Community Matters
Community Matters is the new podcast hosted by Community Industry Group’s CEO Nicky Sloan that dives into community-driven solutions for pressing issues. Join Nicky as she catches up with community leaders to hear inspiring stories, expert insights, and actionable ideas to create positive change.
Episodes
28 episodes
HOMELESSNESS: With Kelly McGarrity – Creating pathways to housing
When demand for homelessness services hits record levels, what does innovation look like to respond to the challenge?With 68,700 people on social housing waitlists across the state and over 3,000 waiting in the Wollongong-Shellharbour ar...
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16:00
ASTHMA AWARENESS: With Alexander Brown – Building an Asthma Smart Community in the Illawarra
More than 1 in 10 Australians live with asthma—that's 2.8 million people. In the Illawarra alone, over 250 people are hospitalized each year, impacting not just those with the condition but their families and communities. In this in...
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19:39
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CULTURAL SAFETY: With Becky Garrett – Why Getting This Right Is Non-Negotiable
The 2024 Closing the Gap report revealed a stark truth: 47% of the health gap for Aboriginal people, including life expectancy rates, is related to institutional racism, interpersonal racism, and intergenerational trauma. These findings make on...
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25:26
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DISABILITY INCLUSION: With Krystal Tritton – Why Australia's Boardrooms have a disability problem
In a terrible indictment on disability inclusion in leadership and governance roles, across Australia's 300 largest companies, not a single director openly identifies as living with disability. Zero. And it's been that way for years. In ...
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25:52
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HEALTH AND WELLBEING: With Graham Lancaster AM – Squeezing the juice out of life
What does it mean to truly live, even when facing a life-altering diagnosis?This life affirming conversation with Wollongong lawyer, board director, mentor and well-known community connector Graham Lancaster cuts to the heart of t...
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37:15
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DISABILITY RIGHTS: With Alison Oyston – Screaming Risk from the Rooftops!
In this essential episode of Community Matters, Nicky speaks with Alison Oyston, Manager of Illawarra Advocacy, about why the last 12 months have been "one of the most difficult in recent history" for people with disability. ...
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29:52
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LAND USE: With Michael Yiend – Wollongong’s 200 Hectares of Opportunity
What happens when 200 hectares of industrial land becomes available for transformation? For Wollongong, it represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reshape the region's future while honoring its past.In this compelling episode of...
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25:29
YOUTH HOMELESSNESS: With Kristy Puckeridge – Everyone needs a safe place to call home
With over 13,000 young people in NSW alone without a secure place to sleep tonight, it’s time we talked about youth homelessness and the critical lack of housing security for young people across our region. Nicky unpacks this issue...
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17:40
REFUGEE SUPPORT: With Allyson Pazos – walking alongside community
With 32% of Australia’s population born overseas Australia is truly a nation of immigrants with a strong and diverse multicultural identity. On this episode Nicky speaks with Allyson Pazos, Manager for Youth and Refugee Services at MCC...
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31:40
VETERANS HEALTH: With Lachlan Stevens – Building a “Sense of Purpose” through Community
Content Warning: This episode contains discussions of suicide that may be upsetting or triggering for some listeners. Resources and support are available and listed at the bottom of the show notes below. In this epi...
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37:44
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE: With Jagdeep Singh – Why AI is a Game Changer for the Community Sector
“It’s a little bit mind blowing!” says Nicky in this vital episode as she talks Artificial Intelligence (AI) with Jagdeep Singh, Emerging Technologies and Innovation Specialist. Jagdeep and Nicky take a much-needed look at...
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37:52
DISABILITY EMPLOYMENT: With Karen Burdett – Shifting the dial on employment inclusion
On this important episode of Community Matters Nicky talks with Karen Burdett, CEO of Greenacres Disability Services, and dives into the benefits of employment inclusion and the challenges we face today as a result of Australia not keeping pace...
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36:37
SEXUAL HEALTH: With Tracy Lumb – It’s time to talk about Sexual Choking
Content Warning: This episode contains discussions of sexual violence and disturbing content that may be upsetting or triggering for some listeners. Please use your discretion when deciding whether to continue listening. If you or someon...
