The Imagine More podcast

Imagine More

We all want the Good Life: for ourselves and for the people we care about. But, traditionally, people with disability have been denied access to (or given a watered-down version of) many of the things that make life meaningful, purposeful and interesting. The Get That Good Life! conference was all about identifying the things that make life good and how to ensure that people with disability have access to these. It provided attendees with countless strategies that create wonderfully ordinary lives for people with disability. The conference unashamedly shared ideas and stories that have high expectations for the lives of people with disability. In it, you’ll hear countless examples of people with disability who - have chosen an ordinary life path - hold meaningful and valued roles - participate in and contribute to their local communities with the right support Enjoy the presentations from an exciting group of local, national and international speakers that joined us to share their insights, stories, and best practice methods. Expect to come away with plenty of actionable ideas from every episode! And visit imaginemore.org.au for more great resources.

  1. EPISODE 4

    Our Discovery journey with Milly with Milly Whitehead, Simone Whitehead and Ros Kewley

    Milly Whitehead was just 18 years old and planning her move from school to work when she gave this presentation along with her Mum, Simone, and work experience employer, Ros. She describes her interests, her microenterprise, Made by Miss Milly, and what type of work she hopes to do in the future. Simone Whitehead has spent a lot of time thinking about and working towards Milly’s vision of a good and typical life, filled with meaningful work, freely given friendships, and eventually a home of her own. She explains how she first learned about Customised Employment, why she decided it was an approach worth pursuing, and how useful the Discovery process has been in revealing Milly’s interests.  Ros Kewley became interested in customising work experience because her son with disability didn’t have a good experience himself. She encouraged KBR, the company she works for, to offer customised work experience opportunities. Milly’s school recommended her for a position, and the result was a successful experience for both Milly and KBR. Ros explains the numerous ways that Milly’s presence enhanced KBR's operations. You can find out more about Milly’s microenterprise, Made by Miss Milly, on Instagram. You can watch Milly, Simone, and Ros’s presentations on our website. The presentation transcription is also on our website. On our website, you’ll also find: all the presentations from our Opening Opportunities conference in 2023many other resources about helping a person with disability find meaningful employmentevents related to employment and other topics relevant to people with disabilities seeking to enjoy a typical life. Many thanks to Osher Marks, who is the voice of this season of the Imagine More podcast.

    1h 3m
  2. EPISODE 5

    Customised Job Development - A creature of habit no more with Milton Tyree

    Milton Tyree continues his explanation of Customised Employment in this, his second presentation for the Opening Opportunities conference. This time around, Milton encourages the listener to avoid being a ‘creature of habit’ by making unhelpful assumptions about people with disability and employment. He explained that creatures of habit use traditional job development methods like the old "place and pray" strategy, where job seekers are simply placed into available roles, regardless of whether they’re a fit for the individual.  Milton explains how the key to successful job development lies in the process of "Discovery," which involves understanding the job seeker's skills, interests, and essential working conditions. Families can then use what they learned in Discovery to develop a Customised Plan for Employment and a visual resume, which is a method of effectively communicating positive attributes to employers. This approach encourages a more personalised path to employment that benefits both job seekers and businesses.  You can watch Milton’s presentation on our website. The presentation transcription is also on our website. On our website, you’ll also find: all the presentations from our Opening Opportunities conference in 2023many other resources about helping a person with disability find meaningful employmentevents related to employment and other topics relevant to people with disabilities seeking to enjoy a typical life. Many thanks to Osher Marks, who is the voice of this season of the Imagine More podcast.

    38 min
  3. EPISODE 6

    Developing roles that align with Jessie’s interests and contributions with Jessie Ward, Genna Ward and Cassandra Morrow

