well with the principles outlined in the National Early Childhood Intervention Best Practice Guidelines. The guidelines highlight concepts like family-centered and strength-based practices, that are based on an understanding that parents know their child best and have valuable information and insights from professionals to learn from.
Download the transcript here >>