We’re raising to launch Australia’s first nationwide research initiative into the lived experience of families raising neurodivergent kids. No one has ever tried to understand how it impacts in a great and challenging way our lives. 

Your support will also help us design Understanding Zoe – a powerful new AI platform built by and for parents, carers, and the children they love –  by listening to the voices from lived experiences

👉 Pledge now to fund this research, strengthen our platform, and create lasting change for neurodivergent families.

When our daughter Zoe was diagnosed with Autism, ADHD, and Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA), our world changed – not just emotionally, but practically. We were hit with long waitlists, conflicting advice, school battles, and the exhausting, invisible labour of advocating every single day.

Zoe is vibrant. She climbs trees, writes songs, devours Billie Eilish and fantasy books.

But navigating the world? That’s where the pain lies not in her, but in the system around her.

And we realised we weren’t alone.

• Diagnosis wait times: 3½ years in the public, so it is often costing families $5,000+ in private
• 80% of parents raising neurodivergent children report serious mental health impacts
• 70% of teachers feel ill-equipped to support neurodivergent students
• Australia lacks any national data on the everyday realities of these families

Without data, families are invisible.
Without visibility, there’s no change.
It’s time to break that cycle.

Understanding Zoe is an AI-powered platform and connected care community, built by parents, for parents. Our mission is twofold:

1. Empower families with instant, tailored support
2. Bridge the national data gap that’s keeping families in the dark

Here’s what we do:

✅ Turn therapy speak into real-world neurodiversity-affirming strategies.

✅ Offer emotional relief in moments of overwhelm

✅ Connect families with educators, carers, and professionals

✅ Collect de-identified data to drive change at scale

It’s tech that understands what you’re going through because it was built from lived experience.

Without real research data on how families are coping, struggling, and adapting, we can’t:

• Influence policy
• Train teachers
• Support carers
• Fund services
• Reduce burnout

We’re launching a first-of-its-kind study, reaching 500+ families across Australia, to illuminate the real impact of raising neurodivergent children and to advocate for the infrastructure these families urgently need.

They see a quiet child who won’t join in.
They don’t see someone processing a noisy classroom with bravery and care.

They see a meltdown at the shops.
They don’t see hours of masking, sensory overload, and emotional fatigue.

They see a child who’s “controlling.”
They don’t see a kid doing everything they can to survive in a world not built for them.

This is the power of data. The power of storytelling. The power of shifting the lens.

“We felt so alone until we found Understanding Zoe. Now, I have daily strategies I can actually use.”

“It helped us secure NDIS funding. That was life-changing.”

“For the first time, my daughter’s teacher understands what she needs. That came from the app.”

Your pledge directly funds research, awareness, and life-saving tools for families like ours.

Every tier helps us understand, uplift, and support neurodivergent families.

✊ JOIN OUR MOVEMENT

This campaign is about visibility, care, and collective action. It’s about parents who’ve been pushed to the brink. Teachers doing their best without the tools. Kids like Zoe, who deserve more than just patience, they deserve understanding.

We see them. We honour them. We’re building something better.

👉 Donate now. Share this story. Help us bridge the gap.
Because understanding isn’t a luxury. It’s a lifeline.