eussen – Health, Life & Style

Randa Habelrih’s Mission to Bring Visibility, Confidence and Inclusion to the Disability CommunityRanda Habelrih’s work in the disability space began with her son Richard. From the early years, she saw how a child could be dismissed, misunderstood and excluded long before anyone took the time to listen. Before Richard’s autism diagnosis, her concerns were brushed aside, and after the diagnosis she was told to expect very little from him. What stayed constant was a system focused on deficits rather than strengths, reflected in repeated school rejections and the bullying Richard endured from children and adults.Australia’s disability education laws promise access, but Randa realised how rarely those promises translate into practice. Teachers were overwhelmed, under-resourced and under-trained, leaving families like hers battling for support that should have been automatic. Today, many parents still come to her with the same struggles—schools declining enrolments, withholding support or making children feel unwelcome in environments meant for them.These realities shaped the foundation of Autism Mates. Randa wanted families to have a community where they could learn, connect and feel supported. The organisation began with parent groups, school education initiatives and social events to give young people a place where they belonged. But as Richard finished school, another gap became impossible to ignore: despite his abilities and interests, there was no pathway for him. She also saw how absent people with disabilities were from the media, despite representing a significant part of the population.From that need came Model Mates. Randa wanted young people with disabilities to be seen on a platform that commanded attention, and fashion provided that stage. Their first runway event at Castle Towers revealed how powerful simple visibility could be. With basic styling and a single practice session, participants stood taller and radiated confidence because they were valued and treated with respect.

Martine Vanderspuy spent much of her early life living abroad before settling in Australia, where she finished school in Woonona and went on to study graphic design. Her creative career began in advertising in Canada and Australia, eventually leading her to establish her own award-winning design agency.In 2015 she opened Martine Gallery, a space that became both an artistic home and a platform for raising awareness of mitochondrial disease.Her dedication to this cause is deeply personal. Martine’s youngest son, Tom, was born with mitochondrial disease, a condition that deprives the body’s cells of energy and can lead to organ failure.When he was diagnosed at just two years old, doctors did not expect him to survive. Over the years he underwent more than fifty operations, yet he grew into a healthy young man who has consistently overcome the odds.At four years old, the condition began affecting Tom’s eyes. Tests revealed he had only ten percent retinal function remaining, and Martine was told that blindness was inevitable.Refusing to accept that no solution existed, she began researching relentlessly, contacting researchers across the world from Russia to America and even NASA.Her search led her to studies showing the benefits of LED therapy on mice with similar retinal degeneration. With that knowledge, she raised funds to build a custom LED light bed with 2,500 diodes across five spectrums. Tom used it daily for two years, and follow-up tests revealed ninety-eight percent retinal function.The improvement astonished everyone involved.

Designing Spaces That Shape a Better LifeIn discussing Conscious Home Design, Talor offers a perspective that expands far beyond materials or trends. People often assume the concept is tied to sustainability, yet Talor’s work centers on crafting environments that support daily habits, personal goals and meaningful relationships. His approach applies to any type of home, regardless of size, age or architectural style. What matters to him is how well a space aligns with the way someone actually lives.A guiding influence for Talor is the long-running Harvard study on adult happiness, which shows that relationships are the strongest predictors of wellbeing. This research inspires him to consider how architecture can foster stronger connections—whether with other people, with oneself or with nature. Over the years, he has identified three categories of relationships: reciprocal, receiving and giving. These relationships shift through different life stages, but Talor aims to design homes that create opportunities for all three to thrive.The pandemic highlighted the importance of this approach. As people spent more time at home, many discovered that their spaces failed to support working, resting or connecting. Some lacked functional offices, others struggled with noise and privacy, and many families felt the strain of inadequate layouts. Talor watched this pressure spark a major building boom, a reminder of how deeply our environments influence our wellbeing.He often guides clients through home changes that reflect shifting phases of life—growing families, empty nests or evolving careers. With remote work now widespread, Talor emphasises that home offices must function effectively, offering professionalism, privacy and thoughtful backdrops for video communication. He understands how a simple design choice can impact confidence and relationships in subtle but powerful ways.

