iLA Podcast Channel Fri, 13 Mar 2026 01:59:41 -0400 https://www.buzzsprout.com/1852608 en-au © 2026 iLA Podcast Channel yes 58504137-de8c-5798-bc96-6af208b29fe4 iLA (Independent Living Assessment) episodic false iLA powers initiatives including Keep Able, AT Chat, and LiveUp. We deliver trusted, innovative solutions that empower people and help shape the future of ageing and disability in Australia. 

]]> Buzzsprout (https://www.buzzsprout.com) iLA (Independent Living Assessment) https://storage.buzzsprout.com/d3cfl1th8hzmn8f6tbgxnhfxqs02?.jpg iLA Podcast Channel From our eyes to our ears - The stories of art (Part 2) From our eyes to our ears - The stories of art (Part 2) In the second part of our podcast conversation with Sarah Empey, and Jacqui O'Leary from Community Matters Media, we delve deeper into the morals and ethics of diversifying communication styles including providing audio descriptions to support the understanding and interpretation of art for people with low vision and others who prefer this medium.  

Make sure you listen to the end where a live demonstration of art describing, gives listeners an in-depth behind-the-scenes' insight into the process of art describing. 

]]> In the second part of our podcast conversation with Sarah Empey, and Jacqui O'Leary from Community Matters Media, we delve deeper into the morals and ethics of diversifying communication styles including providing audio descriptions to support the understanding and interpretation of art for people with low vision and others who prefer this medium.  

Make sure you listen to the end where a live demonstration of art describing, gives listeners an in-depth behind-the-scenes' insight into the process of art describing. 

]]> iLA Buzzsprout-16707353 Fri, 28 Feb 2025 09:00:00 +0800 2164 full false From our eyes to our ears - The Stories of art (Part 1) From our eyes to our ears - The Stories of art (Part 1) Discover how assistive technology (AT) is transforming art experiences in Part One of our digital storytelling series. Join Jacqui O’Leary (Community Matters Media) as she interviews Sarah Empey, a legally blind accessible design consultant, who uses audio descriptions to make art accessible to the blind and low-vision community. 

Tune in for innovative ways to experience art, the power of storytelling, and the vital role of AT in fostering creativity and inclusivity. 

]]> Discover how assistive technology (AT) is transforming art experiences in Part One of our digital storytelling series. Join Jacqui O’Leary (Community Matters Media) as she interviews Sarah Empey, a legally blind accessible design consultant, who uses audio descriptions to make art accessible to the blind and low-vision community. 

Tune in for innovative ways to experience art, the power of storytelling, and the vital role of AT in fostering creativity and inclusivity. 

]]> iLA Buzzsprout-16666890 Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:00:00 +0800 1795 full false Measuring up with low vision Measuring up with low vision Discover the talkative tools and strategies helping AT Chat’s AT Mentor Glenn continue to dabble in woodwork safely and independently after losing his vision. 

]]> Discover the talkative tools and strategies helping AT Chat’s AT Mentor Glenn continue to dabble in woodwork safely and independently after losing his vision. 

]]> iLA Buzzsprout-15147960 Tue, 28 May 2024 15:00:00 +0800 162 full false Reablement Conversations with Professor Peter Gore Reablement Conversations with Professor Peter Gore In this episode, Hilary O’Connell has a chat with Professor Peter Gore, Professor of practice in ageing and vitality at the Population Health Science Institute at Newcastle University in the United Kingdom. Peter's work involves aged-related functional decline and the malleability of ageing. 

He has over 33 years of experience in medical product design. One of the tools Peter has developed with his company ADL Smartcare, is the LifeCurve™, which helps people understand how they are ageing and how they can take action toward improving their healthy ageing journey.

Together they discuss what healthy ageing looks like, the importance of sharing trustworthy information with an ageing population and aged care service providers, to change attitudes towards ageing and bring practical examples and tools to improve independence to have more 'good days'. 

]]> In this episode, Hilary O’Connell has a chat with Professor Peter Gore, Professor of practice in ageing and vitality at the Population Health Science Institute at Newcastle University in the United Kingdom. Peter's work involves aged-related functional decline and the malleability of ageing. 

He has over 33 years of experience in medical product design. One of the tools Peter has developed with his company ADL Smartcare, is the LifeCurve™, which helps people understand how they are ageing and how they can take action toward improving their healthy ageing journey.

Together they discuss what healthy ageing looks like, the importance of sharing trustworthy information with an ageing population and aged care service providers, to change attitudes towards ageing and bring practical examples and tools to improve independence to have more 'good days'. 

