Let's meet Mitch Metcalf, who's got an interesting story to tell regarding his involvement with Vision Australia. Mitch, great to meet you. Thanks so much for your time.

Let's meet Mitch Metcalf, who's got an interesting story to tell regarding his involvement with Vision Australia. Mitch, great to meet you. Thanks so much for your time.

Good to meet you. And yeah, thanks for having me on air.

Good to meet you. And yeah, thanks for having me on air.

When did you first come in contact with Vision Australia?

When did you first come in contact with Vision Australia?

Oh, it would have been through probably through high school, actually, when I was when I was getting some I.T. and probably a bit of our name sort of thing through the later part of high school and my early part of uni as well. Do you want.

Oh, it would have been through probably through high school, actually, when I was when I was getting some I.T. and probably a bit of our name sort of thing through the later part of high school and my early part of uni as well. Do you want.

To tell us a bit about your vision impairment and sort of how the I guess the need or the contact with Vision Australia came about or why it came about?

To tell us a bit about your vision impairment and sort of how the I guess the need or the contact with Vision Australia came about or why it came about?

Yeah, I am. I was born with a condition called sceptre optic dysplasia, which basically the optic nerve didn't develop and meant I was born totally blind and I had that since birth and I just kind of called on Vision Australia like when I needed something Braille or you know, when I needed some O.T. things through high school and that continued through uni with, with a number of things. And I eventually started working for Vision Australia about a year ago, just under, just over a year ago.

Yeah, I am. I was born with a condition called sceptre optic dysplasia, which basically the optic nerve didn't develop and meant I was born totally blind and I had that since birth and I just kind of called on Vision Australia like when I needed something Braille or you know, when I needed some O.T. things through high school and that continued through uni with, with a number of things. And I eventually started working for Vision Australia about a year ago, just under, just over a year ago.

With your high school days or your school days with a conventional school. So I guess the need all the way that people tend to go to more specialized schools is probably less prevalent these days compared to might be 50, 60 and seventies.

With your high school days or your school days with a conventional school. So I guess the need all the way that people tend to go to more specialized schools is probably less prevalent these days compared to might be 50, 60 and seventies.

Yeah, I was I went to a standard school, high school and they had a VII unit there, which was good. We had a lamp railing down there, had some, some religion and that the like down there as well. And they also had a separate part where more, higher needs students went as well. And we did a few things in there as well. But now I was in conventional classrooms for pretty much all my my schooling and especially high school. Most things were done on laptops and I was given documents, notes and things, a laptop and document form, and I did all my assignments and exams on the laptop other than maths. I thought maths needed Braille for me. I needed that kind of physical feeling in front of me, feeling the calculation bit by bit.

Yeah, I was I went to a standard school, high school and they had a VII unit there, which was good. We had a lamp railing down there, had some, some religion and that the like down there as well. And they also had a separate part where more, higher needs students went as well. And we did a few things in there as well. But now I was in conventional classrooms for pretty much all my my schooling and especially high school. Most things were done on laptops and I was given documents, notes and things, a laptop and document form, and I did all my assignments and exams on the laptop other than maths. I thought maths needed Braille for me. I needed that kind of physical feeling in front of me, feeling the calculation bit by bit.

And I guess some of our listeners might think, you know, it was harder nowadays, but what about the kind of the immediacy of getting word to you in terms of reading material, etc.? Because as I say, in in older days, the olden days that, you know, you had to send off your book to get transcribed. And by the time you got it back, sort of half the year was over, the fact that laptops and Internet is was around is around when you were studying, did that make that a little bit less onerous?

And I guess some of our listeners might think, you know, it was harder nowadays, but what about the kind of the immediacy of getting word to you in terms of reading material, etc.? Because as I say, in in older days, the olden days that, you know, you had to send off your book to get transcribed. And by the time you got it back, sort of half the year was over, the fact that laptops and Internet is was around is around when you were studying, did that make that a little bit less onerous?

Yeah, I did. You know, like we'd sometimes wait a couple of weeks to get things, you know, depending on what it was, whether it would be a Braille book or a tape or, you know, someone to transcribe something for us, you know, then someone would be unwell. And, you know, there was a few little challenges like that and and issues with the school computers, I remember. But generally speaking, things happened relatively quickly which, which was.

Yeah, I did. You know, like we'd sometimes wait a couple of weeks to get things, you know, depending on what it was, whether it would be a Braille book or a tape or, you know, someone to transcribe something for us, you know, then someone would be unwell. And, you know, there was a few little challenges like that and and issues with the school computers, I remember. But generally speaking, things happened relatively quickly which, which was.

