A Night of Hope Inaugural Gala 2018

Dear Dyslexic Foundation

1 in 10 Australians have dyslexia – they are why the Dear Dyslexic Foundation was created.
Every day, people who have dyslexia struggle with the many daily challenges of life with a hidden disability. This leads to people who are disengaged and disconnected from education and go on to struggle to find and keep a job.
There are significant mental health burdens that accompany a life of struggling to accomplish tasks that others seem to find easy. Rates of depression and anxiety are very high for people who have dyslexia, leading to a rate of attempted suicide that is 46 per cent higher than the rest of the population.
The Inaugural Gala aims to unveil the hidden unspoken stories of dyslexia and raise much-needed awareness and hope for those with dyslexia.
In addition, raise vital funds to support Dear Dyslexic in their efforts to provide professional and evidence-based support that can help people with dyslexia enjoy better mental health and happier connected lives.
<IMG ALT="" SRC="https://cdn.evbuc.com/eventlogos/168632061/small2-1.jpg">
Host George McEncroe, Shebah
George is a mother of a teenage son with dyslexia, a writer, teacher and comedian who developed the female only Rideshare App called Shebah and she says “the Dear Dyslexic Foundation is amazing because it sets them up to thrive,” and “it normalizes dyslexia so that my son and others can relate to experiences like their own and feel represented.”
 “I truly believe in their ethical model of service and their excitement about destigmatizing dyslexia, and this is why I chose to support them,” advocates McEncroe.
Guest speaker Caitlin Iles, Capital xx
Caitlin is described by Sir Richard Branson as “a game-changer and force to be reckoned with.” She is experienced in venture capital, an angel investor, advisor to organisations, a serial entrepreneur and a passionate activist for women in business. She is also dyslexic.
Caitlin believes she “is living proof that the road to success doesn’t have to take a traditional path and that anything is possible if you are prepared to face your fears, work hard and refuse to give up.”
Caitlin is undoubtedly a powerhouse and we look forward to her sharing with us her road to success.
Guest Performer Ben Clark 
A 2018 finalist on Channel 9’s The Voice, opera and musical theatre star and member of the world-renowned vocal group The Ten Tenors.
Ben Clark, a VCA Music Theatre alum, was most recently seen on The Voice (2018). After turning all four of the judges’ chairs in his blind audition, Ben chose Delta Goodrem as his mentor and finished 5th overall.
Ben’s professional credits are extensive and range from a six year stint touring the world with international touring group The Ten Tenors, to a soloist performance during the 2017 Ashes Series, performing You’re The Voice on Boxing Day at the MCG. Ben has also secured roles with Opera Australia and the Victorian Opera and has had the great privilege of performing with Marina Prior at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney. We are very excited to bring Ben to our gala stage for a memorable feature performance.
Award Recipient – Dr Nola Firth, Honorary Research Fellow: The University of Melbourne and Centre for Adolescent Health, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute.
We are delighted to announce that A Night of Hope Inaugural Gala will mark the outstanding contribution to the national dyslexia cause by presenting Dr Nola Firth with our industry award named in her honour the Dr Nola Firth Outstanding Contribution to Dyslexia in Australia Award.
Originally a secondary teacher, Dr. Firth became a special education consultant and a president of 
Learning Difﬁculties Australia. She has over 30 years experience working with students who have learning disabilities, their parents, teachers, and other professionals. She is also co-author of a handbook for teachers entitled ‘Success and Dyslexia’ (published by ACER). She is a Churchill Fellow, was a member of the National Dyslexia Working Party and a presenter at the national Dyslexia Roundtable in 2014.
Dr Firth said she “truly feels honoured to be given the award,” and that she is “especially pleased about its establishment because it will in the future acknowledge others working in the often overlooked field of dyslexia.” She added that “there has been some encouraging progress but much research and advocacy work still needs to be done.”
Award Recipient – Will Wheeler
We are excited to announce that A Night of Hope Inaugural Gala will acknowledge the work of Will Wheeler with a Leadership Award for his work in providing leadership in the area of Dyslexia. Will Wheeler is the Managing Director of Evolution in Leadership, based in Australia. He is passionate about helping people find their full potential in their careers and helping them grow into outstanding leaders who will inspire and help others on to greatness.
Will is proud to say that he is dyslexic and knows what true potential people with dyslexia bring to the world. That's why he works closely with people with different learning styles and helps them to learn the leadership skills to achieve great things in life and their careers.
 
Our Supporters:
<UL>
<LI CLASS="MsoNormal">Shebah</LI>
<LI CLASS="MsoNormal">Capital xx</LI>
<LI CLASS="MsoNormal">Evolution in Leadership</LI>
<LI CLASS="MsoNormal">Elite Roads</LI>
<LI CLASS="MsoNormal">Blick Creative Industries</LI>
<LI CLASS="MsoNormal">Australian Children's Author Jackie French</LI>
<LI CLASS="MsoNormal">Author and Comedian Catherine Deveny</LI>
<LI CLASS="MsoNormal">Children's Author and Illustrator LJ Kidd</LI>
<LI CLASS="MsoNormal">Fenix Events</LI>
</UL>
 
This event is for patrons 18 years and over.
Buy your tickets now…
Dress code: Cocktail
This event is for patrons 18 years and over.
 
FAQs
How can I contact the organiser with any questions?
Contact events@deardyslexic.com if you have any questions
What if I have dietary requirements? 
Please contact events@deardyslexic.com
 How do request table/seating arrangement?
Please contact events@deardyslexic.com
Is it ok if the name on my ticket or registration doesn't match the person who attends?
Yes, its ok if the name on my ticket or registration doesn't match the person who attends

Fenix Events

Our {communityGuidelinesLink} describe the sort of content we prohibit on Eventbrite. If you suspect an event may be in violation, you can report it to us so we can investigate.

To report other categories of prohibited or illegal content, submit {link}