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Every year, 1.7 million tonnes of food are wasted in NSW, the equivalent of 68 Olympic-size swimming pools. Meanwhile, 38% of households in the Illawarra Shoalhaven region are struggling to get enough to eat, with children going to school hungry and parents heading to work on an empty stomach. In this episode, Nicky Sloan speaks with Melinda Lawton, Project Manager at Healthy Cities Australia, about a practical plan to close that gap. Australia produces enough food to feed its people, yet it isn't getting to those who need it. Surplus happens for many reasons. A bumper season can mean more produce than anyone can sell. Pallets of frozen food may arrive with damaged packaging, or a product line may not sell as well as hoped. Too often, perfectly good food ends up in landfill, where it adds to our carbon footprint and creates further environmental problems. Melinda explains that food security is a fundamental human right that must be addressed before all else. Because of this, community services meant to focus on housing, mental health or therapy often spend much of their time addressing hunger and simply making sure participants have enough to eat. Through Food Fairness Illawarra, Healthy Cities Australia is working to establish a Regional Food Hub, nicknamed "The Depot." The hub would collect, sort, store and distribute surplus food to the communities that need it, taking the pressure of logistics and staffing off service providers so they can focus on what they do best. Surplus food would come from supermarkets, catering firms, cafés and other organisations. Melinda stresses that this is quality, healthy food. It is within its use-by date and meets all food safety requirements, and it's food that would otherwise be thrown away. In its early phases, The Depot will be a large storage and distribution centre. From there, the vision grows to include school lunch programs, composting and other flow-on initiatives that support people experiencing food insecurity and builds resilience for the community. The project is already taking shape. Ten MOUs are in place with partner organisations, including OzHarvest, SecondBite, Vinnies and Anglicare. The planning is done. What's needed now is the funding to support the infrastructure, so that agencies can sign up and become eligible to receive food for their communities. Victoria already has five hubs like this that Melinda and her team have been learning from, but NSW is yet to have it’s first. Melinda sees a great opportunity for the Illawarra to be the first, building resilience and food fairness in the region while cutting waste and environmental impact.  Melinda explains the plan and what it will take with a suitable space, refrigerated trucks for transport, operational capacity, with both paid and volunteer staff. Healthy Cities Australia has launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise the initial $137,000 needed to get the project moving. Realistically, they are pursuing $1.5 million to fully establish the hub and see where it can go from there. Winning the backing of governments and the broader community is a major focus for Melinda and the team. As Melinda puts it collaboration is key, " We want to take that pressure off and centralise a location and a service that allows food to be donated and disseminated but not have the smaller agencies have to deal with the intricacies and the logistics and the staffing and all of the requirements that food requires.”   Links: ·         Healthy Cities Australia: Healthy Cities Australia ·         Support the project via the GoFundMe campaign: Fundraiser by Healthy Cities Illawarra Inc : Help Us Deliver a Food Future for Everyone Acknowledgement of Country Community Industry Group' podcast is recorded on beautiful Dharawal Country, and we acknowledge the traditional custodians of this land, and their Elders.  We acknowledge and respect their continuing culture, the world’s oldest living culture, and the contribution they make to the life of this region and our country.  We acknowledge that we live and work on Aboriginal land and recognise the strength, resilience and capacity of Aboriginal people. Music Credit: "Jarvic 8" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

In this episode, Nicky sits down with Kylie Flament, the CEO of SECNA (Social Enterprises Coordinating Council of NSW & ACT), the peak body supporting social enterprises across NSW and the ACT. Kylie has a memorable way of explaining what a social enterprise is: "If a business and a charity had a baby, that's a social enterprise… they exist specifically to make the world a better place." We learn that social enterprises contribute as much to the economy each year as the mining sector, and employ more people, all while putting people and the planet first, yet they don't get anywhere near the subsidies mining does! Kylie and Nicky discuss why the business model matters and how a social enterprise can open up new revenue streams for community organisations, with far fewer strings attached than delivering a traditional community service.  They draw the connection between social enterprises and the circular economy. "We really need a new way of doing things," says Kylie, as social enterprises focused on re-use and repair are springing up around the world and Nicky and Kylie dig into the ethical questions we all face as consumers wanting to do the right thing in the modern marketplace, and how "business for good" can build trust. Kylie explains the main types of social enterprise including work integration social enterprises, which train and employ people who might otherwise be locked out of the workforce, and profit-distributing social enterprises, which give at least 50% of profits to a charitable purpose like the companies Who Gives a Crap and Humanitix. An important feature of social enterprise is a more gender equal playing field with half of all social enterprise leaders being women compared to one in 5 in other business areas. Kylie also explains why careful design matters as she delves into the risks of social enterprises which can sometimes reinforce the very problems they set out to solve and how SECNA helps founders avoid unintended consequences. The discussion explores four things social enterprises need to grow: access to markets through social procurement, access to capital, access to networks, and learning and development support. This is an eye-opening episode that demystifies the increasingly critical role social enterprises are playing in our communities and in the economy, and shows exactly what it will take for them to play an even stronger one. Resources and Links: ·       Social Enterprise Council of NSW & ACT website: SECNA Acknowledgement of Country Community Industry Group' podcast is recorded on beautiful Dharawal Country, and we acknowledge the traditional custodians of this land, and their Elders.  We acknowledge and respect their continuing culture, the world’s oldest living culture, and the contribution they make to the life of this region and our country.  We acknowledge that we live and work on Aboriginal land and recognise the strength, resilience and capacity of Aboriginal people. Music Credit: "Jarvic 8" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Menopause affects 51% of the population directly (and 100% of us indirectly) so it’s a topic we really need to get better at talking about. In this episode, Nicky does just that as she sits down with Georgia Watson, Menopause Service Coordinator for the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District, for a frank, refreshingly practical conversation about what menopause actually looks like, and the specialist support available for women navigating it. The numbers are eye-opening. While the average age of menopause in Australia is 51, perimenopause can begin years earlier and last up to seven years for some women. Around 80% will experience symptoms like joint aches, brain fog, and mood changes, with 20% facing symptoms severe enough to disrupt daily life. Add to that the fact that 40% of perimenopausal women experience anxiety or depression, and that 1 in 2 women will break a bone post-menopause, and it's clear why this deserves far more attention than it typically gets. Nicky and Georgia discuss how menopause so often collides with some of the biggest transitions in a woman's life: kids leaving home, career milestones, shifting relationships. Georgia unpacks how this overlap can quietly stretch and even erode resilience and coping capacity, amplifying the effects of symptoms for the individual. She also walks through what real support looks like: the ISLHD clinic's allied health-led approach, from initial assessments through to hormonal therapies, nutrition, exercise, and behavioural strategies tailored to the individual including the importance of strength, balance, and impact-based exercise for protecting bone density and long-term resilience as ageing progresses. This episode isn’t just for women going through menopause themselves. Nicky and Georgia make the case that menopause is a whole of community issue with relevance to partners, friends, colleagues, and employers alike and how awareness and simple practical shifts can make a real difference. Knowledge is power and this episode delivers it with warmth, honesty, and expertise. Whether you're navigating menopause yourself, supporting someone who is or just want to know more about it, there's something here for you and it’s reassuring to know that the women of the region have access to the services of Georgia and the team at the Illawarra Shoalhaven Menopause Service. Resources and Links: Illawarra Shoalhaven Menopause Service Illawarra Shoalhaven Menopause Service | Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District (ISLHD)The Jean Hailes website, which has a huge amount of information on women's health topics including menopause: https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-topics/menopause/Healthy Bones Australia website (factsheet on menopause and bone health): https://healthybonesaustralia.org.au/resource-hub/fact-sheets/ABC Conversations episode with Professor Jayashri Kulkarni who is a world leading expert in menopausal depression:  https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/conversations/jayashri-kulkarni-female-hormones-mental-health-rpt/105362644 Beyond Blue resource video with Prof Kulkarni discussing menopausal depression:  https://www.beyondblue.org.au/mental-health/womens-mental-health/perimenopause-menopause-mental-healthAcknowledgement of Country Community Industry Group' podcast is recorded on beautiful Dharawal Country, and we acknowledge the traditional custodians of this land, and their Elders.  We acknowledge and respect their continuing culture, the world’s oldest living culture, and the contribution they make to the life of this region and our country.  We acknowledge that we live and work on Aboriginal land and recognise the strength, resilience and capacity of Aboriginal people. Music Credit: "Jarvic 8" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Older women are now the fastest-growing group experiencing homelessness in Australia, and record numbers are being pushed into crisis by eviction from long term rentals and then being unable to afford rapidly rising rents.  In this powerful episode of Community Matters, host Nicky Sloan sits down with Sabrina Hissey, Acting Operations Manager of ROCC for Women, a Specialist Homelessness Service delivering case management to women who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness in the Illawarra. Sabrina unpacks the complex and often overlapping challenges facing the women ROCC supports.  From contact with the justice system, mental health struggles, social isolation, drug and alcohol issues, and family and domestic violence. She explains how the service works alongside women to set their own goals, building trust and close relationships over time, while empowering them toward independence at their own pace. ROCC's approach is refreshingly human, they work with women to figure out their own goals, then walk alongside them, building the kind of trust that only comes from showing up consistently, over time.  