royal commission

Do you ever feel too small to make a difference? Alison Frame has dedicated her career to the public service, leading social policy initiatives and reform across the Commonwealth and the NSW governments as a senior executive for over 16 years. In this discussion, Helen McCabe and Alison discuss the importance of transparency, bringing your team on the journey with you, and knowing when to admit you're not an expert. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sam is a high stakes communication expert, specialising in media and corporate communications and crisis management. Leveraging over 30 years’ experience in assisting clients to build credibility, conquer crises, protect personal and business reputation, and become better communicators.

We discuss proactive crisis management, the importance of authentic communication, and the challenges and rewards of being a small business owner. Sam give us some insights into the Optus failed communication strategies, that fell short of the public’s expectations following their recent data breach and service outage crises – and how your business can avoid the same fate.

Sam is the Managing Director of Media Manoeuvres, an Australian-based media and communication training and consulting firm. Specialising in strategic media spokesperson training, stakeholder communication skills training, crisis management consulting, and royal commission and government enquiry training.

Find out more at:

https://www.mediamanoeuvres.com.au/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mediatraineraustralia/

When the Commonwealth Bank was hauled before a Royal Commission back in 2018 it had already tried every trick in the book to try and discredit its critics. 

From collecting dirt files to harassing journalists, it did everything it could to try and stop the truth about how it was treating its customers from getting out. 

But thanks to a few dogged former employees, the bank’s practices were exposed. 

Whistleblowers back then and today face risks with little protection from the law. 

Today, the reporter behind the story, investigative journalist Adele Ferguson, on how the Commonwealth Bank was caught out and why there are mounting calls for whistleblower laws to be strengthened. 

Featured: 

Adele Ferguson, ABC investigative reporter

The disability royal commission has made 222 recommendations for change, but do they adequately address the needs of regional Australians living with disability? 

In this episode we hear from Mandy Noble, a Service System Navigator with The Orange Door Horsham. Mandy talks about what The Orange Door is and how it came about. She also talks about Family Violence and its different forms. 

In an emergency call 000

If you live in the Wimmera and need support, you can contact The Orange Door in Horsham by:

Calling 1800 271 042

Or find them at 3-7 Madden St, Horsham.

Don’t live in the Wimmera and need support? You can find other The Orange Door locations and phone numbers here. 

You can also call free confidential counselling services 24/7:

In Victoria – Safe Steps call 1800 015 188 or visit their website.

Across Australia – 1800 RESPECT call 1800 737 732 or visit their website.

Interested in the topic and looking for more?

If you would like to learn more about The Orange Door, you can visit their website here. You can also watch a short video in The Orange Door here. Other Family and Domestic Violence services available to support people are:

• Safe Steps
• Safe and Equal
• 1800 RESPECT

Mandy mentioned The Orange Door often works with other organisations in the Wimmera. Check out their websites below for more on what they offer:
Victorian Legal Aid
Youth Law
Goolum Goolum
Uniting Wimmera

In the episode Mandy used the terms ‘Victim Survivor’ and ‘Perpetrator’ a lot. Not sure what they mean? Or would like to learn more about Family and Domestic Violence terms? Check out this Victorian Government website for a full list of common terms used. 

Want to learn more about Family and Domestic Violence and the different forms it can take? Check out a short video by The Orange Door here. You can also find out more information at:
Better Health Channel
1800 RESPECT

Mandy spoke briefly about how gender inequality impacts Family and Domestic Violence. Women’s Health Grampians does a lot of work toward reducing gender inequality. To find out more about this work check out their website. 

Facebook: @FarmerWantsaHealthyLife Twitter: @_FWAHL

In this weeks episode of the Five Minute Advocate Julie Macken exposes the political firestorm which has emerged in the face of a text message leak between Home Affairs secretary Mike Pezzullo and Liberal Party powerbroker Scott Briggs. 

 Julie stresses the need for a Royal Commission to be activated in order to examine how key decisions made by Mr.Pezzullo relating to immigration detention could have favored Mr.Briggs

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Robodebt royal commission has made damning findings about government ministers and public servants who created and administered the automated debt recovery scheme from Centrelink recipients. And why is the technology company that created ChatGPT being sued in US courts? 

