Heartfelt conversations and powerful storytelling from community voices across the country. 

Shenane Hogg from Connectivity discussed their work in raising awareness about Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and the dangers of head injuries, offering online courses and traveling to remote communities for education. Shenane Hogg explained Huntington's disease as a fatal genetic neurodegenerative disorder, clarifying its symptoms and noting its prevalence in the Top End, particularly Kununurra and Halls Creek.

In the third episode of Elevating Yarns by First Peoples Disability Network (FPDN) host Bernard Namok had a yarn with Natasha Phillips, Director of Gundarang Support Services and Sadiqa Phillips, Support Worker of Gundarang Support Services, a First Nations disability support work service that offers various services for NDIS participants, including community access, cleaning, and emotional support.Tune into this episode as Bernard, Natasha and Sadiqa discuss the importance of First Nation-led services for fostering trust and bridging communication gaps within the community. 

In the second episode of Elevating Yarns by First Peoples Disability Network (FPDN), host Bernard Namok had a yarn with Catherine Liddle, the CEO of SNAICC (National Voice for our Children)Catherine Liddle and Bernard Namok reflected on their long history working in First Nations Media across various region. Catherine also shared her journey to leadership and detailed SNAICC's work in early childhood development and child protection, the challenges in engaging with communities, and the critical need for systemic change and government action rooted in Indigenous knowledge.Tune in to this inspiring conversation on Elevating Yarns, a new podcast series sharing thepowerful voices and stories of First Peoples with disability.

In the first episode of Elevating Yarns by First Peoples Disability Network (FPDN), host Bernard Namok sits down with Aunty Kay Sadler, a proud Worimi woman of the Biripi nation and a passionate advocate for First Nations people with disability. Aunty Kay, who also serves on FPDN’s Board, shares her powerful lived experience navigating life as a First Nations woman with disability. This heartfelt yarn explores Aunty Kay Sadler’s personal journey as a proud Worimi woman of the Biripi nation living with disability. She shares the cultural strengths that ground her, the challenges she’s overcome, and her unwavering dedication to creating a more inclusive and just future for mob with disability. Aunty Kay’s story is one of resilience, leadership, and deep community care.Tune in to this inspiring conversation that sets the tone for Elevating Yarns, a new podcast series sharing the powerful voices and stories of First Peoples with disability.

Strong Voices on Yarning Disability. A range of voices and stories from our mob advocating for the human rights of their children with disabilities every day. Systems that create barriers for our mob with disabilities. Shine a light on our FPDN Staff and the importance of inclusion and belonging.

Training and Engagement Officer for Northern Territory, Jordan Wishart is a Bidjara man from central Queensland, but spent most of his life on Arrernte Country in Alice Springs. Jordan struggles with severe Dyslexia and ADHD – but to him, he doesn’t see that as a disability.  This episode of Yarning Disability, FPDN's Bernard Namok and Jordan Wishart were on location to do community engagement in the remote town of Maningrida, 500ks from Darwin in Arnhem Land at the mouth of the Liverpool River. 

Stunning landscapes, remote communities and a strong and rich culture, Alice Springs, or known locally as Mparntwe is a remote town in the Northern Territory halfway between Darwin and Adelaide, both is 1500KM away. In this episode of Yarning Disability, FPDN Advocate Jordan Wishart had a yarn with Joel Walker, who is paraplegic, about his disability and the long journey of emotions and healing to get to where he is today 

In this episode of Yarning Disability, you will hear from Jaunita Haynes, a Yamatji woman living in Albany, Western Australia. In 2013, Jaunita was studying to be a nurse when, sadly, the GP administered her with the wrong vaccine dose, which had caused a disability. She yarned with FPDN Rozy Bynder about the reaction it caused, how it changed her life, and her journey to recovery.

Traditional Torres Strait woman, Aunty Abigail Harry hails from Yam Island in the Torres Strait. For over 40years Aunty Abigail Harry have lived and worked on Noongar, Boodja, Yamatji, Wongi country and now she is back living on Thursday Island and is actively involved in her community of Tamwoy Town when it comes to highlighting community issues.Isolation, Remoteness and Accessibilities are some of the issues Aunty Abigail yarned with FPDN Advocate Bernard Namok and she strongly believed that there is a greater need for family living across the Torres Strait Islands

On Saturday 14th of October, Australians will be ask to vote on an Indigenous Voice to Parliament. In this episode of Yarning Disability is the Minister for Indigenous Australians and Proud Wiradjuri Women, Linda Burney and Damien Griffis, CEO of FPDN and Proud Worimi Man. The vote will determine whether the Voice, a body providing advice to Government on issues particularly impacting impacting Indigenous people, will be enshrined in the Constitution.  If you’d like easily accessible and easy to read information on the voice to inform your vote on the referendum, Go to www.haveyoursay.net 

Aboriginal man Brenton Bowen hails from the small Aboriginal community of Hopevale in Far North QLD and fulfilled his dream of becoming a professional sportsman, playing in the NRL for the North QLD Cowboys and the Gold Coast Titans. Brenton is now an ambassador for ‘Deadly Choices’, where he promotes healthy lifestyles for mob and and also an artist.  FPDN Advocate Carly Wallace spoke to Brenton on Yarning Disability about his football career, his artwork and the day his life changed with news about his health with a brain tumour. 

This episode of Yarning Disability features Nancy Bates, a barkindji woman from far western New South Wales, a senior advocate for FPDN, and an accomplished singer-songwriter. Nancy balances her advocacy work with the guitar and songwriting, and is involved with a project called Songs Inside, where she works with women inside Adelaide Women's Prison. Songs Inside is a transformative story of a group of women prisoners in a groundbreaking music program that aims to keep vulnerable women from returning back to the prison system.To connect with Nancy, visit her website at www.nancybates.com

This week's episode of Yarning Disability features Sandy Dann, a Nyul Nyul woman from Broome in the Kimberleys. Sandy was diagnosed with congenital glaucoma at a young age. Sandy has been broadcasting for over 30 years and hosts a 2 hour radio show on Goolarri Media. The second hour of her program is networked live to the whole of Australia on the National Indigenous Radio Service. FPDN Community Engagement Roz Bynder, also spoke with the Chief Operations Officer of Goolarri Media, Kira Fong and Broadcast Manager Kim West about inclusiveness in the workplace.

FPDN Advocate Carly Wallace discusses the complex and sensitive topic of Psychosocial disabilities with Wiradjuri/Wolgalu, First Nations Aboriginal man Joe Williams. Joe is a man with his own psychosocial disability, living with Biploar Disorder and is a staunch mental health and trauma advocate. To connect with joe, visit his website at www.joewilliams.com.au If this episode raises concerns for you, there is help available. You can contact:13 Yarn on 13 92 76 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 46 36Or lifeline- 13 11 14 

This week's episode of Yarning Disability is a proud Yanyuwa, Garrawa and Kuku Yalanji man from Borroloola and Cairns in Far North Queensland. Clarence is also a proud wheelchair basketballer and was born with Fibula Limb Deficiency – meaning, since childbirth his right leg wasn’t formed properly and it’s a lot shorter that his left leg, but this hasn’t stopped him from playing wheelchair basketball and made the decision to go to college in the United States. 

This week's episode of Yarning Disability, features Deputy CEO of First People's Disability Network; Aunty June Riemer, a proud Gumbaynggirr and Dunghutti woman from the north coast of New South Wales, has been working in the sector for over 40 years, leading and inspiring her team as they navigate the changes in the national disability sector and was honoured for her life's work. Dedicated to creating systemic change to improve the lives of first peoples with disability and their families.

This week's Yarning Disability guest embodies the philosophy of 'A culture of inclusion' for mob with disabilities. Clinton  Bennell shares his story of inclusion as a brother to a sibling with an intellectual disability and as a father to child with Noonan syndrome and hearing loss. 

This week's episode of Yarning Disability, features a proud Yindinji Women and FPDN's NSW Advocacy Manager, Deb Lee. FPDN Advocate, Bernard Namok Jnr had a yarn with Deb Lee about what inspired her to become an advocate

This week’s episode FPDN Advocate, Bernard Namok Jnr had a yarn with Founder and CEO of Full Back Group, Kanat Wano. Kanat is a Zenadth Kes man from the eastern island of Mer and is the Founder and CEO of Full Black Group based in Meeanjin, which focus for equity and inclusion and advice around NDIS. Bala Kanat, who is also a gifted motivational speaker took me on a journey of learning and understanding.