Dr Christina Clarke

14/08/2026

🌿 PUSH, PAUSE, PIVOT — A RESOURCE BUILT BY PARENTS, FOR PARENTS

We know families are dealing with a lot of uncertainty at the moment.
Changes across disability, education and support systems can leave parents and carers feeling like they need to stay constantly alert — reading updates, responding to decisions, following up services, attending meetings and trying to work out what each change might mean for their child.

So we wanted to reshare one of our most valued resources: Push, Pause, Pivot — Preventing Advocacy Burnout.
This resource was built by parents, for parents, drawing on PODC’s experience working alongside families and hearing, again and again, what it can feel like to carry the responsibility of advocating for your child across complex systems.

Because families cannot be expected to fight every battle, every day.

Sometimes we need to PUSH 🔊
When something is urgent and your child’s access, safety, wellbeing, participation or rights are at risk, it may be time to act, speak up or escalate.

Sometimes we need to PAUSE 💚
Not everything needs to be dealt with today. Pausing can help protect your energy, recognise the toll advocacy is taking and give you space to decide what really needs your attention.

And sometimes we need to PIVOT 🧭
When you have asked, explained and pushed but nothing is changing, it may be time to try another direction — change the person you are speaking to, shift the strategy, bring in support or take a different pathway.

The workbook includes practical tools to help families think about what is urgent, what can wait, what matters most, when to rest, and when a different approach might create more movement.

It is not about asking parents to do more.

It is about helping families protect their energy while continuing to focus on what matters most for their child.

📘 Access the free Push, Pause, Pivot workbook here:
🔗 https://www.podc.org.au/resources/Documents/Push,Pause,Pivot-Preventing%20Advocacy%20Burnout.pdf

Push when it matters.
Pause when you need to.
Pivot when there may be a better way forward.

29/07/2026

25/07/2026

22/07/2026

The Three R's (Regulate, Relate, Reason) is a neurodevelopmental framework developed by child psychiatrist and trauma expert Dr. Bruce Perry. His Neurosequential Model is the grounding that outlines the strict biological sequence required to effectively communicate with, calm, and teach a dysregulated / traumatised child.

When a child is stressed, overwhelmed, or in a meltdown, their "thinking brain", the cortex shuts down. They then move into a survival mode controlled by the lower, primitive brain regions (brainstem and limbic system), activating fight, flight, or freeze responses. In this state any information enters the lower brain first, meaning any form of reasoning will not be processed until their survival and emotional needs are met.

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29/06/2026

❗️SURVEY CLOSING TOMORROW : 30 June❗️

Final reminder - the survey closes soon. If you want to contribute, I’d be grateful for your input.

I will use this information to design 6 months of Drop-in sessions directly to those who complete the survey. Link below.

ONLINE PARENT DROP-IN SESSIONS
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/FT7RD89

Monthly Drop-in sessions for families of Deaf and hard of hearing children and young people

- What topics you want covered
- What challenges you are facing
- What days/times work best

Please share amongst families and organisations who suppprt DHH families so I can make the next 6 months relevant and accessible.

Drop-in sessions will be online with Auslan interpreters and captioning. They aim to provide a supportive place to validate your experiences, connect, and explore topics guided by me - an experienced Clinical Psychologist working with DHH families. It’s a way for me to share my knowledge and support more of you.

*image created by prompts in Ai