On this special Christmas Edition of Focal Point Peter Greco is joined by Phil Vandepeeer to look back at the highlights of 2024, and recover from a large Christmas Lunch.

On this special Christmas Edition of Focal Point Peter Greco is joined by Phil Vandepeeer to look back at the highlights of 2024, and recover from a large Christmas Lunch.

A weekly program presented by Peter Greco, Focal Point covers services from blindness organisations and other providers, technology, current affairs, breakthroughs in advocacy campaigns about all manner of challenges and promoting activities and events for people who are blind or vision impaired.

A weekly program presented by Peter Greco,&nbsp;Focal Point&nbsp;covers services from blindness organisations and other providers, technology, current affairs, breakthroughs in advocacy campaigns about all manner of challenges and promoting activities and events for people who are blind or vision impaired.

Focal Point on Vison Australia Radio

Visit <a href="http://www.varadio.org">www.varadio.org</a> for more.

Focal Point on Vision Australia Radio

Christmas Day

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/fa7924ac-d4fd-4bff-b1b4-ac7f006dda87/clips/024e8474-4b78-48f0-a2c2-b24a00362b3c/transcript

On FOCAL POINT:
Ben Rowe, musician; singer and recording artist, is about to release a new song "Feeling Like Home"
Frank Cirillo, Member Engagement Officer at Beyond Blindness, with an update on events and activities from Whyalla and Port Augusta, to the western suburbs of Adelaide; Adelaide Hills and the South-East. 
Milly Hart is a member of the Australian Women's Blind Cricket Team.  The Team is  about to host their first ever international series in Australia against Pakistan in Qld, from April 20th
Maureen O Reilly, from the Vision Australia Library, with invitations to participate, either in person or online, in the Melbourne Writers Festival events and the National Simultaneous Story Time, 21st May, everyone will be reading The Truck Cat, and  and more

Resources:

Beyond Blindness: http://www.beyondblindness.org.au

Vision Australia Library: https://visionaustralia.org/services/library

On FOCAL POINT:
<ul>
<li>Ben Rowe, musician; singer and recording artist, is about to release a new song "Feeling Like Home"</li>
<li>Frank Cirillo, Member Engagement Officer at Beyond Blindness, with an update on events and activities from Whyalla and Port Augusta, to the western suburbs of Adelaide; Adelaide Hills and the South-East.&nbsp;</li>
<li><a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.beyondblindness.org.au__;!!BW9V2p7J0Kl2QvQ!CN48LIAjoq1R2upiQ-TLUTvpcpc_fca8NQz29Qsz0w1BRjV3ULfAZRkvl2wbQPMW8gdK4LlujGlbUm3hehEPGAkFhAf9Mz-_Oeo$" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0"></a>Milly Hart is a member of the Australian Women's Blind Cricket Team.&nbsp; The Team is&nbsp; about to host their first ever international series in Australia against Pakistan in Qld, from April 20th</li>
<li>Maureen O Reilly, from the Vision Australia Library, with invitations to participate, either in person or online, in the Melbourne Writers Festival events and the National Simultaneous Story Time, 21st May, everyone will be reading The Truck Cat, and&nbsp; and more</li>
</ul>
Resources:
Beyond Blindness: <a href="http://www.beyondblindness.org.au">http://www.beyondblindness.org.au</a>
Vision Australia Library: <a href="https://visionaustralia.org/services/library">https://visionaustralia.org/services/library</a>

16 Apr 2025

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/fa7924ac-d4fd-4bff-b1b4-ac7f006dda87/clips/99fc2d1f-df7d-4fe2-8ab6-b2c10066592f/transcript

On FOCAL POINT:
Alex Morris, from the Australian Electoral Commission, with news on the options available for people who are blind or vision impaired to vote at the May 3rd Federal Election - including important dates and phone numbers.
Barry Clark, Chair of See Differently (The Royal Society for the Blind) paid tribute to the late Peter Hetherington OAM, Advocate; champion blind cricketer; employee; board member and client for close to 60 years. 
Dr Jo Kaeding and Agata Mrva-Montoya, from Uni SA and Sydney University respectively, shared their research showing public libraries are failing readers with a print disability. 
Deb Deshayes, CEO for Blind Citizens Australia, invited all to the 50th anniversary Convention at the Novatel from Friday the 13th June in Melbourne and updated us on a number of exciting projects BCA are undertaking. 