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34:48
NDIS THERAPY PRICING: With Alice Lans – Why early intervention is an essential investment in a child’s future
In this episode Nicky speaks with Alice Lans the CEO of Noah’s Inclusion Services to better understand how allied health disability services support functional outcomes for children with disability. Alice is a Speech Pathologist by traini...
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24:55
AGED CARE WORKFORCE: With Amarni Harris – The first word that comes to mind is "Fun"!
In this enjoyable episode Nicky chats with Amarni Harris, a young Personal Care Worker with Warrigal Care. With a workforce twice the size of the entire mining industry in Australia, aged care needs great people and faces an urgent need t...
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15:44
NAIDOC WEEK SPECIAL: With Charlie Ashby – Next Generation Rising: Cultural Healing in the Shoalhaven
In this powerful NAIDOC Week special celebrating the 2025 theme of "Next Generation: Strength Vision and Legacy," host Nicky sits down with Charlie Ashby, Cultural Lead for Cullunghutti Aboriginal Child and Family Centre in the Sh...
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22:22
COST OF LIVING CRISIS: With Cath Daly - Food is the glue: Building community one meal at a time
“There’s got to be food and it’s got to be fun!” explains Bellambi Neighbourhood Centre Coordinator Cath Daly about her approach to supporting community health and wellbeing.Nicky talks to Cath about supporting families and kids by provi...
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22:06
HUMAN RIGHTS: With Craig Foster AM –What would you do in the face of injustice?
In this powerful conversation, Nicky dives deep into fairness, equity, and social justice with Craig Foster AM—former Socceroos captain, sports broadcaster, author, human rights advocate and 2023 NSW Australian of the Year. Nicky and Craig disc...
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37:22
DISABILITY REFORM: With Edward Birt – The shift to registration for NDIS providers
This week Nicky talks to Ed Birt, Senior Policy Specialist at the Community Industry Group, about the shift towards a risk proportionate registration model for disability service providers that is coming to the NDIS. In December 20...
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33:47
DISABILITY EMPLOYMENT: With Rod Von Clark – More than a job - breaking down the barriers to employment success
Statistics show, despite years of disability employment strategies, rates of employment for people with a disability remain much lower than the general population. On this episode Nicky takes a deep dive with Rod Von Clark the CEO of the ...
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28:56
COST OF LIVING CRISIS: With Danna Nelse AM - How neighbourhood centres are pivoting to tackle the crisis
New research from the University of Wollongong reveals concerning levels of food insecurity for families across the Illawarra Shoalhaven region (see link below). On this episode Nicky speaks with Danna Nelse, Manager of the Albion Park &a...
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20:01
TRANSPORT DISADVANTAGE: With Maria Corsiglia - How Transport Disadvantage Deepens Vulnerability
In this Episode, Nicky is joined by Maria Corsiglia - Centre Manager, Barnardo's South Coast Children's Family Centre. Maria gives insights into how lack of access to public transport impacts the lives of people in vulnerable circumstances. Usi...
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Season 1
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Episode 6
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15:28
EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATON & CARE: With Kim Bertino - Getting it right for every child
In this important episode Nicky talks with Kim Bertino. Kim is the Chief Executive Officer of Big Fat Smile, a not-for-profit provider in the Illawarra providing Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) services. Kim and Nicky disc...
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Season 1
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Episode 7
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14:14
BED BLOCK P4: With Val Fell - A personal perspective on bed block
Aged Care, Ageing and Dementia Advocate, Val Fell joins Nicky to give a very personal account of being a patient who has experienced the impact of bed block. A member of the Minister’s Council of Elders and the National Older Persons’ Reference...
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Season 1
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Episode 5
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16:31
BED BLOCK P3: With Tanya Southworth - STARS unblocking hospital beds one conversation at a time
In our third episode focusing on “Bed Block,” Nicky is shocked to learn that older people admitted to hospital are staying, on average, over 16 times longer than younger people. This is “Bed Block,” where people no longer in need of acute care ...
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Season 1
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Episode 4
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17:33
