
Podcasts
The future is inclusive
We all want to be an ally for people with disability. But we don’t always know how. By listening to the perspectives of people with disability, this ten-part series gives insiders’ perspectives and advice to allies on how to “tool up” and make the world a richer and better place through supporting inclusion.

Hosted by Cara Matthews with co-hosts Ruth O’Brien and Suzy and Alison Procter and featuring a variety of guests including Senator Jordan Steele-John, Sue Salthouse, Dougie Herd, Yenn Purkis, and Craig Wallace.
Produced by Kim Lester
Funded by the ACT Office for Disability
Read descriptions and listen to each episode below or you can listen to the series on Soundcloud, Spotify or your favourite podcaster.
Things to do at home
10 fun accessible game and activity apps

Disability Horizons put together a list of 10 fun accessible game and activity apps for people with disabilities.
Ready to explore? Check this page for more information.
Easy-to-read magazine for people at home
Easy for Me is a new magazine released by The Information Access Group, designed to give people ideas for keeping busy and staying connected while they stay at home.
Read the first edition of Easy for Me.
Cheers! The (virtual) happy hour connecting the blind community
Blind Citizens Australia (BCA) is launching daily virtual happy hours to connect community members who are blind or visually impaired. The Happy Hours will run from 11am on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and from 7.30pm on Tuesday and Thursday.
You can read more about this initiative, including how you can join, on the BCA website. For future updates check the BCA Facebook page.
FriendLine conversations
FriendLine is a free volunteer operated chat service for anyone who wants to connect and have a friendly chat.
Find on more on the FriendLine website.
Angel Next Door
A free community platform has launched to help people help their neighbours who are isolated during COVID-19.
Angel Next Door is designed to assist people with grocery shopping, help around the house, dog walking and other general tasks.
Find out more on the Angel Next Door Website.
Events and activities
Escapades
Milparinka provides recreational respite programs for people who live in the cities of Yarra, Darebin, Maribyrnong and Moonee Valley.
Escapades programs provide planned respite through recreation and leisure activities during weekends, holidays and some evenings
Bush Connections: linking people with disabilities to the bush
In Melbourne disability service Milparinka based in Brunswick and Richmond uses forest therapy for people with a disability.
Bush connections currently run on Mondays and Sundays and individual arrangements are by appointment. If you are interested in joining the program or find out more, contact bush.connections@milparinka.org.au
YMCA camping escapes
YMCA offers the chance for everyone to travel and experience active recreation
Inkrewsive

