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DISTRACTD July Live


What Happens When Support Disappears?

ADHD Across Childhood, Adolescence and Adulthood


We’re often told that growing up means becoming independent.

But what if that’s only part of the story?

From parents helping children navigate big emotions, to teachers creating supportive classrooms, to the routines, relationships, communities and environments that help adults stay regulated, humans rely on support throughout life.


For people with ADHD, those supports can make the difference between coping and struggling, thriving and burning out.

This month DISTRACTD explores how ADHD changes across childhood, adolescence and adulthood, and what happens when the support we rely on is removed, misunderstood or disappears altogether.

We’ll explore the role support plays across the lifespan, why some people seem to cope well until life circumstances change, and how many neurodivergent people learn to mask their struggles in order to fit in, meet expectations or appear “fine.”


Together we’ll unpack school supports, teenage independence, adult relationships, life transitions, hormones, masking, burnout and the many visible and invisible ways people navigate life with ADHD.

Whether you’re raising a child, supporting a teenager, navigating your own ADHD, or trying to better understand someone you care about, this conversation will offer practical strategies, real-world insights and a fresh perspective on what support really means.

Because the goal isn’t to need no support.

The goal is to build the right support at the right time.


Come curious.

Leave clearer.


A Note from Amanda


Welcome to our July event.

Tonight we’re talking about support. Not just the support children need, but the support many of us rely on throughout our entire lives.Before I understood ADHD, I thought it was something that happened to hyperactive little boys. I thought they eventually grew out of it.

Now I know differently. I know ADHD is something I’ve had my entire life. I can look back and see it everywhere. What I couldn’t see at the time was how much support was helping me function.


My mum was incredibly organised. She made sure I was where I needed to be, when I needed to be there. Wearing clean clothes. With the right forms signed. On time. Prepared.

A lot of what looked like me coping was actually support.


Then I became an adult.

Then I became a mum.

And one day I realised something.

I was supposed to be the mum. And while I am like my mum in many ways, particularly in personality, I did not inherit her executive functioning skills.

Not even close. So who helps me now?


My husband helps me. He is brilliant at the things that absolutely have to happen.

The planning.

The banking.

The bills.

The things that can’t be forgotten.

In return, I do a lot of the online things, the technology, the creative projects and the things that come more naturally to me. We’ve learned to work together. We’ve also learned to let some things go. Would it be nice if all the washing was folded and put away every weekend?

Absolutely

Is it a disaster if it isn’t? Not really. Is it washed ? Yes / Then its ok.

Does the house need to look like a display home? Definitely not. Does it need to be tidy and not a bomb. Yes but immaculate NO.

But some things matter.


The bills matter. The taxes matter. The important commitments matter.

So that’s where support comes in. And support has continued to change as our family has grown. Even my children support me now. They help at events. They help with jobs I know I can’t do on my own. Sometimes enthusiastically. Sometimes less enthusiastically.

But they help.

They’ve also learned something important. They don’t sweat the small stuff. If we’re running a little late, they cope. If I forget something, they cope. If I get emotional over something beautiful, they smile. If I lose my patience and later apologise, they accept it.

Our family understands that ADHD is not a moral failing. It's not a character flaw . It’s simply part of who I am. What I’ve realised is that support doesn’t always look the way we expect it to.

It might be a parent. It might be a partner. It might be a teacher, a friend, a workplace, a routine or even a phone full of reminders.

The support changes throughout our lives. But we all function better when we have the right support around us.

That’s why I’m excited about tonight’s conversation. Because all of us, regardless of age, benefit from understanding what helps us function and what helps us thrive.

Thank you for being here.

Thank you for supporting this community.


And thank you for continuing to show up for yourselves and for each other.


Amanda

Founder – DISTRACTD




We are on our Menti Meter again tonight.

Here is our link to join Event Schedule


6:00 pm – Welcome note from Amanda (15 mins)

6:15 pm – Speaker 1: Genevieve Whittington (Head of Inclusive Education) (15 mins)

6:30 pm – Speaker 2: Sarah Gurrin (Psychologist) (15 mins)

6:45 pm – Speaker 3: Dr Chris Wever (Psychiatrist) (20 mins)

7:05 pm – Chat about Body Doubling, Donations and Upcoming Events – Amanda

7:10 pm – Break

7:30 pm – Panel Q&A with Genevieve Whittington, Sarah Gurrin and Dr Chris Wever

8:20 pm – Wrap Up – Amanda

Thank speakers, promote August event, mingle, body double, donate

8:30 pm – Event Concludes and Bump Out Commences

8:45 pm – Bump Out Complete and Leave Site



Please follow and share our socials



Be updated with our 2026 live events

this link will put the dates into your calender




Support the Movement


Our DISTRACTD T-shirts and ADHD affirmation pencils are available tonight at the merch table. We also have a few new T-shirt designs to check out alongside our favourites.


