Identity Before Diagnosis: He Was the Patient. She Was His Nurse. Now They’re Disrupting the System Together
Tracks
Jacaranda - In-Person Only
| Monday, September 28, 2026 |
| 2:20 PM - 2:40 PM |
| Jacaranda / Karrie Webb |
Overview
Prue Anderson & Lachlan Hartup, T & K Support Services
Speaker
Prue Anderson
Community Services Manager
T & K Support Services
Identity Before Diagnosis: He Was the Patient. She Was His Nurse. Now They’re Disrupting the System Together
Presentation Overview
What happens when the roles the system assigns no longer fit - and the people within them choose to rewrite the script?
This presentation brings together two perspectives rarely seen side by side: Lachlan, a neurodivergent man living with ADHD, autism, schizophrenia, and experiences of psychosis and hearing voices, and Prue, a mental health nurse with extensive experience across forensic, justice, and acute mental health settings, who once supported Lachlan within that system.
Their story does not follow a traditional recovery narrative. It is not about being “fixed,” stabilised, or discharged. Instead, it is about what becomes possible when we shift the lens, from diagnosis to identity, from compliance to connection, and from roles defined by hierarchy to relationships grounded in mutual respect.
Together, Lachlan and Prue now work alongside one another, no longer patient and nurse, but peer and mentor, demonstrating what Identity Before Diagnosis looks like in real-world practice. Through honest reflection, they will explore the limitations of traditional models of care, the impact of labelling, and the power of relational, person-led support.
This session will challenge clinicians, practitioners, and service providers to reconsider how they engage with people experiencing complex mental health challenges and neurodivergence - particularly within systems such as justice and acute care, where identity is often overshadowed by risk, diagnosis, and containment.
Grounded in lived experience and clinical insight, this presentation offers a compelling call to action: to move beyond seeing people as a set of symptoms to be managed, and instead, recognise them as individuals with strengths, goals, and identities that exist beyond the system.
Because when we change the lens, everything else follows.
This presentation brings together two perspectives rarely seen side by side: Lachlan, a neurodivergent man living with ADHD, autism, schizophrenia, and experiences of psychosis and hearing voices, and Prue, a mental health nurse with extensive experience across forensic, justice, and acute mental health settings, who once supported Lachlan within that system.
Their story does not follow a traditional recovery narrative. It is not about being “fixed,” stabilised, or discharged. Instead, it is about what becomes possible when we shift the lens, from diagnosis to identity, from compliance to connection, and from roles defined by hierarchy to relationships grounded in mutual respect.
Together, Lachlan and Prue now work alongside one another, no longer patient and nurse, but peer and mentor, demonstrating what Identity Before Diagnosis looks like in real-world practice. Through honest reflection, they will explore the limitations of traditional models of care, the impact of labelling, and the power of relational, person-led support.
This session will challenge clinicians, practitioners, and service providers to reconsider how they engage with people experiencing complex mental health challenges and neurodivergence - particularly within systems such as justice and acute care, where identity is often overshadowed by risk, diagnosis, and containment.
Grounded in lived experience and clinical insight, this presentation offers a compelling call to action: to move beyond seeing people as a set of symptoms to be managed, and instead, recognise them as individuals with strengths, goals, and identities that exist beyond the system.
Because when we change the lens, everything else follows.
Biography
Prue Anderson is the Community Services Manager at T & K Support Services, bringing a powerful blend of clinical expertise, justice system experience, and deeply human, person-led practice.
With a background spanning mental health, forensic environments, and the justice system-including work across prisons, the Magistrates’ Court, and acute mental health settings - Prue has built her career supporting individuals navigating some of the most complex and often misunderstood challenges. Her work within the Assessment and Referral Court (ARC) strengthened her passion for advocating for people with neurodivergence and intersecting mental health needs within systems that don’t always see the full picture.
Originally trained as a mental health nurse and later working as a clinical educator, Prue made a deliberate shift away from traditional, room-based care to walk alongside people in their everyday lives - where real change happens.
At T & K, she leads community services with a focus on building confident, skilled teams and ensuring participants receive support that is relational, flexible, and grounded in Identity Before Diagnosis.
Prue is also a proud neurodivergent woman, living with ADHD, and a devoted mother to three neurodivergent daughters. Her personal and professional worlds intersect in a way that fuels her belief that people are never defined by their diagnosis - and that with the right support, anything is possible.
Known for her adaptability, honesty, and ability to “lean into the chaos,” Prue brings both structure and heart to her work. Whether mentoring staff, supporting participants, or standing alongside lived experience voices like Lachlan’s, she is driven by one core belief: people don’t need to be fixed - they need to be understood.
Lachlan Hartup
Peer Support Worker
Identity Before Diagnosis: He Was the Patient. She Was His Nurse. Now They’re Disrupting the System Together
Presentation Overview
What happens when the roles the system assigns no longer fit - and the people within them choose to rewrite the script?
This session brings together two perspectives rarely seen side by side. Lachlan, who has lived experience of neurodivergence and complex mental health challenges, and Prue, who once supported him within the clinical system.
Their journey is not about traditional recovery. It explores what happens when we shift from diagnosis to identity, from compliance to connection, and from hierarchical roles to mutual respect.
Now working alongside one another, they demonstrate what identity-first, person-led practice looks like in real-world settings.
This session will challenge practitioners to reconsider how they engage with individuals experiencing complex mental health challenges, particularly within systems where identity is often overshadowed by risk and diagnosis.
Grounded in both lived experience and clinical insight, this presentation highlights the importance of seeing people as individuals with strengths, goals, and identities beyond the system.
This session brings together two perspectives rarely seen side by side. Lachlan, who has lived experience of neurodivergence and complex mental health challenges, and Prue, who once supported him within the clinical system.
Their journey is not about traditional recovery. It explores what happens when we shift from diagnosis to identity, from compliance to connection, and from hierarchical roles to mutual respect.
Now working alongside one another, they demonstrate what identity-first, person-led practice looks like in real-world settings.
This session will challenge practitioners to reconsider how they engage with individuals experiencing complex mental health challenges, particularly within systems where identity is often overshadowed by risk and diagnosis.
Grounded in both lived experience and clinical insight, this presentation highlights the importance of seeing people as individuals with strengths, goals, and identities beyond the system.
Biography
Lachlan Hartup is a 25-year-old neurodivergent advocate, emerging peer worker, and living proof that people are more than the labels placed on them. Diagnosed with ADHD, autism, schizophrenia and bipolar, Lachlan has spent years navigating systems that often struggle to support people with complex needs.
He has lived with episodes of psychosis and is a voice hearer – experiences that once controlled his world, but are now something he continues to understand and work alongside.
In 2020, Lachlan survived a near-fatal suicide attempt. What followed was not a quick recovery, but an ongoing rebuild. Through that process, he found purpose in his experiences.
Today, Lachlan works as a peer support worker alongside people facing similar challenges. His approach is grounded in lived experience, connection, and honesty. He is currently studying mental health peer work and is committed to supporting others navigating complex systems.
Outside of work, Lachlan plays drums and finds identity in hardcore punk and heavy metal. He is also a fiancé and father, focused on building a life centred on connection and resilience.
