The Voice Australia: Kingaroy singing teacher Julee-anne Bell wants to inspire blind youths to fight for their place in the spotlight

This passionate teacher and champion for visually impaired people said her disability was a constant driver in her desire to help others live their lives to the fullest. Now, she is taking a step into the spotlight in a big way.

Kingaroy singing teacher Julee-anne Bell. Photo/Channel 7

Kingaroy singing teaching Julee-anne Bell would never have dreamt she would one day perform for a national audience on reality television, yet that is set to become her reality in just days.

Ms Bell was born blind as a result of Lebers Congenital Amaurosis, but said she has never let that hold her back and hopes she can inspire visually impaired children and young adults to fight for their place in the spotlight.

The Voice’s latest contestant said she kind of fell into the extraordinary experience.

“I was actually helping a mate fill out his application to go onto The Voice and he had a hearing impairment,” Ms Bell said.

“I made a few phone calls on his behalf to find out what kind of support he could get and the producer, who must have Googled me or something, asked if I’d consider applying.”

Ms Bell initially dismissed the idea believing it was younger person’s competition, but said she later changed her mind after a touch of convincing rom her excited husband and a little research into past contestants.

Kingaroy singing teacher Julee-anne Bell. Photo/Channel 7

The experience represents an incredible leap forward in Ms Bell’s performing and teaching career, but more importantly she views it as a shining opportunity for inclusivity.

“I really advocate for blind people to be able to access all parts of society and all parts of life. I've had to become my own advocate and I’ve had to learn that it is okay to fight for the things that I need,” Ms Bell said.

“And that's why it’s great for me to appear on a program like The Voice. I want the young children I’ve worked with to see me on television, so that they can have that dream for themselves and know it can be possible for them too.”

Ms Bell is the managing director for World Access For The Blind Australia, a not-for-profit organisation that teaches FlashSonar, a technique of human echolocation to visually impaired people.

“You use tongue clicks to create echoes off different obstacles and it helps you to avoid those obstacles when you're walking, which helps you to move more easily through the world,” she said.

“It was very fun echolocating in the studio, because it was in a great big warehouse and the ceiling was way high. I had to echolocate really hard to find the roof.”

Kingaroy singing teacher Julee-anne Bell. Channel 7

Ms Bell has been a singing teacher for about 27 years, moving from Brisbane to Kingaroy three years ago to further pursue her passion full-time.

“Music and singing have always been at the centre of what I do. I think I was always destined to be a teacher, because I‘ve always been really bossy. I’ve always told people what to do, ever since I was little, so I think it was inevitable, really,” she laughed.

“My roots are in opera, but I've gone back learned about other styles of music, such as classical, contemporary, jazz and musical theatre so that I can give my students the very best in terms of the latest knowledge.”

Ms Bell said it was incredible to experience to world of reality television for the day and is grateful for the support she received from Channel 7 and ITV, who hired a support person for her.

The Voice airs 7pm Sunday, and 7.30pm Monday – Tuesday on Channel 7.

Originally published as The Voice Australia: Kingaroy singing teacher Julee-anne Bell wants to inspire blind youths to fight for their place in the spotlight