PODCAST · society
In Plain Sight
by Vision Australia Radio
In Plain Sight, hosted by Simon Chong and produced by Andrew Williams, is a program where we highlight the incredible stories of people who are making a positive impact in the community and disability sector. Giving a voice to dedicated disability advocates demonstrating advocacy in all its different forms, shining a light on those who might otherwise be hidden ‘in plain sight'.Get in touch with the program team via: [email protected]. Simon and Andrew would love to hear your feedback, thoughts and ideas.
Episodes
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Colleen rides for research
This week we are talking with Colleen Ashby, who had a heart transplant in 2017, which due to complications left her also becoming blind.But, Colleen’s natural optimism, determination and generous spirit used this life changing event as a motivational force. She is also an example of someone who…
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Sharing a Sunflower with Sandee
This week we present a fabulous conversation with Sandee Facy, the Head of Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Australia and New Zealand. The Sunflower and Hidden Disabilities are trying to increase awareness, & understanding of non-visible disabilities, and helping to create communities where people...
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Connections Community & Dance
This week on In Plain Sight we have a very pleasant conversation with Darryl Davenport; Principle of Ballroom Fit, & Chairperson of Para Ability Dance WA. Darryl shares his passion and insights into these wonderful dance opportunities for people with disabilities, in both the social and…
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Exploring Auslan with Linda de Rozario
In recognition of International Day of Sign Languages that falls on Wed 23 September we are revisiting a fabulous conversation with Linda de Rozario, CEO of Vital Interpreting Personnel. In Australia, we celebrate & acknowledge National Week Of Deaf People from 21-27 September; which incorporates...
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Colleen Ashby a dedication & passion hard to beat
Hi this week we bring you a revisit to an excellent interview with the dynamic and positive Colleen Ashby;an author athlete and fundraising champion. Colleen is involved in so many wonderful things and we share this episode now to highlight a fundraiser that is literally close to Colleen’s heart....
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Synapse; many pathways one community.
This week we have a very interesting conversation with Adam Schickerling, the CEO of Synapse, one of Australia’s leading support agencies for people with an Acquired Brain Injury (ABI). As it was recently Brain Injury Awareness Week, we thought it would be good to learn more about brain injury…
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Brain Injury Matters; so look after your head.
This week on IPS we are learning about brain injury and living with an Acquired Brain Injury (ABI). We had a fabulous warm & insightful conversation with Fiona Hopper, Peer Project Coordinator at Brain Injury Matters (BIM). BIM is a membership based peer to peer support group based in Melbourne....
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DADAA leading the way in Canberra.
This week we speak with Dennis Collins, Arts Mentor from DADAA & Joe Teakle, arts participant and Radio DADAA presenter, about their visit to Canberra to interview some federal politicians, to gain some insights into their views on Arts and Disability Inclusion. We learn about the background and...
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Get connected with `Connect up`
This week we’d like to introduce you to a new online platform & app called “Connect Up”.ConnectUp is a free Australian app launched in June 2026 to help people with disability, unpaid carers, and families reduce social isolation and find physical activities. It lets users build online…
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Rad Joe: Film Enthusiast and Filmmaker
This week on the show join Simon and Andrew as they chat to Joe Teakle about his career as a filmmaker and host of Film Talk on radio DADAA. He recounts his experience making the documentary 'Theatricality' (2024) for SBS and future plans for acting and film making. His love of movies has…
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Meagan Shand: - Leadership Development Manager; LeadAbility
LeadAbility delivered by Leadership WA, aims to empower Western Australians with disability to become confident leaders and explore their full potential in a dynamic practical leadership program. This week on In Plain sight we enjoyed the company of Meagan Shand who has just begun her role as the...
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Lily: Author & disability advocate passionate about inclusion
Lilly is a super impressive young person, who has already written her first book “Blossom, and is now preparing for an upcoming documentary and her entry into the Focus on Ability Film Festival. As a WA Youth Awards finalist 2024 & 2025 lily proudly, & boldly uses her voice to create change. This...
