AUStism 2025

AUStism 2025: Stories to challenge, inform and inspire

Save the date! Wednesday 7 May 2025 - Join us in person or via livestream for an evening of powerful, honest, and inspiring stories from an incredible lineup of speakers.

What is AUStism?

It’s more than a speaker event—it’s a front-row seat to the real, raw, and diverse lives of autism families. Autism isn’t a single narrative; it’s a wide spectrum of challenges, triumphs, and personal experiences.

At Autism Awareness Australia, we’re passionate about sharing these stories—the funny, the tough, the bittersweet, and the memorable. We're on a mission to break down misconceptions and offer genuine insight into this lifelong journey. That’s why we are thrilled to host AUStism again in 2025, bringing together a stellar lineup of national and international speakers who will challenge perceptions, spark conversations, and inspire you.

Don’t miss out - join the conversation.

GET YOUR TICKETS

Event details

Wednesday 7 May 2025

Join us in Sydney
‍Telstra CIC,
400 George St Sydney
5:30pm - 9:00pm AEST, includes pre and post-event drinks & canapés.

Join us online
‍via livestream
6:00pm - 8:00pm AEST

Speaker line up

James Hunt - Stories about Autism
‍James Hunt is an award-winning autism advocate, storyteller, and content creator with a following of over a million. As the founder of Stories About Autism, he’s spent nearly a decade sharing the unfiltered realities of raising his two autistic sons—offering hope, understanding, and a voice for families on a similar journey.

What started as a simple blog is now a thriving online community, podcast, and bestselling book, featured across national media and corporate initiatives. Known for his warmth, honesty, and humour, James turns life’s toughest moments into relatable insights that resonate beyond the autism community.

He’s also the founder of SAA Clothing, a brand that uses fashion to spark conversations and foster belonging for autistic people and their families.

Porscia Lam - The Unlocking: An Autism Story
‍Porscia Lam has 18 years’ experience as a corporate lawyer. In 2021, she took a three-year career break to care for two young children, one of whom was diagnosed with autism.

During this time, Porscia immersed herself in learning about autism, Pathological Demand Avoidance and ABA therapy. The success of her son’s early intervention led her to write her first book, The Unlocking: An Autism Story, which was shortlisted for the Hawkeye Manuscript Development Prize in 2024 and published by The Kind Press in February 2025.

In her spare time, Porscia is a keen rock-climber and reader. Her writing has appeared in Outer Edge magazine, Onya Magazine and Women’s Agenda.

Tamsin Colley - para-athlete and autistic advocate
Tamsin is a 22-year-old para-athlete and university student who is proud to be Autistic as well as having Cerebral Palsy. She was part of the ParaMatildas team that won the 2023 Para Asia Cup, and has also represented Australia several times in para-athletics, including at the Paralympics.

Tamsin is passionate about advocating for people with disabilities to get equal opportunities in all aspects of life, and studies Exercise Physiology in the hopes of getting better qualified to help others with disabilities improve their lives through sport.

Ronan Soussa - autistic advocate and autism ambassador, ACN
Ronan is a young man living with Autism in Sydney with his parents, older brother, and their two family cats. His early years were challenging, but with the dedicated support of his loved ones, he now enjoys a happy, busy, and fulfilling life. After proudly graduating high school in 2017, Ronan entered the working world—a step he finds both rewarding and meaningful.

Deeply committed to promoting inclusiveness and advocating for autistic people, Ronan serves as an Ambassador for both the Autism Community Network and Bus Stop Films. He loves trying new things, whether it's his passion for motor racing and working on the track, playing piano and tuba, exploring drama, modelling, voiceovers, or even filmmaking. Not to mention, he’s earned a black belt in karate. Equally important to him are the special moments spent with friends from his social support groups. Four years ago, Ronan dipped his toe into dating on “Love on the Spectrum,” where he met someone who has become very special in his life.

Teo Tissue - author, autism and Crohn's disease advocate

Teo lives with Autism, ADHD, Crohn’s disease, and other mental and medical challenges. Now in her mid-20’s, she was adopted from a Romanian orphanage at the age of 3 by Sandy (Mom), David (Dad), and older sister, Avalon. She moved to Australia from the USA at age 9, and now lives in supported living with her companion dog Warin, a Maltese/shitzu/terrier mix.

Teo is known for her role in the Emmy award-winning Love on the Spectrum, Season 2. In 2023, she wrote her first children’s book, Dora’s Big Idea (Rocking Boat Publishing), about a girl with autism who befriends a dog and sends her to school to become a therapy dog. Teo feels strongly about advocating for children and adults with Autism, Crohn’s Disease, Arthritis, and for people who have been adopted.

‍Sarah Macdonald - Broadcaster and writer
‍Sarah is a broadcaster, writer and communicator of much experience and passion. Presenting on Triple J and ABC Radio Sydney she has always tried to help us better understand the world and each other. Her best-selling book ‘Holy Cow - an Indian adventure’ has been translated into several languages and became a travel bible for India. Sarah has co-hosted the Full Catastrophe story-telling event and loves to help others tell their stories through media and presentation training.

Hosted by Tom Gleisner
‍Tom Gleisner is a founding member of Working Dog, the film and television production company responsible for such iconic movies as The Castle and The Dish, along with award-winning TV series like Utopia and Thank God You’re Here.

Tom currently hosts the Channel 10 quiz Have You Being Paying Attention? and his stage musical Bloom can be seen at the S.T.C. throughout April.

Tom is also co-founder and patron of Learning for Life, a Melbourne-based organisation providing support to children with autism.

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