The conversation doesn't shy away from the hard realities of a fractured system: a three-year wait for priority housing, even a lengthy waitlist at ROCC itself, and clients sleeping rough while they wait for support. Sabrina stresses why early engagement is critical, and why community members have a role to play too in paying attention, staying curious, and reaching out when someone they know might need help. Listeners will hear about ROCC's peer support initiatives, designed to combat isolation through non-judgemental, paid peer mentoring, and how Sabrina and Sabrina's own reflections on how she and her team look after themselves doing such complex and emotionally challenging work. Despite a recent shift to greater certainty with a welcome five-year funding model, demand continues to outpace resources. As Nicky points out, Australia is the second wealthiest country in the world, so the issue isn't a lack of housing as such, but its unequal distribution. Sabrina closes with a moving reminder: "Homelessness is something that can happen to all of us," alongside the incredible story of one woman whose tenacity ultimately led her from the depths of crisis to a private rental and a job. This episode is a reminder that dignity, stability and a safe place to live shouldn't depend on your bank balance and that hope and a belief in a brighter future, even when things feel bleak, are not misplaced but essential. Links and Resources:  ROCC for Women website: https://roccforwomen.org.au/#heroFor Emergency accommodation: Link2Home on tel:1800152152The NSW Domestic Violence Line: 1800 656 463For women at risk of homelessness due to FDV: Home - SASSI Phone (02) 4229-8523The homeless hub in Nowra: Shoalhaven Homeless Hub - SASSIFor young people, adults and families : Home | Southern Youth and Family Services Phone: tel:(02) 4221 7700Care South: Youth Support Services - CareSouthFor the Illawarra: Wollongong Homeless Hub | HomeWaminda- Mudgingaal Balaang  Women's refuge: Client Support - WamindaAge Matters- Age Matters - Empowering Older Australians - IRTAcknowledgement of Country Community Industry Group' podcast is recorded on beautiful Dharawal Country, and we acknowledge the traditional custodians of this land, and their Elders.  We acknowledge and respect their continuing culture, the world’s oldest living culture, and the contribution they make to the life of this region and our country.  We acknowledge that we live and work on Aboriginal land and recognise the strength, resilience and capacity of Aboriginal people. Music Credit: "Jarvic 8" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

In this episode of Community Matters, CEO of Warrigal, Jenni Hutchins, joins Nicky Sloan for a powerful conversation about leadership, workplace culture and how the way we treat our employees has a direct impact on the people they care for.  Jenni shares the remarkable story behind Warrigal achieving a 100% employee engagement survey response rate across more than 2,500 staff, breaking Australian records and proving that when people genuinely believe their voices matter, extraordinary things can happen. From reducing staff turnover to creating predictable care teams, Jenni explains how investing in culture doesn't just improve workplaces. It creates safer, more consistent care, helping older people feel known, loved and connected.  Together, Jenni and Nicky explore what it really means to build a values-driven organisation. They discuss why culture is much more than words on a wall, how it starts with the board and leadership teams setting the tone for the entire organisation, and why listening, psychological safety and genuine human connection are essential to creating environments where both employees and residents thrive.  The conversation explores how Warrigal's vision, A world where older people feel known, loved, and connected, shapes every decision the organisation makes. Jenni explains why this vision serves as the organisation's north star, influencing its culture, leadership and ultimately the experience of every older person in its care.  This episode is filled with practical leadership insights, inspiring stories and thought-provoking reflections for anyone leading a team, working in aged care, or wanting to create workplaces where people genuinely want to belong.  Links & Resources: Warrigal - Warrigal - Residential, Retirement & Home Care in Illawarra, Southern Highlands, CanberraAcknowledgement of Country Community Industry Group' podcast is recorded on beautiful Dharawal Country, and we acknowledge the traditional custodians of this land, and their Elders.  We acknowledge and respect their continuing culture, the world’s oldest living culture, and the contribution they make to the life of this region and our country.  We acknowledge that we live and work on Aboriginal land and recognise the strength, resilience and capacity of Aboriginal people. Music Credit: "Jarvic 8" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

In this important episode of Community Matters, Nicky is joined by Natasha Debsieh, Manager of Age Matters, an IRT Group initiative that supports older people across the Illawarra, Shoalhaven and Eurobodalla who are experiencing housing insecurity, social isolation and barriers to accessing the support they need. Drawing on her extensive experience working alongside some of the region's most vulnerable older people, Natasha shares the realities many face as they navigate housing insecurity, homelessness and the increasingly complex aged care system. Nicky and Natasha explore the uncomfortable fact that the fastest rate of growing homelessness in our region is for older people and particularly older women.  