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Kyra Culloton: - actively making change, & demonstrating great leadership
Kyra Cullton is a recent participant of the CPActive Changemakers leadership program conducted by the Cerebral Palsy Alliance Australia. The 12 week CPActive program aims to bring people together to make Australia more inclusive, whilst developing young leaders advocating for change. This dynamic…
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Mel Stephens: Storytelling, Advocacy and Living Life Without Limits
There's far more to Mel Stephens than first meets the eye. Mel is a passionate storyteller, disability advocate and content creator who is blind, sharing her life, experiences and adventures with audiences across Australia and beyond. Living in regional Victoria, Mel describes herself simply…
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Martin Stewart: Advocacy with Blind Citizens Australia
Introducing Martin Stewart a long term campaigner, activist & advocate of rights and needs for people who are blind. Martin was born blind and in 2002 was seriously injured an horrific public transport accident. In his current role at Blind Citizens Australia (BCA) as the National Individual...
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Deafblind Week 2026 & Deafblind WA
Join us this week as we celebrate the lives and stories of Deafblind Western Australians. Simon and Andrew have a chat with Linni Oliver and Jason Rowland from Deafblind WA (DBWA) to help us celebrate and acknowledge Deafblind Awareness Week which runs from June 22nd to the 28th. This year's…
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My Mate Matt - An Active Community Member
This week we enjoyed the company of Matt Spencer, a well respected member of the Blind Community in Perth. We really appreciate learning about such positive and active people, and to be able to share their stories with you. Matt is one of those wonderful people who is actively involved in many...
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Leadership in Plain Sight
This week on In Plain Sight we have compiled a very special show to highlight some of the prominent people who have featured in Simon’s life who have demonstrated leadership and acted as role-models, within the Blind Community in Perth and beyond. We start the program with a fresh conversation…
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Young leaders finding their voices with Emma Vardy
This week we have the pleasure of talking with Emma Vardy, who has recently participated in the Young Leaders program conducted and organised by DeafBlind Western Australians (DBWA). Emma describes the complexities of becoming a leader and exploring one's own internal leadership. She proudly...
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Blind Leading the Way with Ben Rowe
This week we present a special program in collaboration with Blind Sports WA, featuring Ben Rowe, Executive officer at Blind Sports WA. Simon was moved and inspired by a recent BSWA podcast by Ben called "How do we perceive ourselves as blind or vision impaired?" This episode serves as a clip…
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Digital Accessibility with Glenn Wilson
This week on In Plain Sight we had the pleasure of interviewing Glenn Wilson a Digital Accessibility Analyst for the Centre for Accessibility Australia. Glenn discusses his background as an educator in fields including computing and manual arts, and how that serves as a scaffold to his current…
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Physical Disability Australia with Melanie Hawkes
This week on the show Simon and Andrew have a chat about the recent changes to NDIS funding and the role this scheme plays in the life of those receiving support. Our feature interview for this episode is with the ever positive Melanie Hawkes, the WA Director for Physical Disability Australia and...
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Cri du Chat Awareness Day - Tony Buti and Alkira
This week we are revisiting an insightful conversation from last year with prominent author, lawyer and Attorney General of Western Australia Tony Buti. The discussion delves into his personal experience as a father raising a child with Cri-du-chat, and the struggles Tony and his wife Mandy faced...
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International Guide Dog Day 2026
This week on In Plain Sight, Simon Chong and Andrew Williams have a chat with two very special guests. Fabulous passion and dedication alongside a lifelong association with dog guides are some of the motivations behind the great work of Guide Dog Mobility Instructor Katie Crawford. It was…
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Julie Cavallo: Resilience through sport
Nothing brings people together like group sports. This week on the show join Simon and Andrew as they have an enlightening conversation with Julie Cavallo, Development Officer for Blind Sports WA. Julie takes us inside her journey with the Australian Women’s Blind Cricket team at the 2025 T20…
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Lisa's Story: One Step Ahead
This week on In Plain Sight we re-visit Simon and Abby's insightful conversation with Lisa Burnette from last year. Lisa is a passionate advocate, volunteer and double amputee as a result of Meningococcal Disease. She talks about her passion for volunteering in multiple roles and communities, and...
