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Artwork for The School Can't Experience

The School Can't Experience

School Can't Australia
School Can't
Mental Health
Autism
Neurodivergence
Home Education
Neurodiversity
Parenting
School Attendance
ADHD
Burnout
Advocacy
Education System
Education
Emotional Regulation
Homeschooling
Parenting Strategies
Child Development
Nervous System
School Can't Australia
Parental Support

For parents and caregivers of young people who struggle to attend school, and related education and health professionals. We share experiences and insights into what is going on for our young people and how we can offer support.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes60Foundeda year ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ParentingEducationKids & Family

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Artwork for The School Can't Experience

Latest Episodes

Corinne Smith describes herself as a "reluctant homeschooler". Someone who never planned to be home educating, but who found herself there after her child experienced School Can't from preschool onwards, through multiple school settings, including Mo... more

Judith came across School Can't Australia on the internet and suddenly, something that had puzzled her for over sixty years finally had a name.

Now 66, Judith grew up missing roughly half her schooling. Nobody called it School Can't. Nobody really k... more

YouTube

We've just passed 50 episodes of The School Can't Experience — and many of those have been lived experience episodes: families coming on to tell us what School Can't has actually been like for them in real life.

In going back through all of those ep... more

YouTube

Play and filial therapist Dr. Kate Renshaw joins host Leisa Reichelt to explore how play therapy can support children and families experiencing School Can’t, especially when kids struggle with traditional talk-based therapies. 

Kate describes why pl... more

YouTube

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Conversations
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Recent Guests

Dr. Kate Renshaw
Play and filial therapist; developer of TORA
Play and Filial Therapy; Deakin University research; TORA advocate
Episode: #56 - Why Teacher Relationships Matter with Dr Kate Renshaw
Dr. Billy Garvey
Developmental pediatrician with 20+ years of experience
Guiding Growing Minds; Pop Culture Parenting (guest appearance)
Episode: #54 - Billy Garvey’s tips for supporting School Can’t Kids
Linda Graham
Inclusive education expert
Queensland University of Technology (QUT)
Episode: #50 - Professor Linda Graham on Inclusive Education
Dawn Adams
Leola Tennison Endowed Chair of Autism Research at Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre (OTARC), Latrobe University
OTARC, Latrobe University
Episode: #47 - Insights from School Can't Research with Dawn Adams, Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre (OTARC)
Emma-Rose Parsons
Psychologist with expertise in educational support for neurodivergent children
Independent psychologist / School Can't Australia collaborator
Episode: #46 Individual Learning Plans that really work with Emma-Rose Parsons
Symone Wheatley-Hey
Sole parent and neurodivergent advocate, shares her lived experiences regarding neurodiversity and education.
Square Peg Round Whole
Episode: #29 - Symone Wheatley-Hey's Lived Experience
Jackie Hall
Founder of the Parental Stress Center and expert on parental stress management
Parental Stress Center
Episode: #13 - Reducing Parental Stress with Jackie Hall, Parental Stress Centre
Heidi Ryan
Mother of three and home educator for six years
Episode: #12 - Understanding Deschooling with Pavlina McMaster and Heidi Ryan
Marissa Taylor
Mom of five who shares her family's experience with school refusal
Episode: #10 - Lived Experience - School Can’t Domino Effect with Marissa Taylor Part 1

Host

Leisa Reichelt
Host of The School Can't Experience Podcast – School Can't Australia / The School Can't Australia Community

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 48 ratings
  • Soooo well done!

    Highly recommend this pod to educators and to families/supporters of neurodivergent kids/teens and any others struggling with school attendance due to its impact on their wellbeing. Really well presented, edited and recorded, lots of lived experiences being centred, but also insights from experts and researchers in the field too. Thanks Aussies!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    dawnchor
    New Zealand4 months ago
  • Incredible show!

    Love this show. It’s so validating for parents of school can’t children. Thank you for helping build community and normalise our experience ❤️

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    darwinlistener
    Australia8 months ago
  • Thank you!

    I wish I had this podcast two years ago! Thank you for making me feel less alone on this journey of ‘school can’t’.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Rebecca re
    Australia10 months ago
  • Amazing resource for parents!

    Thank you for starting this podcast. It’s so needed so parents and the wider community understand the struggles our kids are having at school and ways we can support them and their families.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    MummyMclean
    Australia10 months ago
  • 🙌🙌🙌

    Thank you for this fantastic podcast series. It’s the questions asked by people with lived experience that cuts right to the highest quality conversations. It’s the real deal. You guys are awesome 🙌

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Universal student
    Australiaa year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

High quality discussions with experts and researchers.
Helpful for families seeking community and practical steps.
Engaging, empathetic storytelling centred on lived experiences.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

#47 - Insights from School Can't Research with Dawn Adams, Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre (OTARC)
Q: What role does policy play in improving school attendance for autistic students?
Policy should support flexible assessment timelines, reduce neurotypical bias in evaluation, and encourage schools to adopt participatory approaches that center lived experience; these changes can have broad impact on teacher wellbeing and student outcomes.
#47 - Insights from School Can't Research with Dawn Adams, Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre (OTARC)
Q: How can teachers and parents act on these findings in practical terms?
Use autism-specific anxiety prevention programs for parents, create predictable routines with space for autonomy, and employ tools like card sorting to surface student stressors without relying on clinical resources; focus on collaboration and ongoing dialogue.
#47 - Insights from School Can't Research with Dawn Adams, Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre (OTARC)
Q: What do we need to know to support school attendance for autistic students?
Key findings show that early anxiety predictors, the role of intolerances of uncertainty, and the impact of classroom dynamics are central. Interventions that target anxiety early, involve parents, and use non-clinical, scalable approaches can improve attendance.
#48 - Rachel's Lived Experience - What an OT Can Do for School Can't
Q: What role can an Occupational Therapist play for families with neurodivergent children in school settings?
OTs help assess how a child engages in daily activities, modify the environment, and set achievable goals with the family. They focus on practical adaptations in school and at home, like sensory supports, movement breaks, and enabling the child to participate in activities they enjoy.
#56 - Why Teacher Relationships Matter with Dr Kate Renshaw
Q: Why is the teacher-student relationship so critical for attendance and learning?
Research shows it is the single most important indicator of whether children attend, enjoy, and learn in school. A strong, relational approach reduces burnout for teachers and creates a safe, engaging environment that supports wellbeing and academic outcomes.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About The School Can't Experience

What is The School Can't Experience about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A podcast focused on parents and caregivers navigating school absence, burnout, and mental health in youth. Episodes consistently center neurodiversity, homeschooling, deschooling, and practical strategies like low-demand parenting and Collaborative/Proactive Solutions to improve family well-being and school engagement. The show stands out for centering lived experiences, pairing them with expert insights, and highlighting community support and reform-minded perspectives that push for more inclusive education.

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How many listeners does The School Can't Experience get?

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Which podcasts are similar to The School Can't Experience?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The School Can't Experience:

1. ADHD Mums
2. The Imperfects
3. Ladies, We Need To Talk
4. Pop Culture Parenting
5. Conversations

How many episodes of The School Can't Experience are there?

The School Can't Experience launched a year ago and published 60 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The School Can't Experience?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for The School Can't Experience?

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What guests have appeared on The School Can't Experience?

Recent guests on The School Can't Experience include:

1. Dr. Kate Renshaw
2. Dr. Billy Garvey
3. Linda Graham
4. Dawn Adams
5. Emma-Rose Parsons
6. Symone Wheatley-Hey
7. Jackie Hall
8. Heidi Ryan

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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