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.
Colleen will be captain of a team participating in the the Breaths and Beats Ride for Research,scheduled for Sunday, November 1, 2026, to support heart and lung disease research.  In 2017, Colleen Ashby received a life-saving heart transplant. The operation saved her life but resulted in the loss of around 95% of her vision.
Colleen is someone who does not sit still and let things happen. She is a life-long competitive swimmer and now a keen cyclist. As the Chairperson of WATCAC (Western Australia Tandem Cycling Advisory Council), Colleen proves nothing will stand in her way.Colleen uses this enthusiasm & undaunting passion to encourage others to get involved and to promote great fundraising events.    Join Colleen in changing the lives of West Australians with heart and lung disease by joining the ride or donating today.
Breaths and Beats Ride https://www.breathsandbeatsride.org.au
Colleen’s fundraising page;https://www.breathsandbeatsride.org.au/colleen-ashby

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&rsquo;s heart. Colleen will be captain of a team participating in the the Breaths and Beats Ride for Research,scheduled for Sunday, November 1, 2026, to support heart and lung disease research.&nbsp;&nbsp;In 2017, Colleen Ashby received a life-saving heart transplant. The operation saved her life but resulted in the loss of around 95% of her vision. Colleen is someone who does not sit still and let things happen. She is a life-long competitive swimmer and now a keen cyclist. As the Chairperson of WATCAC (Western Australia Tandem Cycling Advisory Council), Colleen proves nothing will stand in her way.Colleen uses this enthusiasm &amp; undaunting passion to encourage others to get involved and to promote great fundraising events. &nbsp; &nbsp;Join Colleen in changing the lives of West Australians with heart and lung disease by joining the ride or donating today. Breaths and Beats Ride&nbsp;<a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.breathsandbeatsride.org.au__;!!BW9V2p7J0Kl2QvQ!HtVrkTV2hO4wj3qJP1NGT9jSZG6uxXz3BhcwHakGFvdlEowCWviG6NBrp5X9jmsXNg9fScM9Z9A9z1_g0dsIQcnDfujZFk77$" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">https://www.breathsandbeatsride.org.au</a> Colleen&rsquo;s fundraising page;<a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.breathsandbeatsride.org.au/colleen-ashby__;!!BW9V2p7J0Kl2QvQ!HtVrkTV2hO4wj3qJP1NGT9jSZG6uxXz3BhcwHakGFvdlEowCWviG6NBrp5X9jmsXNg9fScM9Z9A9z1_g0dsIQcnDfilVUqty$" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="1">https://www.breathsandbeatsride.org.au/colleen-ashby</a>

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: inplainsight@visionaustralia.org. Simon and Andrew would love to hear your feedback, thoughts and ideas.

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 &lsquo;in plain sight'.
Get in touch with the program team via:&nbsp;<a href="mailto:inplainsight@visionaustralia.org">inplainsight@visionaustralia.org</a>. Simon and Andrew would love to hear your feedback, thoughts and ideas.

In Plain Sight

In Plain Sight by Vision Australia Radio

Colleen Ashby a dedication & passion hard to beat

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/fa7924ac-d4fd-4bff-b1b4-ac7f006dda87/clips/eff48422-0172-49b7-92dc-b4bf005eb952/transcript

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 and the support and services aimed to assisting people living with an ABI. The theme of Brain Injury Awareness Week 2026 is Brain Injury: Many Pathways, One Community.

 

Adam highlights some of the impacts on individuals and their families living with a brain injury and why it is important to raise the knowledge & awareness of this often hidden disability. We explore some of the services and assistance that Synapse provides and how they try to make people’s lives a little easier while adapting and living with an ABI.

 

While there is a variety of causes of a brain injury, two of the areas of interest that Synapse focuses on are injury resulting from family & domestic violence and supporting Aboriginal Communities where brain injuries are present. This was an interesting insight and both good that the service is available and sad that it is needed.

 

Synapse also provides Advocacy support to help make important decisions about the rights and best interests of people with an ABI and their supporters,along with helping people get connected with others in a similar situation.

 

Their head office is in Brisbane, with locations throughout Australia.  