Cool. You did very well at school, Mitch, and you got into a very competitive area of uni study. So you must have excelled at school. Did you enjoy it and did you find that you were kind of good at it?

Cool. You did very well at school, Mitch, and you got into a very competitive area of uni study. So you must have excelled at school. Did you enjoy it and did you find that you were kind of good at it?

Yeah, I did. I enjoyed it for the most part when I didn't have to do assignments. Yeah, it was it was good. And, you know, I sort of my last part of school started thinking about, you know, what am I going to do and what direction do I want to go in? And, you know, at the time, you know, no one was saying, oh, yeah, music is going to be, you know, you know, a deejay isn't going to be the thing that makes you the most money. And from there, I was like, Yeah, okay, well, we'll go into law because I find crime really interesting and I got an IP high enough to get me into law, which was pretty cool. And I did basically eight years of, of uni study part time to finish a law degree.

Yeah, I did. I enjoyed it for the most part when I didn't have to do assignments. Yeah, it was it was good. And, you know, I sort of my last part of school started thinking about, you know, what am I going to do and what direction do I want to go in? And, you know, at the time, you know, no one was saying, oh, yeah, music is going to be, you know, you know, a deejay isn't going to be the thing that makes you the most money. And from there, I was like, Yeah, okay, well, we'll go into law because I find crime really interesting and I got an IP high enough to get me into law, which was pretty cool. And I did basically eight years of, of uni study part time to finish a law degree.

Mm. That's very cool because again growing up a number of people, you know, it was either like this is in my time, which was a long time ago, you either became like a switchboard operator or if you're really close and smart, you did law and that kind of, you know, that were the two streams of employment that were open to you. So did you have many role models that you looked up to that were blind or had low vision? Yeah, particularly going through law school.

Mm. That's very cool because again growing up a number of people, you know, it was either like this is in my time, which was a long time ago, you either became like a switchboard operator or if you're really close and smart, you did law and that kind of, you know, that were the two streams of employment that were open to you. So did you have many role models that you looked up to that were blind or had low vision? Yeah, particularly going through law school.

I mean, role models. As a good friend of mine, Amanda, Amanda Gilford, who has passed on, she had done law and, you know, was always telling me stories about, you know, things that went on and, you know, her law study and she she had done the study before she was blind, but she was, you know, a lawyer all the same. And she was looking at sort of getting back into things. But yeah, she was really good and hair and a husband, you know, gave me a lot of good pointers on how to structure how I was studying. Because when I started I thought that's all you had to do was study. And I was doing it seven days a week. And I, I got to a point where I was like, I look, I can't do this, you know, studying on Saturdays and Sundays, you know, a few months before the exam. Like, it just didn't make sense. And the bit of advice I took from them was to treat it like a job. And, you know, allow X-Man hours a day on that and then you do your own thing. And I've done that ever since.

I mean, role models. As a good friend of mine, Amanda, Amanda Gilford, who has passed on, she had done law and, you know, was always telling me stories about, you know, things that went on and, you know, her law study and she she had done the study before she was blind, but she was, you know, a lawyer all the same. And she was looking at sort of getting back into things. But yeah, she was really good and hair and a husband, you know, gave me a lot of good pointers on how to structure how I was studying. Because when I started I thought that's all you had to do was study. And I was doing it seven days a week. And I, I got to a point where I was like, I look, I can't do this, you know, studying on Saturdays and Sundays, you know, a few months before the exam. Like, it just didn't make sense. And the bit of advice I took from them was to treat it like a job. And, you know, allow X-Man hours a day on that and then you do your own thing. And I've done that ever since.

That's wonderful advice. And I guess, you know, I can be given up a bit. You've got to take it up. And you obviously did it and did well with it from good from my understanding of it to doing law. There's a lot of reading involved.

That's wonderful advice. And I guess, you know, I can be given up a bit. You've got to take it up. And you obviously did it and did well with it from good from my understanding of it to doing law. There's a lot of reading involved.

Yes, there is lots of chapters of books. And then I give you the cases you have to read and then they give you the cases that they recommend. You read in cases can be like a page long or they can be six. It depends on what it is, and you sort of have to read a few before you know how to cut corners and, you know, look for certain bits and skim through through it. So that that first couple of years was a lot of reading especially.

Yes, there is lots of chapters of books. And then I give you the cases you have to read and then they give you the cases that they recommend. You read in cases can be like a page long or they can be six. It depends on what it is, and you sort of have to read a few before you know how to cut corners and, you know, look for certain bits and skim through through it. So that that first couple of years was a lot of reading especially.