]]> iLA Buzzsprout-14150779 Fri, 15 Dec 2023 10:00:00 +0800 2515 full false Reablement Conversations with Nicola Seafield Reablement Conversations with Nicola Seafield Welcome to iLA’s conversations about reablement in the aged care sector. With our mission to build awareness about reablement, Hilary O’Connell, our Principal Advisor of Healthy Ageing and Reablement, has been chatting with a diverse range of people working in the aged care sector and getting their diverse views about care services and their experiences and insights.  So far, Hilary has talked to researchers, Home Care Managers, Regional Assessment Services, and Aged Care Practice Advisors.

This episode is with Nicola Seafield. Allied Health and STRC team lead at Mercycare, West Australia.

]]> Welcome to iLA’s conversations about reablement in the aged care sector. With our mission to build awareness about reablement, Hilary O’Connell, our Principal Advisor of Healthy Ageing and Reablement, has been chatting with a diverse range of people working in the aged care sector and getting their diverse views about care services and their experiences and insights.  So far, Hilary has talked to researchers, Home Care Managers, Regional Assessment Services, and Aged Care Practice Advisors.

This episode is with Nicola Seafield. Allied Health and STRC team lead at Mercycare, West Australia.

]]> iLA Buzzsprout-14089229 Tue, 05 Dec 2023 09:00:00 +0800 1050 full false A very stylish couple A very stylish couple Hear how a trip to Rottnest Island with her family led to Polly discovering the joy and freedom mobility products can give you when you live with the challenges of Parkinson's. 

]]> Hear how a trip to Rottnest Island with her family led to Polly discovering the joy and freedom mobility products can give you when you live with the challenges of Parkinson's. 

]]> iLA Buzzsprout-13770555 Fri, 13 Oct 2023 15:00:00 +0800 217 full false Reablement Conversations with Gill Lewin Reablement Conversations with Gill Lewin Welcome to iLA’s conversations about reablement in the aged care sector. With our mission to build awareness about reablement, Hilary O’Connell, our Principal Advisor of Healthy Ageing and Reablement, has been chatting with a diverse range of people working in the aged care sector and getting their diverse views about care services and their experiences and insights.  So far, Hilary has talked to researchers, Home Care Managers, Regional Assessment Services, and Aged Care Practice Advisors.

This episode is with Gill Lewin,  Member of the Australian Governments Council of Elders and Adjunct Professor at the Enable Institute, Faculty of Health Sciences Curtin University, Perth, WA.

]]> Welcome to iLA’s conversations about reablement in the aged care sector. With our mission to build awareness about reablement, Hilary O’Connell, our Principal Advisor of Healthy Ageing and Reablement, has been chatting with a diverse range of people working in the aged care sector and getting their diverse views about care services and their experiences and insights.  So far, Hilary has talked to researchers, Home Care Managers, Regional Assessment Services, and Aged Care Practice Advisors.

This episode is with Gill Lewin,  Member of the Australian Governments Council of Elders and Adjunct Professor at the Enable Institute, Faculty of Health Sciences Curtin University, Perth, WA.

]]> iLA Buzzsprout-13191133 Mon, 10 Jul 2023 10:00:00 +0800 1308 1 5 full false Reablement Conversations with Angie Slater Reablement Conversations with Angie Slater Welcome to iLA’s conversations about ageing. With our mission to build awareness about reablement in the aged care sector, Hilary O’Connell, our Principal Advisor of Healthy Ageing and Reablement, has been chatting with a diverse range of people working in aged care and getting their diverse views.  So far we’ve talked to researchers in reablement, Home Care Managers, Regional Assessment Services, and Aged Care Practice Advisors.
This episode is with Angie Slater, Director of Home Care and Retirement Living, Juniper, West Australia.

]]> Welcome to iLA’s conversations about ageing. With our mission to build awareness about reablement in the aged care sector, Hilary O’Connell, our Principal Advisor of Healthy Ageing and Reablement, has been chatting with a diverse range of people working in aged care and getting their diverse views.  So far we’ve talked to researchers in reablement, Home Care Managers, Regional Assessment Services, and Aged Care Practice Advisors.
This episode is with Angie Slater, Director of Home Care and Retirement Living, Juniper, West Australia.

