http://www.thisaustralianlife.net.auenSociety & CultureCopyright Dr Susan Siskohttps://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/8227eb8840b664204218168ea5feee28.jpghttp://www.thisaustralianlife.net.auWed, 08 May 2024 01:18:06 +0000Dr Susan SiskoDr Susan Siskossiskophd@gmail.comThe podcast will bring together people who are engaged in work, research, story-telling, education and those who have lived experiences as it relates to ‘wicked problems’ - including racism, sexism, social injustice, hetero-sexism, ableism, religion...cleanepisodichttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/episode-18-belonging-to-country-with-peter-pecotic--56433431As an entrepreneur he started a communications agency in Sydney specialising in business, cultural, and political communications which expanded into operations in China, Singapore and across the Indo-Pacific. For many years he was based in China and was on the Board of Austcham Shanghai. As a campaigner he worked on the successful Albanese and Chris Minns campaigns along with numerous election campaigns in the UK.
As a film maker Peter’s fascinated with the human condition transcending across cultures and has embarked on making documentaries to explore these themes.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/56433431Fri, 11 Aug 2023 00:55:43 +0000Dr Susan SiskoPeter Pecotić is an entrepreneur, campaigner, and emerging film maker, Australian born of Croatian/ Dalmatian decent. As an entrepreneur he started a communications agency in Sydney specialising in business, cultural, and political communications...As an entrepreneur he started a communications agency in Sydney specialising in business, cultural, and political communications which expanded into operations in China, Singapore and across the Indo-Pacific. For many years he was based in China and was on the Board of Austcham Shanghai. As a campaigner he worked on the successful Albanese and Chris Minns campaigns along with numerous election campaigns in the UK.
As a film maker Peter’s fascinated with the human condition transcending across cultures and has embarked on making documentaries to explore these themes.]]>2317clean118fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/episode-17-singlehood-doing-life-on-your-own-with-dr-gen-ford-donna-ward--53623195Dr Gen Ford is a single, happily childfree woman living in Melbourne. She has a PhD in international relations and has spent her career loitering around universities in various capacities, holding strong beliefs in the power of education to change people's lives.
Gen started Solo Advocacy Australia in early 2022 in recognition of the way people doing life solo are still largely unrecognised and disadvantaged in society and as a love letter to the role that friendship and her community of solo friends has played in her own life.
When she's not trying to survive on a single income or working on Solo, you'll likely find her browsing a garden or an op shop, hiking, or deep in a book.
In mid 2020 Gen gave a large piece of her heart to her little cat Evie and has no regrets.

Donna Ward established the micro-press Inkerman & Blunt Publishers in 2013, and indigo, the journal of Western Australian creative writing in 2007. From 2011–2012 she edited the online poetry magazine, Sotto, for Poetry Australia. She has past lives as a psychotherapist, social worker, and organizational consultant. Her prose has appeared in Griffith Review, Southerly Magazine, Island Magazine, Huffington Post, and Westerly Magazine. Her hybrid memoir, She I Dare Not Name, A Spinster’s Meditations on Life, was published by Allen & Unwin 2020.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/53623195Sun, 23 Apr 2023 21:25:19 +0000Dr Susan SiskoDr Gen Ford is a single, happily childfree woman living in Melbourne. She has a PhD in international relations and has spent her career loitering around universities in various capacities, holding strong beliefs in the power of education to change...Dr Gen Ford is a single, happily childfree woman living in Melbourne. She has a PhD in international relations and has spent her career loitering around universities in various capacities, holding strong beliefs in the power of education to change people's lives.
Gen started Solo Advocacy Australia in early 2022 in recognition of the way people doing life solo are still largely unrecognised and disadvantaged in society and as a love letter to the role that friendship and her community of solo friends has played in her own life.
When she's not trying to survive on a single income or working on Solo, you'll likely find her browsing a garden or an op shop, hiking, or deep in a book.
In mid 2020 Gen gave a large piece of her heart to her little cat Evie and has no regrets.

Donna Ward established the micro-press Inkerman & Blunt Publishers in 2013, and indigo, the journal of Western Australian creative writing in 2007. From 2011–2012 she edited the online poetry magazine, Sotto, for Poetry Australia. She has past lives as a psychotherapist, social worker, and organizational consultant. Her prose has appeared in Griffith Review, Southerly Magazine, Island Magazine, Huffington Post, and Westerly Magazine. Her hybrid memoir, She I Dare Not Name, A Spinster’s Meditations on Life, was published by Allen & Unwin 2020.]]>2917clean17fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/episode-16-inclusive-employment-and-disability-with-shaun-pianta--53116573
Every day he helps people living with disability and disadvantage to find meaningful and sustainable employment through Employment Services, as well as helping spread the word of the power of a diverse workforce.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/53116573Tue, 07 Mar 2023 02:21:52 +0000Dr Susan SiskoWhen life suddenly changes, so do your dreams and aspirations. Shaun never imagined becoming a Paralympian or a disability advocate. Shaun shares his incredible life story; how he overcame expectations and how you can create a more meaningful life...
