Gail O’Brien AO has been a health professional for 40 years. Originally trained as a physiotherapist, she is now executive director of the Chris O’Brien Lifehouse centre in Sydney where she also works as a patient advocate.

Gail’s husband, renowned head and neck surgeon Chris O’Brien, had a dream of opening Australia’s first fully-integrated and comprehensive cancer centre. Gail played an integral part in realising his vision after his death from brain cancer in 2009, and last year Chris O’Brien Lifehouse celebrated its 10th anniversary.

In a frank and honest conversation, Gail discusses her work carrying on Chris’ legacy, and providing advocacy in a hospital setting while dealing with her own grief and loss, not only of Chris but also her son Adam, who tragically died in his sleep less than two years later.

You can find out more about Gail here - https://www.gailobrien.com.au/and about Chris O’Brien Lifehouse here - https://www.mylifehouse.org.au/

This episode of Short Black is dedicated to Virginia (Ginny) Bellman, who sadly lost her battle with ovarian cancer in 2023.

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There’s a lot more poverty in Australia than people realise, according to Yolanda Saiz. And she should know. As CEO of the St Vincent De Paul Society in New South Wales, Yolanda sees first-hand every day the toll the current cost of living crisis is taking on everyday Australians.

One of the largest providers of homeless and domestic services in NSW, Vinnie’s is now more needed than ever, with a staggering one in three people turning to the organisation for help. And with a high number of the people who were making donations now in need of those donations themselves, how hard is it to raise funds?

Yolanda talks about being the first-ever female CEO of the organisation in NSW, and how she stays on top of innovation and best practice to lead Vinnie’s to be able to help those who need it most.

You can find out more about St Vincent’s, and how you can help, here - https://www.vinnies.org.au

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Tara Moss had it all. A former model and the successful author of 14 bestselling books, hers was a glamorous life. Until eight years ago when she was struck down by Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, a debilitating chronic pain condition for which there is no cure.

She was told by numerous doctors that she would never recover, that being wheelchair bound and unable to do anything by herself was the way it would always be.

But Tara has never been one to resist a challenge and now, after eight long years – and against all the odds – she is in remission.

In one of the first interviews she has given in Australia since receiving the good news, she opens up to Sandra about how tough the last eight years have really been for her and her family, and the sheer joy of being able to walk unaided once more and do the things that she thought she never would again.

You can find out more about Tara, her books, and her disability and pain advocacy here - https://www.taramoss.com/

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Sandra had the privilege recently of being the Master of Ceremonies for the first day of the Women in Media conference held in Sydney. The day was a source of great inspiration, with an array of remarkable speakers, and here are some of Sandra's highlights.

First we hear from Taryn Brumfitt, whose 10-year campaign into body positivity resulted in her being named the 2022 Australian of the Year. You can find out more about Taryn’s Body Image Movement here: https://bodyimagemovement.com.

Later there was a panel discussion about the Business of Media with four powerhouses of the Australian media industry, namely:

- Beverley McGarvey, EVP, Chief Content Officer and head of Paramount plus and Paramount ANZ

- Jane Huxley, CEO of Are media

- Amanda Lang, Chief Commercial and Content Officer of the Foxtel group

- Mia Freedman, co founder and Chief Creative Officer of Mamamia

And asking the tough questions is renowned journalist and author Anita Jacoby AM

You can find out more about Women in Media and the work it does, here: https://www.womeninmedia.com.au

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Jelena Dokic had a phenomenal tennis career. But it was what happened off the court and her decision, years later, to talk openly about the abuse she suffered at the hands of her father that has seen her constantly in the public eye.

Having been raised to be silent, Jelena found her voice six years ago and wrote her first book, Unbreakable. Since then, she has made it her mission to speak up for those who can’t. There is no denying her courage, her tenacity and her drive to open up the conversation around mental health and domestic abuse.

As her second book hits the shelves, she sits down with Sandra for an open, honest and raw conversation, in which Jelena not only shows us how our story makes us stronger, but also that she is, in fact, Fearless.

If you are in Australia and need support, please reach out to any of the following:

1800Respect - 1800 737 732 / 1800respect.org.au
Lifeline - 13 11 14 / lifeline.org.au
Beyond Blue - 1300 22 4637 / beyondblue.org.au

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Sally Dowling SC is the first woman to be appointed Director of Public Prosecutions for New South Wales.

Sally is only the fourth person to hold this role, and one of only a few female DPPs in Australia. Previously she served as a Crown Prosecutor and was appointed Senior Counsel in 2013. In that role she appeared as lead counsel in more than 300 appeals in the High Court and the New South Wales Court of Criminal Appeal.

Two years into her 10-year term, she sits down with Sandra to talk about the impact of sexual harassment on her career, the role of the media – and social media - in justice, her focus on the First Nations community, and why managing the mental health of her prosecutors is key.

And what advice does she have for young lawyers just starting out?

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Despite the challenges and setbacks she has faced over the last few years, including seeing her beloved business collapse not once, but twice, Kristina Karlsson has managed to find a new sense of purpose and passion.

Previously known for revolutionising the stationery world through her successful Scandi-inspired company kikki.k, Kristina has come bouncing back with even more determination and a new venture that encourages us all to live our Dream Life.

She talks Sandra through what she describes as the perfect storm of events and how she managed to turn the most challenging of times into an opportunity, and reminds us why it’s important to remember to dream big and aim high.

Find out more about Kristina and her latest venture here: https://www.yourdreamlifestartshere.com/

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On average men in Australia retire with a lot more superannuation than women, about 35% more. That’s a staggering amount.

But it seems that money is still a taboo subject, and most women would rather talk to their friends and colleagues about sex than about their finances.

Someone who is trying to break that taboo is Christina Hobbs, who has made it her mission to make us better with our money. Christina is the CEO and co-founder of Verve Super, which is Australia’s first ethical super fund established by women for women. Through Verve she is opening up the conversation and providing support to help women take control of their finances, build their wealth and ultimately close the savings gap.

You can find out more about Christina and Verve Super here - https://vervesuper.com.au

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