Get To Know: Jennifer Moon

Get To Know: Jennifer Moon, Principal Advisor, Access and Stakeholder Engagement, COMS, Guide Dogs

Jennifer Moon is a qualified Orientation and Mobility (O&M) Specialist and has worked in the field for almost 30 years teaching people with low vision or blindness how to travel around their communities safely and independently.

Her work with Guide Dogs organisations across Australia, including communities on Queensland’s Cape York Peninsula and Thursday Island, and in outback NSW, has given her fantastic opportunities and experience working with people of all ages and abilities. Her international experience includes extensive work and teaching in the United Kingdom and also Russia (Siberia).

In her current role with Guide Dogs NSW/ACT, Jennifer offers advice and information on the access needs and rights of people who are blind or who have low vision. She liaises with various corporate stakeholders and regularly conducts education and training programs with many community industries.
Jennifer holds a Bachelor of Arts (Disability Studies) and a Master of Cognitive Science, and is a qualified Access Consultant.

​1. What’s a typical day like for you?
What I love about my work with Guide Dogs NSW/ACT is that I DON’T have a typical work day! My current role is to work with external stakeholders to help improve access, and to ensure people who are blind or have low vision can maintain their independence when navigating their physical environment and the services utilised within it.
One day I could be providing training to Taxi drivers, the next I could be providing a quote to media about access issues or education campaigns.

2. Do you have any skills or talents that most people don’t know about?
I grew up on a farm so I know how to ride motorbikes, drive a tractor and work in a shearing shed!

3. Finish this sentence. On Sunday mornings, you can usually find me...
In a sunny spot catching up on the week’s news, reading the newspaper.

4. When you were 10 years old, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to see more of the world. However, as a 10-year-old, I never envisaged that I would end up travelling to so many countries (60+) and continents (6 out of 7), and live and work overseas.

5. What do you think are the best skills that you bring to your job?
I love meeting people and learning more about them! I also love catching up with old friends. That’s why I love working with external stakeholders such as Taxi Council. The drivers come from all walks of life and have such rich and diverse backgrounds.

6. What’s a goal you have for yourself that you want to accomplish in the next year?
I’m really driven by my passion to ensure that people who are blind or have low vision are given the same opportunities and access as everyone else. Working closer with Taxi Council and drivers to help improve the Taxi service for everyone. Being a member of the newly formed Taxi Council Disability Advisory Committee is a good start.

7. What would be your personal motto?
Live life to the fullest (you never know what is around the corner) and be kind to others.

More news in our May 2021 Edition here.