146 episodes

The Expanding Worlds podcast Shares Stories and Shares Solutions to expand what people believe is possible. We talk to individuals and organisations who are driving change to enable people with Additional Needs to live the independent lives they aspire to.

The Expanding Worlds Podcast Debra Caldow

    • Kids & Family
    • 5.0 • 13 Ratings

The Expanding Worlds podcast Shares Stories and Shares Solutions to expand what people believe is possible. We talk to individuals and organisations who are driving change to enable people with Additional Needs to live the independent lives they aspire to.

    145 Why Risk Is Worth The Risk With Carol Smail from Gig Buddies Sydney

    145 Why Risk Is Worth The Risk With Carol Smail from Gig Buddies Sydney

    We should all have the right to choose how we live our lives, even if that means taking risks and making mistakes. But too often people with additional needs aren’t being given opportunities to take risks and to learn from their mistakes. My guest this week Carol Smail shares her experiences of the impact this lack of choice has, as well as what can happen when people are given the opportunity to make their own choices. Too often the focus is on reducing risk, but that only reduces choice and doesn’t necessarily make anyone safer. 
    Open Future Learning Video
     

    • 8 min
    144 Why Gig Buddies Is Great with Carol Smail from Gig Buddies Sydney

    144 Why Gig Buddies Is Great with Carol Smail from Gig Buddies Sydney

    Finding friends with common interests can be difficult for anyone and for young people with additional needs it is often more challenging because their social network is smaller. That is why projects like Gig Buddies are so important as my guest in this episode Carol Smail from Gig Buddies Sydney explains. Carol not only talks about the vision behind Gig Buddies but the role it plays in breaking down stereotypes about people with additional needs.
    Gig Buddies Sydney
    Find Your nearest Gig Buddies
    Start Your Own Gig Buddies
    Find out about the history of Gig Buddies - Episode 68 Stay Up Late

    • 14 min
    143 How can we change society’s expectations and accelerate inclusive employment opportunities? with Peter Bacon from Disability Employment Australia

    143 How can we change society’s expectations and accelerate inclusive employment opportunities? with Peter Bacon from Disability Employment Australia

    Too often low expectations for people with additional needs have translated into fewer opportunities, particularly when it comes to paid employment. For change to happen, around work, more employers are needed which means employers will need to change their attitude toward employing people with a disability. But what is also necessary is a change in society’s perceptions of what a person with additional needs is capable of.  In this episode with Peter Bacon CEO of Disability Employment Australia, we discuss where these perceptions come from and whether a more integrated education system might be part of the answer.
     
    Find out more about Disability Employment Australia
     

    • 11 min
    142 Does Inclusive Employment Just Happen? with Peter Bacon from Disability Employment Australia

    142 Does Inclusive Employment Just Happen? with Peter Bacon from Disability Employment Australia

    Inclusive employers change the future for our children, but there simply isn’t enough of them. In this episode with Peter Bacon, CEO of Disability Employment Australia, I’m discussing why this is the case, and what actions could be taken to get more employers to become inclusive employers.
    Is some form of legal framework necessary, as Peter suggests, and are most employers willing but unclear on how to take the next steps? We all know the benefits of inclusive employment; the challenge is making employers understand the benefits easily outweigh the risks.  
     
    Find out more about Disability Employment Australia
     

    • 17 min
    141 Financial Future Series - Using a Gradual Financial Independence Approach with Graham Caldow

    141 Financial Future Series - Using a Gradual Financial Independence Approach with Graham Caldow

    In this final episode of this Finance Future series, I’m talking to Graham Caldow about the value of giving financial independence gradually and building financial skills over time. We discuss the things that have worked for our family including multiple accounts and tracking spending. Finance is just one part of our legacy to our daughter but in lots of ways it’s the foundation of all the other things she will do in her life. 
    Graham's Book: What's Possible - Plan A Better Future For Your Young Adult With Additional Needs

    • 13 min
    140 Financial Future Series - Why ABLE Accounts Help Create More Opportunities with Jill Cornfield

    140 Financial Future Series - Why ABLE Accounts Help Create More Opportunities with Jill Cornfield

    Planning for the future is difficult when restrictions exist around how much money you're allowed to save. In this episode with Jill Cornfield, I’m discussing how ABLE accounts can help mitigate this restriction and enable people to think longer-term and plan their financial future.  
    ABLE National Resource Centre
    Follow us on Instagram/Facebook @expandingworlds
     

    • 18 min

Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5
13 Ratings

13 Ratings

NosyCraftswoman ,

Ways into work, Supported Internships Part 1

Great podcast with some real insight into how the supported internship programme is configured and how the young people develop as a result of their learning. What has stayed in my mind from this interview with Clare Cookson was what she said about how in education we celebrate a pass rate of 65% but there are many jobs in the “real world” which require 100% accuracy. Food for thought! I’m looking forward to part 2.

Adaeze, Eltham ,

Great for support

I want to be a support worker so I found this podcast to help me. I had a stroke at 24 and a bleed to the spine three years later. I’ve got transferable skills as two times in rehab is a lot!!!

Thank you for sharing it’s been eye opening.

Nannie C with the MBE ,

Mrs C

I cant thank Debra enough. so proffesional and patient. I wasn’t entirely sure what a Podcast was....But hey, I do now. Its great thank you very much for giving Pegasus an opportunity to raise awareness. Sue Clark MBE

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