Every day he helps people living with disability and disadvantage to find meaningful and sustainable employment through Employment Services, as well as helping spread the word of the power of a diverse workforce.]]>2056clean16fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/episode-15-planning-for-families-in-compact-cities-with-dr-sophie-may-kerr--52662798https://api.spreaker.com/episode/52662798Tue, 07 Feb 2023 18:51:12 +0000Dr Susan SiskoDr Sophie-May Kerr is a Research Associate at City Futures Research Centre UNSW. With experience across the University and non-profit sectors, Sophie-May has worked on contemporary urban challenges including planning for diversity in high-density...2061clean1fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/episode-14-intersections-of-indigeneity-and-disability-with-dr-scott-avery--52524786His research area on the intersection of Indigenous and disability rights and social policy. He has authored the research monograph Culture is Inclusion: A narrative of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People with disability and is the lead investigator in the ‘Living our ways’ research program that established a community-based disability research agenda from Australia’s Indigenous people.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/52524786Tue, 24 Jan 2023 04:31:03 +0000Dr Susan SiskoDr Scott Avery is a Senior Lecturer in Indigenous Disability at Western Sydney University and the research partner of First Peoples Disability Network (Australia). He is a descendant from the Worimi people and is profoundly deaf. His research area on...His research area on the intersection of Indigenous and disability rights and social policy. He has authored the research monograph Culture is Inclusion: A narrative of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People with disability and is the lead investigator in the ‘Living our ways’ research program that established a community-based disability research agenda from Australia’s Indigenous people.]]>3071clean114fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/episode-13-community-connections-and-impact-with-melissa-cooke--51678285career to date. Melissa believes that how we engage with others has a huge impact on people’s lives which drives long-term outcomes and change. She believes that when we connect genuinely, we build self-resilience and resilience of a community which is the driver for change and belonging, if we don’t belong, we don’t connect.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/51678285Tue, 25 Oct 2022 01:41:48 +0000Dr Susan SiskoMelissa Cooke has worked in the community services sector for over 18 years completing a bachelor’s degree in community and human services. Melissa has worked across disability, aged care, young adults in a mental health setting, leaving care, youth,...career to date. Melissa believes that how we engage with others has a huge impact on people’s lives which drives long-term outcomes and change. She believes that when we connect genuinely, we build self-resilience and resilience of a community which is the driver for change and belonging, if we don’t belong, we don’t connect.]]>2622clean113fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/episode-12-gender-religion-and-diversity-with-dr-kathleen-mcphillips--51295125https://api.spreaker.com/episode/51295125Sun, 18 Sep 2022 03:25:18 +0000Dr Susan SiskoDr Kathleen McPhillips is a sociologist of religion and gender and teaches at the University of Newcastle, Australia. Kathleen employs feminist, psychoanalytic and sociological frameworks to issues around gender and religion and explores women's...2769clean1fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/episode-11-intersections-of-the-arts-and-justice-with-dr-rachael-jacobs--50983049https://api.spreaker.com/episode/50983049Sun, 21 Aug 2022 04:11:00 +0000Dr Susan SiskoDr Rachael Jacobs who is a lecturer in Creative Arts Education at Western Sydney University and a former secondary arts teacher (Dance, Drama and Music). Her research interests include creativity and assessment, language acquisition through the arts...2401clean1fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/episode-10-diversity-in-leadership-with-karen-loon--50652426 Karen led numerous audit and financial due diligence assignments with many of the world’s leading banks, funds and capital markets players operating in the Asia-Pacific. Further, she was their Asia-Pacific and Singapore Diversity Leader and a Global Diversity Leadership Team member.
Karen is a passionate diversity advocate, thought leader and speaker on diversity and inclusion. Her upcoming book, Fostering Culturally Diverse Leadership in Organisations: Lessons from Those Who Smashed the Bamboo Ceiling, will be released in August 2022.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/50652426Wed, 20 Jul 2022 01:44:55 +0000Dr Susan SiskoKaren Loon is a Non-Executive Director and a former Financial Services Partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers. She is a 4th generation Asian-Australian; she has been based in Singapore for nearly 30 years. Karen led numerous audit and financial due... Karen led numerous audit and financial due diligence assignments with many of the world’s leading banks, funds and capital markets players operating in the Asia-Pacific. Further, she was their Asia-Pacific and Singapore Diversity Leader and a Global Diversity Leadership Team member.
