Panel Discussions

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.

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.

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.

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.

Social enterprise - a catalyst for public good

In this Helping Hands panel discussion, Jess Moore, CEO of Social Enterprise Australia; Adam McCurdie, founder of Humanitix; and Prof. Kristy Muir, CEO of the Paul Ramsay Foundation; discuss social enterprise, and explain why this business model has the potential for positive impact both in our local communities and in the lives of the less fortunate.

“Social enterprise is a business for good,” explains Jess. “They trade like any other business but exist specifically to make the world a better place. Two things about them are essential; they put people and planet first and they trade to do this.”

Business and social change

Change is a constant of the world we live in, and wherever possible, Australians love to embrace change for the better. Within Australian business, this drive for positive impact is creating a tangible shift from valuing only the financial bottom-line to finding purpose in the form of social change, namely, developing a social conscience.

Finding a Joy-Filled Christmas

Do you have a favourite Christmas memory? Perhaps a time when the world appeared to glow a little brighter? Or your footsteps became a little lighter, and the spirit of the season filled the air? What is it that sparked your experience of joy?

In this Helping Hands panel discussion, social commentator, Mark McCrindle; podcaster, speaker and minister Rev. Dr. Megan Powell du Toit, and former CEO of Parramatta Mission, Davyn De Bruyn, join Laura Bennett to help us recapture the joy of Christmas.

Craving community at Christmas

“When we ask, ‘What’s your most hoped-for Christmas present?’ time with family is number one,” says social researcher, Mark McCrindle, also noting that community celebration and Christmas cheer are the two things Australians love most about the festive season.

In this Helping Hands panel discussion, Mark is joined by former CEO of Parramatta Mission, Davyn de Bruyn; and podcaster, speaker and minister, Rev. Dr. Megan Powell du Toit, to explore how and why community is so integral to a meaningful Christmas.

A New Era of Education

Students in rural and regional areas have an educational disadvantage, according to Helping Hands panellists Chris North, Mia Patoulios and Thomas McDonnell.

In this Helping Hands feature panel discussion, Chris North, CEO of Learning for Good; Mia Patoulios, CEO of Sydney Youth Orchestras; and Thomas McDonnell, an English teacher, discuss how innovation in education is driving positive social change.

The Power of Positive Mentoring

“My mentors changed the course of my life,” says 21 year-old Ellah Johnston. “Knowing that I have them – whenever I fell back down, they were who I contacted to get back on track." Ellah is speaking about her mentorship through Veteran Mentors - a youth development program designed for troubled teens.

In this Helping Hands panel discussion, Ellah is joined by Veteran Mentors co-founder and director, Matthew French, and psychologist, Collett Smart, to discuss how mentorship is changing the lives of thousands of families across Australia.

Nurturing Young People Through Music in Education

“Everyone has music inside them as an inherent way of communicating and connecting,” says Bernie Heard from the Australian Youth Orchestra and Manager of Music in Me, its national mentoring program. “Our role as parents, as teachers, is to try and nurture music in every young person.”

In this episode of Helping Hands, Bernie is joined by Mia Patoulios, CEO of Sydney Youth Orchestras; and Rachel Holmes, a teacher at Wilcannia Public School in far-western NSW, to discuss the benefits of music in education.