In this episode, Ellie speaks with Lorna, an Employment Consultant at APM, who uses her lived experience with Parkinson's disease to support others with a disability or health condition.

• Watch the full video on the APM website

Chapters

• (00:00) - Intro
• (00:31) - Dad’s experience with diabetes
• (04:22) - Moving to Australia
• (06:18) - Getting diagnosed with Parkinson’s
• (10:48) - Opening the door for others at APM
• (13:26) - How disability changed Lorna’s perspective
• (17:29) - Impact of hiring people with disability

This podcast was recorded and produced on Whadjuk Noongar Boodja.

APM acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the Traditional Custodians of this Country throughout Australia and their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to them and their cultures, and to their Elders past and present.

Ellie Cole's Couch: Amplify your inclusion is produced by APM.

APM is a global health and human services provider enabling better lives through employment, workplace, health and wellbeing, disability and aged care services.

Learn more at apm.net.au

Ellie meets Christine, a business manager for APM who found strength after suffering the loss of her daughter, and despite her own health concerns, is passionate about empowering others.

• Watch the full video on the APM website

Chapters

• (00:00) - Intro
• (00:29) - Growing up in Armidale NSW
• (02:54) - Having a child with disability
• (07:28) - The impact of losing a child
• (10:32) - Helping people at APM
• (12:01) - Living with disability
• (14:34) - Applying lived experience at work
• (17:06) - The difference an inclusive workplace makes
• (18:39) - Working with local communities

APM acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the Traditional Custodians of this Country throughout Australia and their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to them and their cultures, and to their Elders past and present.

Ellie Cole's Couch: Amplify your inclusion is produced by APM.

APM is a global health and human services provider enabling better lives through employment, workplace, health and wellbeing, disability and aged care services.

Learn more at apm.net.au.

In this episode, Ellie speaks with Lyndsey - an employment consultant delivering Disability Employment Services at APM.

Growing up with ADHD, Lyndsey faced her own set of challenges, but these experiences have become her greatest strengths in her role at APM.

• Watch the full video on the APM website

Chapters

• (00:00) - Growing up
• (02:18) - First jobs
• (04:46) - Working with children with disability
• (06:19) - ADHD diagnosis journey
• (08:53) - Working at APM
• (13:03) - Bringing ADHD experience to work
• (14:00) - Explaining disability employment services

APM acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the Traditional Custodians of this Country throughout Australia and their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to them and their cultures, and to their Elders past and present.

Ellie Cole's Couch: Amplify your inclusion is produced by APM.

APM is a global health and human services provider enabling better lives through employment, workplace, health and wellbeing, disability and aged care services.

Learn more at apm.net.au.

Ellie speaks with Fran, an employment consultant delivering Disability Employment Services at APM.

In this episode, Fran shares how growing up with her brother Peter, who was born profoundly deaf, as well as her own experience with disability, has shaped her passion for disability acceptance and understanding.

• Watch the full video on the APM website.

Chapters

• (00:00) - Growing up in small town Australia
• (03:34) - Fran’s brother Peter
• (08:13) - Language around disability
• (09:50) - Joining APM
• (11:34) - Support at work
• (14:21) - Anxiety disclosing disability

APM acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the Traditional Custodians of this Country throughout Australia and their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to them and their cultures, and to their Elders past and present.

Ellie Cole's Couch: Amplify your inclusion is produced by APM.

APM is a global health and human services provider enabling better lives through employment, workplace, health and wellbeing, disability and aged care services.

Learn more at apm.net.au.

Ellie speaks with Red, a unit manager at Perth International Airport with Compass Group Australia.

They discuss the impact of championing diversity and inclusion in the workplace and Compass Group Australia's partnership with APM.

• Watch the full video on the APM website.
• Read episode transcript

Chapters

• (00:00) - Intro
• (01:12) - Starting out with disability recruitment
• (06:43) - Building support for your team
• (11:21) - Hiring Michael
• (13:12) - Advice for employing people with disability

This podcast was recorded and produced on Whadjuk Noongar Boodja.

APM acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the Traditional Custodians of this Country throughout Australia and their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to them and their cultures, and to their Elders past and present.

Ellie Cole's Couch: Amplify your inclusion is produced by APM.

APM is a global health and human services provider enabling better lives through employment, workplace, health and wellbeing, disability and aged care services.

Learn more at apm.net.au.

Ellie speaks with Ayesha, a community capacity builder with APM Communities who lives with a vision impairment.

They discuss how employers and organisations should embrace the benefits of diversity, by hiring and including people with disability.

• (00:00) - Intro
• (01:38) - Going to school with a vision impairment
• (05:17) - Self-acceptance and sport
• (09:01) - Princess the seeing eye dog
• (11:45) - Challenges and misconceptions
• (13:27) - Finding work with vision impairment
• (18:44) - Workplace accommodations
• (20:32) - Basic inclusion tips
• (22:08) - Accessible communities
• (25:17) - Advice for employing someone with a vision impairment

• Ayesha Patterson - Guest
• Ellie Cole - Host

Join Australian Paralympic legend and APM Ambassador Ellie Cole as she explores disability and inclusion in the workplace.

This special limited-run series starts on Thursday, 15 May 2025.

This podcast was recorded on the Country of the Gadigal people and on Whadjuk Noongar Boodja. It was produced on Whadjuk Noongar Boodja.

We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the Traditional Custodians of this Country throughout Australia and their continuing connection to land, sea and community.

We pay our respects to them and their cultures, and to their Elders past and present.

Ellie Cole's Couch: Amplify your inclusion is produced by APM.

APM is a global health and human services provider enabling better lives through employment, workplace, health and wellbeing, disability and aged care services.

Learn more at apm.net.au.

View the episode transcript.

Creators & Guests

• Ellie Cole - Host

Join Australian Paralympic legend and APM Ambassador Ellie Cole as she explores disability and inclusion in the workplace.

In a special limited-run series, Ellie sits down with team members from across APM to discuss how their own experience of disability helps them make a difference for other people.

She also speaks with some of APM's people and partners about the impact of hiring employees with disability, with advice for how employers can support inclusion and diversity in their business.

Ellie Cole's Couch: Amplify your inclusion is produced by APM.

APM is a global health and human services provider enabling better lives through employment, workplace, health and wellbeing, disability and aged care services.

Learn more at apm.net.au.

Follow APM

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• Facebook
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This podcast was recorded on the Country of the Gadigal people and on Whadjuk Noongar Boodja.
It was produced on Whadjuk Noongar Boodja.

APM acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the Traditional Custodians of this Country throughout Australia and their continuing connection to land, sea and community.

We pay our respects to them and their cultures, and to their Elders past and present.

Click here to view the episode transcript.

Creators & Guests

• Ellie Cole - Host