Recently AW has had the privilege of working with Feros Care, a multi-award winning not-for-profit organisation offering quality aged and community care services since 1990. They care about helping people live bolder, healthier, more connected lives, by placing dreams, creativity, friendship and ambitions at the forefront of each client relationship. Their personal approach is all about providing innovative solutions designed to meet their individual needs.
In March Feros Care launched their podcast, ‘Grow Bold’, which features uplifting conversations with people of different abilities, who are living healthy, socially connected and fulfilling lives. They discuss the taboo, the uncomfortable and funny side of living with disability. You can expect uplifting stories about overcoming adversity, as well as educational and informative conversations about the sector.
It happens that so many of our values and visions collide, leading to many creative projects together that have benefited our communities. AW has collaborated with Feros Care on a range of projects, including GranSlam!, and we were honoured to be asked to document and produce a short video capturing the greatest moments from the memorable launch event. AW’s Debbie Sandor attended the event to celebrate the podcast at Osteria in Casuarina, so we asked her to share some thoughts below.
AW: We're very excited to see this podcast shared with the world. After attending the ‘Grow Bold’ podcast launch event and working with the Feros Care team to deliver their project, Debbie, can you please tell us about who Feros is and what they're about?
Debbie: Feros Care is a “not for profit organisation” which was established 25 years ago to support our older Australians and people who have a disability. They to me are at the forefront of allowing all people to live their lives fully and I will let their own words express their belief…..
“We’re Feros Care. And what we care most about is helping people live bolder lives. Healthier. Better connected. More active. More fulfilling.
We don’t just want you to live. We want you to dream. To get your feet wet and your hands dirty. To laugh, have friends, be happy. To have ambitions, passions, plans.”
AW: Art-Work Agency was very excited to create the documentary video for the Grow Bold Podcast launch event. Can you tell us about your experience of the evening?
Debbie: Yes I was fortunate to attend the launch in March this year in the stunning venue Osteria in Casuarina. The theme of the launch was “Silent disco with a difference”. It was so much fun – dancing with headsets on, listening and grooving to the music while being entertained with snippets of the new podcast ‘Growing Bold’. The evening was hosted by Jacob Lorenzo and the ‘Grow Bold’ Podcast presenters Pete Timbs and Tristram Peters.
The event was a celebration of hard work by Jo Field COO Emerging Portfolios and team at Feros Care to bring it all together. Being a lover of people’s stories, if I cannot sit and listen one on one over a coffee or drink then podcasts are the next best thing!
AW: The Grow Bold Podcast is all about breaking down barriers, stereotypes and boundaries. Can you please share your experience listening to the podcast?
Debbie: As mentioned before, I am a lover of people’s stories and Growing Bold Podcast shows through real, inspiring and authentic stories the greater community that having a disability does not mean that their wants and needs are any different to people who are able bodied, such as independence, having a voice, being valued and adding value, adventure, careers, family and the list goes on.
AW: With your background in counselling and your passion for creating meaningful connections, what makes creativity such an effective tool for Feros Care to tackle tough conversations and topics?
Debbie: Creativity is such an effective tool in all communication! I give kudos to Feros Care in utilising this in not only their communication but also in bridging the gap by giving people with a disability or our elders a voice to express their opinions and to tell their stories via podcast, poetry, film making and art. How empowering must this be!!!
AW: The idea of ‘growing bolder’ has never been more relevant. After listening to the stories shared on the podcast, how can our communities ensure that everyone feels like they matter?
Debbie: Showing respect!! People with a disability want to live a life with independence, to be looked in the eye and asked what they want, to be given the opportunity to thrive, to the best of their ability. We all want to lead our life with purpose and yes we all need support sometimes.
AW: At AW we love working with Feros Care, in what ways would you say this organisation has inspired us to grow and change?
Debbie: We do love working with Feros Care, their team are caring, innovative and hard working which perfectly aligns with AW’s core values. I am proud to say that the Art-Work Agency team has great awareness and empathy for all. This is constantly flowing through to our clients, array of projects and connections, including our indigenous community, our elder community, our disability community and our youth and non-profit organisations.
Our ethos I believe is “We are all one”, and through creativity barriers can be broken down. We want to give you all a voice!
If you’re in need of inspiration or connection, for either yourself or your organisation, we highly recommend tuning into the ‘Grow Bold’ podcast.
Lead image: Feros Care