The School Can't Experience

This week we welcomed Jessica, an OT and mother of two neurodivergent children, to share her lived experience of School Can’t. Jess’s eldest child experienced early anxiety and separation difficulties through escalating distress in primary school. 

Jess describes navigating borderline ADHD diagnosis, later recognising broader neurodivergence, trialling and stopping stimulants due to aggression on comedown, and finding both supportive and adverse school interactions. 

After a severe panic attack and medical leave, the family shifted to homeschooling and gradually rebuilt capacity through neurodivergent-friendly social groups, parent education (including Dr. Ross Greene’s Collaborative Proactive Solutions), and therapy. 

Jess explains how meaning-driven pathways via community school and VET led to renewed engagement, culminating in her child attending Year 12 four days a week, and she emphasizes holding hope and having Plan B/C/D options.

CONTENT WARNING:  This episode does take us to some dark places at times. Part of this interview includes discussing distressing experiences attending hospital, and also distressing interactions with some teachers. If you're a teacher, you might feel uncomfortable listening to parts of this story  as this episode deals with several adverse experiences at school, including an assault of a teacher. 

  We ask you to remember that just as Dr. Ross Greene says, kids do well if they can, we hold it to be true, that adults, including parents, teachers and medical professionals are generally doing the best that they can as well.  iIf you don't have capacity for this today, feel free to skip this one or maybe listen another time.

People & resources mentioned in this episode:

• Hub Clinic - https://hub.clinic/
• Home Education Network (HEN) - https://home-ed.vic.edu.au/
• Dr Ross Greene, Collaborative Proactive Solutions (CPS) - https://livesinthebalance.org/
• Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) https://www.health.vic.gov.au/mental-health-services/child-and-adolescent-mental-health-services

Tuning into Kids /Teens - https://tuningintokids.org.au/parents/finding-a-tuning-in-parenting-group/

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School Can’t Australia Facebook Community - https://www.facebook.com/groups/schoolphobiaschoolrefusalaustralia

If this podcast or the School Can’t Australia community has helped you, please consider making a donation or volunteering to help. Find out more here: https://www.schoolcantaustralia.com.au/get-involved#donate

If this episode helped you please take a moment to subscribe, rate, or review the podcast on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. It genuinely helps other School Can't families find us.

If you are a parent of carer in Australia and experiencing distress, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or contact the Parent Help Line. - https://kidshelpline.com.au/parents/issues/how-parentline-can-help-you

You can contact us to volunteer to share your School Can't story or some feedback via email on [email protected]

Disclaimer
The content of this podcast is based on personal lived experiences and is shared for informational and storytelling purposes only. It should not be treated as medical, psychological, or professional advice under any circumstances. If you have concerns about your health or well-being, please seek guidance from a doctor, therapist,...

Professor Linda Graham (Queensland University of Technology), Director of the QUT Centre for Inclusive Education, joins host, Leisa Reichelt to discuss research showing that universally accessible teaching and assessment improves outcomes for neurodivergent students and benefits all learners. 

Professor Graham shares her own experience of being pushed out of school, her pathway to university, and her commitment to changing education for students like herself and her neurodivergent children. 

She advises families to understand rights under the CRPD, the Disability Discrimination Act, and the Disability Standards for Education, emphasizing schools’ obligation to consult students and parents and address barriers rather than offer generic or harmful adjustments. 

Professor Graham describes practical accessible assessment and teaching strategies (clear task design, removing unnecessary visual clutter, defining key terms, using visual supports for instructions) and notes how academic barriers and bullying harm wellbeing and self-concept, contributing to School Can’t.