Resources:

Australian Electoral Commission: Call 13 23 26 or go to: https://www.aec.gov.au/Voting/ways_to_vote/?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwtdi_BhACEiwA97y8BECz3XpaVJZO2mEvuCI6j3lu3O1wF8s1WQgemBgA5CMoRAv8hxfTrBoCdOYQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds 

Research Findings (Libraries and Accessibility): https://www.unisa.edu.au/media-centre/Releases/2025/australian-public-libraries-failing-readers-with-print-disabilities/ 

Blind Citizens Australia: Call 1800 033 660 or go to http://www.bca.org.au 

On FOCAL POINT:
<ul>
<li>Alex Morris, from the Australian Electoral Commission, with news on the options available for people who are blind or vision impaired to vote at the May 3rd Federal Election - including important dates and phone numbers.</li>
<li><a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.aec.gov.au__;!!BW9V2p7J0Kl2QvQ!ErmCCW6R0AAuUtb2EFaeouas4NV7A_IxXf82I6s-g5c34GRRMrCLTiWQucQO0VGHdGuBOfIgulIsPge-OKePzo-BIarmkUvrNFY$" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0"></a>Barry Clark, Chair of See Differently (The Royal Society for the Blind) paid tribute to the late Peter Hetherington OAM, Advocate; champion blind cricketer; employee; board member and client for close to 60 years.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Dr Jo Kaeding and Agata Mrva-Montoya, from Uni SA and Sydney University respectively, shared their research showing public libraries are failing readers with a print disability.&nbsp;</li>
<li><a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.unisa.edu.au/media-centre/Releases/2025/australian-public-libraries-failing-readers-with-print-disabilities/__;!!BW9V2p7J0Kl2QvQ!ErmCCW6R0AAuUtb2EFaeouas4NV7A_IxXf82I6s-g5c34GRRMrCLTiWQucQO0VGHdGuBOfIgulIsPge-OKePzo-BIarm6rK0RWQ$" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="3"></a>Deb Deshayes, CEO for Blind Citizens Australia, invited all to the 50th anniversary Convention at the Novatel from Friday the 13th June in Melbourne and updated us on a number of exciting projects BCA are undertaking.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
Resources:
Australian Electoral Commission: Call 13 23 26 or go to: <a href="https://www.aec.gov.au/Voting/ways_to_vote/?gad_source=1&amp;gclid=CjwKCAjwtdi_BhACEiwA97y8BECz3XpaVJZO2mEvuCI6j3lu3O1wF8s1WQgemBgA5CMoRAv8hxfTrBoCdOYQAvD_BwE&amp;gclsrc=aw.ds">https://www.aec.gov.au/Voting/ways_to_vote/?gad_source=1&amp;gclid=CjwKCAjwtdi_BhACEiwA97y8BECz3XpaVJZO2mEvuCI6j3lu3O1wF8s1WQgemBgA5CMoRAv8hxfTrBoCdOYQAvD_BwE&amp;gclsrc=aw.ds</a>&nbsp;
Research Findings (Libraries and Accessibility): <a href="https://www.unisa.edu.au/media-centre/Releases/2025/australian-public-libraries-failing-readers-with-print-disabilities/">https://www.unisa.edu.au/media-centre/Releases/2025/australian-public-libraries-failing-readers-with-print-disabilities/</a>&nbsp;
Blind Citizens Australia: Call 1800 033 660 or go to <a href="http://www.bca.org.au">http://www.bca.org.au</a>&nbsp;

09 Apr 2025

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/fa7924ac-d4fd-4bff-b1b4-ac7f006dda87/clips/c6e5a4b2-4493-4978-b2f2-b2ba005921e6/transcript

On FOCAL POINT:  
Steph Travers, Board Director at People With Disabilities Australia, reflecting on the Federal Budget; the Budget in Reply; and thoughts about the upcoming Federal Election.  
Mia Gardiner, from Crime Stoppers Victoria, with valuable information regarding romance scams.   
Annette Leishman is going on the 5-day Trek to New Zealand for Vision Australia's Quality Living Program.  Annette extends an invitation to attend her Easter fund-raising concert on 15th April 
Aida La Verde shared her story of moving from Columbia; being diagnosed with cancer; then a vision loss and outstanding support from Aida's employers 

