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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
Education
Home Education
Neurodiversity
Burnout
Parenting
ADHD
Education System
School Attendance
Advocacy
School Can't Australia
Emotional Regulation
Australia
Homeschooling
Parenting Strategies
Child Development
Nervous System

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.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes63Foundeda year ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Kids & FamilyEducationParenting

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Artwork for The School Can't Experience

Latest Episodes

Tiffany Westphal, director of School Can't Australia, joins host Leisa Reichelt to discuss a common stressful experience facing School Can't families: the school attendance plan.

Drawing on recent survey research conducted with the School Can't Aust... more

YouTube

Rachel, a parent from southern Tasmania, joins host Leisa Reichelt to share her lived experience supporting her son, now in Year 11 and engaged with school, through what has been anything but a straightforward journey.

Rachel's son is autistic with ... more

YouTube

Consulting nurse Laura Hellfeld joins host Leisa Reichelt to explore one of the least-talked-about challenges facing School Can't families - hygiene and self-care.

When young people are in burnout, the capacity for everyday self-care tasks like sho... more

YouTube

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

YouTube

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Laura Hellfeld
Consulting nurse
Independent nurse consultant
Episode: #60 - Why School Can't Kids Struggle with Self Care & Hygiene & What Actually Helps, with Laura Hellfeld
Corinne Smith
Founder of KinHub
KinHub
Episode: #59 - From Reluctant Homeschooler to Community Builder with Corinne Smith from KinHub
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
Tanya Valentin
New Zealand based neuro affirming family coach
From Burnout to Balance
Episode: #42 - Tanya Valentin on School Can't Parental Grief and Transformation
Kate Broderick
School Can't mum and dual qualified speech therapist and occupational therapist
School Can't Australia
Episode: #40 - Kate Broderick on relationship based teaching

Host

Leisa Reichelt
Host of the podcast and related series within the School Can't Australia community; active host across episodes.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 54 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 Zealand5 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
    Australiaa year 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
    Australiaa year 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.

Audiences praise practical insights from experts and lived-experience stories.
Sponsors and guests often note the show's credible, research-informed discussions and the sense of community it builds.
Listeners appreciate the compassionate, non-judgmental tone and the focus on real-world outcomes.
Listeners describe the show as validating and supportive for families navigating school refusal and neurodivergence.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

#36 - Happiness First Education with Hugh Viney, Minerva Virtual Academy
Q: Could you summarize the core idea behind Minerva Virtual Academy and its four pillars?
The core idea is to deliver flexible, student-centered education through a platform that blends independent self-directed work with structured live lessons, supported by dedicated mentors and a strong community through assemblies and trips, all aimed at wellbeing and motivation rather than just exam results.
#39 - Melisa & Jamie's Lived Experience
Q: What would you say to parents in the dark times, the family in crisis, about what matters most?
The core message is to prioritize the parent–child relationship, stay flexible about learning pathways, and trust your own observations and your child's needs over external expectations.
#39 - Melisa & Jamie's Lived Experience
Q: What possessed you at the age of 13 to start taking on university-level work?
Jamie expresses a clear readiness and a supportive environment; Curtin University connections and Open Universities opened a formal pathway to higher education much earlier than typical.
#39 - Melisa & Jamie's Lived Experience
Q: Tell me about the learning side of things, Jamie. How was school as a learning experience, and how did homeschooling change that?
Jamie explains that traditional exams and handwriting challenges limited his engagement, and homeschooling enabled self-paced, interest-driven study with tutors and later university-level opportunities.
#39 - Melisa & Jamie's Lived Experience
Q: Tell us a little bit about yourselves and what we need to know about you.
Melisa and Jamie describe their early experiences with schooling, Jamie's autism and dysgraphia, and the move towards homeschooling which allowed them to tailor learning to Jamie's pace and interests.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

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?

Focused on families and professionals navigating school non-attendance and neurodivergent challenges, this show centers lived experiences, practical strategies, and research-informed guidance. Episodes often feature clinicians, educators, and parents sharing actionable steps—from fostering relational approaches and co-regulation to exploring alternative schooling and community supports. A standout throughline is validating caregiver experiences while highlighting evidence-based methods (play therapy, ILPs/IEPs, inclusive pedagogy) and systemic change needed in education and health systems. Listeners can expect a compassionate, solutions-oriented discussion that translates complex research into real-world tools for improving attendance, well... more

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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. Pop Culture Parenting
3. The Imperfects
4. Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families
5. Ladies, We Need To Talk

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

The School Can't Experience launched a year ago and published 63 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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

Recent guests on The School Can't Experience include:

1. Laura Hellfeld
2. Corinne Smith
3. Dr. Kate Renshaw
4. Dr. Billy Garvey
5. Linda Graham
6. Dawn Adams
7. Emma-Rose Parsons
8. Tanya Valentin

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