Lucy Carpenter - Guide Dogs, Access, and Belonging

In this episode, we sit down with Lucy Carpenter to talk about what life is really like navigating the world with a guide dog in Australia. Lucy opens up about the freedom and independence her guide dog has brought her, but also the challenges she continues to face in everyday life.

We chat about the access issues that are far too common—from being refused service in restaurants, to the difficulties of catching Ubers and taxis, to the way these barriers isolate people with disability from their communities. Lucy shares how the disability community is often excluded from spaces that should be welcoming to everyone.

At the same time, Lucy gives us a look behind the scenes of guide dog partnership—the training, the care, the trust, and the daily responsibilities that come with working alongside a guide dog.

This episode is about more than just transport and access; it’s about independence, resilience, and the small changes society needs to make so that people with disability can move freely and belong.

Listen to the episode here: