Welcome

The Lives We Lead is a social media project to influence the community to better understand the contributions that people with disability are making economically, socially, culturally and politically.

The project captures and shares up to twenty video and photo stories of people with disability working in regional and remote WA.

A reference group of people with disability use a co-design approach to curate their stories.

“Great stories happen to those who can tell them.”

Ira Glass, author, journalist, host of This American Life

Dive in. Enjoy. Be provoked. Get thoughtful. Share these stories. Start a conversation.

Facebook - @thelivesweleadstories

Instagram - @theliveswelead_

Twitter - @theliveswelead_

Tane

I live in Karratha. I have two jobs.

Tane’s Video Story

I love my jobs and the people I work with.

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Maryanne’s Video Story

I believe the best way to preserve our culture, I’m doing it through photography.

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Maryanne

Landscape photography for me is like my walk in the Kimberley. I feel like I’m in another world, like it probably takes me back forty thousand years

Josh

The jobs I’m doing are awesome and they keep me happy and occupied.

Andy

It’s been really important just working for myself, being able to call the shots.

Andy’s Video Story

I’ve dedicated twenty three years to the creation of the resort and spa and café.

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Milena

I’ve worked here 19 years. I love working here. Its lots of fun.

Milena’s Video Story

Books, stickers, cutting, laminating. I get heaps of work done.

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Christopher’s Video Story

I really love coming to work.

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Christopher

The job, it’s like you know really important to me because I really wanna finish up the rest of my licence, and I’m saving for a car.

Daniel’s Video Story

I was self-taught. I actually fixed my parents’ computer when I was only 7!

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Daniel

I want people to know, be confident and go and do it!

Sarah’s Video Story

I’ve got plans for lots more stories, and maybe one day, my characters will become animated TV shows.

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Sarah

I love being an author and an illustrator, it’s what I dreamed of.

Tristan’s Video Story

I take good care of this place and people respect me a lot.

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Tristan

I work hard and I really love it. I can’t get enough of it.

Luke’s Video Story

I like working and I like my job because I love to communicate with people and keep people safe.

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Luke

In the future, I’d love to be able to study to get my security licence, so that I can become an actual security guard

Hayden’s Video Story

I work at Farmer’s Centre in Esperance and I’m working towards a career in aviation.

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Hayden

I’m saving up so I can solo circumnavigate Australia.

Brooke’s Video Story

I love having three jobs. I love my life

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Brooke

I work at the Rec Centre. I’m also an artist, and I work at Drift Café

Nigel

The main thing you need in this job is compassion. People respond to knowing someone is genuinely interested and cares

Sandy

The best thing I bring to my job I feel is just a collection of voices from the community.

Sandy’s Video Story

My show is a magazine style program that goes to air every day of the week for two hours.

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Ross

I think the best thing I bring to the people I support is the resources I draw from my own life.

Claire

I love what I do. I’m the boss of my business. It’s a good feeling.

Claire’s Video Story

I sell my pet treats at the Busselton Foreshore Markets every Sunday.

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Isaac

I work hard. I bring fun to work.

Isaac’s Video Story

I work at Short Stay, BASSA. Good people good place

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Kaitlin

I’ve got a creative mind and I like to use it.

Kaitlin’s Video Story

I’ve been reading since I was little. I like all different kinds of stories.

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Devin’s Video Story

There aren’t a lot of delivery services in Esperance and people love it.

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Devin

I try to make people’s day a bit easier.

Kaleb

I let the artist be themselves first. And together we become a team. And that’s when the magic can happen.

Kaleb’s Video Story

I love what I do, making music. This is the best job.

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Suraya’s Video Story

I take flowers to the cafes. I take flowers every week. I love my business.

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Suraya

I love my business.

Michelle’s Video Story

I feel very happy and very proud working here for so long.

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Michelle

I started the recycling process 19 years ago. I’ve really made a difference and I’m very proud about it, cause it helps the environment.

Ethan’s Video Story

I’m the voice in the valley.

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Ethan

The best thing of my life is my job.

Junior

I want to work, drive my own car and grow veggies.

Junior’s Video Story

People who know me say I’m quietly determined, a quiet achiever.

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Graham

I also really love sharing the food I bake.

Graham’s Video Story

My cooking journey has been building for the past couple of years.

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Joshua’s Video Story

Sport was a huge part of my life before I became unwell and has been a huge part of my recovery.

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Joshua

My experience proves that people can have an enjoyable, manageable life with a mental illness.

Samala’s Video Story

I love my arts community!

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Samala

I am an artist, a musician and a role model

Juniper

I’m nineteen and I love to dance.

Markus

It’s a good life out here in Kununurra.

Markus’ Video Story

I work at Parks and Wildlife.

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Sandra

I’m very happy doing my own art now.

Shewani’s Video Story

I very much believe for the power of my story.

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Shewani

I like getting ready … my hair, my dress, my makeup, my jewellery.

Andrew

I’ve been a musician all my life.

Naomi’s Video Story

I love my chickens and I like looking after them.

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Naomi

I love my life.

Evie

It’s become important to me that I make some sort of contribution to the planet.

Jos’s Video Story

We now have a beautiful daughter.

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Jos

Being a mum with a disability is incredibly fulfilling and challenging, all at the same time.

Nita

I’m a yoga teacher.

Katrina

My art has been exhibited in galleries across Australia.

Brendo’s Video Story

I’ve got lots going on in my life and that’s the way I like it.

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Brendo

About a year ago, I decided to get fit and tone up.

Ness

I’m starting a Masters in Journalism.

Alice’s Video Story

In three years I want to go to the best UK university I can possibly get into with my school grades.

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Alice

These days I choose to own my disability and be proud of what it means to me.

Luther

Qualifying as a personal trainer is my biggest achievement.

Tanya

This year I walked about thirty kilometres in ten and a half hours.

Chris

I’m the founder of Crobs’ Coffee and Chess.

Elizabeth

I’m still the youngest swimmer to win individual gold after 55 years.

Hugo

I volunteered at Supanova for the first time ever, it was so good.

Immy

From the first-time I arrived to the Joondanna neighbourhood, it triggered the sense of returning home.

Immy’s Video Story

I knew I found my new home from the moment I pulled up the driveway.

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Ben

I love game days. I love getting goals a lot. I try my best. . .

Jethro’s Video Story

When I get a new student group, I’m always interested in their background stories, like ‘Why are they here now?’

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Jethro

This really is such a great workplace.

Emma

Ever since I was little, I was never afraid to go up to anything or anyone and feel them to get an idea of what they looked like.

Emma’s Video Story

I’ve wanted to be a massage therapist since I was 17.

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Shane’s Video Story

I keep it really clean, and I have my things just how like them.

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Shane

I had some friends who lived in their own place.

Laura

When it comes to my advocacy and educating about Deaf culture, our history, our language, I believe in compassion first of all.

Laura’s Video Story

If you give to a community, the community gives back.

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Kathryn

Movement has always been important for me.

Kathryn’s Video Story

I have learnt to stand up against people who had low expectations of me.

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Nang’s Video Story

My achievement is that anything I do, I give it 100% focus.

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Nang

I never throw in the towel until I’m satisfied or I’ve lost interest.

Grace

I love performing and I like to make people feel good.

Grace’s Video Story

I’m a performer. I love the arts.

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