Vision Australia Radio set to bring Perth landmarks to life

Some of Perth’s most well-known tourist attractions are set to be brought alive for people who are blind or have low vision thanks to an upcoming radio program, The Tourist.

The Tourist will air on Vision Australia Radio (VAR) during August and September and will provide listeners with an entertaining and informative account of the Fremantle Prison, the WA Maritime Museum, and Scitech.

Developed by Murdoch University Sound & Radio student Ethan Kavanagh, each episode of The Tourist will feature staff interviews, behind the scenes tours and audio descriptions from each location.

VAR Program Coordinator Gemma Sidney said Ethan’s work is something that will have a positive impact for many people who are blind or have low vision. “The locations that Ethan has documented in The Tourist are all popular for a reason and it’s important that people who are blind or have low vision are given every chance to experience and enjoy what they have to offer like anybody else,” Ms Sidney said. “Each episode really is an immersive account of each location, whether it’s a description of what it’s like to enter a submarine, taking people on a trip to the gallows or audio describing a puppet show, we really think The Tourist is something that will support our listeners in experiencing each location.”

Each episode of The Tourist will also be available as a podcast to allow the wider blind and low vision community to experience each attraction and Ms Sidney said VAR hopes to expand the program’s offering in the future.

“We’re fortunate that during his placement with us Ethan put as much time and effort as he did to produce the first three episodes and he’s indicated that he’d like to do more to help people who are blind or have low vision to experience the other attractions Perth has to offer.” VAR is an important outlet for the blind and low vision community to access a wide range of information and it’s great that we can expand what we offer our listeners with more content that is produced with them in mind.”

The Tourist air dates on Vision Australia Radio:

  • Episode 1: Fremantle Prison – 10.30am Monday 28 August (repeated 10.30am Friday 1 September)
  • Episode 2: WA Maritime Museum – 10.30am Monday 4 September (repeated 10.30am Friday 8 September)
  • Episode 3: Scitech – 10.30am Monday 11 September (repeated 10.30am Friday 15 September)

Vision Australia Radio broadcasts in Perth on 990AM and on digital under VA Radio. The Tourist will also be available online as a podcast via http://radio.visionaustralia.org