Justice advocate Keenan Mundine broke the cycle of crime and incarceration in his own life after a chance meeting at a birthday party (CW: mentions suicide, references to drug use. Strong language. Discretion advised) (R)

Nursing Australia Summer Series: AGED CARE: Where to from here?

Aged care has received increased media scrutiny in light of the Royal Commission and the COVID-19 pandemic. The demography of ageing and staffing pressures add complexity to society's ability uphold their responsibility to the ageing person. 

This is Aged Care: Where to from here? 

Nursing Australia: Summer Series is 2022 in nursing & healthcare wrapped! Delve inside the trending topics of the year and meet subject matter experts in: Sexual health; Healthcare Law and Aged Care.  

Foundations of Aged Care: A workbook for nurses   

Discover the Festival of Nursing 2023 

APNA Nursing jobs board  

Subscribe to The Connect (our weekly newsletter) 

Hosted by: Matthew St Ledger & Mitch Wall
Produced by: Leith Alexander & Matthew St Ledger

NOTE: This episode contains discussion of trauma, suicide and sexual assault. Listener discretion is advised.

Dave Morgan a Vietnam Veteran who has written a book called The Invisible Trauma: Coping with PTSD.

We know from some of the conversations we’ve had on this podcast that serving and veteran military members are particularly vulnerable to trauma.

The Invisible Trauma is Dave’s journey and details the various treatments and studies that he’s been a part of in a quest to find what works for him so he can help others.

The book also includes the living experience of others with Trauma and also the ripple effect on his family with Dave’s wife Debbie and children detailing their perspectives.

 It’s a book for all those suffering similarly, not solely defence veterans.

If you have been affected by anything discussed in this episode you can contact:

• Lifeline on 13 11 14
• 13 YARN on 13 92 76 (24/7 crisis support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples)

MORE SUPPORT

• OPEN ARMS counselling and support for veterans and families 1800 011 046
• LEGACY supporting families of veterans
• MATES4MATES support for veterans, current-serving members and families 

Produced and hosted by Emily Webb, ermha365 Advocacy and External Communications Advisor with Karenza Louis-Smith, CEO ermha365.

ermha365 provides support for people with complex mental health and disability in Victoria and the Northern Territory.

Follow ermha365 on social media:
FACEBOOK - @ermhaorg
TWITTER - @ermha365
INSTAGRAM - @ermha365

ermha365 acknowledges that our work in the community takes place on the Traditional Lands of many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and therefore respectfully recognise their Elders, past and present, and the ongoing Custodianship of the Land and Water by all Members of these Communities.

We recognise people with lived experience who contribute to GET REAL podcast, and those who love, support and care for them. We recognise their strength, courage and unique perspective as a vital contribution so that we can learn, grow and achieve better outcomes together.

In this episode of the Five Minute Advocate, Julie discusses border policies and Australia’s treatment of refugees. She reflects on promises of legislative changes impacting those seeking asylum in Australia – and how they’ve fallen flat.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If this episode raised any concerns for you, please contact the following support resources: 

1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732 

Blue Knot Counselling and Referral Service: 1800 421 468

LifeLine: 13 11 14

Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636

LISTENER NOTE: The conversations on this podcast contain discussions of trauma, post traumatic stress, mental health and suicide. Listener discretion is advised.

For this episode we talk to Dr Kieran Allen. Kieran is a senior psychiatric registrar in Melbourne and he’s a passionate and prominent advocate for the mental health of healthcare professionals.  Kieran’s passion in this space comes from his own experience with his mental health. Kieran first experienced challenges with his mental health during adolescence, and during his time at university studying medicine, his mental health declined to a point it threatened his life.

Kieran co-founded Hand-n-Hand Peer Support Network in 2020. Hand-n-Hand was born out of the COVID-19 pandemic, where it became clear that healthcare workers needed support.

You can follow Kieran on Twitter @DrKieranAllen

Kieran contributed his personal story to the Royal Commission into Victoria's Mental Health System. You can read his story here and his submission here.

ermha365 provides a range of mental health services designed to help people experiencing mental health challenges to thrive in the community.

