Autism Inclusion Teacher at Marryatville Primary School

Mr Speaker, I rise to give praise and acknowledgement to an excellent initiative that was celebrated today at a school in my electorate.  

Today Marryatville Primary School celebrated Neurodiversity Day.  

Cathy Cook, their Autism inclusion teacher, is the perfect example of the difference teachers in her role can make in our Primary Schools.  

Through her nation leading role she has brought her school community together on this excellent day to not just learn about neurodiversity, but to celebrate it.  

I was invited and very much looking forward to attending, but being a parent of a neurodivergent child myself, wasn’t able to leave quickly from her school this morning to get there.  

However, that lived experience makes me all the more appreciative of the wonderful initiative of Autism Inclusion Teachers like Cathy Cook, the Initiative of the truly excellent Assistant Minister for Autism, Emily Bourke, in the other place.  

This is an initiative that has made a real difference to families like mine, who for so long were calling for support for our neurodivergent children, and now, because of this excellent initiative, we have the support and the understanding our families, and more importantly, our children need.