    Jessie was a recent school leaver when she gave this presentation with her mum, Genna, and Job Supporter, Cassandra. Jessie had undertaken work experience in high school and was offered an ASBA (Australian School-based Apprenticeship) in Business Administration in Year 12; however, she finished school without a clear employment pathway.  Genna was keen to use a Customised Employment (CE) approach, and then realised that their family would have to take the driver’s seat to make it happen. They started with a Discovery process, which helped Jessie better articulate her interests and identify the workplace environments that would bring out her best work. With a bit of preliminary CE knowledge behind them and always learning on the fly, Genna and Cassandra’s understanding of customised job development and support has evolved and grown.  It’s been hard work and not without a few false starts, but Genna describes the results as incredibly rewarding. Two years out of school, Jessie is currently studying a Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and working at a childcare centre. She also undertakes paid advocacy work and is justifiably proud of all her accomplishments. This is a fabulous story for any family who has been wondering what’s involved in implementing the customised employment process.  You can watch Jessie, Genna, and Cassandra’s presentation on our website. The presentation transcription is also on our website. On our website, you’ll also find: all the presentations from our Opening Opportunities conference in 2023many other resources about helping a person with disability find meaningful employmentevents related to employment and other topics relevant to people with disabilities seeking to enjoy a typical life. Many thanks to Osher Marks, who is the voice of this season of the Imagine More podcast.

    43 min
  4. EPISODE 7

    Daisy's School to Work Journey with Daisy and Gillian

    Daisy was in year 12 and working as a trainee vet nurse when she and her mother, Gillian, described their journey from school to meaningful employment. They discuss the unique challenges faced by young people with disability, particularly when traditional educational systems often overlook their potential. When Daisy struggled to attend school during her early high school years, Gillian chose to see this as an opportunity to educate her at home and build skills within the community. In the meantime, they continued to search for suitable educational environments that would support Daisy’s learning style and rebuild her confidence. Gillian highlighted the importance of identifying passions and interests, sharing how Daisy's love for animals played a crucial role in keeping her engaged in education and guiding her toward career opportunities. They both emphasise the value of community involvement and the need for customised support. By sharing her story, Daisy and Gillian hope to inspire educators, parents, and individuals with disability to forge unique pathways to success.  You can watch Daisy and Gillian’s presentation on our website. The presentation transcription is also on our website. On our website, you’ll also find: all the presentations from our Opening Opportunities conference in 2023many other resources about helping a person with disability find meaningful employmentevents related to employment and other topics relevant to people with disabilities seeking to enjoy a typical life. Many thanks to Osher Marks, who is the voice of this season of the Imagine More podcast.

    40 min
  5. EPISODE 8

    Will at Work with Will and Anna Coventry

    In this episode, Anna and Will Coventry share their journey in finding meaningful work for Will, who has embraced both paid and volunteer roles since leaving school. It’s a fabulous story about meaningful employment, support networks, and the importance of pursuing one's passions. Will discusses his experiences as a junior administrative assistant in various firms, highlighting the tasks he enjoys and the sense of community he finds in his workplace. He also discusses his volunteer work with Meals on Wheels and his passions for sports and photography.  Anna reflects on their family's vision for Will's life, emphasising the importance of preparing for independence and creating a Circle of Support to guide and support their efforts. Together, they explore the strategies that helped Will find his place in the workforce, including identifying his interests and abilities, as well as the role of supportive relationships in fostering his success.   You can watch Will and Anna’s presentation on our website. The presentation transcription is also on our website. On our website, you’ll find: all the presentations from our Opening Opportunities conference in 2023many other resources about helping a person with disability find meaningful employmentevents related to employment and other topics relevant to people with disabilities seeking to enjoy a typical life. Many thanks to Osher Marks, who is the voice of this season of the Imagine More podcast.

    31 min

Trailers

About

We all want the Good Life: for ourselves and for the people we care about. But, traditionally, people with disability have been denied access to (or given a watered-down version of) many of the things that make life meaningful, purposeful and interesting. The Get That Good Life! conference was all about identifying the things that make life good and how to ensure that people with disability have access to these. It provided attendees with countless strategies that create wonderfully ordinary lives for people with disability. The conference unashamedly shared ideas and stories that have high expectations for the lives of people with disability. In it, you’ll hear countless examples of people with disability who - have chosen an ordinary life path - hold meaningful and valued roles - participate in and contribute to their local communities with the right support Enjoy the presentations from an exciting group of local, national and international speakers that joined us to share their insights, stories, and best practice methods. Expect to come away with plenty of actionable ideas from every episode! And visit imaginemore.org.au for more great resources.