00:00 Welcome and Episode Preview

01:05 Meet Professor Linda Graham

02:19 Linda’s School Story

04:30 From Parenting to Purpose

07:30 Know Your Rights at School

14:07 Trust Your Child and Yourself

22:24 Why Schools Still Exclude

24:43 Research on Accessible Learning

29:16 What Accessible Assessment Looks Like

34:54 Accessible Teaching Strategies

41:59 Making Change Without Burnout

46:41 Resources and Closing Thoughts

People & resources mentioned in this episode:

• Professor Linda Graham on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/professor-linda-j-graham-82458522/
• QUT Centre for Inclusive Education - https://research.qut.edu.au/c4ie/
•  Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, General comment No. 4 on Article 24 - the right to inclusive education https://www.ohchr.org/en/documents/general-comments-and-recommendations/general-comment-no-4-article-24-right-inclusive

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Support the show

School Can’t Australia Facebook Community - https://www.facebook.com/groups/schoolphobiaschoolrefusalaustralia

If this podcast or the School Can’t Australia community has helped you, please consider making a donation or volunteering to help. Find out more here: https://www.schoolcantaustralia.com.au/get-involved#donate

If this episode helped you please take a moment to subscribe, rate, or review the podcast on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. It genuinely helps other School Can't families find us.

If you are a parent of carer in Australia and experiencing distress, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or contact the Parent Help Line. - https://kidshelpline.com.au/parents/issues/how-parentline-can-help-you

You can contact us to volunteer to share your School Can't story or some feedback via email on [email protected]

Disclaimer
The content of this podcast is based on personal lived experiences and is shared for informational and storytelling purposes only. It should not be treated as medical, psychological, or professional advice under any circumstances. If you have concerns about your health or well-being, please seek guidance from a doctor, therapist,...

Host Leisa Reichelt is joined by  18-year-old Althea and her mum, Claire to talk about about Althea’s School Can’t experience through high school in Melbourne. 

After early positive years at school COVID stuck, meaning much of Years 7–8 were done on Zoom, disrupting connection and engagement with school. By Years 9–10 sensory overwhelm was escalating but getting accommodations involved battles, meanwhile academic pressures and worsening mental health led made it harder and harder for Althea to attend school. 

Following ADHD and autism diagnoses, Althea and Claire explored alternatives and ultimately were able to do homeschooling with a part-time (dual) enrolment so Althea could continue VCE Outdoor Ed and stay connected to friends and meaningful roles like library volunteering. Working with educational therapy and towards the Big Picture learning credential, Althea pursued interest-based learning, fundraising, conferences, and career exploration, and has now started TAFE study in Allied Health Assistance. 

This is a hopeful story that shows how by finding the right path rather than just pushing on with mainstream approaches, our young people can overcome extremely difficult experiences and go on to thrive.

People & resources mentioned in this episode:

• Althea’s Macquarie Island Conference Presentation - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hpMILLuykU
• U&I Educational Therapy - https://www.uandi.com.au/educationaltherapy
• Mitagundi Outdoor Education Centre - https://www.mittagundi.org.au/
• Wollangarra Outdoor Education Centre  - https://wollangarra.org/
• Big Picture Australia - https://www.bigpicture.org.au/
• Big Picture International Learning Credential - https://www.bigpicture.org.au/what-international-big-picture-learning-credential

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Support the show

School Can’t Australia Facebook Community - https://www.facebook.com/groups/schoolphobiaschoolrefusalaustralia

If this podcast or the School Can’t Australia community has helped you, please consider making a donation or volunteering to help. Find out more here: https://www.schoolcantaustralia.com.au/get-involved#donate

If this episode helped you please take a moment to subscribe, rate, or review the podcast on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. It genuinely helps other School Can't families find us.

If you are a parent of carer in Australia and experiencing distress, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or contact the Parent Help Line. - https://kidshelpline.com.au/parents/issues/how-parentline-can-help-you

You can contact us to volunteer to share your School Can't story or some feedback via email on [email protected]

Disclaimer
The content of this podcast is based on personal lived experiences and is shared for informational and storytelling purposes only. It should not be treated as medical, psychological, or professional advice under any circumstances. If you have concerns about your health or well-being, please seek guidance from a doctor, therapist,...