Natasha discusses the growing challenges for older Australians trying to access suitable housing and remain safely in their homes, and why stable, suitable housing is such a key foundation for living well later in life. “We are there to assist the amazing people that we work with to apply for, to access and to go through the journey of My Aged Care” explains Natasha. With compassion and honesty, Natasha reflects on the barriers older people encounter when accessing services, navigating the complexities of the My Aged Care system, lengthy waiting times, the limitations of phone-based assessments and the increasing prevalence of hoarding and squalor which Natasha describes as “a wicked problem”. She highlights the importance of person-centred support, helping people through times of crisis, and the vital role collaboration plays in helping individuals overcome barriers and access the services they need. The conversation also explores the work of Age Matters and its broader initiatives, demonstrating how community organisations can work together to support older people to remain safe, connected and independent for longer. Natasha shares stories of resilience and hope that show how the right support, at the right time, can make a lasting difference and how using a “housing first” approach can result in positive differences. This is sensitive discussion about the important work that Natasha and the Age Matters team (“inspiring, relentless, persistent” is how Natasha describes the team) are doing to support dignity, housing, ageing and the power of community, reminding us that every older Australian deserves the opportunity to age safely, with the support and stability they need to thrive. When people feel safe, stable and supported they are able to live quality lives and in turn contribute to their community. #CommunityMattersPodcast #AgeingWithDignity #AgeingWell #OlderAustralians #AgedCare #HousingSecurity #AgeingInPlace #CommunitySupport #HealthyAgeing #SocialInclusion #MyAgedCare Resources & Links: About the IRT Age Matters Program: Age Matters - Empowering Older Australians - IRTMy Aged Care - support for homelessness: Support for individuals who are experiencing homelessness or at risk of experiencing homelessness | My Aged CareAcknowledgement of Country Community Industry Group' podcast is recorded on beautiful Dharawal Country, and we acknowledge the traditional custodians of this land, and their Elders.  We acknowledge and respect their continuing culture, the world’s oldest living culture, and the contribution they make to the life of this region and our country.  We acknowledge that we live and work on Aboriginal land and recognise the strength, resilience and capacity of Aboriginal people. Music Credit: "Jarvic 8" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

In this heartfelt episode of Community Matters, Nicky Sloan is joined by Christine Wilde, an experienced Foster Carer with CareSouth, a community-based organisation that provides a range of services including Aunties & Uncles, Family Connections and youth and disability support services that support children, young people and families.  Drawing on her experience caring for 19 children over the years, Christine shares the realities of foster care, from the challenges children face when they first enter care to the incredible moments of watching them rebuild their confidence and simply enjoy being children again.  With compassion and honesty, Christine reflects on the importance of community in helping children and families through difficult times. She reminds us that every child's journey is unique and highlights how kindness, stability and supportive relationships can make a lasting difference in a child's life. She discusses the importance of routine, consistency, empathy and building trusting relationships, while reflecting on the rewarding experience of helping children heal and break the cycle of trauma.  The conversation also highlights the vital role caseworkers play in supporting both children and carers, the different ways people can become involved in foster care, and how others in the community can make a meaningful difference by supporting children and foster families in their community.  This is an inspiring conversation about resilience, hope and the extraordinary impact that ordinary people and supportive communities can have when they simply show up for a child in need.  Acknowledgement of Country Community Industry Group' podcast is recorded on beautiful Dharawal Country, and we acknowledge the traditional custodians of this land, and their Elders.  We acknowledge and respect their continuing culture, the world’s oldest living culture, and the contribution they make to the life of this region and our country.  We acknowledge that we live and work on Aboriginal land and recognise the strength, resilience and capacity of Aboriginal people. Music Credit: "Jarvic 8" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

At just 26 years old, Rebecca Schmidt Lachlan woke up from a stroke able to do only one thing: blink her eyes. What followed was a remarkable journey of reinvention, resilience, and purpose. In this episode, Nicky sits down with Bec, stroke survivor, author, radio host, inclusion advocate, and volunteer board director, for a conversation that is as practical as it is inspiring. Bec's story isn't just about surviving; it's about choosing to fight, adapt, and ultimately use her lived experience to make the world more accessible for everyone. From Survival to Advocacy:  Bec's stroke didn't just change her body — it changed her entire relationship with the world. Facing the daunting task of relearning life's basics, she describes having to "do everything all over again." But rather than retreating, Bec channelled that experience into something powerful: a deep, personal understanding of what it means to be excluded, and what it takes to change that. Her book, colourfully titled, “Shit! I'm 26 and Had a Stroke!”, captures the raw reality of that journey, and her work since has only amplified its message. Making Communities Work for Everyone: Through her role as Project Officer with the Flagstaff Group, Bec leads the We Belong Project, connecting people with disability to their communities and helping them find their voice when dealing with organisations and services. Her advocacy work is tangible and wins real results. As a driving force behind the Unanderra Access Group, Bec helped lead the campaign to make Unanderra Railway Station, a major transport hub with 72 stairs and zero accessibility, fully accessible through the installation of lifts and ramps. It's a powerful reminder of what community voices can achieve. Why Inclusion Is Everyone's Business:  One of the most thought-provoking threads of this conversation is Bec's challenge to the idea that accessibility is only a "disability issue." Being able-bodied, she reminds us, is always temporary. "None of us know when we are going to have injuries - we need to be open to and prepared for when that actually does occur, we have