Fiona Landford from Courage Wisdom Change shares her journey of foster care, adoption and empowering neurodivergent families.
Fiona and her husband Wayne have fostered 32 children and adopted four along with being biological parents to their daughter Jess.
Fiona’s career started out in special education. It was through her work and her children that she saw a growing need for services that would proactively support not only isolated and/or disadvantaged families but also neurodivergent children and their families.
Three of their adopted children identify as neurodivergent and to find professionals who were versed in neurodivergence, the impact of disability and also trauma-informed was a challenge - not to mention finding someone who understood the complexities of living in rural and regional Australia.
With the encouragement of others, Fiona retrained over a period of years and in 2016 established Courage Wisdom Change which empowers children, youth and adults with skills for positive change.
From her home in Kyneton Victoria, Fiona shares with us her late career change, moving into counselling and unintentionally establishing herself as a neuro-affirming practice, why she is seeing more women identify as neurodivergent, the importance of looking after your mental health and wellbeing, and her highs and hurdles as a business owner.