COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS PODCAST
Latest Episode
This week we are celebrating 1 year of Community Conversations with a Best of Episode highlighting some of the great moments from our first year!
This past year we have had conversations covering various topics that impact our communities, all of which have been informative and hopefully enjoyable for our listeners.
Community Conversations has been a joy to share with the public and we would like to thank all of our amazing guests for sharing their knowledge and their stories to make all this possible. We will continue to release content that aims at improving the local communities in which we love!
Where to Listen
Be sure to listen via Spotify, Apple Podcasts or the web player, weekly and follow our socials to stay notified as each episode is released.
About the Podcast
The Community Conversations Podcast will feature stories and information on community development efforts, the programs being run by our members and general community interest topics. Across the State of South Australia there are volunteers and staff helping our community members to find connections, access to food, housing and education in an environment that welcomes everyone to their doors. Community Centres are open for anyone and provide place based activities to enrich the lives of our community. We will be interviewing Community Centre members, community connection partners and community stakeholders who will share their experiences, activities and upcoming events.
The Podcast is aimed at highlighting the good work being done to make a difference at the grassroots level to address issues such as loneliness, homelessness, social injustice and how to improve wellbeing of our communities. Be sure to listen every week as we release each episode. The podcast will be easily accessible on our website and can be downloaded on your preferred podcast platforms.
Meet the Host
Kerrie Akkermans
Kerrie Akkermans, CEO of CCSA, is an avid supporter of the community sector. With years of experience as a broadcaster on FIVEaa, Kerrie has a natural ability to connect with guests and delve into their lived experiences and stories. Kerrie’s passion for supporting communities and sharing stories makes for an engaging and insightful listening experience.
Episodes
This week we are celebrating 1 year of Community Conversations with a Best of Episode highlighting some of the great moments from our first year!
This past year we have had conversations covering various topics that impact our communities, all of which have been informative and hopefully enjoyable for our listeners.
Community Conversations has been a joy to share with the public and we would like to thank all of our amazing guests for sharing their knowledge and their stories to make all this possible. We will continue to release content that aims at improving the local communities in which we love!
This week we are joined by Fiona Endacott, Verity and George from Connecting Foster & Kinship Carers!
In this episode, Fiona Endicott and Verity discuss the vital role of foster and kinship carers in South Australia, focusing on the growing demand for family-based care and the unique challenges faced by kinship carers.
Furthermore, Fiona and Verity emphasise the need for better advocacy, increased carer payments, and more flexible options. Verity shares her personal journey of becoming a kinship carer for her nephew, shedding light on the emotional and financial difficulties involved. The conversation highlights the importance of support and recognition for caregivers, who often navigate complex systems with limited resources. We are also joined by George, who discusses their experience with taking in a family member.
This week we are joined by Jenny Macaffer from Adult Learning Australia!
In this weeks discussion, Jenny Macaffer from Adult Learning Australia underscores the serious literacy and numeracy challenges facing Australia, with 44% of adults having low literacy and 54% low numeracy skills. Adult Learning Australia advocates for lifelong learning for adults aged 15 and over through various initiatives, including advocacy, resources, and professional development.
Jenny highlights the critical role of Community Centres and Neighbourhood Houses in providing accessible learning opportunities, often in informal settings like cooking or gardening classes, which foster social connections and trust. The discussion also calls for increased government recognition and funding for adult community education. Coming up next week (1-7 September) is Adult Learners Week, continue reading below to discover more about the week and how you can get involved.
This week we are joined by Tomas Passeggi and Paul Sekfy!
In this podcast, we discuss the crucial role of local engagement and global collaboration in promoting social justice and sustainable development. Tomas underlined the need for evaluating programs to ensure accountability, while Paul highlighted how local communities can drive global change by addressing interconnected challenges.
We engage in further discussion surrounding the importance of understanding the link between local and global efforts in achieving shared goals, such as the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The conversation also touched on the challenges faced by Community Centres, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic and the importance of retaining core values in volunteerism and professionalization.
This week we are joined by Emma Slape from Turner Real Estate!
Together we engage in a discussion surrounding real estate, the global housing crisis and improving the relationships between tenants and landlords. Emma details ideas for creating a landlord register, implementing training requirements for landlords and creating new laws that allow tenants to challenge unreasonable rent hikes.
Additionally, Emma addresses the complexities of managing tenancies during property sales and underscored the importance of negotiation skills for resolving tenant issues. Together we explore potential long term solutions for improving the current housing market, such as considering commercial spaces for temporary housing and having early conversations with tenants about long-term property plans to facilitate cooperation.
This week we are joined by SAHMRI’s Professor Tim Hughes and Executive Director Maria Makrides.
In this episode, Professor Tim Hughes discusses his research and breakthroughs in chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) treatment. We also speak with Janet Anderson, who shares her lived experience of her battle with CML, highlighting her challenges and triumphs.
Professor Hughes highlights the importance of researcher collaboration and highlights remarkable frontline study results. Together we delve into the significance of addressing lifestyle factors in health research and debunk myths about pharmaceutical companies withholding cures. Furthermore, the guests emphasise the competitive nature of research funding and the necessity of a robust scientific approach. The episode concludes with discussions on genetic testing, prevention strategies and early diagnosis of blood cancers.
Contact Us
Send us your feedback, ideas for future episodes or contact our team if you would like to be a guest on the podcast.
info@communitycentressa.asn.au