Spreading Hope & Kindness With Tammy Robinson: The 'Formal Fairy Godmother'

Leading a school is never easy, but what are the challenges you face when 100% of your students have special needs? Murray Bowman is the principal of Pine Rivers Special School, which caters to students who have been verified as having a significant intellectual disability.   Many of the students also have a verified secondary disability area which adds to the complex nature of the learning requirements.  Every student in the school, whether from prep to year 12 require the highest level of support offered by Education Queensland, so it takes someone pretty special to lead a highly specialised unit of teachers and support staff.  We'll find out how Murray and his team of teachers, teacher aides and support staff care for the students and families of Pine Rivers Special School. Chappy Chats is a production of 96five Brisbane and SU Australia. Artwork by Tamar Petersen of Red Box Studios. To find out more about becoming a chaplain, visit the SU Australia website. Find more 96five podcasts by downloading the 96five app, at the 96five podcast page or wherever you get your podcasts.Support the show: http://www.96five.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Robyn Fellowes story is one of sheer grit, smashing through the glass ceiling of the Australian Army’s special forces, and becoming the first Australian woman to wear the coveted green beret of the Australian Commandos.   Despite a childhood marred by the effects of domestic violence, Robyn’s life story is one of resilience, mental toughness, empowerment and positivity.  Throughout her military career, Robyn has always championed the cause of women, whether by supporting those who stood alongside her in the defence force, or by empowering women during overseas deployments.  One of Robyn's career highlights was as the Australian Army Gender Advisor to the United Nations Mission in South Sudan. You can read Robyn's story in her autobiography 'Wings of Change', which is available in paperback or for Kindle on Amazon, or as an audio book on Audible. Chappy Chats is a production of 96five Brisbane and SU Australia. Artwork by Tamar Petersen of Red Box Studios. To find out more about becoming a chaplain, visit the SU Australia website. Find more 96five podcasts by downloading the 96five app, at the 96five podcast page or wherever you get your podcasts.Support the show: http://www.96five.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are currently over ten thousand prisoners in the state of Queensland, with statistics showing that almost half of prisoners who are released, will return to the correctional system within twelve months.  Prison chaplains really are working at the coal face, connecting with inmates and dealing with the harsh realities of prison life.  Graham Hembrow is the coordinator of Inside Out Prison Chaplaincy, which falls under the banner of Carinity’s chaplaincy services.  Graham has had a calling to serve and witness to prisoners his whole life, and leads around 40 chaplains as they forge meaningful relationships and bring hope behind bars.  To support the work of Inside Out Prison Chaplaincy with a donation, by becoming a prayer partner or volunteer chaplain, please visit www.insideoutchaplaincy.org.au In this episode Graham shares about the challenges of the role, why he does what he does, and some of the stories of lives changed for good. Chappy Chats is a production of 96five Brisbane and SU Australia. Artwork by Tamar Petersen of Red Box Studios. To find out more about becoming a chaplain, visit the SU Australia website. Find more 96five podcasts by downloading the 96five app, at the 96five podcast page or wherever you get your podcasts.  Support the show: http://www.96five.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The high school formal is a rite of passage for Australian students during their final year of school.  It’s a way of recognising that transition from childhood, as a celebration of 12 years of hard work, and a way to usher in a new season of life.  But going to the school formal is not as easy as it seems if you come from a family that is doing it tough financially.  Tammy Robinson has earned her nickname of the Formal Fairy Godmother, through her tireless work helping students in South East Queensland attend their school formals. When Tammy found out that many students in her city of Logan were missing out on their school formals because they couldn't afford the cost of formal wear, she decided to do something about it. She started Formally Ever After in 2019, both as a way to support students and families in her community, but also as a way to cope with the grief she was experiencing after losing a number of important people in her life. Formally Ever After provides formal wear, shoes and accessories at no cost to those who need it, with all items being donated by the community. In this episode of Chappy Chats, Tammy talks about her story, how a simple act of kindness can change someone's life, and how she's come to help almost 6000 students attend their school formal. To find out more about about supporting the work of Formally Ever After, or to make a donation of formal wear or accessories, please visit the Formally Ever After Facebook Page. Tammy is also a Home Care Lifestyle Carer with Carinity, assisting the elderly to live independently in their own homes for as long as possible.  Having worked or volunteered in the aged care sector since she was 12, Tammy calls this work her life purpose. Chappy Chats is a production of 96five Brisbane and SU Australia. Artwork by Tamar Petersen of Red Box Studios. To find out more about becoming a chaplain, visit the SU Australia website. Find more 96five podcasts by downloading the 96five app, at the 96five podcast page or wherever you get your podcasts.  Support the show: http://www.96five.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When you’re what society would deem as different from everyone else it can make life challenging.  