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Lighting Up for Parkinson's Awareness Day
This week on the show, join Simon and Andrew as they chat to the CEO of Parkinson's WA, Yasmin Naglazas, about how this disease affects West Australians with Parkinson’s and what they do to make their lives less restricted. With a focus on community through support groups and connections, those...
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Parkinson's Awareness Month with Aaron Burnette
This week Simon and Andrew talk with Aaron Burnette about his experience living with Parkinson's Disease as April is Parkinson's Awareness Month. Parkinson's is a progressive, degenerative condition of the central nervous system that has no known causes or cure. The disease is complex, with more...
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Rad Joe: Film Enthusiast and Filmmaker
This week on the show join Simon and Andrew as they chat to Joe Teakle about his career as a filmmaker and host of Film Talk on radio DADAA. He recounts his experience making the documentary 'Theatricality' (2024) for SBS and future plans for acting and film making. His love of movies has…
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World Down Syndrome Day: Together against loneliness
On this week's episode join Simon and Andrew as they chat to Cassandra Hughes, the CEO of Down Syndrome WA, about the importance of World Down Syndrome day. The day, this year on the 21st of March, is themed around the phrase 'together against loneliness' meant to combat social isolation and...
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World Glaucoma Week: Uniting for a Gaucoma-Free World
This week on In Plain Sight join your hosts Simon and Andrew as they talk with Gaela Hilditch, the volunteer coordinator for the Perth Glaucoma Support Group. In her twenties Gaela was hit in the eye during a game of squash, which years later she discovered had been a trigger behind her glaucoma...
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That Blind Guy: advocate and performer
Grinding out a career as “That Blind Guy”. Karan Nagrani, known online as "That Blind Guy," is a Melbourne-based disability advocate, content creator, and 2025 Midsumma Festival Community Ambassador. Karan shares his story of how he moved from denial to pride: appreciation and awareness for who…
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A new heart, a new perspective
Due to complications with Type 1 Diabetes Colleen was in need of a heart transplant, and now as a transplant recipient she is fully energised and bright zest for life. She has also taken on board all the knowledge she has acquired through the numerous significant events she has experienced to...
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Seeing eye dogs with Matt Wood and Geraldine Lane
There's more to Geraldine than meets the eye. This week Simon chats to Geraldine Lane, a dog guide and wheelchair user, and Matt Wood, a Seeing Eye Dog instructor; about the importance of having a service dog and the confidence they bring. When Geraldine's health was affected by a lung disease…
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Rebounding From Adversity with Wheelchair Sports
On this week's episode Simon has a chat with Paralympian and project officer at Rebound WA Natalie Alexander. Natalie discusses her wheelchair basketball career from winning silver in the U25 World Championships in 2011 and 2015 to competing in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. She uses her passion for...
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Perth Festival: your city, your festival (encore)
This week Simon revisits his chat with Louisa Norman, Engagement and Regional Manager at Perth Festival. Perth Festival will light up Perth city for a massive summer of art and culture from 6 February to 1 March (with the Lotterywest Films program already underway). The Festival will activate the...
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Tony Sarre: Making Pictures Tactile
On this episode of In Plain Sight Simon and Andrew interview filmmaker Tony Sarre on his project "Road to Paran" which he made last year with his project partner Lincoln MacKinnon. Paran is a small community that rests at the foothills of the Andes north of Lima, Peru and is known for having high...
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The Disability Liberation Movement (encore)
This week Simon revisits his chat with Maxine Drake, a powerful voice for inclusion and human rights. As an advocate with Developmental Disability WA, Maxine stands up for students with disabilities and brings passion, heart, and action to the disability movement. In this thought-provoking chat,...
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If you can talk, you can sing: the magic of music and community (encore)
This week, Simon revisits his chat to William Morgan, who's passionate about singing and sound production. Williams sings in the Perth Pride Choir and the Humdrum Choir, which he also helps organise. William is a caring, vibrant member of the Perth disability community and in this uplifting...