 

 

To find out more contact Synapse 

 https://synapse.org.au/brain-injury-awareness-week/

Call: 1800 673 074

This week we have a very interesting conversation with Adam Schickerling, the CEO of Synapse, one of Australia&rsquo;s leading support agencies for people with an Acquired Brain Injury (ABI). As&nbsp;it was recently Brain Injury Awareness Week, we thought it would be good to learn more about brain injury and the support and services&nbsp;aimed to assisting people living with an ABI. The theme of Brain Injury Awareness Week 2026 is Brain Injury: Many Pathways, One Community.
&nbsp;
Adam highlights some of the impacts on individuals and their families living with a brain injury and why it is important to raise the knowledge &amp; awareness of this often hidden disability. We explore some of the services and assistance that Synapse provides and how they try to make people&rsquo;s lives a little easier while adapting and living&nbsp;with an ABI.
&nbsp;
While there is a variety of causes of a brain injury, two of the areas of interest that Synapse focuses on are injury resulting from family &amp; domestic violence and supporting Aboriginal Communities where brain injuries are present. This was an interesting insight and both good that the service is available and sad that it is needed.
&nbsp;
Synapse also provides Advocacy support to help make important decisions about the rights and best interests of people with an ABI and their supporters, along&nbsp;with helping people get connected with others in a similar situation.
&nbsp;
Their head office is in Brisbane, with locations throughout Australia. &nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
To find out more contact Synapse&nbsp;
&nbsp;<a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://synapse.org.au/brain-injury-awareness-week/__;!!BW9V2p7J0Kl2QvQ!BxYyHbxG4sdgiRJiUHzpfsXRjgfEipfdXe1hxvm9wvWxGuTB29Gfbsw1yZ7e7PPSM8YJFH-NW38QWAfOuN3c6hAGk0WDPVEJ_b6EWnppjA$" data-auth="NotApplicable">https://synapse.org.au</a><a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://synapse.org.au/brain-injury-awareness-week/__;!!BW9V2p7J0Kl2QvQ!BxYyHbxG4sdgiRJiUHzpfsXRjgfEipfdXe1hxvm9wvWxGuTB29Gfbsw1yZ7e7PPSM8YJFH-NW38QWAfOuN3c6hAGk0WDPVEJ_b6EWnppjA$" data-auth="NotApplicable">/brain-injury-awareness-week/</a>
Call: 1800 673 074

Synapse; many pathways one community.

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/fa7924ac-d4fd-4bff-b1b4-ac7f006dda87/clips/ff278dfa-e21f-40d3-97e4-b4b800709e76/transcript

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.

There are many aspects of living with an acquired brain injury (ABI), while firstly acknowledging it can be traumatic and a major stressful change of life and circumstance. 
And, BIM has several aims which include supporting people with an Abi and trying to educate and inform the public of what brain injury is and its impacts on people with an ABI.

As both a support group and an advocacy agency BIM aims to;
Help provide support to alleviate the isolation and marginalisation experienced by people living with an Acquired Brain Injury. BIM is also an active advocate that acts as a voice of people with an Acquired Brain Injury to inform local, state, and national bodies around relevant issues affecting people with an ABI.

It was a pleasure to meet and talk with Fiona Hopper who is a passionate skilled peer worker.
Fiona describes some of the important  roles and functions of BIM and particularly the peer networks and supports.  She helps to coordinate  both the in person groups and online catch-ups.     

This conversation with Fiona who has an ABI and also happens to be blind reminds us about the importance of good quality supports and keeping connected with people who have similar life experiences to yourself.
It’s a great example of a community working well and working together with the same aims.

