Panel Discussions

A helping hand starts with a listening ear

It's not only the ‘needy’ in our community who benefit from a helping hand. We all need help from time to time, and it can also do us good to be the help that someone else needs, but what is the best way to extend a hand of friendship?

Faith, family and friendship this Easter

“I like the isolation, but I also am a social person,” shares 76-year-old Alison Gray. “I have the radio on most of the time – on my phone. I just have it in the background, and it helps, it encourages me – lifts my spirits up.” 

In this special Easter episode of Helping Hands, we join Alison on her property in outback Queensland.

Choosing to speak up - why disability advocacy matters

“When disability is on your radar, it’s very hard to get it off your radar … I think it’s not thinking someone else is going to do that, but actually saying, ‘What can I do to make a difference here?’” says Dr. Louise Gosbell.

Louise is a disability researcher and advocate. She lives with a disability, as do all our expert panellists who have come together for this Helping Hands discussion on disability and advocacy. Louise is joined for this important conversation by Laura Cowell, TLC Disability Services’ CEO of Australian Operations, and Jamieson Leeson, Paralympian and QANTAS ambassador.

Enabling an equal playing field in the world of disability

“To have such a high level of support that I need when I travel overseas … then to be able to go home at the end of the day and have my own independence but still have someone I can call if I need them in my alone time is something that I really treasure,” shares Paralympian, Jamieson Leeson.

In this Helping Hands panel discussion, Jamieson is joined by Laura Cowell, CEO of Australian Operations at TLC Disability Services; and Dr. Louise Gosbell, disability researcher and advocate, to explore the topic of disability and support.

What it means to truly belong when living with a disability

“Diversity is being invited to the party, but inclusion is being asked to dance,” begins Dr. Louise Gosbell, on answering the question, What does it mean to be inclusive?

Louise is a disability researcher and advocate. She also lives with a disability, as do panellists Laura Cowell, Australian CEO of TLC Disability Services, and Jamieson Leeson, who is a Boccia Champion and Paralympian.

Do Australians understand what it means to live with a disability?

Laura Cowell, the Australian CEO of TLC Disability Services, says there is room for improvement.

Laura is joined by disability advocate, Dr. Louise Gosbell; and Paralympic silver medalist, Jamieson Leeson in this episode of Helping Hands to discuss how we can better understand the disability sector, and play our part in making the world a better place for people who are living with disability.

Great expectations - our desire to be known and loved

“Unmet expectations are usually around relationships,” explains psychologist, Collett Smart. “You feel really let down and unloved, often because you think … they should have known, and they didn’t know, and now you feel hurt.”

Collett is joined in this episode of Helping Hands by Ian Barnett, founder of the National Grandparent Movement; and Nathan Brewer, youth worker, to discuss what unmet expectations are, why they occur and how to avoid them.

Respect and authority - can they co-exist?

“I’ve interviewed the CEOs of Bunnings, ANZ and Microsoft … they really are humble people. And I think that humility allows other people to copy that approach, but also it’s inclusive,” explains mental health speaker and advocate, Graeme Cowan.

Graeme is speaking about his observations while speaking with successful CEOs for his podcast, The Caring CEO. He is joined in this Helping Hands panel discussion by psychologist, Collett Smart; and CEO of Charitabl., Mike Gore, to discuss what it looks like to respect authority figures and be respectful in a role of authority at home, in social settings and in the workplace.

Friendship - one of life's greatest treasures

“More than a handful of good friends is nearly too much because we can’t do the give and take,” says Raewyn Elsegood, a chaplain in sport and self-confessed seeker of friendships and community.

Raewyn is joined in this Helping Hands panel discussion by psychologist, Collett Smart; and teacher, Rod Braine, to discuss why friendships are so important to us.

Finding your unique self to flourish

“Offering up your best self happens best and most naturally when people are leaning into their strengths,” says Max Jeganathan.

Max is a former advisor to the Federal Government. He is joined in this Helping Hands panel discussion by Joce Goto, Chief Operations Officer at Charitabl.; and Mark Jones, Chief Storyteller at the ImpactInstitute, to discuss how and why it’s important for us to recognise our strengths.

Finding the right fit for healthy community

“What does a good fit look like in community? Just like a good shoe,” says Raewyn Elsegood.

Raewyn is a sports chaplain and a panellist on this episode of Helping Hands. She joins psychologist, Collett Smart; and teacher, Rod Braine, to discuss what it looks like to find and live in healthy community.

Why taking responsibility matters

“We’re like a boat in a harbour,” says Joce Goto, a panellist on this week’s episode of Helping Hands. “There’s this wake behind us, and what we do has ripple effects into the people around us … You need to have an awareness of what’s behind you as you take steps forward.”

Is change really as good as a holiday?

“Change is necessary,” says psychologist, Collett Smart. “It’s what we all go through, whether it’s moving from adolescence, to middle age, to old age, to moving jobs, we’re all going to go through it.”

The key to dealing with change, says Collett, is to learn and implement healthy ways to cope with it.

7 Ways to help your child settle into school

Starting a new school year can be daunting for students. But according to the panellists on this week’s episode of Helping Hands, Collett Smart (Psychologist), Kiran Skariah (Youth Worker and Online Gamer) and Sarah Crawford (Teacher) there are some practical things we can do, to ensure we support our kids through this transition.

Business - the promising leaders of social change

Social responsibility is a perpetual hot topic of conversation. Australia is historically a nation who gets behind a good cause — we back the underdog, rally for equality and call for action on important issues, most recently, the rising cost of living. But whose responsibility is it to provide answers for the social issues we face here in Australia and around the world?