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 Shoalhaven. This is a conversation that will transform how you think about cultural healing and community connection.

“We are in good hands” says Charlie as he opens up about the incredible work happening at Cullunghutti, where children are strengthening their cultural identity through immersive experiences on country. By embracing the bush, connecting with animals, and engaging with spirit and culture, these young people are discovering respect, belonging, and responsibility in ways that create lasting transformation.

The conversation reveals how this approach is building resilient children and a deeply respectful community where trust flourishes. The impact extends beyond Aboriginal children as Charlie explains how their truth-telling processes are helping non-Aboriginal educators become more effective supporters of young people.

The discussion doesn't shy away from difficult topics – exploring how non-Aboriginal people can be genuine allies, addressing the legacy of the Voice referendum's No vote, and examining how cultural practices like Welcome to Country have become politicized despite their healing origins.

Nicky brings vulnerability to the conversation, openly addressing the nervousness many people feel when engaging with Aboriginal culture, helping to break down barriers and awkwardness. Together, they create an invitation for listeners to join Cullunghutti's vital community work, emphasizing that everyone has a role in building resilient future leaders and strong young people.

This episode offers both inspiration and practical pathways for meaningful cultural engagement and healing. You can check out Cullunghutti’s great work at their website www.cullunghutti.org.au or drop in and say g’day next time you are in Nowra.

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.

“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 providing nutritious breakfasts and packed lunches and a place to connect and share. After school programs, bingo and other community initiatives sees this little centre under Cath’s passionate leadership providing essential supports to the community.

Nicky and Cath explore the connections between food and social and mental health, exploring the impacts of poverty and trauma and how the Food Security Program run from the centre is directly supporting up to 70 families a week from a large, diverse but vulnerable client base from across the region which relies entirely on donations from the community, individuals and groups like Oz Harvest and Club Grants.

Nicky and Cath also explore issues around funding from the NSW Government which does not fund food and practical assistance. This seems strange given the clear connection between having enough to eat and outcomes such as school attendance.

Regardless Cath and the team make it work through sheer determination and embracing the support of the community. There is so much going on at the “Neighbo” and Cath and Nicky talk about how the community can get involved and contribute through donations or volunteering to join in the tremendous work that Cath and the team are doing to help build resilience and safety for all members of the community.

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.

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 discuss how his own life journey took him from country NSW and a sheltered worldview to a broader, more diverse and inclusive perspective shaped by exposure to the people and communities he experienced through his soccer career and his activism.

Craig reflects on pivotal moments, including rescuing a refugee footballer from a Thai prison, supporting Afghan women fleeing the Taliban, and advocating for gender-equal pay in Australian soccer. Craig discusses the importance of systemic change, challenging power structures, explaining that resistance is to be expected and is a natural part of progress. He explains how taking action can create lasting impact and personal meaning.

Ultimately, Craig’s message is one of empowerment and responsibility. He emphasises that all people are driven by a fundamental sense of justice and encourages listeners to consider their own responses to inequality by asking us the critical question: “What would you do?”. His insights inspire reflection, empathy, and the courage to act in the face of injustice, making this conversation a compelling call to action to make the world a better place for everyone.

To find out more about Craig and his work visit: www.craigfoster.net

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.

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 2023 the NDIS Review recommended a risk proportionate registration model where all providers are registered based on the level of risk and complexity of their services. Ed explains that presently only 6% of NDIS providers are registered. Registration means that providers are governed by the NDIS Practice Standards and regulated by the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission. In 2025 the NDIA is poised to introduce registration requirements for Supported Independent Living , Support Coordination and platform providers with other service types to follow.

Ed and Nicky explore the benefits of a regulated sector to support quality and safety for people receiving disability services and some of the present disparity that is a feature of the sector in terms of risks for people with disability, increased costs for registered providers and lack of oversight of unregistered providers.

Ed unpacks some of the challenges and risks associated with transitioning the market to greater regulatory oversight via registration and discusses how this will need to be undertaken in a well-planned, clear and collaborative fashion lead by government.

Link to NDIS Review Final Report Working together to deliver the NDIS. NDIS Review: Final Report (refer to page 214 for the recommended risk proportionate provider registration arrangements).

Music Credit:

"Jarvic 8" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

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.

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 Flagstaff Group to understand why.

Rod talks about some of the systemic and cultural barriers to people with disability achieving employment. While getting a job is generally regarded as a great achievement and important to our identity and self-esteem, Rod also talks about the counter intuitive fear and vulnerability that can be associated with achieving employment and the importance of addressing the genuine concerns people may have about being disadvantaged through obtaining paid work.

To address the challenge Rod talks about a model of integrated employment with broad application where there is support as needed, high expectations and people are treated equally and with dignity in the workplace. This is a whole of government and whole of community issue and here Rod articulates a helpful holistic model for an inclusive, relational and high performing approach to the workplace and thinking about work.

Music Credit:

"Jarvic 8" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

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.

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 & Albion Park Rail Neighbourhood Centres, who is on the front line of seeing the impacts of food insecurity on families and individuals. A situation which she says is very real and only getting worse. The Neighbourhood Centres which she manage have gone from being a place to connect and an information and referral service to now having to pivot into practical crisis supports, food, clothing, nappies, helping people pay bills, feeding kids and other care and crisis supports for people in need.

Danna also discusses the impacts on providers of what she calls the “Not for Profit Starvation Cycle” that sees funding not keeping pace with inflation and cost of living for community services, meaning providers need to do more with less. As she explains, Neighbourhood Centres are relying on donations and support from a community under pressure and from other NFP’s who are also affected creating a challenging cycle.

However it’s clear that Neighbourhood Centres, with their strong connections to the community are well placed to assist, and Danna gives practical ideas of how people can help and make a difference from donations, by volunteering or just giving a helping hand to someone in need. Danna speaks to the importance of community connections, relationships and the many people that have mentored and supported her along the way.

Link to the Illawarra Shoalhaven Food Survey from UOW: 2025 | Why community centres are the unsung heroes in the fight against hunger - University of Wollongong – UOW

Music Credit:

"Jarvic 8" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

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.

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. Using real life examples, Maria explores how vulnerable families are further disadvantaged by being unable to access services and supports. A poignant example is the story of the single mum who lost her job due to lack of transport and how that disadvantaged both her and her young family.

She goes on to explain that families are put at risk when they can’t make mandatory appointments and encourages service providers – and other members of society – to walk in the shoes of people experiencing transport disadvantage.

Maria speaks about the privilege of being able to drive and own a car and shines a light on the difference foster parents can make in the lives of vulnerable children and families.

A powerful lesson for us all.

Music Credit:

"Jarvic 8" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

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.

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 discuss the multiple impacts on children, families and communities of a lack of access to quality affordable ECEC and the existence of "childcare deserts" often in regions which correspond with other forms of multiple compounding disadvantages and giving children a poor start at life.

Global research confirms that children build invaluable skills in the first five years of life. From language, to social, emotional and cognitive development, this crucial period of intense growth informs later outcomes and is why accessing quality ECEC services allows children to thrive and get the best start in life meaning investment in this critical area must be a priority for government.

Kim talks about recent strategies including the introduction of a wage subsidy, that have had positive benefits for the sector to improve workforce attraction and retention. She describes innovative programs that Big Fat Smile is now operating to meet unmet need, and how the not-for-profit sector community sector is willing and able to work with government on solutions including capital funding for new centres to put resources back into community to meet the needs of children and families.

Childcare Desert Report Victoria University: Mapping the childcare deserts: Childcare accessibility in Australia | Victoria University

Music Credit:

"Jarvic 8" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

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.