those things in place that we might want to use later on." It's a reframe that cuts through resistance and makes inclusion feel not just compassionate, but rational. Communicating with Courage and Curiosity: Bec offers genuinely useful guidance on how to communicate better with people with disability, encouraging curiosity over avoidance, and reframing difficult conversations through empathy: "If this happened to me, what would I expect, how would I feel?" She also models something rare: the ability to ask for help without shame. As she puts it, the worst that can happen is being told “no”. A Life Expanded: Winner of the National Courage Award at the 2024 Stroke Awards, Bec reflects on how disability, for all its challenges, has opened her eyes to a fuller experience of life. It's shaped her into someone more considered, more aware, and more connected to community. Her ethos is simple and self-reinforcing: "Help other people while helping ourselves to make sure everything works well in our community." This episode will leave you thinking differently — about inclusion, about vulnerability, and about the quiet power of showing up for others. Resources and Links: ·         Rebecca’s Book: Shit!! I'm 26 and had a Stroke » Altered Abilities ·         We Belong Project, The Flagstaff Group: WeBelong - Disability Support, Employment & Inclusion ·         Rebecca’s Stroke Foundation Courage Award: Rebecca recognised for tireless work… | Stroke Foundation - Australia Acknowledgement of Country Community Industry Group' podcast is recorded on beautiful Dharawal Country, and we acknowledge the traditional custodians of this land, and their Elders.  We acknowledge and respect their continuing culture, the world’s oldest living culture, and the contribution they make to the life of this region and our country.  We acknowledge that we live and work on Aboriginal land and recognise the strength, resilience and capacity of Aboriginal people. Music Credit: "Jarvic 8" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

What if the solutions being built for tomorrow's world are only designed for half the people in it? That's the provocative question at the heart of this week's Community Matters, featuring Tamantha Stutchbury the Director of iAccelerate at the University of Wollongong and the 2026 Wollongong Local Woman of the Year. Tamantha brings a rare combination of scientific rigour and entrepreneurial fire to her work. After completing a PhD in Medicinal Chemistry and research and commercialisation of a novel cancer therapeutic, she understands firsthand what it takes to move from a bold idea to a functioning business. Now she's channelling that experience into building something bigger: an ecosystem where anyone with a vision can become a founder. At the core of this engaging conversation is an uncomfortable truth about the startup world. Funding, mentorship, and opportunity are not equally distributed — and that means the solutions being built right now reflect a narrow slice of human experience. As Tamantha says: "If we are only funding one type of startup we are likely only creating solutions for one part of society." The challenge isn't just getting more diverse founders through the door. It's convincing the people holding the purse strings that there's even a problem to solve. "The biggest hurdle is getting the people writing the cheques to acknowledge it's a problem." It's a candid observation that will resonate with anyone who has ever felt like the tables of power were set before they arrived. As Australia's largest and longest-running University backed startup accelerator, iAccelerate supports entrepreneurs at every stage, from the spark of an idea right through to building a scalable, successful company. It's sector agnostic and proudly so, with supported businesses ranging from music festivals to tech solutions to community services.  The program creates a collaborative ecosystem where founders can exchange ideas, access mentorship, and build the skills and confidence needed to move from ideation to implementation, a leap that Tamantha acknowledges is far bigger than it sounds. Tamantha is a passionate advocate for the Illawarra region. The close-knit nature of the Illawarra community makes it something of a perfect incubator, and iAccelerate is designed to harness exactly that. For community organisations and businesses stretched thin, iAccelerate offers a vital pressure valve, partnering with the community sector to explore solutions, and running programs where university students tackle real-world problems pitched by local businesses and organisations. Tamantha reflects on how those who have needed the greatest support in her personal life have shaped her and challenges us all, "Are you looking around at your community and ensuring that we are not leaving people behind?" The future being built right now will only be as inclusive as the people building it. iAccelerate is working to widen that circle, one founder at a time. If you have an idea and the drive to pursue it, visit their website or book a call with Tamantha’s team to find out more. Resources and Links: ·         iAccelerate: iAccelerate - empowering entrepreneurship - iAccelerate ·         Illawarra Flame Article: The 'academic black sheep' now powering jobs and industry Acknowledgement of Country Community Industry Group' podcast is recorded on beautiful Dharawal Country, and we acknowledge the traditional custodians of this land, and their Elders.  We acknowledge and respect their continuing culture, the world’s oldest living culture, and the contribution they make to the life of this region and our country.  We acknowledge that we live and work on Aboriginal land and recognise the strength, resilience and capacity of Aboriginal people. Music Credit: "Jarvic 8" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