Karen is a passionate diversity advocate, thought leader and speaker on diversity and inclusion. Her upcoming book, Fostering Culturally Diverse Leadership in Organisations: Lessons from Those Who Smashed the Bamboo Ceiling, will be released in August 2022.]]>2195clean1fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/episode-9b-ageism-and-younger-people-with-mark-yin--49609973https://api.spreaker.com/episode/49609973Sun, 01 May 2022 00:44:40 +0000Dr Susan SiskoMark is a youth researcher through the Explore program, run jointly by the Centre for Multicultural Youth and the Centre for Resilient and Inclusive Societies. He completed an Honours in Criminology at the University of Melbourne in 2021 while working...2347clean1fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/episode-9a-ageism-and-older-people-with-dr-catherine-barrett--49305805She believes cultural change begins with each and every one of us challenging our own internalised ageism.

Catherine is a 2022 Probono Australia Impact 25 award winner
Then Globe 2021 LGBTIQ person of the year And the founder and director of the Kindness Pandemic – voted the most uplifting facebook group in the world]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/49305805Sun, 03 Apr 2022 21:39:00 +0000Dr Susan SiskoDr Catherine Barrett is the founder and director of Celebrate Ageing, a not for profit challenging ageism and building respect for older people. Catherine has worked with older people for over 35 years as a nurse in residential aged care, and then as...She believes cultural change begins with each and every one of us challenging our own internalised ageism.

Catherine is a 2022 Probono Australia Impact 25 award winner
Then Globe 2021 LGBTIQ person of the year And the founder and director of the Kindness Pandemic – voted the most uplifting facebook group in the world]]>2644clean1fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/episode-8-islamophobia-with-dr-rhonda-itaoui--49049418
Prior to her appointment with the Centre for Western Sydney, Rhonda was a community program manager at UTS, and a researcher with the Challenging Racism Project (CRP) at Western Sydney University. In her role with the CRP, she collaborated on multi-stakeholder projects focused on geographies of diversity and racism in Australian cities. She was also previously appointed as a Research Fellow at the University of California, Berkeley where she developed research and resources for countering Islamophobia in the American context.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/49049418Sun, 13 Mar 2022 22:55:10 +0000Dr Susan SiskoRhonda is an early career researcher interested in geographies of diversity, multiculturalism and belonging in urban spaces. Her PhD research on the geographies of Islamophobia in Sydney, Australia and the San Francisco Bay Area, USA revealed the need...
Prior to her appointment with the Centre for Western Sydney, Rhonda was a community program manager at UTS, and a researcher with the Challenging Racism Project (CRP) at Western Sydney University. In her role with the CRP, she collaborated on multi-stakeholder projects focused on geographies of diversity and racism in Australian cities. She was also previously appointed as a Research Fellow at the University of California, Berkeley where she developed research and resources for countering Islamophobia in the American context.]]>2728clean1fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/episode-7-heterosexism-criminals-sinners-with-dr-peter-bansel--48812952 In contesting taken for granted accounts of what it means to be human, natural, or normal, Peter’s work explores how the social world of people, and the material world of things, are interrelated. This intertwining of worlds generates conversations about the body as matter, which bodies come to matter, and how we might reorient our thinking about what matters for our collective survival.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/48812952Mon, 21 Feb 2022 04:37:03 +0000Dr Susan SiskoDr Peter Bansel is a sociologist and member of Sexualities and Gender Research in the School of Sciences at Western Sydney University. His scholarship and research interests respond to political questions about how social differences are made, not... In contesting taken for granted accounts of what it means to be human, natural, or normal, Peter’s work explores how the social world of people, and the material world of things, are interrelated. This intertwining of worlds generates conversations about the body as matter, which bodies come to matter, and how we might reorient our thinking about what matters for our collective survival.]]>2834culture,heterosexism,societyclean1fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/episode-6-fat-shaming-and-discrimination-with-dr-cat-pause-and-mneme--47728586
Mneme (Nee Mee) or Mne, is a 30 year old, fat, queer, disabled and chronically/mentally ill artist and content creator living on Kaurna Yerta (so called Adelaide) She/They has a long history of being involved with activism, social justice etc, but due to complex and intersecting marginalisation often finds herself falling through the proverbial cracks. She considers her very existence to be revolutionary.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/47728586Wed, 01 Dec 2021 00:34:04 +0000Dr Susan SiskoOur guests are Cat Pause is a Fat Studies scholar and fat activist in Aotearoa New Zealand. Dr. Pause's scholarship focuses on the impact of fat stigma on the health and well-being of fat people. Mneme (Nee Mee) or Mne, is a 30 year old, fat, queer,...
