A Hireup-commissioned and sponsored podcast, A Nation Changed with Kurt Fearnley, has been shortlisted for an unprecedented three Australian Podcast Awards, with the winners to be announced on 2 December.
A Nation Changed with Kurt Fearnley is a finalist in the Best Documentary, Smartest Podcast and Best Branded Podcast categories, among podcasts produced by leading media organisations and podcasting heavyweights.
Hireup’s Andrew Thomas says, “It is unprecedented for a corporate-sponsored podcast to break into the Best Documentary and Smartest Podcast categories. The podcast takes a deep dive into the history of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) – one of the greatest social reforms in Australia’s history – starting with former prime minister Julia Gillard getting the funding scheme through parliament in 2013. It tells the story through interviews with politicians and Australian executives, but mostly importantly, with Australians living with disability, about why it was so desperately needed, its successes and its failures.
“In securing three nominations, A Nation Changed with Kurt Fearnley shows that purposeful brands can produce genuinely informative and interesting journalism, as opposed to advertising spin. From the outset the podcast focused on creating content that sparked discussion. It shone a light on the complexities of the NDIS while developing valuable listener relationships that have built an underswell of understanding. For Hireup, it was important to be able to break down what is a complex subject into more simplistic and digestible themes, offering a broad array of opinions and views and ultimately providing advocacy for those living with a disability.
“As media budgets tighten, our approach shows that if the story is the hero and is tackled with independence and integrity, Australians will listen. As a brand we have enjoyed the halo effect of that success.”
The podcast’s host, Kurt Fearnley, a three-time Paralympic gold medallist and two-time Commonwealth Games gold medallist, has been fundamental to the series’ success. Bringing his own life experiences into the discussion of the evolution and operation of the NDIS, Kurt has been able to unpick why the government wants to introduce independent assessments and what that could mean for the scheme’s participants.
“This once-in-a-generation social reform was put under a microscope to see if it was living up to its principles,” adds Mr Thomas.
“Whatever the results at the AustralianPodcast Awards, we are proud that A Nation Changed with Kurt Fearnley has managed to bring an important discussion into the mainstream that may not have happened otherwise, for those living with a disability.”