Rachel, a School Can’t mum and occupational therapist, joins host Leisa Reichelt to talk about her family’s experience supporting her child through severe school distress and School Can’t. 

Rachel describes years of intense support, including leaving work for three years and spending hours daily on school grounds, difficulties with school responses, and the impact on the whole family during COVID, before transitioning to home education to reduce stress and improve wellbeing. 

They discuss the value and timing of autism identification for understanding, self-esteem, and support. Rachel explains what occupational therapy is, how OTs help children engage in meaningful activities (self-care, school participation, sensory processing, executive functioning, and mental health), how to set priorities and goals, the OT role in NDIS functional capacity assessments, and how OTs can identify and reduce school-based stressors through environmental analysis and practical classroom accommodations.

00:00 Welcome and guest intro

01:06 Meet Rachel and family

02:02 School refusal begins

05:03 Surviving the hardest years

06:23 School conflict and advocacy

08:46 Choosing home education

12:51 Late autism identification

15:11 Why diagnosis can help

21:03 What occupational therapy is

23:32 Getting the most from OT

26:49 OT support in schools

30:39 Practical stressor mapping

33:36 Resources and final advice

37:58 Closing and support lines

People & resources mentioned in this episode:

• OT Australia (Occupational Therapy Australia) - https://www.otaus.com.au

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

School Can’t Australia Facebook Community - https://www.facebook.com/groups/schoolphobiaschoolrefusalaustralia

If this podcast or the School Can’t Australia community has helped you, please consider making a donation or volunteering to help. Find out more here: https://www.schoolcantaustralia.com.au/get-involved#donate

If this episode helped you please take a moment to subscribe, rate, or review the podcast on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. It genuinely helps other School Can't families find us.

If you are a parent of carer in Australia and experiencing distress, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or contact the Parent Help Line. - https://kidshelpline.com.au/parents/issues/how-parentline-can-help-you

You can contact us to volunteer to share your School Can't story or some feedback via email on [email protected]

Disclaimer
The content of this podcast is based on personal lived experiences and is shared for informational and storytelling purposes only. It should not be treated as medical, psychological, or professional advice under any circumstances. If you have concerns about your health or well-being, please seek guidance from a doctor, therapist,...

Leisa Reichelt speaks with autism researcher and clinical psychologist Dawn Adams (OTARC, La Trobe University) about what the latest School Can’t research is showing. 

Dawn shares international insights on how neuro-normative school policy and assessment can drive school distress, and why lived experience and co-designed research matter. She outlines OTARC findings that child anxiety can predict later school non-attendance years in advance, and that an autism-specific, parent-based anxiety prevention program in the preschool years was linked to far fewer school attendance challenges. 

They also discuss fluctuating capacity, autonomy, and student-identified school stressors from the Student Stress Investigation cards—highlighting that many improvements are low-cost and start with schools better understanding when students ‘seem okay’ but aren’t.

00:00 Welcome to the School Can’t Experience Podcast + Meet Dawn Adams (OTARC)

01:08 Dawn’s Journey: Clinical Psychologist to Autism Research Leader

04:05 Why Lived Experience Must Shape Research (and What Data Gets Missed)

06:11 Participatory Research & Co-Design: Catching Up in Autism Research

08:09 Conference Takeaways: Policy, Assessment Inequity & Systemic Drivers

13:26 Fluctuating Capacity: Autonomy, Trust, and the ‘Spoons’ Language

16:58 OTARC’s School Can’t Research: Longitudinal Findings & Anxiety Prevention

21:51 Practical Anxiety Supports: Intolerance of Uncertainty, Language & Modeling

27:49 Choice, Control & Advocacy: Building Safety and a Trusted Adult at School

32:33 Student Stress Investigation Cards: Top Stressors & What Kids Want Changed

39:04 Key Takeaways for Schools: Low-Cost Changes That Reduce Stress

40:47 How to Get Involved + Wrap-Up, Resources, and Support Lines

People & resources mentioned in this episode:

• Dawn Adams on Linked In - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dawn-adams-207653264
• Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre (OTARC) - https://www.latrobe.edu.au/otarc

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Support the show

School Can’t Australia Facebook Community - https://www.facebook.com/groups/schoolphobiaschoolrefusalaustralia

If this podcast or the School Can’t Australia community has helped you, please consider making a donation or volunteering to help. Find out more here: https://www.schoolcantaustralia.com.au/get-involved#donate

If this episode helped you please take a moment to subscribe, rate, or review the podcast on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. It genuinely helps other School Can't families find us.

If you are a parent of carer in Australia and experiencing distress, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or contact the Parent Help Line. - https://kidshelpline.com.au/parents/issues/how-parentline-can-help-you

You can contact us to volunteer to share your School Can't story or some feedback via email on [email protected]

Disclaimer
The content of this podcast is based on personal lived experiences and is shared for informational and storytelling purposes only. It should not be treated as medical, psychological, or professional advice under any circumstances. If you have concerns about your health or well-being, please seek guidance from a doctor, therapist,...

Psychologist Emma-Rose Parsons joins host, Leisa Reichelt to discuss how Individual Learning Plans (ILPs/IEPs) can become practical, neurodiversity-affirming tools rather than “tick-the-box” paperwork. 

Emma-Rose explains ILPs should document reasonable adjustments, support equal access to curriculum and school life, and help schools meet obligations under relevant disability and equal opportunity legislation—ideally through true collaboration with parents and, where possible, students.

They identify common red flags and Emma-Rose shares examples of better goals focused on access and regulation. The episode also covers school objections around “fairness” and staff capacity, noting the need for better whole-community understanding of equity and more teacher upskilling. 

They discuss how allied health can help by providing brief, prioritised recommendations with clear rationale, and how implementation often breaks down in high school without clear responsibility for sharing plans across multiple teachers. 

People & resources mentioned in this episode:

• Emma Rose’s website: https://emmarosepsychologist.com.au/
• Nuturing Sparkles Video Library” https://learn.nurturingsparkles.com.au/
• Neurowild octopus iceskates cartoon re: equal vs equality - https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid02T5WZVb94KbcK5BzZannYZTNkRAnG39PWVqEVE9HS19PDY9LCJzErzE6KXzExV6Q5l&id=100087870753308
• Neurowild on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neurowild_
• Lived Experience Educator: https://www.livedexperienceeducator.com/
•  Onwards and Upwards Psychology: https://www.onwardsandupwardspsychology.com.au/
• Yellow Ladybugs: https://www.yellowladybugs.com.au/

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Support the show

School Can’t Australia Facebook Community - https://www.facebook.com/groups/schoolphobiaschoolrefusalaustralia

If this podcast or the School Can’t Australia community has helped you, please consider making a donation or volunteering to help. Find out more here: https://www.schoolcantaustralia.com.au/get-involved#donate

If this episode helped you please take a moment to subscribe, rate, or review the podcast on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. It genuinely helps other School Can't families find us.

If you are a parent of carer in Australia and experiencing distress, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or contact the Parent Help Line. - https://kidshelpline.com.au/parents/issues/how-parentline-can-help-you

You can contact us to volunteer to share your School Can't story or some feedback via email on [email protected]

Disclaimer
The content of this podcast is based on personal lived experiences and is shared for informational and storytelling purposes only. It should not be treated as medical, psychological, or professional advice under any circumstances. If you have concerns about your health or well-being, please seek guidance from a doctor, therapist,...

This week we bring you a special live recording of the Lived Experience panel from the launch of the 'Understanding School Can’t' ebook. Featuring previous podcast guests Diana, Mark, Simone, and Yani, the discussion ranges draws from their personal journeys and explores the challenges they faced with School Can’t, and the wisdom they wish they had known earlier.