Join the movement of unity and support with a DISTRACTD tee for $30.



“These shirts are more than just clothing. They are a symbol of solidarity and acceptance. Wear it proudly to show that you stand with those with ADHD, offering a silent nod of understanding and support. Together, let’s create a community where everyone feels seen, accepted and valued.”


Amanda Gorman





Quirky Reminders for Busy Minds


Whether you’re navigating life’s whirlwind or simply trying to remember that free trial you still haven’t cancelled, these pencils are here to bring a smile and a gentle nudge.

With delightfully relatable phrases like “I knew better but I did it anyway” and “Is there wet washing to hang out?”, they’re perfect for taming the chaos or embracing it with a grin.


A cute little desk companion or thoughtful gift for someone with ADHD — a small way to say, “I see you.”


$8.50 each.





Meet your speakers:



Host


Amanda Gorman - DISTRACTD Founder


Amanda is the founder of Distractd, a TEDx speaker, ADHD educator and advocate, visual artist, and textile designer. As a co-founder of the GC Music Network and Director of Strategic Partnerships, Amanda is deeply involved in her community, both as a professional and as a devoted mother and wife on the Gold Coast.


Passionate about bridging the gap between industry experts and individuals with ADHD, Amanda is committed to fostering understanding and empowerment. She believes in the power of self-advocacy and is dedicated to helping those with ADHD embrace their uniqueness while gaining deeper insights into their condition. Through Distractd, Amanda has created a platform that supports connection, solidarity, and community—a place for individuals to find the support they need on their journey toward greater understanding and self-empowerment.



Speaker 1 : Genevieve Whittington

Head of Inclusive Education


Genevieve Whittington is the Head of Learning Enhancement at an independent Prep to Year 12 on the Gold Coast school with over 10 years of teaching experience. She is passionate about helping neurodivergent students understand themselves as learners, develop self-advocacy skills, and build the confidence and independence needed to thrive in the classroom and beyond.


Bringing together professional expertise and personal insight, Genevieve has a particular interest in how different brains learn and how educators and families can move beyond a one-size-fits-all approach to better support young people. Her work focuses on creating environments where students feel understood, empowered, and equipped with the skills to become independent, capable learners and adults.

Alongside individual and group sessions, Laura facilitates workshops including sound experiences, breathwork, drum circles and creative practices such as drum and rattle making.


Her approach combines mindfulness, creativity and connection, inviting participants to explore how sound, rhythm and environment can influence the way we feel, respond and regulate.



Speaker 2: Sarah Gurrin

Psychologist


Sarah Gurrin is an AuDHD Educational and Developmental Psychologist, registered teacher, LEGO enthusiast, and firm believer that neurodivergent brains don't need fixing, they need understanding. Drawing on both her professional expertise and lived experience, Sarah specialises in autism, ADHD, and learning difference assessments, with a particular interest in supporting children, adolescents, and girls and women whose neurodivergence is often overlooked.


With a background spanning psychology, education, research, and advocacy, Sarah brings curiosity, compassion, and a healthy dose of creativity to everything she does. She is passionate about challenging deficit-based narratives and helping neurodivergent people better understand themselves through strengths-based, neuroaffirming approaches.


Known for her calm presence, thoughtful insights, and ability to explain complex ideas in ways that actually make sense, Sarah believes the best outcomes happen when we lead with connection, authenticity, and a little bit of joyful nerdiness. Also, her miniature schnauzer, Hamilton, is frequently better dressed than most professionals.


and Mr Hamilton’s bio


Hamilton is a bowtie-wearing miniature schnauzer, part-time therapy assistant, and full-time attention seeker. As the unofficial mascot, he specialises in co-regulation, emotional support, and reminding humans that sometimes the best intervention is a walk and a snack. His professional qualifications include being extremely handsome and very good at receiving compliments.



Speaker 3: Dr Chris Wever 

Psychiatrist


Dr Chris Wever is a Child, Adolescent and Family Psychiatrist with thirty years of experience in the management of young people with mental health problems.

​

Chris is a Fellow of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists and completed advanced training in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. He founded and directed the Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Program, School Refusal Program and was also the Inpatient Director at Rivendell Child, Adolescent and Family Unit in Sydney prior to commencing private practice.

​

Dr Chris Wever moved to the Gold Coast in late 2005 to work in private practice. Chris offers specialist psychiatric treatment for children, adolescents and families for the whole range of child and adolescent psychiatric problems.

​

He was appointed Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Health Sciences at Bond University 2005-2010.

Dr Wever is the author of ‘The Secret Problem’, a book for children with obsessive-compulsive disorder, ‘The School Wobblies’, a book for children who do not go to school due to anxiety problems and ‘Full of Beans’, a book for children with ADHD.

​

For more information about Dr Wever's book, or to purchase, please click below: www.delphisbooks.com/books

​

He has also contributed three chapters to textbooks on child psychiatry and authored several scientific journal articles. He has taught many different groups of professionals and workers in the field of child psychiatry.

​

Chris accepts patients up to the age of eighteen and works with all mental health problems.

*Dr Wever is not accepting new patients at this time. Current patients will remain able to schedule appointments with Dr Wever.



Meet Our Lovely Volunteers.



Kira Jaechel

Kira is a PhD candidate at Griffith University with a background in psychology and a research focus on youth homelessness in Australia. Inspired by both personal experiences and her work in the field,  she’s passionate about understanding how people find resilience, connection, and purpose in challenging circumstances. At DISTRACTD, she combines her curiosity about human behavior with a creative approach to explore how attention, emotion, and everyday human experiences intersect — always aiming to challenge stereotypes and foster understanding. Her goal, both in research and in everyday life, is simple — to make someone’s day a little better.


Free Resources to Share


We’ve created downloadable DISTRACTD info packs that you’re welcome to print and share — with your workplace, friends, family, clients, or even pin up at your local community noticeboard or shopping centre! We would love you to snap a pic of where you pin them and tag us on our socials so we can see.


You can help spread the word and spark more conversations about ADHD, neurodivergence, and mental health.


Link here Print, share, stick it up — we’d love your help.






Neuroinclusion Training for Workplaces



Practical. Strengths-based. Built for real teams.


DISTRACTD has developed a workplace training program to help organisations better understand, support, and retain neurodivergent talent.


Think of it like a first aid refresher, but for neuroinclusion.


Our facilitators come to you, in person or online, guiding your team through practical strategies like neuroinclusive onboarding, inclusive hiring practices, simple workplace accommodations, and policies that help different brains thrive.


Neurodivergent people are often innovators, problem-solvers, and big-picture thinkers. With the right support, those differences become strengths that lift whole teams.

Developed in collaboration with GPs, psychologists, and psychiatrists, this program is strengths-based, realistic, and grounded in lived experience.


Bookings open now


Help your team work better together.


Register your interest in neuroinclusion training for your workplace and we will get in touch with your organisation.


Register here


Try Body Doubling for Free



One of the themes running through tonight's event is that support doesn't always come from trying harder.


Sometimes support comes from changing the environment around us.

That's exactly what body doubling is.


DISTRACTD Body Doubling sessions are gentle online focus sessions where people work alongside one another in a supportive, low-pressure environment.


No coaching.

No judgement.

No expectation to be productive every minute.


Just a dedicated space to tackle the things you've been meaning to do, alongside others doing the same.


If you've ever found yourself saying:

"I know what I need to do... I just can't seem to start."


Body doubling might be worth experiencing for yourself.


As a thank you for being part of our community, we'd love to offer you a complimentary trial session.


Use the code BDTRIAL when booking.


Because sometimes the right environment changes everything.



Support DISTRACTD



DISTRACTD is community-led and independently run.


Every month we welcome around 50 people to a free evening of evidence-based ADHD education, practical strategies and connection.


While attendance is free, it costs around $26 for every person who walks through the door. Across the whole evening, that’s approximately $1,300 in direct costs.


When you include the incredible generosity of our speakers, volunteers and the many hours of donated planning and coordination, each DISTRACTD event represents over $6,000 worth of value.


We don’t want cost to be a barrier to understanding ADHD, so we rely on merchandise sales, donations and the generosity of our community to keep these events free.

If DISTRACTD has made a difference to you or someone you love, perhaps you’d consider covering the cost of one person’s place ($26),


$10 helps cover the printing of event resources, run sheets and volunteer materials.

$26 helps cover the cost of one person’s free attendance at a DISTRACTD event.

$50 helps cover refreshments and volunteer support, creating a welcoming space for our community.


$100 contributes towards professionally recording an event, helping us build a future library of trusted ADHD education.


$200 funds the professional recording of an entire DISTRACTD event or simply giving whatever feels right.