It can be a challenge to fit in, a challenge to find work, and a challenge to live a normal, day to day life just like everyone else.  In this episode Jeremy Wilson will be talking to me about what life can be like for people who have a disability, and why he wants society to be more accepting of those who might be just a little bit different from everyone else.  Watch Jeremy's mini documentary: BNE Stories: Jeremy’s life-changing connection at Boronia Brew. Visit the Help Enterprises website for more information on their mission and services. Chappy Chats is a production of 96five Brisbane and SU Australia. Artwork by Tamar Petersen of Red Box Studios. To find out more about becoming a chaplain, visit the SU Australia website. Find more 96five podcasts by downloading the 96five app, at the 96five podcast page or wherever you get your podcasts.Support the show: http://www.96five.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The school environment isn’t just hard for kids these days, school chaplains are there for the staff just as much as the students. Part of school chaplaincy is breaking down barriers, and in this episode, I’ll be talking with Rachael Pickard who is the school chaplain at Brighton State School, on the northside of Brisbane.  We’ll hear from Rachael about how she’s making an impact and helping to set everyone in the school up for success.. Chappy Chats is a production of 96five Brisbane and SU Australia. Artwork by Tamar Petersen of Red Box Studios. To find out more about becoming a chaplain, visit the SU Australia website. Find more 96five podcasts by downloading the 96five app, at the 96five podcast page or wherever you get your podcasts.Support the show: http://www.96five.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sue Collier arrived in Australia in the 1960's as a teenager and quickly found her way into the world of show business. Trained as a singer in the UK, Sue worked as a professional singer under the monikers of Toni McCann and Toni McCrae, and with her husband Royce Nicholas (The Blue Jays), formed the duo Toni & Royce, who were dubbed 'Australia's Sonny & Cher'. Sue had a wonderful career for many decades and is now serving the community as a prison chaplain through Carinity. Click here to find out more about volunteering, or becoming a chaplain with Carinity. Visit the Sunshine Secrets website to purchase the book by Graeme Brown. Chappy Chats is a production of 96five Brisbane and SU Australia. Artwork by Tamar Petersen of Red Box Studios. To find out more about becoming a chaplain, visit the SU Australia website. Find more 96five podcasts by downloading the 96five app, at the 96five podcast page or wherever you get your podcasts.Support the show: http://www.96five.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If anything in this podcast raises issues for you, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636. The issues that our former service personnel face have been well documented, from post traumatic stress disorder, to depression and anxiety; members of the military face a number of mental health challenges as they transition to civilian life.  As a veteran Dane Christison knew all too well what his former colleagues were going through, and in 2012 he founded Survive to Thrive Nation – an organisation that focuses on helping former service men and women with their mental health, and taking their place in the community when their service is over.  For more information about the courses and services that Survive to Thrive Nation offer, visit their website, or email [email protected] Chappy Chats is a production of 96five Brisbane and SU Australia. Artwork by Tamar Petersen of Red Box Studios. To find out more about becoming a chaplain, visit the SU Australia website. Find more 96five podcasts by downloading the 96five app, at the 96five podcast page or wherever you get your podcasts.Support the show: http://www.96five.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If anything in this podcast raises issues for you, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636. In this episode we continue our chat with Dane Christison, founder of Survive to Thrive Nation – an organisation that focuses on helping former service men and women with their mental health, and taking their place in the community when their service is over.  In this episode we'll also talk to Dane about the encounter that led him to faith. For more information about the courses and services that Survive to Thrive Nation offer, visit their website, or email [email protected] Chappy Chats is a production of 96five Brisbane and SU Australia. Artwork by Tamar Petersen of Red Box Studios. To find out more about becoming a chaplain, visit the SU Australia website. Find more 96five podcasts by downloading the 96five app, at the 96five podcast page or wherever you get your podcasts.Support the show: http://www.96five.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Narelle O’Dea has been a chaplain for the last seven years. She’s currently working at Petrie State School just north of Brisbane, and is having huge success with a number of programs, including a breakfast club.  Chappy Narelle is passionate about sharing kindness in her school community, and programs like the breakfast club and Wednesday Flowers are practical ways to serve and encourage. If you want to support the work of chaplains like Chappy Narelle, or you want to find out more about becoming a chaplain, visit the SU Australia website. Chappy Chats is a production of 96five Brisbane and SU Australia. Artwork by Tamar Petersen of Red Box Studios. To find out more about becoming a chaplain, visit the SU Australia website. Find more 96five podcasts by downloading the 96five app, at the 96five podcast page or wherever you get your podcasts.Support the show: http://www.96five.com/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.