And your opportunity with Vision Australia, how did that come about?

And your opportunity with Vision Australia, how did that come about?

So once I finished my degree, the last part of it, I had to do a placement and I did that at Queensland Advocacy Incorporated and did a lot of some things there. But a friend of mine put me onto the Career Start program at VA and she was like, Yeah, you got to really into this. Like, This is perfect for you. You just out of uni and I put through the application and was lucky enough to get an interview and then I succeeded and I spent a year working on the advocacy team.

So once I finished my degree, the last part of it, I had to do a placement and I did that at Queensland Advocacy Incorporated and did a lot of some things there. But a friend of mine put me onto the Career Start program at VA and she was like, Yeah, you got to really into this. Like, This is perfect for you. You just out of uni and I put through the application and was lucky enough to get an interview and then I succeeded and I spent a year working on the advocacy team.

Of course, that's kind of, I guess, more important than ever. I'm talking about advocacy with things like the NDIS and my aged care and all those sort of fun things that people they can navigate and reach. Australia got to do a great job as far as advocating for their clients go. We're nearly out of time. It's gone so quickly. Me about your deejaying work. Where did that kind of interest stem from?

Of course, that's kind of, I guess, more important than ever. I'm talking about advocacy with things like the NDIS and my aged care and all those sort of fun things that people they can navigate and reach. Australia got to do a great job as far as advocating for their clients go. We're nearly out of time. It's gone so quickly. Me about your deejaying work. Where did that kind of interest stem from?

Well, I wanted to be a deejay since I was about six years old and I just discovered dance music. And, you know, fast forward a couple of years, I got decks when I was 11 and I started I started learning how to mix and things. And I did the family weddings and parties for some time. And about eight years ago, I started hitting the clubs and I play every weekend around Brisbane at places like the Whickham Phoenix Bar and also I travel around, I've played in Sydney and I just got word that there's a pretty big pride celebration in Sydney next year in February and I may apparently be playing somewhere for that.

Well, I wanted to be a deejay since I was about six years old and I just discovered dance music. And, you know, fast forward a couple of years, I got decks when I was 11 and I started I started learning how to mix and things. And I did the family weddings and parties for some time. And about eight years ago, I started hitting the clubs and I play every weekend around Brisbane at places like the Whickham Phoenix Bar and also I travel around, I've played in Sydney and I just got word that there's a pretty big pride celebration in Sydney next year in February and I may apparently be playing somewhere for that.

Oh, fantastic.

Oh, fantastic.

I can't really say anymore, but I'm not in writing yet.

I can't really say anymore, but I'm not in writing yet.

And that I'm not as good as a wink if you don't pardon the expression that we want to put to February in our diary and get back to you after that to chat about how it all went, because we'd like to have covered that a bit more. What about in terms of the equipment you use and its accessibility for you deejaying?

And that I'm not as good as a wink if you don't pardon the expression that we want to put to February in our diary and get back to you after that to chat about how it all went, because we'd like to have covered that a bit more. What about in terms of the equipment you use and its accessibility for you deejaying?

Yeah, a lot of people ask me. They said a lot of people assume that I use laptops and things, but the only thing I use a laptop for is music preparation. So I have music prepared on two duplicate USBs and I have musical genre and then alphabetically under genre. So you have to play a song a few times to sort of remember it, you know? You know, is it going to be a track you use all the time? And if it is, you sort of committed to memory and you'll use it, but if it's not, you'll end up deleting it. So it took a number of years of perfecting it to work out what was going to work for me, because every DJ has got their little way of doing things and they're all different. So that was my.

Yeah, a lot of people ask me. They said a lot of people assume that I use laptops and things, but the only thing I use a laptop for is music preparation. So I have music prepared on two duplicate USBs and I have musical genre and then alphabetically under genre. So you have to play a song a few times to sort of remember it, you know? You know, is it going to be a track you use all the time? And if it is, you sort of committed to memory and you'll use it, but if it's not, you'll end up deleting it. So it took a number of years of perfecting it to work out what was going to work for me, because every DJ has got their little way of doing things and they're all different. So that was my.

Is a competitive area in terms of work because you talked about the work you do weekends and hopefully the opportunity in Sydney in February. Is it pretty competitive and like it's just word of mouth and people that sort of say, you know, get in touch with Mitch, he's pretty cool.

Is a competitive area in terms of work because you talked about the work you do weekends and hopefully the opportunity in Sydney in February. Is it pretty competitive and like it's just word of mouth and people that sort of say, you know, get in touch with Mitch, he's pretty cool.