Your hosts are Karenza Louis-Smith, CEO ermha365 and Emily Webb, Advocacy and External Communications Advisor.

If you have been affected by anything discussed in these episodes please contact (in Australia) Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467. If you are outside Australia please contact your country-specific mental health helpline/s or services.

In this episode we meet Heather Pickard. Heather is the Chief Executive Officer of SHARC - Self Help Addiction Resource Centre, based in Melbourne, which supports people with addiction to alcohol, other drugs and gambling. 

SHARC has been around for 25 years, founded on the belief that people are experts in their own recovery, and the lived experience of those affected by addiction is central to SHARC’s programs and services.

Heather is a registered nurse and after working in various roles - and after a time away from the profession, which she’ll tell us about - she moved into in to the alcohol and other drugs sector. 

Heather has lived experience with addiction and long-tern recovery and founded the Nursing and Midwifery Health Program of Victoria which meets a need to address sensitive health issues around drug and alcohol use experienced by nurses and midwives.  

Heather brings to her work a mixture of clinical skills, governance expertise, and her own personal lived experience of long-term recovery. 

She’s currently the NMHPV’s Chair of the Board, and a Board Director at Ballarat Health Services.

Episode hosted by ermha365 CEO Karenza Louis-Smith and Emily Webb, Advocacy and External Communications Advisor.

For more information on SHARC visit https://www.sharc.org.au/ or phone (03) 9573 1700

For more information on  the Nursing and Midwifery Health Program of Victoria visit https://www.nmhp.org.au/ or phone  03 9415 7551.

If you have been affected by anything discussed in this episode, you can call: 

Lifeline on 13 11 14 or go to https://www.lifeline.org.au/ 

ermha365 provides a range of mental health services designed to help people experiencing mental health challenges to thrive in the community.  

In today’s episode, do you know any men who have survived sexual abuse? Maybe you have. Given that one in six men in Australia have been sexually abused - usually as children or adolescents, you most likely do know someone - however also given the sensitivity of this information, combined with the average period of time to disclose being over 23 years - there’s a fair chance that you have no idea who they are. So how do the journeys of male survivors differ from those of females? What does it take for survivors to grow stronger than their past? And in a post-Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse that took place between 2013 and 2017, where to now for survivors? Well with the help of Mr Robert Fitzgerald AM, that’s exactly what we’re going to be learning about today. Robert was one of the Commissioners from that Royal Commission. 

Presently the NSW Ageing and Disability Commissioner, Robert was previously appointed as Productivity Commissioner, the Community and Disability Services Commissioner, and Deputy Ombudsman in NSW, and also served as the convener of the Indigenous Disadvantage Working Group of the Steering Committee for the Review of Government Service Provision (imagine having that written on the back of your door!). Robert was appointed to Chair the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits Commission Advisory Board for three years from 2012 and was formerly President of the Australian Council of Social Services. He has an honorary doctorate from ACU, is a Member of the Order of Australia, and a recipient of the Centenary medal. As I am sure you will soon agree, Robert exudes wisdom, compassion and humility, and is widely regarded to have about as safe a pair of hands as you will ever find.

Thank you for tuning in, and I hope you enjoy the show.

-~~-

Links from the show:

If you would like to get in touch with SAMSN, the Survivors and Mates Support Network, then head to:

• samsn.org.au
• or you can call them free Monday to Friday during office hours on 1800 472 676

If you need help right away, then contact:

• Lifeline Australia on 13 11 14 (available 24/7), or 
• the Blue Knot Foundation on 1800 657 380 (seven days a week 9-6pm weekdays, and 9-5pm on weekends and public holidays). 

To listen to SAMSN’s new podcast STRONGER, a series of extraordinary stories about resilience from male survivors of child sexual abuse and their allies, it is available now via major streaming platforms, or on their website: 

• samsn.org.au/podcast

-~~-

If you would like to sponsor one of our HEAR FOR EACH OTHER episodes, then reach out to us at enquiries@onthelowdown.com.au and we will be in touch.

Welcome to Hard Mode with the founder of Financial Services group Claimo: Nathan Mortlock. Claimo are specialists in claiming back junk insurance refunds for thousands of  consumers that have outlaid on car finance, credit cards, personal loans and mortgages.