Resources: 

Australian Electoral Commission 
Information for People with a Disability: https://www.aec.gov.au/assistance/  
Postal Voting: https://www.aec.gov.au/election/pva.htm  

PWDA Election Hub: https://pwd.org.au/home/federal-election-hub-2022/  

Crimestoppers Victoria: http://www.crimestoppersvic.com.au  

Annette's Easter Concert: nettie617@gmail.com  or go to https://vision-australia.grassrootz.com/abeltasman-2025/annette-leishman 

See Differently: http://www.seedifferently.org.au  

Blue Sky Care: http://Www.bluskycare.com.au  

Australian Finance Collective: http://Www.Australianfinancecollective.com  

On FOCAL POINT: &nbsp;
<ul>
<li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559683&quot;:0,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1">Steph Travers, Board Director at People With Disabilities Australia, reflecting on the Federal Budget; the Budget in Reply; and thoughts about the upcoming Federal Election.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559683&quot;:0,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-posinset="2" data-aria-level="1">Mia Gardiner, from Crime Stoppers Victoria, with valuable information regarding romance scams. &nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559683&quot;:0,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-posinset="3" data-aria-level="1">Annette Leishman is going on the 5-day Trek to New Zealand for Vision Australia's Quality Living Program. &nbsp;Annette extends an invitation to attend her Easter fund-raising concert on 15th April&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="1" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559683&quot;:0,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-posinset="4" data-aria-level="1">Aida La Verde shared her story of moving from Columbia; being diagnosed with cancer; then a vision loss and outstanding support from Aida's employers&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
Resources:&nbsp;
Australian Electoral Commission&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>Information for People with a Disability:&nbsp;<a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.aec.gov.au/assistance/__;!!BW9V2p7J0Kl2QvQ!B-Yv-4Up54DsFeHwTh3ILAf5kSonhrhMn-DCiPa7DblJ4dfDlubnoX9CB70-PI4rb0OQm5mxBp9n73X6CKtl2iYXZAXwiK6xFMc$">https://www.aec.gov.au/assistance/</a> &nbsp;</li>
<li>Postal Voting:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aec.gov.au/election/pva.htm">https://www.aec.gov.au/election/pva.htm</a> &nbsp;</li>
</ul>
PWDA Election Hub:&nbsp;<a href="https://pwd.org.au/home/federal-election-hub-2022/">https://pwd.org.au/home/federal-election-hub-2022/</a> &nbsp;
Crimestoppers Victoria: <a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.crimestoppersvic.com.au__;!!BW9V2p7J0Kl2QvQ!B-Yv-4Up54DsFeHwTh3ILAf5kSonhrhMn-DCiPa7DblJ4dfDlubnoX9CB70-PI4rb0OQm5mxBp9n73X6CKtl2iYXZAXwva5OI3A$">http://www.crimestoppersvic.com.au</a> &nbsp;
Annette's Easter Concert:&nbsp;<a href="mailto:nettie617@gmail.com">nettie617@gmail.com</a> &nbsp;or go to <a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://vision-australia.grassrootz.com/abeltasman-2025/annette-leishman__;!!BW9V2p7J0Kl2QvQ!B-Yv-4Up54DsFeHwTh3ILAf5kSonhrhMn-DCiPa7DblJ4dfDlubnoX9CB70-PI4rb0OQm5mxBp9n73X6CKtl2iYXZAXwsYeuk70$">https://vision-australia.grassrootz.com/abeltasman-2025/annette-leishman</a>&nbsp;
See Differently:&nbsp;<a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.seedifferently.org.au__;!!BW9V2p7J0Kl2QvQ!B-Yv-4Up54DsFeHwTh3ILAf5kSonhrhMn-DCiPa7DblJ4dfDlubnoX9CB70-PI4rb0OQm5mxBp9n73X6CKtl2iYXZAXws0MX0XI$">http://www.seedifferently.org.au</a> &nbsp;
Blue Sky Care: http://Www.bluskycare.com.au &nbsp;
Australian Finance Collective: http://Www.Australianfinancecollective.com &nbsp;

02 Apr 2025

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/fa7924ac-d4fd-4bff-b1b4-ac7f006dda87/clips/987ff3cb-6859-44f0-a46e-b2b30048bd75/transcript

Christmas Day

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