Mneme (Nee Mee) or Mne, is a 30 year old, fat, queer, disabled and chronically/mentally ill artist and content creator living on Kaurna Yerta (so called Adelaide) She/They has a long history of being involved with activism, social justice etc, but due to complex and intersecting marginalisation often finds herself falling through the proverbial cracks. She considers her very existence to be revolutionary.]]>2639clean1fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/episode-5-racism-and-well-being-with-associate-professor-nida-denson--47464607https://api.spreaker.com/episode/47464607Sun, 14 Nov 2021 05:07:59 +0000Dr Susan SiskoThis episode opens up with an introduction of Nida and what has influenced nearly two decades of research on racism and anti-racism. Nida Denson is an Associate Professor at Western Sydney University. Her research aims to combat racism and...2091clean1fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/episode-4-borderlands-and-humans-rights-with-dr-rachel-sharples--47250704https://api.spreaker.com/episode/47250704Mon, 01 Nov 2021 01:46:36 +0000Dr Susan SiskoRachel Sharples is a Sociologist in the School of Social Sciences at Western Sydney University. She is a member of the Challenging Racism Project and the Diversity and Human Rights Research Centre. Rachel’s research interests are interdisciplinary,...2006clean1fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/episode-3-social-determinants-of-health-and-well-being-with-dr-matt-fisher--47020117https://api.spreaker.com/episode/47020117Sun, 17 Oct 2021 21:07:40 +0000Dr Susan SiskoDr. Matt Fisher is a Senior Researcher in Public Health at the Southgate Institute for Health, Society and Equity, at Flinders University. He has worked in public health research for over 10 years, focused on the intersection between public policy and...1848cleanfullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/episode-2-asian-australians-experiences-of-racism-during-covid-with-dr-alanna-kamp--46859044https://api.spreaker.com/episode/46859044Thu, 07 Oct 2021 03:19:33 +0000Dr Susan SiskoDr Alanna Kamp is Lecturer in Geography and Urban Studies in the School of SocialSciences at Western Sydney University. She is an academic member of theChallenging Racism Project (WSU), Diversity and Human Rights Research Centre(WSU), Young and...2252cleanfullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/episode-1-post-colonialism-is-that-for-real-with-sharlene-cruickshank--46585017of the Wandi Wandandian - Wodi Wodi and Jerrinja peoples of the Yuin
nation on the New South Wales’ South Coast. Her story line or song line covers
from one end of the state to the other, from Far West New South Wales to the
South Coast of New South Wales with a few diversions along the way. Sharlene has over
30 years experience working in health-related areas including the past 13 years in
community mental health, social and emotional wellbeing particularly working in Indigenous communities and with women's health. Currently she is working for NSW Health as the Aboriginal Mental Health Clinical Leader at Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/46585017Sun, 19 Sep 2021 11:55:36 +0000Dr Susan SiskoSharlene Cruickshank is an Aboriginal person. She is a descendant of the Wandi Wandandian - Wodi Wodi and Jerrinja peoples of the Yuin nation on the New South Wales’ South Coast. Her story line or song line covers from one end of the state to the...of the Wandi Wandandian - Wodi Wodi and Jerrinja peoples of the Yuin
nation on the New South Wales’ South Coast. Her story line or song line covers
from one end of the state to the other, from Far West New South Wales to the
South Coast of New South Wales with a few diversions along the way. Sharlene has over
30 years experience working in health-related areas including the past 13 years in
community mental health, social and emotional wellbeing particularly working in Indigenous communities and with women's health. Currently she is working for NSW Health as the Aboriginal Mental Health Clinical Leader at Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District.]]>2282cleanfullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/welcome-from-your-host-dr-susan-sisko--46542257
Amongst other publications, Susan is author and co-editor of Cultural Responsiveness in Counselling and Psychology (2021). The book focuses on Australian populations and systemic structures with a social justice framework. Susan is passionate about changing the debate in the field by moving away from cultural competence based on a Eurocentric position and focus on social justice and systemic issues – ultimately shifting blame from vulnerable and non-dominant groups to exploring systemics issues as related to quality of care and the inequity gap in accessing mental health services.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/46542257Thu, 16 Sep 2021 02:58:41 +0000Dr Susan SiskoDr Susan Sisko is a registered psychologist, clinical supervisor and lecturer at a major university. She is engaged in research with the Challenging Racism Project | Diversity and Human Rights Research Centre at Western Sydney University. With a...
Amongst other publications, Susan is author and co-editor of Cultural Responsiveness in Counselling and Psychology (2021). The book focuses on Australian populations and systemic structures with a social justice framework. Susan is passionate about changing the debate in the field by moving away from cultural competence based on a Eurocentric position and focus on social justice and systemic issues – ultimately shifting blame from vulnerable and non-dominant groups to exploring systemics issues as related to quality of care and the inequity gap in accessing mental health services.]]>186belonging,bias,discrimination,diversity,inclusion,racism,sexismcleanfull