Every contribution helps someone else walk through the door.


Donate here → show some love here



Sponsors & Partners


We’re currently inviting a small number of values-aligned sponsors and partners to support DISTRACTD’s growth.


DISTRACTD is building a trusted, consistent space for neurodivergent adults on the Gold Coast — and this work is only possible through thoughtful partnerships.


Beyond financial sponsorship, we also warmly welcome donated skills, services, or equipment. Areas we currently need support in include accounting, printing, merch supply, podcast and recording equipment, tech hardware, catering, and event supplies.


Every contribution helps us keep these events free and accessible, while building a stronger, more connected neurodivergent community.


If you or your business would like to get involved, we’d love to chat.


Contact us at → hello@distractd.org





Resources and Recommendations from our Community.


PODCASTS




BOOKS


The Year I Met My Brain – Matilda Bosely

Scattered Minds – Dr Gabor Maté

How to Keep House While Drowning – KC Davis

Atomic Habits – James Clear

ADHD 2.0 – Edward Hallowell & John Ratey

Your Brain’s Not Broken – Tamara Rosier

A Radical Guide for Women with ADHD – Sari Solden & Michelle Frank

Organizing Solutions for People with ADHD – Susan C. Pinsky

Blood, Sweat and Glitter – Em Rusciano (NEW and on Amandas Christmas List)



APPS & DIGITAL SUPPORT


Forest – Grow a tree while you focus.

Todoist – Simple task manager with reminders.

Notion – Build a system for your brain.

Finch – Self-care turned into a gentle game.

Dubbi App – ADHD-friendly voice journaling.

Insight Timer – Meditation, sleep, grounding.

Yoto Audio Player – Screen-free stories/music for ND kids.



CREATORS & ACCOUNTS


@adhdmemetherapy – The memes that keep us alive.

@tarah.and.barry – ND + NT couple navigating life.

@adhd_love – Creators of Dubbi; great ADHD education.

@domesticblisters / @strugglecare – KC Davis and the “good enough” approach.

@tarahelizabeth – Chaos, colour, creativity, and honesty.

How to ADHD (Jessica McCabe, YouTube)

HealthyGamerGG (YouTube) – Mental health + gaming + ADHD.

ADHD Mums (adhdmums.com.au/resources) – Massive Australian resource hub.



ND-FRIENDLY TOOLS, SUPPORTS & SERVICES


NeuroFit Program (Daniel Bennett, ARRC + Tidal Health) – Inclusive movement for neurodivergent bodies.


hellowable.com – Dating for neurodivergent people.

ADDitude Magazine – Articles, webinars, community stories.

CHADD.org – Evidence-based ADHD education & advocacy.


WEBSITES & ONLINE RESOURCES


ADDitude Magazine

ADHD Mums (Australia): https://adhdmums.com.au/resources/

hellowable.com – ND dating

Neurokind insight - free resource



LOCAL SUPPORTS & COMMUNITY



and Weekend study squad body doubling


OR Body-doubling with us at DISTRACTD



Watch Amandas Ted Talk here








Thank you for being part of our growing community! We’re so excited to have you with us — stay connected, stay curious, and join us at our monthly events to keep the conversation going.


We’d love to hear about the podcasts, books, videos, or groups that inspire you, so we can share them with our audience. Drop us a line anytime at hello@distractd.org— we’d love to hear from you!


A heartfelt thanks this month to Dr Chris Wever,Genevieve Whittington Sarah Gurrin and Hamilton the handsome boy for generously sharing their time, expertise, and insights with us.


Finally, I’m endlessly grateful to my family, friends, and the incredible staff at HOTA for their ongoing support in bringing these events to life every month. A special thank you to Rocinie, Amber, Jake, Charley and Simone.


Thank you to our sponsors for showing us the support we need to be able to make this happen each month and to all of the individuals who have so generously donated to us.


With appreciation,


Amanda & the DISTRACTD team xx


Up next month : August 5


What Actually Helps?


Finding the Right Supports for ADHD


Everyone says, “Get support.”


But what does that actually mean?


Medication.

Therapy.

Coaching.

Occupational therapy.

Psychology.

Exercise.

Body doubling.

Apps.

Routines.


The list can feel endless.


Join us as we explore the supports available for ADHD, how to find the right fit, and why there is no one-size-fits-all approach.


We’ll unpack what different professionals do, where medication fits alongside other supports, and how to build a personalised toolkit that works for your brain—not someone else’s.


Wednesday 5 August | HOTA

Free Community Event


Come curious.

Leave with a clearer plan.




 
 
 

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