Vision Australia is launching a range of new groups designed to help you take your social and creative interests to the next level. Join us to learn about audio journalism, creative writing or English language skills, with a small group of like-minded people, from the comfort of your own home.
Audio journalism
This is an inclusive social group for clients who are interested in audio journalism and want to learn more about how it’s made. Each week we will discuss and unpack different examples of audio journalism — from podcasts to radio current affairs and documentary — to understand how they are constructed. The group will also provide an opportunity for clients to develop practical skills in making audio stories and receive feedback on their ideas and stories.
Subjects of discussion will include:
- Foundations of journalism
- Types of audio journalism
- How to find, refine and pitch stories
- How to plan and structure audio stories
- Interviewing skills and preparation
- Voice and scripting
- Technical skills and equipment
- Editing
About your facilitator
Max Rowley is a freelance journalist and community support worker at Vision Australia. He graduated from Bachelors of Journalism and Arts at the University of Queensland (UQ) in 2019 and is now a host and producer for 4ZZZ radio station’s news and current affairs program Brisbane Line.
Max has also tutored a course on making narrative non-fiction podcasts with UQ’s School of Communication and Arts and is currently working on a few audio documentary projects, including one with the low-vision community.
Creative Writing
Outcomes of participating in this group will include:
- Increased understanding of your motivation for writing – what you want from writing.
- Increased confidence in your ability to identify and express the emotions and thoughts behind your writing and match these to your goals.
- An understanding of the various popular genres that might suit your goals.
- Developed understanding of plot.
- Strategies and techniques for overcoming ‘White page syndrome’ and writer’s block.
- Increased confidence in your ability to write effective dialogue and exposition.
- Confidence editing your own work.
- An understanding of editing other’s work and the concept of giving and receiving constructive criticism.
- Increased confidence presenting your writing to others (not necessarily as performance, though this is also considered).
About your facilitator
Anna Dal has a degree in Professional Writing and a Master of Creative Writing. She has a 25-year history of published works in a wide range of genres including magazine articles, poetry, prose poetry, short stories, and micro fiction. In 2017, Anna’s first novel was published in Australia.
She is currently working on her second novel, as well as a screenplay. Anna has qualifications in education, with a focus on teaching adults.
Conversational English Group (for clients from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds)
Outcomes of participating in this group will include:
- Ability to communicate your level of language and seek language assistance in person or over the phone.
- Ability to request directions and understand directional information.
- Increased vocabulary of nouns, verbs and prepositions.
- Increased intuitive understanding of sentence structure (no grammar lessons!).
- Increased confidence participating in social conversation through encouragement, inclusion, and in session practice.
- Increased confidence independently expressing your needs in public.
About your Facilitator
Anna Dal has a graduate diploma in Vocational Education and Training, and a Master of Education. She has taught English to adults from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds since the late 1990s. She specialises in practical English for use in everyday life, and tailors her lessons to her students’ needs. Having lived in countries where she did not know the language when she arrived, Anna has an insight into the needs and concerns of second language learners with no prior formal language training.
Anna has worked with people who are just beginning to learn English, as well as those who are more proficient and want to expand their skills. Having worked with people living with disabilities, and from personal experience, Anna understands some of the obstacles to learning in an environment not designed to accommodate disabilities. Anna tailors her classes to the learning needs of her students.
Where and when will these groups take place?
Groups will be run via video conference (i.e. Zoom). The first groups will commence in August. They will be ongoing and session duration will be around an hour. We may be able to fit other details to your needs.
Who are these groups for?
These groups are for you if you have goals to strengthen your participation in the community by pursuing your interests. Various options exist to fund your participation. Please get in touch and we can help you explore your funding options.
How do I get involved?
We’re happy to consider running these groups to match your availability so when you get in touch please let us know:
- What days of the week and times of day are you available to participate?
- How frequently would you like the group to run? Weekly? Fortnightly? Monthly?
To get involved in the Audio Journalism Group, call AJ on 0438218944 or email anuj.pradhan@visionaustralia.org.
To get involved in either the Creative Writing Group or in the Conversational English Group, call Anna 0481 191 002 or email anna.dal@visionaustralia.org