This team do the investigative work with finance institutions to recover these funds on behalf of the consumer, and we cover some fortunate recent aspects of the business such as consumer advocacy and referrals, plus national media coverage which boosted their customer base hugely.

Talking points:

• Being one of the first to market, solving a problem for Aus customers, as part of Claimo’s origin
• Banging the drum for consumers rights after Royal Commission findings
• Consumer advocacy and storytelling as a claims management business
• Experiencing a win with national media coverage
• Taking the time to discover how the market worked, but engaging with community groups
• Being in the midst of exponential growth at Claimo
• Tapping into more verticals in the near future

Links:

• Claimo
• Claimo Channel 9 report
• Royal Commission into banking misconduct
• How I Built This Podcast

Online:

claimo.com.au

Nathan Mortlock on Twitter: @ClaimoNathan

www.tractorventures.com

Follow Tractor Ventures on Twitter: @tractorventures

This episode was hosted by Garry Williams: @gwilliamsALTS

Content warning: violence. If this raises any issues for you, contact: 

• Lifeline 13 11 14
• 1800 RESPECT 1800 737 732
• Visit our website for more support services >

Visit thetrap.com.au to learn more

Production
Host Lucy Ballantyne
Writers Mary Crooks AO, Leah McPherson
Producers Mary Crooks AO, Ally Oliver-Perham, Maria Chetcuti, Lucy Ballantyne
Production manager Ally Oliver-Perham, Maria Chetcuti
Sound design & mix Romy Sher, Pariya Taherzadeh-Desovski
Research Leah McPherson
Transcription Max Favetti, Amanda Barbour
Production assistance Sanduni Hewa Katupothage, Esther Davies-Brown, Alexandra Collins, Georgia Lazarakis, Georgia Shepherd, Aaryn Melzer, Rachael Imam, Lily Mooney
Art direction Aimee Carruthers
Video The Social Parade
Animation Mari Frith
Photography Saskia Wilson
With thanks to the entire team at VWT

The Trap is a harm prevention podcast, created by the Dugdale Trust for Women & Girls (of which the Victorian Women’s Trust is Trustee). This project has been made possible thanks to the support of donors. Special thanks to the Phyllis Connor Memorial Trust of Equity Trustees Limited, Jo Baevski, a private donor, and The Bokhara Foundation.

© The Dugdale Trust for Women & Girls 2021

We are indebted to everyone who courageously shared their stories and wisdom with us. Thank you all.

We’re continuing our conversations about the mental health system, both in Victoria and in other states and the organisations that form part of this essential health service.  

We know that the mental health system in Victoria, and in the other states and territories of Australia were already struggling to cope with demand, and that the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly blown out those pressures. Mental health support organisations are seeing steep increases in the requests for support, in particular crisis helplines and support referral services.  

Joining host Robyn Haydon for this episode is ermha365 CEO Karenza Louis-Smith to talk with guests Joe Ball, CEO of Switchboard Victoria and Nick Tebbey, National Executive Officer of Relationships Australia about the pressures on mental health support services, in particular crisis lines and referral services during COVID-19. 

Joe makes the point that the high level of demand for mental health services, particularly during the past two years of the pandemic, was a sign that people really needed help. 

“I feel like it's not necessarily that more people feel like they can reach out, I think it's more that people feel like they have to reach out,” Joe said. 

“I think that people only call helplines, when they really, really need to, and far too many people don't call them when they really, really need to.” 

Nick thinks there has also been a shift in access to services because there is more of an acceptability in talking about our mental health. 

“COVID gave us a reason to talk about mental health that was slightly different from anything we've had before. And so suddenly, we did see more conversations, more happening in the mainstream media, more happening in politics…to invest more heavily in mental health supports.” 

About our guests 

Joe Ball is CEO of Switchboard Victoria, a community-based not for profit organisation providing a peer driven service for LGBTIQA+ communities and their allies, friends, support workers and families, including Rainbow Door, a free specialist LGBTIQA+ helpline providing information and support. Switchboard is also the Victorian Partner of the national crisis service QLife.  

