Agenda for Day 3: Wellbeing
(all times in AEST)
10.00am - 11.15am: Keynote Presentation
11.30am - 12.30pm: Panel Discussion
1:00pm – 2:00pm: Peer Discussion Groups
Keynote Presentation:
"Autistic Burnout: Resistance and Recovery"
Workplace burnout is well researched, however, when we talk about Autistic Burnout, it’s a different matter. In online realms, we’ve been talking about it amongst ourselves, creating supportive communities of shared experience, blogging, and podcasting and posting on social media. There’s a world of Autistic creators and thinkers, creating resources and content for Autistic people. But outside of the Autistic community, you’re still likely to find a lot of people who don’t know anything about it at all.
This includes most mainstream health professionals, and a lot of other people we might rely on for help when we’re utterly depleted. They may give us advice or treatment that doesn’t meet our needs, they may not recognise or understand what we’re experiencing, and we may not have the ability at such times to explain it to them.
And it includes some of us late-identified folks too. Often burnout hits us before we’ve even come to understand ourselves as Autistic, so there’s often a whole other level of difficulty in working out what’s going on, identifying what we need, and finding ways to access supports that are helpful.
Recently, Autistic-led research teams have published some groundbreaking academic research articles about Autistic Burnout. I’ll share some research in this presentation, highlighting the skills and hard-won knowledge of lived-experience experts.
One common viewpoint I’ve heard consistently, from Autistic folks, is that the thing they’ve found most helpful in dealing with burnout is to connect with neurokin, to share our experiences and ideas, our same-stories, and our strategies for getting through the hard times. By standing in solidarity with one another like this, we can change lives. We can even save lives.
Tuesday 4th June: Wellbeing - Keynote Presenter
Tuesday 4th June: Wellbeing - Keynote Presenter
KJ Wiseheart (they/them) is a multiply-neurodivergent counsellor and narrative practitioner, with lived experience of Autistic burnout. They are committed to co-creating neurocosmopolitan conversations and communities, where all neurocognitive differences in experience, communication, and embodiment are appreciated and affirmed.
KJ is also a Certified Geek Therapist, Therapeutic Game Master, and game designer, who loves exploring therapeutic applications of tabletop role playing games.
KJ holds a Graduate Diploma of Counselling and Human Services from LaTrobe University, and a Master of Narrative Therapy and Community Work from Melbourne University.
Tuesday 4th June: Wellbeing - Lead Facilitator & MC
Tuesday 4th June: Wellbeing - Lead Facilitator & MC
Shadia (They/Them) is a proudly Autistic and ADHD (AuDHD) advocate and runs their own business Autism Actually. They are currently studying a Bachelor of Speech Pathology (Honours) and recently completed a Certificate IV in Animal Behaviour and Training. They have professional interests in Autism, animal assisted therapy, and AAC.
Tuesday 4th June: Wellbeing - Panellist
Tuesday 4th June: Wellbeing - Panellist
Chris (They/Them) is an Autistic person whose main interests include all things Autism and philosophy. They apply their autistic focus to learning from each domain and exploring the intersections between them. Committed to community building within the autistic and neurodivergent populations, Chris has collaborated both within and outside these communities on projects aimed at assessing, improving, engineering, and implementing conceptual tools that contribute to Autistic empowerment and flourishing.
Tuesday 4th June: Wellbeing - Panellist
Tuesday 4th June: Wellbeing - Panellist
Ginny Grant (She/Her) is a neurodivergent parent of neurodivergent children. She was formally identified as Autistic at the age of 39. She divides her time between book editing and advocacy. She has spoken and written about her lived experiences of Autism and mental health extensively. Previously she was Reframing Autism’s Communications Manager.
Ginny lives on the lands of the Gadigal and Wangal people of the Eora nation, also known as Inner West Sydney. You can find Ginny online at LinkedIn (Ginny Grant) and Instagram (@virginia_lily_grant).
Tuesday 4th June: Wellbeing - Panellist
Tuesday 4th June: Wellbeing - Panellist
Ruby (they/them) is an ardent advocate for LGBTIQA+ and Disability rights, specialising in neurodiversity and nonbinary gender and sexuality. Notably, Ruby has worked on peer research into the lived experiences of LGBTIQA+ individuals with disabilities, led and supported grassroots advocacy through Melbourne Bisexual Network and Joy Media’s Triple Bi Pass, and contributed to international human rights campaigns focusing on SOGII rights in the Pacific region as Disability Chair of ILGA Oceania.
In addition, Ruby has lent their expertise on intersectional inclusion, neurodiversity and applied lived experience to various non-governmental organizations, committees, and government working groups.
The Reframing Autism team would like to acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the lands on which we have the privilege to learn, work, and grow. Whilst we gather on many different parts of this Country, the RA team walk on the land of the Amangu, Awabakal, Bindjareb, Birpai, Whadjak, Wiradjuri and Yugambeh peoples.
We are committed to honouring the rich culture of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples of this Country, and the diversity and learning opportunities with which they provide us. We extend our gratitude and respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and to all Elders past and present, for their wisdom, their resilience, and for helping this Country to heal.
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