A Nation Changed
An in-depth look into how the Australian National Disability Insurance Scheme was established, and the successes and failures that have followed.
“A Nation Changed is largely a podcast about the power of choice, agency and what happens when bureaucracies start to listen to those who matter most. Boiling down a story as complicated as the NDIS to these universal themes may seem simplistic, but this is what good documentary-making is really about…A Nation Changed should be handed to any company interested in podcast play: here’s how you do it.”
— Eric George, The Australian
THE BRIEF
It’s been several years since one of the greatest social reforms in Australia’s history was rolled out – the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). Given its evolution, disability support platform Hireup was looking for a way to push the conversation forward and further unite the sector. This is a complicated, sensitive story and making a podcast provided an opportunity to tell it in a way that was in-depth and inclusive.
WHAT WE DID
In collaboration with Hireup, Audiocraft researched and developed a series of four episodes driven by the question of whether the NDIS is living up to its principles. We cover where the scheme came from and why it was so desperately needed, how it’s changed peoples lives, the ways in which it’s failing others, and where to from here.
Paralympian, author and broadcaster Kurt Fearnley was brought on as host, and the story was told via interviews with key players and politicians, including former Prime Minister Julia Gillard, several NDIS executives, and Australians living with disabilities who have been impacted by the scheme.
Given the political complexity of the NDIS, and very real impact it has on people’s lives, there was a lot of ground to cover and it was essential to get the facts right. Rigorous researching, sourcing of archives and the securing of key interviews underpins the strength of the series, with empathetic reporting and documentary sound elements bringing the story together.
The podcast launched on International Day of People with Disabilities and was quickly picked up by the media, with host Kurt Fearnley appearing for interview on ABC Sydney Radio, ABC News Breakfast, Channel 10’s The Project, Channel Nine’s Sunrise and more.
CREDITS
Client: Hireup
Host: Kurt Fearnley
Producers: Jake Morcom, Jasmine Mee Lee
Sound Engineer: Glen Morrow
Executive Producer (Audiocraft): Jess Bineth
Executive Producer (Hireup): Andrew Thomas