Taking Control of Financial Wellbeing with Jock Evans of the Rivkin GroupSpeaking with Jock Evans from the Rivkin Group reinforced how closely our sense of security is tied to financial understanding. His calm, practical approach to planning made it clear that financial advice isn’t reserved for the wealthy—it’s a tool for anyone who wants to feel in control today and confident about tomorrow.Jock began his career in accounting before realising that he wanted to help people look forward, not backward. That desire to create progress led him into financial planning, where he found the most satisfaction in working directly with people—hearing their stories, understanding their challenges, and finding ways to make their goals achievable.He described a financial planner as part coach, part strategist—someone who bridges the worlds of accounting, law, and investment management to help clients make informed decisions. Every client, he explained, is different. Some are building wealth for future generations, others are ensuring they have enough to retire comfortably. His role is to listen first, then create strategies that fit each person’s reality.One of the misconceptions Jock often encounters is that financial advice is expensive or unnecessary unless you have substantial assets. He explained that most firms, including Rivkin, offer an initial consultation at no cost or obligation. It’s simply an opportunity to talk, assess your current position, and see whether there’s value to be gained. Sometimes clients discover they’re already on track; other times, a few small adjustments make a significant difference.

Finding Strength in Speaking Up: The Story of Prue MacSweenFrom the moment I first heard Prue MacSween speak, her candour was striking. She has lived a life defined by words—spoken, written, and defended fiercely. Her story begins in the school debating team, where a love of English and communication was clear from the start. Even then, her outspokenness cost her the school captaincy after she defended a classmate she felt was unfairly treated. It set the tone for a life lived with conviction.After leaving school, she landed a cadetship at a suburban newspaper, studied marketing and advertising at Sydney Tech, and contributed to 2UE radio. Her mother soon spotted a small classified ad for a television hostess role in Townsville. Prue auditioned among a thousand hopefuls, impressed Ken Sutcliffe, and won the job. The move to Townsville launched her into a whirlwind of broadcasting—reading news, presenting weather, hosting children’s shows, and running current affairs segments. She described it as a chaotic but invaluable training ground that demanded versatility, creativity, and grit.Her next opportunity came when Channel 9’s Gerald Stone saw a tape of her work and offered her a newsroom role in Sydney. Surrounded by giants like Peter Harvey, Ian Ross, and Brian Henderson, she was the only woman in the room. Her early assignments were trivial, but she absorbed everything, determined to prove her worth. Adopting what she called “one of the blokes” mentality helped her navigate the male-dominated newsroom while honing her listening skills—something she attributes partly to her childhood spent in a wheelchair after hip surgery. That period taught her to observe people deeply and empathise with those overlooked.

: Designing a Life of Balance Through Smart FinanceWhen Dawood Odeh speaks about finance, it’s not with the cold detachment many associate with money talk. His message is simple but transformative: financial structure isn’t just about numbers—it’s about lifestyle design. In this second conversation of his trilogy, the focus turns to how mortgages and money management can actively shape wellbeing, relationships, and even happiness.Dawood begins by reframing a mortgage as more than a debt. It’s one of the biggest financial decisions people make, and depending on how it’s structured, it can either restrict or liberate. To demonstrate, he describes three distinct life situations that show how a mortgage can align with lifestyle goals.The first example is someone who seeks peace over possessions. They’re not chasing luxury cars or holiday homes but value calm, modest living. For them, financial wellbeing comes from paying off their home as soon as possible. Their ideal mortgage is simple and low-cost, allowing extra repayments when money permits. This kind of financial clarity brings mental ease and better sleep—the satisfaction of knowing exactly when the debt will end and freedom will begin.The second example contrasts sharply. It’s the ambitious worker who wants to build wealth fast and retire young. This person embraces complexity and uses debt strategically. Multiple offset accounts, split loans, and leveraged equity form their financial toolkit. They invest in properties, using the rising value of each to buy the next. Dawood shares the story of a couple in their thirties who’ve already acquired eight properties and plan to retire early by selling a few to clear debt while living off rental income. It’s a structured path to freedom that relies on using the system intelligently rather than being constrained by it.The third example focuses on retirees who’ve paid off their homes but find their wealth locked in bricks and mortar. Their challenge is enjoying retirement without losing the home they love. Dawood explains how a reverse mortgage can unlock that value. Instead of paying the bank, the bank pays them—either through a lump sum or regular payments. The debt grows slowly over time and is repaid when the home is sold. This allows retirees to stay in familiar surroundings while having the funds to live well and support family.Beyond mortgages, Dawood discusses how equity—the value built up in a property—can be used intentionally to improve life rather than simply accumulate more debt. He illustrates this with three stories. One family uses equity to extend their home instead of moving, gaining space and peace without unnecessary costs. Another invests in a rental apartment, creating an extra income stream and future stability. The third is Dawood’s own experience: using equity from his first property to fund the early stages of his mortgage broking business. It allowed him to leave an unfulfilling corporate job and create a career that aligned with his personal values and lifestyle goals.