Inkrewsive is a very unique program which supports artists to gain skills, become independent and receive occasional payment from performing in public gigs etc. Participants engage in professional art making experiences working with rap, beat making, dance and making music video clips. If you’re into hip hop and you’re looking for a crew to make friends, learn skills and be part of Melbourne’s most accessible hip hop team Contact inkrewsive
Services
Changing Places - Bargoonga Nganjin, North Fitzroy Library
Changing Places toilets have extra features and more space to meet the needs of people with severe and profound disabilities.
Each Changing Places toilet provides:
- a height adjustable adult-sized changing bench
- ceiling hoist to help lift the person out of their wheelchair and onto change table or toilet
- a spacious area for a carer and person with a disability
- a safe and clean environment
Users need to bring their own sling for the hoist.
Find out more about Changing Places.
National Relay Service
TTY users phone 133 677 then ask for 9205 5555.
Speak & Listen users (speech-to-speech relay) phone 1300 555 727 then ask for 03 9205 5555.
Internet relay users connect to the National Relay Service online and then ask for 03 9205 5555
For further information call Yarra City Council on 03 9205 5555 or email info@yarracity.vic.gov.au
Information on programs and resources
Hidden disability program
Airports can be very stressful for all of us, particularly, if traveling overseas. For community members with invisible disabilities, including autism, anxiety issues, mental health conditions, dementia, visual impairments, deafness and hearing loss this experience can be even more stressful.
Melbourne Airport has recently implement Hidden Disability Program to support community members through journey through their International Airport.
Choice Mentors Program at VALID
Victorian Advocacy League for Adults with Intellectual Disability (VALID) is looking for participants and mentors to join their Choice Mentor Program. This program helps empower people with intellectual disability to have more choice and control.
Interested in becoming a mentor?
Do you know a person who could be referred to the program?
Check VALID's program page or contact Josie Cohen, the Program Coordinator, by calling on 0459 070 913.
Melbourne Disability Institute
The One in Five podcast, launched by the Melbourne Disability Institute last year, gives voice to people with disability and asks about their experiences with employment, housing, the law, supporting families and early intervention.
Over seven episodes, a range of experts, including people with disability, researchers and people working in the sector, talk about what we can do to improve the lives of people with disability.
An Australian first autism education campaign: Change Your Reactions
No one wants to feel judged and unwelcome in their own communities – but many autistic people and their families experience this every day.
Changing your reactions can make a more inclusive and welcoming world for all.
Learn more about autism, as well as support and services available in Victoria by heading to the Amaze website.
Homeshare
Homeshare supports people who live with a disability to find a supportive flatmate. The flatmate provides them with an average 10 hours per week of companionship, light housework tasks such as pet care and mentoring in exchange for free rent. Every home-sharing arrangement is different and depends on the needs, time, interests and abilities of the people involved. If you would like to find out more check the Home Share Melbourne website.
Developing the capacity of people with disability in the City of Yarra
Some of the things programs we offer include:
- Tips for making your business more accessible to educate and support local businesses to improve accessibility in their premises
- Providing recharge facilities for motorised wheelchairs and scooters in local libraries and encouraging businesses to install similar recharge facilities
- Assisting community groups that apply for our grants to make their event or community program more accessible and inclusive to people with disabilities.
For more information call 03 9205 5555 or email us on info@yarracity.vic.gov.au
City of Yarra Annual Grants
Assisting community groups that apply for our grants to make their event or community program more accessible and inclusive to people with disabilities.
For more information call 03 9205 5555 or email us on info@yarracity.vic.gov.au

Podcasts
The future is inclusive
We all want to be an ally for people with disability. But we don’t always know how. By listening to the perspectives of people with disability, this ten-part series gives insiders’ perspectives and advice to allies on how to “tool up” and make the world a richer and better place through supporting inclusion.

Hosted by Cara Matthews with co-hosts Ruth O’Brien and Suzy and Alison Procter and featuring a variety of guests including Senator Jordan Steele-John, Sue Salthouse, Dougie Herd, Yenn Purkis, and Craig Wallace.
Produced by Kim Lester
Funded by the ACT Office for Disability
Read descriptions and listen to each episode below or you can listen to the series on Soundcloud, Spotify or your favourite podcaster.
Things to do at home
10 fun accessible game and activity apps

Disability Horizons put together a list of 10 fun accessible game and activity apps for people with disabilities.
Ready to explore? Check this page for more information.
Easy-to-read magazine for people at home
Easy for Me is a new magazine released by The Information Access Group, designed to give people ideas for keeping busy and staying connected while they stay at home.
Read the first edition of Easy for Me.
Cheers! The (virtual) happy hour connecting the blind community
Blind Citizens Australia (BCA) is launching daily virtual happy hours to connect community members who are blind or visually impaired. The Happy Hours will run from 11am on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and from 7.30pm on Tuesday and Thursday.
You can read more about this initiative, including how you can join, on the BCA website. For future updates check the BCA Facebook page.
FriendLine conversations
FriendLine is a free volunteer operated chat service for anyone who wants to connect and have a friendly chat.
Find on more on the FriendLine website.
Angel Next Door
A free community platform has launched to help people help their neighbours who are isolated during COVID-19.
Angel Next Door is designed to assist people with grocery shopping, help around the house, dog walking and other general tasks.
Find out more on the Angel Next Door Website.
Events and activities
Escapades
Milparinka provides recreational respite programs for people who live in the cities of Yarra, Darebin, Maribyrnong and Moonee Valley.
Escapades programs provide planned respite through recreation and leisure activities during weekends, holidays and some evenings
Bush Connections: linking people with disabilities to the bush
In Melbourne disability service Milparinka based in Brunswick and Richmond uses forest therapy for people with a disability.
Bush connections currently run on Mondays and Sundays and individual arrangements are by appointment. If you are interested in joining the program or find out more, contact bush.connections@milparinka.org.au
YMCA camping escapes
YMCA offers the chance for everyone to travel and experience active recreation
Inkrewsive

