Beyond Barriers The Podcast

The story of Simone O’Brien. Nearly beaten to death at the hands of a baseball bat. Simone survived and is now using a negative into a positive to help perpetrators turn their lives around. Simone bravely shares her story and we are so grateful that she is with us.

Hugo, a passionate runner, was the national champion at the 2023 Australian Cross Country Championships for U15 multiclass. However, this year, Hugo and other short-statured athletes were banned from competing in events longer than 400m.Without providing clear reasons, School Sport Australia and Athletics Australia removed T40 and T41 classifications from the list of eligible categories for cross-country. This decision means that people with short stature, or dwarfism, can no longer participate in these events.School Sport Australia stated via email that they have taken guidance from the rules of Athletics Australia and have "decided to follow their lead and subsequently change our rules to have T40 and T41no longer eligible to compete over distances of 400m". They have informed 2GB's Ben Fordham that they will be "guided by Athletics Australia's technical advice. If that changes after a review, that will be reflected in our national championship rules and auidelines".Come with us as we speak to Hugo! And uncover everything in between the cracks of running as a short stature athlete!

One of the most truly touching stories you will ever listen too. From being told that he needed his life support turned off. His family never gave up hope. Billy survived. If you’re short of inspiration, you won't be after Billy's wonderful mum gives us an insight into Billy's life before and after his life changing accident.Inspirational to say the least. We were so grateful to have Dora feature on episode 6 to share her son’s story and so lucky to be able to continue to support Billy at Our Choice.

We’ve sifted through your intriguing questions from social media. Giving you an honest perspective and break down on each question. We hope that through this episode it really allows our listeners to gain insight to not only life at Our Choice but questions regarding being a support worker and or being a parent/carer to someone with a disability. We thank you for all of the great questions asked. Enjoy Our Choice family.

In this episode we are so grateful to be able to sit down with our very own NRLW athlete and Our Choice Support Worker, Tayla Curtis. Whether you have a sibling with a disability or simply want to understand this experience better, Tayla covers all aspects along with the hardships she's faced and what she now aspires to be.

Heartbreakingly, we often think of childhood as carefree. But for some, the struggle begins far too early. In this episode, we sit down with Sam and Pat who share their pain as parents watching their child self-harm at just three years old.  An inspiring story of two parents, who have encountered an incredible journey with their beautiful son.

A heartfelt story about a beautiful family who have overcome numerous challenges since Marco’s birth. In this episode, they share their inspiring journey, highlighting both the highs and lows they have experienced together. Through rugby league, Marco found a purpose that essentially saved his life. Grab the tissues! We hope you enjoy.

In this pilot episode, we dive into the genesis of our show, exploring the inspiration behind our journey and what you can expect from future episodes. Hear from your hosts Aden Perry and Indi Cleary about our personal stories and why we are passionate about amplifying voices and narratives that matter. Join us as we set the stage for an exciting series of insightful interviews, powerful stories, and thought-provoking discussions. Beyond Barriers is a podcast where we share heartfelt stories of tears, triumphs, and resilience in the world of disability. Join us as we go beyond barriers to celebrate the joys and navigate the hardships together.  We wanted to start this podcast for parents and families who may feel alone and wonder if they are doing a good job. Being a first time parent, let alone with a child with a disability can be quite challenging and we would love to create a community to share stories, tips and awareness. We hope you all enjoy the journey!