In this Episode, Nicky is joined by Maria Corsiglia - Centre Manager, Barnardo's South Coast Children's Family Centre. Maria gives insights into how lack of access to public transport impacts the lives of people in vulnerable circumstances. Using real life examples, Maria explores how vulnerable families are further disadvantaged by being unable to access services and supports. A poignant example is the story of the single mum who lost her job due to lack of transport and how that disadvantaged both her and her young family.
She goes on to explain that families are put at risk when they can’t make mandatory appointments and encourages service providers – and other members of society – to walk in the shoes of people experiencing transport disadvantage.
Maria speaks about the privilege of being able to drive and own a car and shines a light on the difference foster parents can make in the lives of vulnerable children and families.
A powerful lesson for us all.
In this important episode Nicky talks with Kim Bertino. Kim is the Chief Executive Officer of Big Fat Smile, a not-for-profit provider in the Illawarra providing Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) services. Kim and Nicky discuss the multiple impacts on children, families and communities of a lack of access to quality affordable ECEC and the existence of "childcare deserts" often in regions which correspond with other forms of multiple compounding disadvantages and giving children a poor start at life. Global research confirms that children build invaluable skills in the first five years of life. From language, to social, emotional and cognitive development, this crucial period of intense growth informs later outcomes and is why accessing quality ECEC services allows children to thrive and get the best start in life meaning investment in this critical area must be a priority for government. Kim talks about recent strategies including the introduction of a wage subsidy, that have had positive benefits for the sector to improve workforce attraction and retention. She describes innovative programs that Big Fat Smile is now operating to meet unmet need, and how the not-for-profit sector community sector is willing and able to work with government on solutions including capital funding for new centres to put resources back into community to meet the needs of children and families. Childcare Desert Report Victoria University: Mapping the childcare deserts: Childcare accessibility in Australia | Victoria University
Local Health District CEO, Margot Mains joins us to explore how hospitals are coping with the nearly 200 older people in hospital who need to move to, or return to, residential care. Margot explains how this impacts both older people who need and deserve specialised aged care, and health care opportunities for the whole community.
Aged care consultant Mark Sewell joins Nicky on this episode of the podcast bringing his wealth of knowledge and insights into the crisis facing the Health Care system due to “bed block”. Bed block is where people are unable to leave the acute care hospital setting due to lack of availability of residential care or not having the supports at home to meet their needs.
In our third episode focusing on “Bed Block,” Nicky is shocked to learn that older people admitted to hospital are staying, on average, over 16 times longer than younger people. This is “Bed Block,” where people no longer in need of acute care are unable to leave the hospital due to a lack of availability of residential care or not having the supports at home to meet their needs.
Aged Care, Ageing and Dementia Advocate, Val Fell joins Nicky to give a very personal account of a patient who has the experienced the impact of bed block. A member of the Minister’s Council of Elders and the National Older Persons’ Reference Group, Val was taken into hospital for a medical emergency and spent 3 weeks in a locked geriatric dementia ward – despite not having dementia and having spent decades working for better outcomes for people living with dementia and their carers.
Residents of the Illawarra Shoalhaven are being called to action! The Strategic Regional Transport Plan is open for consultation, offering a chance to shape the future of transport in our region. In this episode of Community Matters, we speak with George Takacs, Active Transport Taskforce Coordinator at Healthy Cities Illawarra, about the vital role of active and public transport in building healthier, more connected, and sustainable communities.