]]> iLA Buzzsprout-13190611 Mon, 10 Jul 2023 08:00:00 +0800 1226 1 4 full false Reablement Conversations with Dr Elissa Burton Reablement Conversations with Dr Elissa Burton Welcome to iLA’s conversations about ageing. With our mission to build awareness about reablement in the aged care sector, Hilary O’Connell, our Principal Advisor of Healthy Ageing and Reablement, has been chatting with a diverse range of people working in aged care and getting their diverse views.  So far we’ve talked to researchers in reablement, Home Care Managers, Regional Assessment Services, and Aged Care Practice Advisors.
This episode is with Dr Elissa Burton, Associate Professor Enable Institute, Faculty of Health Sciences Curtin University, Perth, WA.

]]> Welcome to iLA’s conversations about ageing. With our mission to build awareness about reablement in the aged care sector, Hilary O’Connell, our Principal Advisor of Healthy Ageing and Reablement, has been chatting with a diverse range of people working in aged care and getting their diverse views.  So far we’ve talked to researchers in reablement, Home Care Managers, Regional Assessment Services, and Aged Care Practice Advisors.
This episode is with Dr Elissa Burton, Associate Professor Enable Institute, Faculty of Health Sciences Curtin University, Perth, WA.

]]> iLA Buzzsprout-13129574 Thu, 29 Jun 2023 11:00:00 +0800 1327 1 2 full false Reablement Conversations with Alison Vella Reablement Conversations with Alison Vella Welcome to iLA’s conversations about ageing. With our mission to build awareness about reablement in the aged care sector, Hilary O’Connell, our Principal Advisor of Healthy Ageing and Reablement, has been chatting with a diverse range of people working in aged care and getting their diverse views.  So far we’ve talked to researchers in reablement, Home Care Managers, Regional Assessment Services, and Aged Care Practice Advisors.
This episode is with Alison Vella, Quality and Practice Lead at Aspire4Life, Queensland.

]]> Welcome to iLA’s conversations about ageing. With our mission to build awareness about reablement in the aged care sector, Hilary O’Connell, our Principal Advisor of Healthy Ageing and Reablement, has been chatting with a diverse range of people working in aged care and getting their diverse views.  So far we’ve talked to researchers in reablement, Home Care Managers, Regional Assessment Services, and Aged Care Practice Advisors.
This episode is with Alison Vella, Quality and Practice Lead at Aspire4Life, Queensland.

]]> iLA Buzzsprout-13129320 Thu, 29 Jun 2023 11:00:00 +0800 821 1 1 full false Accessing AT from rural and remote areas Accessing AT from rural and remote areas An example of the challenges faced by assistive technology (AT) users when accessing AT while living in regional or remote areas and some solutions, comes from Nerine Williams. 

]]> An example of the challenges faced by assistive technology (AT) users when accessing AT while living in regional or remote areas and some solutions, comes from Nerine Williams. 

]]> iLA Buzzsprout-12248378 Tue, 14 Feb 2023 14:00:00 +0800 276 10 full false What is self-advocacy? What is self-advocacy? At its core self-advocacy is about individuals making choices about themselves, for themselves, and having those choices listened to.  In this article, we share why self-advocacy is important to assistive technology (AT) users, along with the potential barriers they face self-advocating for equipment and products to help them achieve their goals. 

]]> At its core self-advocacy is about individuals making choices about themselves, for themselves, and having those choices listened to.  In this article, we share why self-advocacy is important to assistive technology (AT) users, along with the potential barriers they face self-advocating for equipment and products to help them achieve their goals. 

]]> iLA Buzzsprout-12074507 Thu, 19 Jan 2023 13:00:00 +0800 176 9 full false Joyful but functional, this is my AT - Nerine's story Joyful but functional, this is my AT - Nerine's story In our latest article we collaborated with the Australian Inclusion Network to bring you, Joyful but functional, this is my AT - Nerine's story. Nerine was diagnosed with Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) and more recently with Autism and ADHD, shares her personal motivation behind choosing certain AT items to support her maintain as much function and mobility as possible. Follow the link below to read about the AT that is woven into every activity in every part of her life. 

]]> In our latest article we collaborated with the Australian Inclusion Network to bring you, Joyful but functional, this is my AT - Nerine's story. Nerine was diagnosed with Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) and more recently with Autism and ADHD, shares her personal motivation behind choosing certain AT items to support her maintain as much function and mobility as possible. Follow the link below to read about the AT that is woven into every activity in every part of her life. 

]]> iLA Buzzsprout-11876169 Thu, 15 Dec 2022 12:00:00 +0800 557 8 full false Family, friends, and the AT that connects us – Jayden’s story (Part 2) Family, friends, and the AT that connects us – Jayden’s story (Part 2) Together with the Ingham Institute’s Assistive Technology Hub, we share how Jayden, after a catastrophic motorcycle accident; maintains his independence at home and connections to his community using AT. This is Jayden's story. This is Live, Play, Work.

