Love, Humour and a Neurodivergent Family's Journey
| Tuesday, September 29, 2026 |
| 3:35 PM - 4:05 PM |
Overview
A Q&A with Shane Jacobson
Key Learnings
Comedian, actor and proud father Shane Jacobson joins us for an intimate, moderator-led conversation about raising a neurodivergent child and the ways it has reshaped how he sees connection, difference and family. Known for his warmth on screen, Shane brings that same candour to the stage, reflecting on what first shifted his understanding of his son's way of engaging with the world, and what he has come to admire about it.
This is a lived experience session, offering a parent's perspective as one voice among many at the conference. Shane will speak openly about the harder early moments his family navigated, the role humour and lightness played in getting through them, and the everyday realities of family life that don't always make it into the wider conversation about neurodivergence, the quiet wins as much as the visible struggles.
The conversation moves from personal reflection to collective responsibility, asking what the wider community could do differently to better support neurodivergent kids and their families, and what Shane wishes someone had told him earlier in his own journey, before he had the language or the confidence to ask for it himself.
Expect a session that is honest, funny in places, and grounded in lived experience rather than theory or clinical framing. Shane speaks not as an expert but as a father who has learned, adjusted and grown alongside his son, and who is candid about what he still doesn't fully understand.
The session closes with a shared question for the room: what does a good future look like for neurodivergent kids and the families raising them, and what part can this community play in helping build it.
Speaker
Shane Jacobson
Love, Humour and a Neurodivergent Family's Journey
Presentation Overview
Comedian, actor and proud father Shane Jacobson joins us for an intimate, moderator-led conversation about raising a neurodivergent child and the ways it has reshaped how he sees connection, difference and family. Known for his warmth on screen, Shane brings that same candour to the stage, reflecting on what first shifted his understanding of his son's way of engaging with the world, and what he has come to admire about it.
This is a lived experience session, offering a parent's perspective as one voice among many at the conference. Shane will speak openly about the harder early moments his family navigated, the role humour and lightness played in getting through them, and the everyday realities of family life that don't always make it into the wider conversation about neurodivergence, the quiet wins as much as the visible struggles.
The conversation moves from personal reflection to collective responsibility, asking what the wider community could do differently to better support neurodivergent kids and their families, and what Shane wishes someone had told him earlier in his own journey, before he had the language or the confidence to ask for it himself.
Expect a session that is honest, funny in places, and grounded in lived experience rather than theory or clinical framing. Shane speaks not as an expert but as a father who has learned, adjusted and grown alongside his son, and who is candid about what he still doesn't fully understand.
The session closes with a shared question for the room: what does a good future look like for neurodivergent kids and the families raising them, and what part can this community play in helping build it.
This is a lived experience session, offering a parent's perspective as one voice among many at the conference. Shane will speak openly about the harder early moments his family navigated, the role humour and lightness played in getting through them, and the everyday realities of family life that don't always make it into the wider conversation about neurodivergence, the quiet wins as much as the visible struggles.
The conversation moves from personal reflection to collective responsibility, asking what the wider community could do differently to better support neurodivergent kids and their families, and what Shane wishes someone had told him earlier in his own journey, before he had the language or the confidence to ask for it himself.
Expect a session that is honest, funny in places, and grounded in lived experience rather than theory or clinical framing. Shane speaks not as an expert but as a father who has learned, adjusted and grown alongside his son, and who is candid about what he still doesn't fully understand.
The session closes with a shared question for the room: what does a good future look like for neurodivergent kids and the families raising them, and what part can this community play in helping build it.
Biography
Shane Jacobson is one of Australia’s most loved, award-winning actors, presenters and entertainers. His incredible and varied career spans over 40 years both here at home and internationally.
Best known for his work in film, television and theatre, he’s also a song and dance man, author, screen writer, creative director, producer, executive producer, plus an ambassador for many worthy charities and organisations.
Shane has worked with some of the biggest names in show business including Jack Thompson, Jeremy Clarkson, Bryan Brown, Jeremy Renner, James Cromwell & Guy Pearce.
His notable movie credits include The Bourne Legacy, Charlie & Boots with Paul Hogan, Oddball, Top Gear, The Dressmaker with Kate Winslet, The Very Excellent Mr Dundee with Paul Hogan, Chevy Chase and John Cleese and Never Too Late with James Cromwell, Jacki Weaver and Jack Thompson, Ladies in Black and the hit Aussie classic, Kenny.
On television, some of his hosting roles include Top Gear Australia, Little Big Shots, The Real Full Monty and a judge on Australia’s Got Talent.
Shane’s stage career has been just as successful. On stage, he has received a Helpmann Award for Best Male in a Supporting Role for ‘Nicely Nicely’ in the 2008 revival of the musical Guys and Dolls. In 2022 Shane will star in a new production of Hairspray.