On this inspiring episode of Community Matters, Nicky sits down with local legend Susan Wallis, Head of Government and Philanthropy at Good360, a remarkable charity tackling one of Australia's most overlooked issues, the $4.5 billion worth of brand new goods going to landfill every year. Susan explains how overproduction is baked into capitalism, you need surplus to meet demand, but that surplus doesn't have to mean waste. That's where Good360 comes in, acting as a powerful connector between corporate surplus and the charities, schools, and communities that need it most. Since launching in 2015, Good360 has redistributed over $550 million worth of brand-new goods to more than 5 million Australians through supporting 4,700 charities and disadvantaged schools, including over 100 right here in the Illawarra. The range of goods is extraordinary: books, clothing, electrical appliances, and even, in one memorable moment, a pallet of cat food delivered by Susan herself in her little car. With cost-of-living pressures mounting, the demand for this model is only growing. As Susan puts it, "We are Australia's biggest marketplace connecting surplus and need." Susan also shares her deeply personal motivation, caring for her late daughter Grace, whose disability needs helped spark the very idea behind Good360. She speaks passionately about inclusion, volunteering, and the profound power of giving back. "I cope by giving, kindness is a major protective factor for me." This is a conversation about waste, generosity, and the quiet revolution happening when the right people decide to connect the dots. Because when kindness becomes a system, everyone wins. Resources and Links: ·         Good360 Website: Home - Good360 Australia   Acknowledgement of Country Community Industry Group' podcast is recorded on beautiful Dharawal Country, and we acknowledge the traditional custodians of this land, and their Elders.  We acknowledge and respect their continuing culture, the world’s oldest living culture, and the contribution they make to the life of this region and our country.  We acknowledge that we live and work on Aboriginal land and recognise the strength, resilience and capacity of Aboriginal people. Music Credit: "Jarvic 8" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

The community sector talks a lot about lived experience but what does it really mean, and how can a lived reality of disability become a form of expertise every bit as hard earned, powerful and valuable as any doctorate? In this eye-opening episode, host Nicky sits down with someone who is themself a doctor (but would prefer to be called Shane) - Dr Shane Clifton, the Director of the Centre for Disability Research and Policy at the University of Sydney.   Shane's story is a remarkable one. At the age of 39, while working as a teacher at a theological college, he acquired a spinal cord injury that left him a quadriplegic. Navigating not just the physical challenges but a profound shift in identity, all while working through grief, was, as he describes it, a transformative experience that changed him completely. And yet, something unexpected emerged: Shane became a better teacher because of his disability. Central to Shane's thinking is the social model of disability, which locates disability not in the individual and their impairment, but in the inaccessible environments, attitudes and structures of society around them. This fundamental shift in perspective changes everything; it can change depression into anger, it can change how you see barriers, where you look for solutions, and inspire those with lived expertise and their allies to move beyond good intentions to bring forward valid opinions to inform and where necessary to contradict, argue or challenge. Shane takes a deep and honest look at the world of lived experience roles and co-design, and why, despite best intentions, these can so often tip into tokenism. When a person with disability sits alongside qualified professionals, they may have a seat at the table but often it is not an equal voice. Shane argues powerfully that this needs to change. The creativity, adaptability and hard-won wisdom that comes from navigating daily life with disability is genuine expertise and deserves to be treated as such. "We shouldn't apologise for what disability has taught us," he says.   As a current board director of The Disability Trust and the former president of Spinal Cord Injuries Australia, Shane has brought his lived expertise into governance roles, demonstrating what authentic representation looks like in practice. Grounding it all is the disability community's powerful guiding principle: Nothing about us without us. This is not a slogan - it's a fundamental requirement and a call to action. This is a conversation that will genuinely shift the way you think about disability, inclusion, and who gets to be the expert in the room. Don't miss it. Resources and Links: · Shane’s Blog: Shane Clifton – Riding the current · Shane’s Article (2025): Powering my wheelchair through academia: an autoethnography  · Shane’s Article (2025): Disability lived experience and expertise  Acknowledgement of Country Community Industry Group' podcast is recorded on beautiful Dharawal Country, and we acknowledge the traditional custodians of this land, and their Elders.  We acknowledge and respect their continuing culture, the world’s oldest living culture, and the contribution they make to the life of this region and our country.  We acknowledge that we live and work on Aboriginal land and recognise the strength, resilience and capacity of Aboriginal people. Music Credit: "Jarvic 8" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Getting a regular paid gig in the performing arts is no easy feat, but Ethan Arnold has done exactly that. In this enjoyable and thought-provoking episode of Community Matters, Nicky sits down with Ethan to hear his remarkable story. Ethan is a Performer, Writer and Creator with The Strangeways Ensemble — a local theatre group of seven professional actors, all performers with an intellectual disability, employed by the Merrigong Theatre in Wollongong. Born from a joint initiative between Merrigong and The Disability Trust, the Ensemble has been running since 2014, when they made their debut with the critically acclaimed production The Man Who Dreamt the Stars. Ethan joined the Ensemble in 2019, progressing from back-of-house production support to writing, acting and taking centre stage. In that time, the group has delivered five major productions, each one the product of a deeply collaborative, co-designed process that Ethan explains takes an average of three years