I CAN Expo 2025: Chris Varney’s Wrap Up
Written by Chris Varney – Founding Director and Chief Enabling Officer of I CAN Network
The I CAN Expo by I CAN Network is a day in which autistic/neurodivergent students share what lights them up. The day occurs off the back of I CAN’s 8-session school programs and 6-week online group mentoring programs during which mentors from I CAN®, the majority autistic themselves, have built up belonging, optimism, confidence and pride in autistic kids and teenagers.
The magic of the event is best captured by the bravery of Aquinas College Ringwood student and I CAN® participant Owen Poot. Owen was one of 30 student presenters at I CAN Expo 9 October 2025 who got on stage in front of 500 plus people at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre to speak on what lights him up: ‘musicals and how to write one’.
Owen’s bravery really shone through when he realised he was missing his cue cards. With immense bravery and a leap of faith, Owen got up on the stage in front of hundreds of people and spoke about his love for musicals and told the audience the steps you would take to write one.
The Expo has a deliberate bent on connecting the parents/carers of I CAN® participants with peer support programs and on exposing autistic/neurodivergent young people to senior secondary and post-school pathways. It’s for this reason why I CAN Expo 2025 featured sponsors/exhibitors including the Victorian Department of Education, Amaze, ANZ, La Trobe University, Positive Partnerships, 4GR, ACD, MyCareSpace, AbilityWorks, Kaboose, Aspergers Victoria, Autism Spectrum Australia, Light Occupational Therapy, Whereto, the Victorian Student Representative Council, Youth Disability Advocacy Service and Focus Bear. In 2025 the Expo was also supported by the Newsboys Foundation and the Australian Government.
‘We run this day to create an uplifting moment for autistic young people’ said I CAN Founder/Chief Enabling Officer Chris Varney.
‘We know firsthand that autistic young people are more vulnerable to mental ill-health and to slipping through the cracks of educational transitions’. I CAN Expo immerses young people in a celebration of positive autistic identity and culture so that they become more confident to self-advocate’.
‘We’re proud of our impact in 2025. 87% of Expo participants felt the Expo met or exceeded their expectations, 81% were able to connect with other people like them and 96% enjoyed the Expo overall’ said Chris.
In 2025 I CAN® added a professional development track to I CAN Expo so that teachers/support staff from schools could join the event and take away practical tips imbued with lived experience on how they can make their classrooms and schoolyards more inclusive. On top of its far-reaching group mentoring programs, I CAN® delivers just over 70 professional development/networking engagements per year.
I CAN® is now seeking sponsorship for I CAN Expo 2026. Prospective sponsors can contact events@icannetwork.com.aufor more information.