The panel offers powerful reflections on the importance of community, dealing with isolation and stress, and practical advice on navigating educational systems. They also touch on the significance of self-care and finding hope during difficult times.

Download the free ebook from the School Can’t Australia website (https://www.schoolcantaustralia.com.au/minibook) and join us in this candid conversation about overcoming barriers and supporting young people through their unique educational challenges.

00:00 Welcome and introduction to the Lived Experience Panel

02:30 Meet the Panelists: Personal Journeys

09:15 Early Signs of School Can't

12:49 Bad Advice and Missteps

18:43 What Actually Helped: Breakthroughs and Support

24:05 Hope and Optimism in the Journey

27:18 The Importance of Self-Care

28:57 Final Thoughts and Resources

People & resources mentioned in this episode:

• Download the ebook; Understanding School Can’t - https://www.schoolcantaustralia.com.au/minibook
• Diana’s Lived Experience Episode: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2447546/episodes/17687736
• Mark’s Lived Experience Episode: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2447546/episodes/17343389
• Simone & Yani’s Lived Experience Episode: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2447546/episodes/17807153
• Naomi Fisher on Parental Burnout (and self compassion) episode: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2447546/episodes/17727352

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Support the show

School Can’t Australia Facebook Community - https://www.facebook.com/groups/schoolphobiaschoolrefusalaustralia

If this podcast or the School Can’t Australia community has helped you, please consider making a donation or volunteering to help. Find out more here: https://www.schoolcantaustralia.com.au/get-involved#donate

If this episode helped you please take a moment to subscribe, rate, or review the podcast on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. It genuinely helps other School Can't families find us.

If you are a parent of carer in Australia and experiencing distress, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or contact the Parent Help Line. - https://kidshelpline.com.au/parents/issues/how-parentline-can-help-you

You can contact us to volunteer to share your School Can't story or some feedback via email on [email protected]

Disclaimer
The content of this podcast is based on personal lived experiences and is shared for informational and storytelling purposes only. It should not be treated as medical, psychological, or professional advice under any circumstances. If you have concerns about your health or well-being, please seek guidance from a doctor, therapist,...

In the first episode of the 2026 School Can't Experience Podcast, host Leisa Reichelt discusses the challenges 'School Can't,' with the Directors of School Can't Australia, Tiffany Westphal and Louise Rogers and discuss some of the content of the new ebook, Understanding School Can’t published by School Can’t Australia in January.

Download a copy of the Understanding School Can’t ebook here: https://www.schoolcantaustralia.com.au/minibook

We explore the early and often missed signs of School Can't, harmful but well-meaning advice, and why it's essential for parents and carers to invest in their own mental well-being. 

Our conversation explores stressors that impact children’s school attendance, building trust, self-regulation, and the importance of community support. 

Tiffany and Louise emphasise compassion, curiosity, and support for both children and their caregivers. 

00:00 Welcome to the School Can't Experience Podcast

01:57 Personal Summer Break Stories

03:08 Defining 'School Can't'

05:02 Distinguishing 'Can't' from 'Won't'

07:25 Early Signs and Patterns of School Can't

08:42 Parental Experiences and Insights

24:01 Common Stressors and Challenges

29:39 Effective Strategies and Support

32:29 The Importance of Self-Care for Parents

44:40 Final Thoughts and Resources

People & resources mentioned in this episode:

• Download a copy of the Understanding School Can’t ebook here: https://www.schoolcantaustralia.com.au/minibook
• Dr Ross Greene, Lives in the Balance: https://livesinthebalance.org/
• Shankar Self Reg - https://self-reg.ca/
• Carers Gateway - https://www.carergateway.gov.au/

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Support the show

School Can’t Australia Facebook Community - https://www.facebook.com/groups/schoolphobiaschoolrefusalaustralia

If this podcast or the School Can’t Australia community has helped you, please consider making a donation or volunteering to help. Find out more here: https://www.schoolcantaustralia.com.au/get-involved#donate

If this episode helped you please take a moment to subscribe, rate, or review the podcast on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. It genuinely helps other School Can't families find us.