to develop and bring to life. In this conversation, Ethan takes us inside that creative process, from the generation of ideas and script development right through to stage design and music and speaks about the camaraderie that makes the Ensemble's unique approach so special. He reflects on recent productions including The Seven, a thriller exploring the mysterious disappearance of seven people, and the powerful Something That Happened, which challenged ableism in theatre head-on. Inspired by a story of an international casting search for actors to perform in a version of Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men, the production flipped the script on inclusion, with actors with disability auditioning for the lead roles of non-disabled characters, delivering a clear and compelling message: neurodiverse actors can do anything. Ethan also treats listeners to a rendition of part of his stage monologue Spider in My Room, offering a vivid glimpse into his imagination and creative voice. And he lets slip that a brand-new passion project, Grand Final Day, is already in the works. Having once put his creative dreams aside because of his disability, Ethan now reflects with quiet pride: "A dream that I doubted would happen, it's happening." For anyone who may be struggling to back themselves, his advice is simple and clear: "Never say never, you can do it!" The Strangeways Ensemble's upcoming Cabaret Show plays at Merrigong on 27 June before touring NSW, visiting Goulburn and Queanbeyan. See the link below for more information. Resources and Links: ·         Merrigong Theatre's The Strangeways Ensemble: Merrigong Theatre Company ·         The Disability Trust’s Altogether Drama Group: Altogether Drama - The Disability Trust Acknowledgement of Country Community Industry Group' podcast is recorded on beautiful Dharawal Country, and we acknowledge the traditional custodians of this land, and their Elders.  We acknowledge and respect their continuing culture, the world’s oldest living culture, and the contribution they make to the life of this region and our country.  We acknowledge that we live and work on Aboriginal land and recognise the strength, resilience and capacity of Aboriginal people. Music Credit: "Jarvic 8" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

What does it mean to be one of the wealthiest nations on earth, yet leave one in six children living in poverty? In Australia, that contradiction is stark — and for nearly 40% of sole parent families, poverty isn't a risk on the horizon, it's the daily reality. In this episode, Nicky sits down with Melissa Andrews, Program Manager for Barnardos Communities for Children in Shellharbour, to explore what it actually takes to show up for vulnerable children and families — and why place-based, community-led programs like those facilitated here are among the most important investments our society can make. Communities for Children, facilitated by Barnardos, is one of 52 targeted programs operating in locations of need across Australia. In Shellharbour, Melissa and her team are doing far more than delivering services — they are building something lasting. The program is grounded in research and evidence, but at its heart, it is guided by a deceptively simple principle: be led by the children themselves. Barnardos is busy compiling the fourth State of Shellharbour’s Children Report and Melissa reflects on what the data reveals for its youngest residents. Since the 2019 report, the region has weathered COVID, bushfires, and a sustained erosion of housing stability. Cost of living pressures have intensified, and while some education indicators show improvement, the data points to areas of entrenched disadvantage that demand continued, long-term investment. Melissa is clear that raising the jobseeker rate would make a meaningful difference — and that community programs like Communities for Children are proven mechanisms for levelling the playing field. You'll hear about flagship initiatives like EduPlay camps, which bring children and families together in ways that build confidence, connection, and joy. The program's end-of-year awards night — celebrating achievements that might otherwise go unrecognised — is a powerful reminder of what it means to be seen. Melissa describes the deep networks of peers, mentors, and staff that form around young people in the program, and why those relationships matter long after any single activity ends. Perhaps most pressing is this: Communities for Children is currently under government review, and there is real anxiety about what the future holds. With 20 years of data demonstrating what works, Melissa makes a compelling case — not just as an advocate, but as someone who has witnessed lives transformed. One young woman, born into intergenerational poverty, is now in education and forging her own path forward. That story, Melissa says, is not the exception. It is the point. As Melissa puts it simply: "It's a really sound investment. It makes a lot of sense." Resources and Links: Barnardos Communities for Children Shellharbour programs -  Communities for Children | Barnardos AustraliaThe State of Australia’s Children 2025 Report - The State of Australia’s Children 2025 report - ACYWAThe Australian Early Development Census - Home | Australian Early Development Census (AEDC)Acknowledgement of Country Community Industry Group' podcast is recorded on beautiful Dharawal Country, and we acknowledge the traditional custodians of this land, and their Elders.  We acknowledge and respect their continuing culture, the world’s oldest living culture, and the contribution they make to the life of this region and our country.  We acknowledge that we live and work on Aboriginal land and recognise the strength, resilience and capacity of Aboriginal people. Music Credit: "Jarvic 8" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

What does it look like when someone who has spent their career fighting for communities steps into parliament where decisions actually get made? On this episode of Community Matters, host Nicky Sloan sits down with Katelin McInerney, the newly elected Member for Kiama in the NSW State Government, to find out. Katelin brings something rare to the halls of parliament - a background rooted in community sector advocacy. That experience isn't just biographical colour; it's actively shaping the way she approaches her role as an elected representative. She's listening hard, and she wants that to translate directly into better frontline services for the people of her region. But as Katelin is quick to acknowledge, government moves slowly. Promises made in 2023 around funding certainty for community organisations are only now beginning to roll through — a reality that frustrates her as much as anyone. It's a tension she navigates with honesty and pragmatism, understanding that meaningful change requires persistence, locally informed advocacy, and pressure from the ground up. And it does work. The recent announcement of targeted funding to bring more aged care beds online in the region is proof that even seemingly insurmountable issues can shift when the right voices reach the right decision makers. The Kiama electorate faces a compelling and challenging set of pressures. An ageing population, surging demand for essential workers, a housing supply crisis, and infrastructure that simply hasn't kept pace with growth. Transport, health, education and housing sit at the top of Katelin's agenda - and she speaks candidly about what happens to communities when these needs go unmet. When an area is expensive to live in and the infrastructure isn't keeping up, disillusionment sets in. People become reactive, politics becomes divisive, and new arrivals stop feeling welcome. Katelin believes the antidote is removing barriers, building genuinely affordable housing, and ensuring growth is matched with investment - not left to fend for itself. At the heart of this conversation is something Katelin describes as one of the great privileges of her role - walking alongside community members at their most vulnerable moments. Whether it's someone arriving at her office in crisis or a community organisation trying to navigate a fractured system, she shows up ready to listen. And she has broad shoulders for the hard conversations too. Most powerfully, Katelin reminds us of something we can all too easily forget: we have far more in common than what divides us. Her work, week in and week out, is to find those shared human values and build from there. If you work in the community sector, this episode is essential listening. Your local member needs to hear from you - and as Katelin puts it it’s “a great privilege” to do so. Settle in. This is a conversation about what real representation looks like. Resources and Links: ·       Katelin McInerney’s website: Katelin McInerney - NSW Labor Acknowledgement of Country Community Industry Group' podcast is recorded on beautiful Dharawal Country, and we acknowledge the traditional custodians of this land, and their Elders.  We acknowledge and respect their continuing culture, the world’s oldest living culture, and the contribution they make to the life of this region and our country.  We acknowledge that we live and work on Aboriginal land and recognise the strength, resilience and capacity of Aboriginal people. Music Credit: "Jarvic 8" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Aboriginal Australians make up just 4% of the population — yet account for 36% of the prison population. And that number is still rising. This week, Nicky sits down with Aunty Barb Nicholson to ask the question Aunty Barb herself calls "the million-dollar question": why is this happening, and what do we need to do differently? Aunty Barb is a Wodi Wodi Elder whose life has been defined by a fierce commitment to social justice. Her work is about dignity, voice and ensuring stories that are too often silenced are heard.  She brings both urgency and wisdom to a conversation that couldn't be more timely - last year saw 34 Aboriginal deaths in custody, the highest annual toll since the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody, held thirty years ago. At the heart of this crisis, she argues, is a failure of duty of care: Aboriginal inmates enter the system already impacted by trauma and the burden of chronic health conditions, and these problems are then compounded and made worse when basic healthcare is not provided. But Aunty Barb doesn't only bear witness to injustice, she actively works to counter it. Since 2013, she has run the "Ngana Barangarai" (Black Wallaby) writers group at Junee Correctional Centre, publishing the unedited words of First Nations inmates in the Dreaming Inside: Voices from Junee Correctional Centre series through the South Coast Writers Centre. After thirteen volumes, the program has touched hundreds of lives, giving prisoners a voice, a sense of dignity, and the powerful experience of seeing their own story in print. "The stories are raw," says Nicky, "but they are so incredibly powerful, they really do tell so much about how people end up in the justice system." Now heading into her 90’s, Aunty Barb shows no signs of stopping. This is an episode about systemic failure, but it's also about resilience, creativity, and one extraordinary woman's determination to make sure no voice goes unheard.  Links and Resources:  South Coast Writers Centre Shop – purchase Dreaming Inside here: Books — Store — South Coast Writers CentreClosing the Gap target performance - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representation in the Criminal Justice System: https://www.pc.gov.au/closing-the-gap-data/dashboard/outcome-area/criminal-justice/ 2023 SBS / NITV Article about Dreaming Inside - This beloved Wadi Wadi Elder is helping mob in prison become published authors | SBS NITVSBS story  / Youtube video of Junee Black Wallaby writers program Dreaming Inside at Junee Prison, NSW.Acknowledgement of Country Community Industry Group' podcast is recorded on beautiful Dharawal Country, and we acknowledge the traditional custodians of this land, and their Elders.  We acknowledge and respect their continuing culture, the world’s oldest living culture, and the contribution they make to the life of this region and our country.  We acknowledge that we live and work on Aboriginal land and recognise the strength, resilience and capacity of Aboriginal people. Music Credit: "Jarvic 8" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/