]]> Together with the Ingham Institute’s Assistive Technology Hub, we share how Jayden, after a catastrophic motorcycle accident; maintains his independence at home and connections to his community using AT. This is Jayden's story. This is Live, Play, Work.

]]> iLA Buzzsprout-11060410 Tue, 02 Aug 2022 09:00:00 +0800 423 7 full false AT living and independence goals - Jayden's story AT living and independence goals - Jayden's story In this Live, Play, Work story in collaboration with Ingham Institute's Assistive Technology Hub, Jayden shares how the use of AT in his home has changed everything about his day-to-day life after a catastrophic motorcycle accident that affected the entire left side of his body and caused a traumatic brain injury (TBI).

]]> In this Live, Play, Work story in collaboration with Ingham Institute's Assistive Technology Hub, Jayden shares how the use of AT in his home has changed everything about his day-to-day life after a catastrophic motorcycle accident that affected the entire left side of his body and caused a traumatic brain injury (TBI).

]]> iLA Buzzsprout-11003210 Thu, 21 Jul 2022 11:00:00 +0800 399 2 6 full false Benj has more to say Benj has more to say Kate tells her AT story through the journey with her son, Benj. AAC has enabled her son to use her voice. This is their story. This is Live, Play, Work. 

]]> Kate tells her AT story through the journey with her son, Benj. AAC has enabled her son to use her voice. This is their story. This is Live, Play, Work. 

]]> iLA Buzzsprout-10756934 Wed, 08 Jun 2022 14:00:00 +0800 558 2 1 full false Weaving his way through art with AT - Greg's story Weaving his way through art with AT - Greg's story Together with the Arts Hub run by Rise, we joined Greg to see what AT he used to tell his artistic story. This is Greg's story. This is Live, Play, Work. 

]]> Together with the Arts Hub run by Rise, we joined Greg to see what AT he used to tell his artistic story. This is Greg's story. This is Live, Play, Work. 

]]> iLA Buzzsprout-10756919 Wed, 08 Jun 2022 14:00:00 +0800 433 2 5 full false Equal rights and a little bit of access Equal rights and a little bit of access Layne is a bit of an AT enthusiast, and *they said after discovering the right AT to revive their love for literature and passion for writing, they said having the technology they used now would have changed everything about their studies in school. This is Layne's AT and this is their story.

*Pronouns have been assigned to reflect the gender of the talent

]]> Layne is a bit of an AT enthusiast, and *they said after discovering the right AT to revive their love for literature and passion for writing, they said having the technology they used now would have changed everything about their studies in school. This is Layne's AT and this is their story.

*Pronouns have been assigned to reflect the gender of the talent

]]> Live Play Work Buzzsprout-10103109 Sat, 19 Feb 2022 07:00:00 +0800 498 2 2 full false Independence through Assessment - Emma's AT Independence through Assessment - Emma's AT Together with Vision Australia, we go on an AT assessment journey with client, Emma Vardy. This is Emma's AT and this is her story.

]]> Together with Vision Australia, we go on an AT assessment journey with client, Emma Vardy. This is Emma's AT and this is her story.

]]> Live Play Work Buzzsprout-10091350 Sat, 19 Feb 2022 07:00:00 +0800 503 2 4 full false Authentically Me - Emma's AT Authentically Me - Emma's AT Book enthusiast Emma said she loves to read and signing up to Audio Books was the best thing she has ever done! This is Emma's AT and this is her story.

]]> Book enthusiast Emma said she loves to read and signing up to Audio Books was the best thing she has ever done! This is Emma's AT and this is her story.

]]> Live Play Work Buzzsprout-10039025 Wed, 09 Feb 2022 08:00:00 +0800 531 2 3 full false Junes Story - Keep Able Junes Story - Keep Able June was a teacher for 45 years and in that time, most of her social activity revolved around her work.

After retirement, she found her social connections were diminished and as time progressed she found herself with less opportunity to maintain any kind of social presence. 

This is Junes story of how she managed to overcome anxiety and other obstacles to regain a social presence in her life.

]]> June was a teacher for 45 years and in that time, most of her social activity revolved around her work.

After retirement, she found her social connections were diminished and as time progressed she found herself with less opportunity to maintain any kind of social presence. 

This is Junes story of how she managed to overcome anxiety and other obstacles to regain a social presence in her life.

]]> Keep Able Buzzsprout-9183289 Mon, 13 Sep 2021 09:00:00 +0800 225 1 1 full false