Australia’s first podcast for Mob with disabilities out now

In an Australian first a podcast dedicated to Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people living with disabilities was launched last week on Closing the Gap Day.

Created by the First Peoples Disability Network (FPDN), Yarning Disability was hosted by Advocate and experienced radio host Bernard Namok, a proud St Paul, Badu, and Erub Torres Strait Islander man with his own lived experiences with disability.

Every episode of Yarning Disability, to be released every second Monday from next week, showcases the story and experiences of an

Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person living with disability or caring for someone with disability, and features disability industry professionals.

FPDN National Training and Engagement Manager Carly Wallace said Yarning Disability was a unique podcast in Australia, and perhaps globally.

“Before now there was no specific podcast dedicated to the stories and voices of First Peoples living with a disability in Australia, so we created Yarning Disability,” Ms Wallace said.

“FPDN’S work is to ensure the voices of First Peoples living with a disability are heard.

“We hope the stories that come from Yarning Disability will be a catalyst for change, not only in our community but systematically.

“We’re proud to create this platform for our Mob with disabilities to tell their own powerful stories.

“Getting to the launch of Yarning Disability has taken six months of work with all the planning and sourcing of stories.

“We’ve recorded ten or so stories so far and we have plenty more to come.

“I’m especially excited for people to hear Mat Fink’s story.

“Mat is a veteran of the Australian defence forces who developed a lot of his disabilities, both physically and mentally, from his time in the Navy.

“He was also recently been diagnosed with adult ADHD and Autism, so it’s a really interesting story he has to tell.

“These stories from Yarning Disability are raw and honest and will hopefully educate Mob and the disability sector around the experiences of First Peoples living with a disability, their carers and families, and the broader community as a whole.”

The first episode of Yarning Disability was available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio, Audacity and other podcast streaming services on Thursday 16 March and every second Monday from 27 March.

First Peoples Disability Network – www.fpdn.org.au