If you are a parent of carer in Australia and experiencing distress, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or contact the Parent Help Line. - https://kidshelpline.com.au/parents/issues/how-parentline-can-help-you

You can contact us to volunteer to share your School Can't story or some feedback via email on [email protected]

Disclaimer
The content of this podcast is based on personal lived experiences and is shared for informational and storytelling purposes only. It should not be treated as medical, psychological, or professional advice under any circumstances. If you have concerns about your health or well-being, please seek guidance from a doctor, therapist,...

You're invited to attend the virtual launch of School Can't Australia's new ebook. 

Register here: https://events.humanitix.com/resource-launch-understanding-school-can-t-a-guide-for-parents-and-carers

Please help us plan content for next years episodes - send your feedback and ideas to [email protected] or send us a text.

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

School Can’t Australia Facebook Community - https://www.facebook.com/groups/schoolphobiaschoolrefusalaustralia

If this podcast or the School Can’t Australia community has helped you, please consider making a donation or volunteering to help. Find out more here: https://www.schoolcantaustralia.com.au/get-involved#donate

If this episode helped you please take a moment to subscribe, rate, or review the podcast on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. It genuinely helps other School Can't families find us.

If you are a parent of carer in Australia and experiencing distress, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or contact the Parent Help Line. - https://kidshelpline.com.au/parents/issues/how-parentline-can-help-you

You can contact us to volunteer to share your School Can't story or some feedback via email on [email protected]

Disclaimer
The content of this podcast is based on personal lived experiences and is shared for informational and storytelling purposes only. It should not be treated as medical, psychological, or professional advice under any circumstances. If you have concerns about your health or well-being, please seek guidance from a doctor, therapist,...

Welcome to the School Can't Experience Podcast hosted by Leisa Reichelt. In this episode, Wendy, a high school teacher and foster parent, shares her story of caring for her foster son Jax, who has struggled with school attendance for several years.

Wendy shares the various challenges they have faced with the education system, their experiences with foster care, and their journey towards finding an appropriate learning environment for Jax where he is now truly seen, understood and supported. 

The episode also highlights the importance of understanding neurodiversity and advocating for children with special needs.

Content warning: the episode includes a mention of suicide. Please listen with care and reach out for support if you need it.

00:00 Welcome to the School Can't Experience Podcast

00:27 Introducing Wendy and Her Story

01:16 Wendy's Background and Family Dynamics

04:45 Challenges in the Education System

08:55 Navigating the Foster Care System

16:12 Breakthroughs and Progress

23:21 Finding the Right School

29:47 Reflections and Future Hopes

33:52 Closing Remarks and Resources

People & resources mentioned in this episode:

• NSW In-Home Care - https://nswihc.org.au/in-home-care/
• Your Child is Not Broken: Parent Your Neurodivergent Child Without Losing Your Marbles, by Heidi Mavir  - https://www.panmacmillan.com.au/9781035030576/

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Support the show

School Can’t Australia Facebook Community - https://www.facebook.com/groups/schoolphobiaschoolrefusalaustralia

If this podcast or the School Can’t Australia community has helped you, please consider making a donation or volunteering to help. Find out more here: https://www.schoolcantaustralia.com.au/get-involved#donate

If this episode helped you please take a moment to subscribe, rate, or review the podcast on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. It genuinely helps other School Can't families find us.

If you are a parent of carer in Australia and experiencing distress, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or contact the Parent Help Line. - https://kidshelpline.com.au/parents/issues/how-parentline-can-help-you

You can contact us to volunteer to share your School Can't story or some feedback via email on [email protected]

Disclaimer
The content of this podcast is based on personal lived experiences and is shared for informational and storytelling purposes only. It should not be treated as medical, psychological, or professional advice under any circumstances. If you have concerns about your health or well-being, please seek guidance from a doctor, therapist,...