actually autistic Term 1
13 – 31 March 2023
Chloe Hayden, Grace Tame & Jac den Houting
Curated and moderated by Amy Thunig
Nearly 80% of autistic women are mis- or un-diagnosed - but every day we're learning more about this disability. Join our panellists to hear what it's actually like to be autistic.
Sydney Opera House will be offering three talks from this years All about Women Festival free and on-demand into schools across Australia.
Dates and times
This workshop is available to watch On Demand in your classroom via YouTube at any time that suits you between Monday 13 - Friday 31 March 2023.
Book now to watch on demand in your classroom
Suitable for Years 9 - 12
Run time
The duration of this event is 1 hour.
Event duration is a guide only and may be subject to change.
This event is free for Australian high schools
This program is available free of charge to all Australian high schools. Schools can watch via YouTube.
In English
Auslan interpreted and live captioning available
Auslan interpretation service is provided for audiences who are deaf and use Australian Sign Language (Auslan). Experienced Auslan interpreters will be displayed in the corner of the screen to translate what the speakers are saying into Auslan. The talk will also be live captioned.
Grace TameAlthough I present a tough exterior, my brain is always working overtime.
navigating the world of neurodivergence
We live in a society that is only just beginning to recognise neurodivergence in women and non-binary people. So how does it feel to be misdiagnosed for years? Does greater public awareness lead to acceptance and inclusion when it comes to socialising? What are some strategies to cope with ableist systems? And what stereotypes do we really need to put in the bin?
In a world where we often hear about autistic people, this panel of actually autistic high achievers tells us about their own lives, on their own terms. They'll be sharing about navigating social scenes and professional settings, and what masking and mimicry mean. This will be an essential session exploring how everyone can be part of a world that is inclusive, accessible and full of support.
Presented by Sydney Opera House
more about
Chloé Hayden
(she/her) is an award-winning actor and disability advocate, motivational speaker and social media influencer whose story of being 'different, not less' has attracted a worldwide following. She stars as Quinni in Heartbreak High, the Netflix remake of the iconic Australian series. Her first book is Different, Not Less: A neurodivergent's guide to embracing your true self and finding your happily ever after.
Grace Tame
(she/her) is a leader of positive change. She is a survivor-advocate for victims of sexual assault, particularly those who were abused as children.
In 2019 Grace was assisted via the #LetHerSpeak campaign who obtained a court order on her behalf, so she could speak out publicly, under her real name as an abuse survivor.
Now 27 and based in Hobart, Grace is a regular guest speaker for high-profile events and television programs. She uses her media profile to advocate for other vulnerable groups in the community. She is also a passionate yoga teacher and visual artist, having toured the United States with John Cleese in 2018 (Monty Python) as his personal illustrator.
Grace is also a champion long-distance runner, winning the 2020 Ross Marathon in a female course record time of 2:59:31.
On the 30th of October, 2020, Grace was named Tasmanian Australian of the Year for 2021.
On the 25th of January, 2021, Grace was named Australian of the Year. This award has supported Grace in advocating for, and bring awareness to, survivors of child sexual assault, empowering individuals to come forward with their stories after years of silence and pain.
Grace has since started The Grace Tame Foundation, which is a not-for-profit philanthropic organisation that campaigns for and helps to fund initiatives that work to prevent and respond to sexual abuse of children and others.
In 2022 Grace wrote and published her memoir, The Ninth Life of a Diamond Miner.
Dr Jac den Houting
(they/them) is a research psychologist and autistic activist working in pursuit of social justice. An emerging autism research leader, Jac is committed to creating real-world change that benefits autistic people, in the areas that matter most to the autistic community. Jac believes that autism research can be most meaningful and impactful when it is conducted by and with those it is intended to serve – autistic people.
Jac trained and worked as a psychologist in Brisbane, Australia, before completing their PhD and venturing into an academic career. Currently, Jac is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Macquarie University in Sydney. In late 2019, Jac made their TEDx debut with a viral talk that has attracted more than 1.2 million views to date. Jac is proudly neurodivergent and queer, and shares their life with their equally-neurodivergent partner; an enthusiastic Labrador; a Deaf rescue cat; and a disgruntled bearded dragon.
Dr Amy Thunig
(B.Arts, M.Teach, PhD) (she/they) is a Gomeroi/Gamilaroi/Kamilaroi yinarr (woman) and mother who resides on Awabakal Country. A full-time academic in the field of education, Amy is also an author, with her first book Tell Me Again released in November 2022 via UQP. Amy is a Director at Story Factory in Redfern, on various committees and councils including the AECG, and a media commentator and panellist, regularly appearing on television programs such as ABC’s The Drum.
Frequently asked questions
All you need is an internet connection! Schools can connect through Youtube in an internet browser however works best for your students (as a classroom or on individual computers).
The viewing link will be emailed to you in advance of the event.
If you require technical assistance with your video conferencing facilities, contact your schools’ tech support or alternatively contact our Creative Learning team on 02 9250 7770.
Click on the link for your preferred session time. If it is the first time you have used DART Connections you will be required to set up a username and password.
Please note that DART connections is the booking platform for all of our sessions and you will need to book here even if you are not a NSW or DET school.
Once your booking has been confirmed, our team will be in touch with relevant dial in details and to address any technical questions you may have.
Our on-demand program, including performances, workshops and talks, are available for a minimum of 10 days after the premiere. This gives you greater flexibility to watch at a time and date that’s convenient to your class. If you would really like to attend outside of the event dates, please contact the Creative Learning team on creativelearning@sydneyoperahouse.com and we will try our best to accommodate you.
You don’t need to do anything! If you can no longer attend our on-demand program of events, book in for another on-demand event at a time that suits you better.
If you would really like to attend outside of the event dates, please contact the Creative Learning team on creativelearning@sydneyoperahouse.com and we will try our best to accommodate you.
Once your booking is confirmed, our Creative Learning team will send you an email with all the details to prepare for your session.
To ensure your students get the most out of the experience, a Teachers’ Resource Pack is available for most programs. We recommend using these resources in advance of your digital excursion.
For the Digital Talks Program, your students can record their questions for the speaker and send them to us in advance of the talk. The details of how to do this will be emailed to you by our Creative Learning Team.
As the program is non-interactive, you can book for as many students as you like - a whole school booking of 500 or a single home learner - all are welcome and can be accommodated!
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