This week on IPS we are learning about brain injury and living with an Acquired Brain Injury (ABI). &nbsp;We had a fabulous warm &amp; 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. There are many aspects of living with an acquired brain injury (ABI), while firstly acknowledging it can be traumatic and a major stressful change of life and circumstance.&nbsp; And, BIM has several aims which include supporting people with an Abi and trying to educate and inform the public of what brain injury is and its impacts on people with an ABI. As both a support group and an advocacy agency BIM aims to; Help provide support to alleviate the isolation and marginalisation experienced by people living with an Acquired Brain Injury. BIM is also an active advocate that acts as a voice of people with an Acquired Brain Injury to inform local, state, and national bodies around relevant issues affecting people with an ABI. It was a pleasure to meet and talk with Fiona Hopper who is a passionate skilled peer worker. Fiona describes some of the important&nbsp; roles and functions of BIM and particularly the peer networks and supports.&nbsp; She helps to coordinate&nbsp; both the in person groups and online catch-ups.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; This conversation with Fiona who has an ABI and also happens to be blind reminds us about the importance of good quality supports and keeping connected with people who have similar life experiences to yourself. It&rsquo;s a great example of a community working well and working together with the same aims.

Brain Injury Matters; so look after your head.

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/fa7924ac-d4fd-4bff-b1b4-ac7f006dda87/clips/7145f30d-2402-4545-b4e1-b4b10073c2f5/transcript

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 aims & objectives of this bold project.

 

During this fun, lively & informative conversation, we explore and discuss many avenues of the importance & relevance of creating and supporting accessible and inclusive arts practice and involvement.  People with disabilities want to be part of the conversation that allows for broader representation in and around the Arts Sector. However,; while Art is DADAA’s main focus, the team will also explore and question the politicians around all aspects of important issues for people with disabilities, including areas of funding & the NDIS .     

 

We discover what Radio DADAA has to offer and how people can get involved.

Joe shares his enthusiasm to shift his focus from being a filmmaker to a budding radio reporter and presenter. And, I can highly recommend Joe’s program on Radio DADAA called Film Talk with RadJoe, which is very informative, engaging & entertaining. Check it out sometime soon.

Engaging with the Arts releases aspects of the soul and can be beneficial to the overall welfare and well-being of our society, so it’s important to support and encourage.

 

Radio DADAA =

https://www.dadaa.org.au/shows/

 

DADAA  web homepage =

https://www.dadaa.org.au

   

This week we speak with Dennis Collins, Arts Mentor from DADAA &amp; 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 aims &amp; objectives of this bold project.
&nbsp;
During this fun, lively &amp; informative conversation, we explore and discuss many avenues of the importance &amp; relevance of creating and supporting accessible and inclusive arts practice and involvement. &nbsp;People with disabilities want to be part of the conversation that allows for broader representation in and around the Arts Sector. However,; while Art is DADAA&rsquo;s main focus, the team will also explore and question the politicians around all aspects of important issues for people with disabilities, including areas of funding &amp; the NDIS . &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;
We discover what Radio DADAA&nbsp;has to offer and how people can get involved.
Joe shares his enthusiasm to shift his focus from being a filmmaker to a budding radio reporter and presenter. And, I can highly recommend Joe&rsquo;s program on Radio DADAA called Film Talk with RadJoe, which is very informative, engaging &amp; entertaining. Check it out sometime soon.
Engaging with the Arts releases aspects of the soul and can be beneficial to the overall welfare and well-being of our society, so it&rsquo;s important to support and encourage.
&nbsp;
Radio DADAA =
<a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.dadaa.org.au/shows/__;!!BW9V2p7J0Kl2QvQ!FnAZ6T0auxQtZK_QyjhRcqFE8sfTQ4YtkPzpj023BiZwrDHD9VK3E8kx1wCadOEz1W8sDV7eVsyJXXJac47i5B0nNyoymdMBQAjOLZmgQw$" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">https://www.dadaa.org.au/shows/</a>
&nbsp;
DADAA &nbsp;web homepage =
<a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.dadaa.org.au/__;!!BW9V2p7J0Kl2QvQ!FnAZ6T0auxQtZK_QyjhRcqFE8sfTQ4YtkPzpj023BiZwrDHD9VK3E8kx1wCadOEz1W8sDV7eVsyJXXJac47i5B0nNyoymdMBQAhX2IZ5Pg$" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="1">https://www.dadaa.org.au</a>
&nbsp; &nbsp;

DADAA leading the way in Canberra.

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/fa7924ac-d4fd-4bff-b1b4-ac7f006dda87/clips/ce0b77b2-12c7-4636-a30f-b4aa006a47b7/transcript

Colleen Ashby a dedication & passion hard to beat

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