Nick Tebbey is the National Executive Officer of Relationships Australia a not-for-profit national provider of relationship support services for individuals, families and communities.  

If you have been affected by anything discussed in this episode, you can call: 

Lifeline on 13 11 14 

Rainbow Door on 1800 729 367  

QLIFE can be contacted on 1800 184 527 

Relationships Australia on 1300 364 277 

ermha365 provides a range of mental health services designed to help people experiencing mental health challenges to thrive in the community.  

We’re continuing our conversations about the findings of the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System. These findings will reshape mental health services, not just in Victoria but potentially across Australia.  

In this episode we talk about some of the  recommendations for reform specific to carers. 

The royal commission findings have specific recommendations that will affect carers, including eight family and carer led centres across Victoria and elevating the leadership and promoting the valued role of family members and carers throughout the mental health and wellbeing system.

Carers provide a service that would otherwise fall on the health system - in Victoria they provide $3.7 billion worth of unpaid care annually.

People don’t always identify as carers – they see themselves caring for someone they love. 

Our guests today are Karen Rule and Susan Lovegrove, two women with lived experience of caring for children (now adults) with mental health conditions and disability and they have also channelled this to provide their learnings and experience for advocacy and support to others. 

Karen's youngest daughter is autistic and was diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder at age 17. Sue has a son with Down syndrome.  Both women share some of the challenges they’ve encountered as parents and carers and also the ways they’ve grown through the experience.

Karen: “In looking after myself and modelling that for my daughter, I think it’s helped with her mental health as well”.

Sue: “I fell into postnatal depression after the birth my youngest son and that’s when I first learnt about caring for myself”.

Our first episode of Get Real was about the experience of carers, and it’s our most listened to episode to date, so we know that there’s an interest around the challenges and needs of this very important group of people.

CONTENT NOTE: if you have been affected by anything discussed in this episode, you can call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or go to lifeline.org.au 

Useful info:

Tandem Carers - Tandem is the Victorian peak body representing family and friends supporting people living with mental health issues. 

Down Syndrome Australia

PANDA (Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia)

ermha365 provides a range of mental health services designed to help people experiencing mental health challenges to thrive in the community.

We’re continuing our conversations about the findings of the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System. These findings will reshape mental health services, not just in Victoria but potentially across Australia.  

The focus of this episode is on the recommendations for reform specific to LGBTQ+ mental health services. 

For the LGBTQ+ community, there’s “diversity within diversity” – also called intersectionality – for example First Nations queer people, queer people with a disability, and those from culturally diverse backgrounds. To provide genuine help, services need to understand and support this diversity. 

Reform is even more pressing with the COVID-19 pandemic further highlighting the urgent need for a redesign of Victoria’s mental health system that is co-designed by the people who use it.  

We invited Karen Field, CEO Drummond Street Services, which also incorporates Stepfamilies Australia and Queerspace and Carolyn Gillespie, Director of Clinical Services at Thorne Harbour Health (formerly the Victorian AIDS Council) to talk about what reform means for mental health care for the LGBTIQ+ community. 

 Services like Drummond Street Services and Thorne Harbour Health see firsthand that LGBTIQ+ people experience higher rates than the general population of mental health issues like anxiety, depression and suicidal ideation, and that the mental health service system currently in place is not always a system that’s safe for them.  

 In fact, Karen Field says that during the past 12 months there was a trebling of the acute mental health and suicidal ideation presentations at Drummond Street Services compared to the previous financial year – an experience that has been seen across LGBTQ+ health care providers. 

The co-host for this episode is Karenza Louis-Smith, CEO of ermha365. 

 CONTENT NOTE: If you’ve been affected by anything you’ve heard in this episode you can phone Qlife on 1800184 527 (3pm to midnight 7 days) or Lifeline on 13 11 14. 

 For more info on LGBTQ+ services:  

 Queerspace - supports focused on relationships, families, parenting and young people

Thorne Harbour Health - a community-controlled organisation, governed by its members, and working for sex, sexuality and gender diverse communities.

Rainbow Door - a free service for the LGBTQ+ community, you do not need a referral to use this service. 

 ermha365 provides a range of mental health services designed to help people experiencing mental health challenges to thrive in the community.