National TV program Helping Hands will feature panel discussions on disability support services, advocacy and the NDIS in the coming weeks.
The two panel discussions are part of a broader four-episode series on ability and enablement on the program, which is broadcast on the Nine Network every Saturday and Sunday.
The panellists in this series are Paralympian, Paris 2024 silver medallist and QANTAS
ambassador Jamieson Leeson; disability advocate and advisor Dr Louise Gosbell, and
the CEO of Australian Operations at Tender Loving Care Disability Services, Laura Cowell.
Each of the panellists speak openly and honestly in the discussions, sharing their own unique perspectives and experiences, to help viewers to better understand complexities within and around the disability sector in Australia.
Executive producer of Helping Hands, Richard Attieh, says a national conversation with all Australians, especially with people who are not directly impacted by disability, should be easily accessible and must be ongoing.
“There is so much we can all learn from listening to people with lived experience,” he said.
“I was thrilled when our panellists, who are all leaders in their field, agreed to contribute to our panel discussions.”
The panel discussions will also be adapted into curriculum-aligned education resources to
be distributed to over 500 schools as part of the Helping Hands program.
“We want to see generational change take place in conversations around the disability
sector in Australia,” said Attieh.
“The Helping Hands education resources allow our conversations today to also make a generational impact in 15-20 years’ time. And that is very exciting.”
Future panel discussions will air from the following dates across the Nine Network:
- Disability and Support will air on the weekend of Saturday 5 April.
- Disability and Advocacy will air on the weekend of Saturday 12 April.