Send us Fan Mail On this episode, Susan is joined by former Australian Disability Discrimination Commissioner, and disability advocate, Professor Alastair McEwin AM. He shares his story of lived experience growing up with a disability, his work as a Royal Commissioner with the Disability Royal Commission, helping form the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), Professor at University of New South Wales and his lifelong mission to push for a ...

Send us Fan Mail What would you do if your car broke down on the side of the road and there were no available options for transport assistance to get you somewhere safe? To get you home? This year, Sarah-Jane (SJ) Staszak was stranded on the side of the M4 in New South Wales for four hours after her car broke down, because there wasn't an alternative option for her to be transported safely in her wheelchair when the tow truck arrived. It just so happened that she knew someone who had a ...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode meet Luke Spencer and Kat Yee. At age 12, Luke was diagnosed with Fredrich’s Ataxia, and in May 2024, after a series of complications at the age of 25, he had a pacemaker put in that both Kat and Luke lovingly refer to C-3PO. This is the story of how Luke wanted to snorkelling in Fiji after his pacemaker was put in at the age of 25, and how Kat supported Luke as an Exercise Physiologist at NeuroMoves Lismore, and then as his support worker and most importantly...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, meet 20-year-old Nioka Bush who lives with Cerebral Palsy and is on the autistic spectrum. Nioka shares her experience growing up with her disability, going through the schooling system, the women who have helped shaped her and her advice for the next generation of women growing up with disabilities. This episode has been made in celebration of International Womens Day, which celebrates the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of ...

Send us Fan Mail Meet Melbourne-based podcaster and disability advocate Peta Hooke. She is the host of 'The I Can’t Stand Podcast', and in 2025, she released a short podcast series called 'Eggs', where she chronicles her real-life experience navigating IVF and fertility with a Cerebral Palsy. On Have the Nerve, Susan and Peta talk a bit more about that podcast and the reception, medical equity and they discuss how our lifelong disabilities have shaped what gratitude means to them. ...

Send us Fan Mail In the final episode for Have the Nerve for 2025, meet Susan's mother, Alma. Alma came from Kabankalan, Negros Occidental in the Philippines to Australia in 1981. She shares her perspective of raising Susan, observations as she got older, advice for parents of children who have disabilities, and the switch from being the caretaker to being cared for by Susan at the age of 85. This podcast would not be possible without funding from the Department of Social Services (DSS)...

Send us Fan Mail Today is International Day of People with Disability (IDPwD)! On this episode, Forrest, Declan and Maz from our EmployAbility team come on the podcast to discuss equity, the importance of lived-experience led training and social progress. This year's theme for IDPwD is 'Fostering disability inclusive societies for advancing social progress'. At SCIA, all of our services strive to empower people with disabilities, the people who support them and educate the next ge...

Send us Fan Mail On this episode Dan Holt, Ash Treseder and Rob Wynn come on the podcast to share their experiences of fatherhood at their respective stages. Whether that's a father to be, a new father or a with grown children, they share their learnings, some of the fears and how the importance of being open and honest about their disabilities to everyone is essential. Information in this episode Put a face to the people you heard in this episode and visit SCIA's Peer and F...

Send us Fan Mail From what accessible means and even down to how thick carpet is, on this episode Susan Wood, Liberty Smith and Hayley Dean come on Have The Nerve to have a chat about what we're learnt since working at Spinal Cord Injuries Australia and how nothing compares to working alongside people with disabilities, or others who have a similar disability to open up your eyes to the disabled experience, or learn life lessons - whether you have a disability or not. Credits This episo...

Send us Fan Mail Have the Nerve is back on for 2025! This is Have The Nerve Shorts - the short episodes between the long ones where we talk about things From The Internet, you can Get To Know Your Body and there might be even Something To Think About. On this episode Laura Burling, Heidz Haydon and Susan Wood talk about about TikToker Claire Sisk (@canseecantsee), a woman who has a visual impairment. She shares her experiences as a person with disability embarking on her very first cruise. Yo...