The consultant speaking out on dyslexia

One thing people wouldn’t know about this career: My personal story is not unique in any way, shape or form.

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Each time I went into a job I had to work out if I should disclose my dyslexia in an interview, but then I wouldn’t be offered the advertised salary. I wanted to be truthful, but most of the time it wasn’t very productive. If anything, it was counterproductive.

So, most times I waited until I was past probation, and then I’d be told: “I knew something was wrong with you.”

It’s the right job for you if: You want to create meaningful change in others’ lives. That’s what gets me out of bed in the mornings. I wasn’t diagnosed with dyslexia and dysgraphia until after I’d finished university.

It was the icing on the cake as I was going through a marriage breakdown and mental health difficulties. I felt like I’d lost my sense of identity. I was so angry that I’d gone through so many levels of education without anyone picking it up.

People are surprised when I tell them: There’s a real lack of awareness about the prevalence rates within workplaces. If you have more than ten staff, you’ve probably got someone with dyslexia on your team.

However, there are supports that can work exceptionally well. With the right resources in place and with minimal support people with dyslexia can be quite autonomous. It’s not a huge cost. Some of these workplace adjustments are as easy as showing someone how to use Microsoft’s Immersive Reader.

Why I chose this career: People with dyslexia have to advocate so much it’s so exhausting. There’s still such a lack of awareness around it. I want to try to change that.

We hear international voices like Richard Branson talking about their dyslexia, and how it’s okay to be dyslexic, but in Australia, we really need more leaders standing up. We have people like Dr Catherine Foley, Australia’s Chief Scientist, talking about her dyslexia. Why aren’t there more leaders like that?

What formal qualifications I needed: As well as my own lived experience of dyslexia and dysgraphia, I have a number of qualifications, including as a speech pathologist. I also have a double Master of Health Administration and Public Health and a Doctorate of Public Health.

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