Inkrewsive is a very unique program which supports artists to gain skills, become independent and receive occasional payment from performing in public gigs etc. Participants engage in professional art making experiences working with rap, beat making, dance and making music video clips. If you’re into hip hop and you’re looking for a crew to make friends, learn skills and be part of Melbourne’s most accessible hip hop team Contact inkrewsive
Services
Changing Places - Bargoonga Nganjin, North Fitzroy Library
Changing Places toilets have extra features and more space to meet the needs of people with severe and profound disabilities.
Each Changing Places toilet provides:
- a height adjustable adult-sized changing bench
- ceiling hoist to help lift the person out of their wheelchair and onto change table or toilet
- a spacious area for a carer and person with a disability
- a safe and clean environment
Users need to bring their own sling for the hoist.
Find out more about Changing Places.
National Relay Service
TTY users phone 133 677 then ask for 9205 5555.
Speak & Listen users (speech-to-speech relay) phone 1300 555 727 then ask for 03 9205 5555.
Internet relay users connect to the National Relay Service online and then ask for 03 9205 5555
For further information call Yarra City Council on 03 9205 5555 or email info@yarracity.vic.gov.au
Information on programs and resources
Hidden disability program
Airports can be very stressful for all of us, particularly, if traveling overseas. For community members with invisible disabilities, including autism, anxiety issues, mental health conditions, dementia, visual impairments, deafness and hearing loss this experience can be even more stressful.
Melbourne Airport has recently implement Hidden Disability Program to support community members through journey through their International Airport.
Choice Mentors Program at VALID
Victorian Advocacy League for Adults with Intellectual Disability (VALID) is looking for participants and mentors to join their Choice Mentor Program. This program helps empower people with intellectual disability to have more choice and control.
Interested in becoming a mentor?
Do you know a person who could be referred to the program?
Check VALID's program page or contact Josie Cohen, the Program Coordinator, by calling on 0459 070 913.
Melbourne Disability Institute
The One in Five podcast, launched by the Melbourne Disability Institute last year, gives voice to people with disability and asks about their experiences with employment, housing, the law, supporting families and early intervention.
Over seven episodes, a range of experts, including people with disability, researchers and people working in the sector, talk about what we can do to improve the lives of people with disability.
An Australian first autism education campaign: Change Your Reactions
No one wants to feel judged and unwelcome in their own communities – but many autistic people and their families experience this every day.
Changing your reactions can make a more inclusive and welcoming world for all.
Learn more about autism, as well as support and services available in Victoria by heading to the Amaze website.
Homeshare
Homeshare supports people who live with a disability to find a supportive flatmate. The flatmate provides them with an average 10 hours per week of companionship, light housework tasks such as pet care and mentoring in exchange for free rent. Every home-sharing arrangement is different and depends on the needs, time, interests and abilities of the people involved. If you would like to find out more check the Home Share Melbourne website.
Developing the capacity of people with disability in the City of Yarra
Some of the things programs we offer include:
- Tips for making your business more accessible to educate and support local businesses to improve accessibility in their premises
- Providing recharge facilities for motorised wheelchairs and scooters in local libraries and encouraging businesses to install similar recharge facilities
- Assisting community groups that apply for our grants to make their event or community program more accessible and inclusive to people with disabilities.
For more information call 03 9205 5555 or email us on info@yarracity.vic.gov.au
City of Yarra Annual Grants
Assisting community groups that apply for our grants to make their event or community program more accessible and inclusive to people with disabilities.
For more information call 03 9205 5555 or email us on info@yarracity.vic.gov.au