Chris Varney, the founder and Chief Enabling Officer of the I CAN network, will be our special guest speaker when MLMC hosts a free Autism Awareness family night on Wednesday 28 April. The event will be held from 7.00pm to 9.00pm at the College.
The College is hosting the event because “as a Mercy College we strive to ensure all members of our community are respected, included and understood,” Mr John Rodgers, Deputy Principal — Pastoral Care, said.
Mr Varney, the 2018 Victorian Australian of the Year finalist, will share his personal experience of growing up with autism and help guests learn more about the I CAN network and other services. I CAN Network is Australia’s largest provider of autistic-led group mentoring programs, training and consultancy.
Mr Varney is a law graduate and a pioneer of autistic-led service provision in Australia. He has a background in children’s rights and youth programs, having been 2009 Australian Youth Representative to the UN and World Vision Australia’s Manager of Youth. He founded I CAN Network in 2013. It is now Australia’s largest autistic-led organisation with 38 autistic staff and more than 1500 students in the program nationally. Mr Varney also serves as National Patron of the Australian Association for Special Education and is on the Advisory Board of Learning Creates Australia.
Children and young people are welcome to attend the forum. The Mercy – Catherine’s Cafe van will be open and there will be an opportunity to mingle with other families and ask questions during the Q&A session.
To register for the event, go to: https://www.trybooking.com/BPVXX