Well, it can be. I mean, there's some uniqueness in me being really the only sort of working blind deejay that I know of. And I don't go promoting the hell out of that, but it's kind of cool. Same time to be able to be doing this week in, week out. But in saying that venues don't hire on that because they need someone to fill the dance floor, they need someone to fill the bar, you know, they need someone to be playing the right music for their venue. And I'm really lucky in that I've built some pretty cool rapports with the venues I play that they love what I do and they know I can be diverse and I can stick to what they want me to play. And it's good to have that trust of venue really, really ease me.

Well, it can be. I mean, there's some uniqueness in me being really the only sort of working blind deejay that I know of. And I don't go promoting the hell out of that, but it's kind of cool. Same time to be able to be doing this week in, week out. But in saying that venues don't hire on that because they need someone to fill the dance floor, they need someone to fill the bar, you know, they need someone to be playing the right music for their venue. And I'm really lucky in that I've built some pretty cool rapports with the venues I play that they love what I do and they know I can be diverse and I can stick to what they want me to play. And it's good to have that trust of venue really, really ease me.

Ask you a question that I don't like asking and people like us don't like hearing because you sort of think that's not really relevant, but we give vision impairment or would be blindness. Do you kind of sense the audience and maybe can pick up on what might make it go for them, if you know what I mean?

Ask you a question that I don't like asking and people like us don't like hearing because you sort of think that's not really relevant, but we give vision impairment or would be blindness. Do you kind of sense the audience and maybe can pick up on what might make it go for them, if you know what I mean?

A little bit like you can sort of hear maybe some of your demographic a little bit. Yeah. What might sound like a younger crowd, you know, younger girls or something like that or you know, you might get someone come up to you and ask you for a song and they might sound a bit older and you think, okay, well, you know, maybe we go in that direction for a while. Or sometimes you can, sometimes you can't. Yeah, it's a bit of everything, really a great answer.

A little bit like you can sort of hear maybe some of your demographic a little bit. Yeah. What might sound like a younger crowd, you know, younger girls or something like that or you know, you might get someone come up to you and ask you for a song and they might sound a bit older and you think, okay, well, you know, maybe we go in that direction for a while. Or sometimes you can, sometimes you can't. Yeah, it's a bit of everything, really a great answer.

Do you ever play stuff you don't like? Personally, I guess that's part of the, you know, has it in a sense.

Do you ever play stuff you don't like? Personally, I guess that's part of the, you know, has it in a sense.

Yeah, I make excuses not to tell, you know, the tracks. I don't I deliberately don't have one. That means the horses. And one of them is Kazan. And I used to play at the Caxton Hotel up here, and it was a cool little time when I was playing there, but I played them so many times that I vowed never to ever play them again. And The Gambler is another one. And about two or three weeks ago, everyone was asking me for The Gambler, and I said, I honestly don't have it. I deleted it.

Yeah, I make excuses not to tell, you know, the tracks. I don't I deliberately don't have one. That means the horses. And one of them is Kazan. And I used to play at the Caxton Hotel up here, and it was a cool little time when I was playing there, but I played them so many times that I vowed never to ever play them again. And The Gambler is another one. And about two or three weeks ago, everyone was asking me for The Gambler, and I said, I honestly don't have it. I deleted it.

That's pretty funny. It's like saying, I think it's probably how we get the second best Australian song ever recorded. I think Friday on My Mind is best, but my personal opinion is we have to have that discussion off air. I mean, it's great to meet you. We've been chasing you for a few weeks. We may be missing each other, but I'm so glad we've caught up this time. Well, I'll be in touch with Sandy. Put to the side February night. Good luck with what you're doing. Congratulations on all you've achieved so far. So thank you, young life, but also so much to achieve. So it's been a real widow. I have to thank you.

That's pretty funny. It's like saying, I think it's probably how we get the second best Australian song ever recorded. I think Friday on My Mind is best, but my personal opinion is we have to have that discussion off air. I mean, it's great to meet you. We've been chasing you for a few weeks. We may be missing each other, but I'm so glad we've caught up this time. Well, I'll be in touch with Sandy. Put to the side February night. Good luck with what you're doing. Congratulations on all you've achieved so far. So thank you, young life, but also so much to achieve. So it's been a real widow. I have to thank you.

Thanks so much for your time.

Thanks so much for your time.

That's Mitch Metcalf, who got some support from business trying to through school, then through uni, then looked at career start and is now doing some wonderful things in all sorts of areas, including out of.

That's Mitch Metcalf, who got some support from business trying to through school, then through uni, then looked at career start and is now doing some wonderful things in all sorts of areas, including out of.