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Exploring Sound, with No Sight (encore)
This week, Simon revisits his chat with Ritchell Lim, a musician, singer, producer and sound engineer, devoted to her art and a natural at her craft. Ritchell is an extremely talented, highly intelligent, bright woman who is just launching herself into to a career as a sound engineer. And, she…
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Trailblazers Kerrie & Rayna on leadership, movement and the importance of rest
This week, Simon reprises his chats with Kerrie Duff, a Paralympian bronze medalist, and Rayna Lamb, a dynamic disability advocate and passionate dancer Kerrie is a disability advocate who currently works for Team Lab and has her own consulting business. She and Simon discuss mentoring…
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Deafblind advocates empowering others
This week, Simon revisits the discussions he had earlier this year with Dr Rita Kleinfeld-Fowell, Deborah Kazich and Linni Oliver. Legally Deaf and blind, Rita has faced - and overcome - immense challenges. Through resilience, strength and determination, she has transformed adversity into…
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Perth Festival: your city, your festival
This week Simon catches up with Louisa Norman, Engagement and Regional Manager at Perth Festival. Perth Festival will light up Perth city for a massive summer of art and culture from 6 February to 1 March (with the Lotterywest Films program already underway). The Festival will activate the city…
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Access with Tayla
This week, Tayla Taseff, disability content creator, returns to the program for a positive, interesting chat with Simon. We first heard from this dynamic advocate back in November 2024, and she made such an impact we had to have her in again and find out what she's been up to. We discover that...
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Nihal: born to be an advocate & activist
From a young age Nihal Iscel has been assisting others and acting as an advocate. This week, Simon had a fascinating conversation with this passionate and strong woman with a vast knowledge gained from a variety of life experiences. International Day of People with Disability is recognised each...
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Just Three Things: Tara's Story
This week on In Plain Sight join Simon as he chats to the ever enthusiastic Tara Le Flohic, a creative film maker using the medium to shine a light on homelessness, especially in women. Tara is now living her best life but it hasn't always been that way. She uses her creative skills and film…
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ICONYX: pitch perfect East Kimberley artist
This week, Simon speaks with ICONYX, who hails from the East Kimberley from the Kukatja and Pintupi mobs and now lives in Boorloo (Perth) on Whadjuk Noongar Boodja. She is a passionate songwriter, has perfect pitch, plays piano and guitar, loves to sing, and is blind. ICONYX started producing her...
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Curtains up, barriers down - making theatre accessible to all
This week, Andrew and Simon speak to Kate Champion, Artistic Director at Black Swan State Theatre Company in Perth, Western Australia, about their 2026 program. Black Swan is committed to inclusion and accessibility in the arts, and Kate shares their accessibility initiatives with us, which…
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Creative expression for people of all abilities at DADAA
This week, Simon revisits his conversations with three staff members from DADAA, a West Australian arts organisation finding creative ways to reduce disadvantage in the arts for people with disability. DADAA stands for Disability in the Arts, Disadvantage in the Arts, Australia. DADAA aspires to…
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Ben & One Bunbury, a community with a story
Join Simon and Andrew on a journey of discovery as they travel with Ben Yew from the hustle and bustle of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to the sleepy seaside town of Bunbury, Western Australia. While Ben was looking for a spark to inspire him as he recovered from cancer, he was motivated to try to…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
In Plain Sight, hosted by Simon Chong and produced by Andrew Williams, is a program where we highlight the incredible stories of people who are making a positive impact in the community and disability sector. Giving a voice to dedicated disability advocates demonstrating advocacy in all its different forms, shining a light on those who might otherwise be hidden ‘in plain sight'.Get in touch with the program team via: [email protected]. Simon and Andrew would love to hear your feedback, thoughts and ideas.
HOSTED BY
Vision Australia Radio
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does In Plain Sight have?
In Plain Sight currently has 100 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is In Plain Sight about?
In Plain Sight, hosted by Simon Chong and produced by Andrew Williams, is a program where we highlight the incredible stories of people who are making a positive impact in the community and disability sector. Giving a voice to dedicated disability advocates demonstrating advocacy in all its...
How often does In Plain Sight release new episodes?
In Plain Sight has 100 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to In Plain Sight?
You can listen to In Plain Sight on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts In Plain Sight?
In Plain Sight is created and hosted by Vision Australia Radio.
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