Melbourne Schools Podcast

Crystal Wong
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  • Education for Kids
  • Updated Weekly

I'm Crystal, a regular Melbourne mum trying to choose a secondary school in Melbourne for my daughter. I’m a firm believer that there is more to choosing the best school for your child than rankings and numbers on a table. In this podcast, I speak with parents, students, education experts and even principals to get a better understanding of schools and the education system in Melbourne.

  1. 4d ago

    Frances Brennan on growing up undiagnosed neurodivergent and being the "naughty" kid to overachieving and speech pathology

    Growing Up Neurodivergent, Being the “Naughty Kid” and Connection Before Correction Frances Brennan is a speech pathologist and Director of The Speech Tree who grew up as an undiagnosed autistic and ADHD child — experiences that now shape the way she works with children, families and schools. Frances shares what it was like to be a bright, capable student who struggled with organisation, executive functioning and school expectations, only to have those difficulties interpreted as behavioural problems. She talks about being labelled the “naughty kid”, later learning to mask and overachieve, and the struggles that remained hidden underneath. Now working closely with neurodivergent children and schools, Frances advocates for “connection before correction” — looking beyond behaviour to understand what might actually be happening for a child. Growing up with undiagnosed autism and ADHD Being labelled the “naughty kid” Masking, anxiety and appearing to cope Connection before correction What meaningful school accommodations look like Building better relationships between parents and teachers What to look for when choosing a school for a neurodivergent child Supporting children through school transitions Frances Brennan is a speech pathologist and Director of The Speech Tree in Montrose. Alongside her professional experience, Frances brings the perspective of an autistic and ADHD adult who received her diagnosis later in life. Through her work with children, families and schools, Frances supports neurodivergent young people to engage more successfully with learning, while helping educators better understand and accommodate diverse learners. Frances and the Speech Tree is a sponsor of Melbourne Schools.

  2. Sep 15

    Character development, challenge and community service at Woodleigh School with Char Palmer

    Char Palmer, winner of the Woodleigh Prize at Woodleigh School in 2025 shares their love of their journey through school. They talk about how Woodleigh helps students build character and find interests outside of academics. In this fun chat we talk about the physical and mental challenge of "Hada", the variety of Activities offered and the emphasis on giving back.

  3. Aug 12

    Psychological assessments - What's involved, when to get them and what to do with them

    Hayley Jennings ( Chin ) is a psychologist and founder of Step By Step Psychology and one of the sponsors of Melbourne Schools. In this interview, she guides us through different kinds of psychological assessments available for children and adolescents. We speak about when is the best time to do them, how they are done, what is the benefit and what can be done with the reports. If you've ever considered a learning difficulties assessment of neurodiversity assessment for your child, this interview may help.

  4. Jul 24

    IB, Marshmead and extracurriculars at MLC with Madeleine McGregor

    Madeleine, the high-achieving 2025 ex–Vice Captain at MLC, shares her school journey after joining midway through secondary school. We discuss her decision to pursue the IB over the VCE, how she balanced a demanding schedule of extracurriculars alongside her studies and leadership role, and her experience at Marshmead in Year 9. She also reflects on her time at MLC and outlines her plans for the future beyond school.

  5. May 14

    A look into admissions into private schools with Paul Walsh

    There's a lot of mystery and anxiety around waitlisting and admissions into Melbourne private schools. In this podcast, I chat to Paul Walsh who was Director of Admissions and Community Engagement in a co-ed private school for 15 years. We talk about the waitlisting process, if you should be honest in your application as well as the role that NAPLAN might play in school admissions.

  6. Mar 10

    How the home environment affects child behaviour with Penny Miller from Families In Mind Design

    Welcome to Season 2 of the Melbourne Schools podcast! In this conversation I speak to Penny Miller, founder of Families In Mind Design and sponsor of Melbourne Schools. Penny has unique skills combining 10 years of child development expertise with interior design. We chat about the intersection of child development and interior design and how the home environment can affect child behaviour.

    How the home environment affects child behaviour with Penny Miller from Families In Mind Design

  7. 04/29/2025

    Avila's nurturing culture and welcoming school environment

    Liv has two daughters who both go to Avila. We chat about how they chose the school and why it's been a perfect fit for her older daughter. We chat about the culture of the school and if what I learned on the tour is reflected in her daughters' experience there so far.

  8. 03/26/2025

    The inclusive sports culture and community at Mentone Grammar

    Lisa is the mum of two sons who go / went to Mentone Grammar. In this conversation we talk about finding a suitable school environment where her kids could thrive. We also chat about the inclusive sports culture, community and academic culture at Mentone Grammar.

See All (19)

Trailer

About

I'm Crystal, a regular Melbourne mum trying to choose a secondary school in Melbourne for my daughter. I’m a firm believer that there is more to choosing the best school for your child than rankings and numbers on a table. In this podcast, I speak with parents, students, education experts and even principals to get a better understanding of schools and the education system in Melbourne.

Information

  • Creator
    Crystal Wong
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    19
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Crystal Wong
  • Show Website
    Melbourne Schools Podcast

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