Fighting the stigma of ADHD my way - using humour, storytelling and evidence-based approaches
Rose Callaghan struggled at school. Bullying, bad marks and a feeling in her gut that told her she was “different”. No matter how hard she tried, life was a struggle. One thing she always had was a passion for the stage and a love of telling stories. At the age of 32 years old, Rose was finally diagnosed with ADHD. But hang on - isn’t ADHD just for hyperactive little boys?
After receiving her life-changing diagnosis, Rose decided to write a comedy show about it. It went on to sell out at festivals across the country, received rave reviews and won the Best Comedy award at Sydney Fringe Festival. Since then, Rose has spent her time passionately educating and advocating for people with ADHD around Australia.
Rose found that simply getting up on stage and telling her story not only provided essential education to those in need but also led many people to realise they had ADHD too. Further spurred on by the reaction to her article in the Sydney Morning Herald about her ADHD “lightbulb moment”, Rose became an ambassador for ADHD Australia. Her continued advocacy work, media appearances and social media content has made her one of Australia’s most well-known ADHD advocates.
Rose is trusted by some of the most well-known mental health bodies, having worked with the ADHD Professionals Association, the Australian Clinical Psychologist’s Association and ADHD Australia.
Through stand-up comedy and her unique skill at storytelling, Rose communicates powerful messages by making people laugh while learning. Rose is able to communicate with a variety of audiences and loves speaking about tools that help her with ADHD in day-to-day life, in the workplace, and being a parent with ADHD. Whether it’s professionals, school students, mental health practitioners or members of the public, she’s helped thousands of people learn about the nuances of ADHD and what it really looks like.
Talking Points
Living My Best Life in a Neurotypical World
This keynote offers a candid and engaging look at ADHD through Rose's lived experience, backed by over a decade of advocacy and performance. With humour and clarity, Rose breaks down what ADHD really looks like in everyday life, cutting through jargon with relatable examples and visuals. From underachievement and bullying to diagnosis, thriving, and parenting with ADHD, this session brings authenticity and insight to a topic often misunderstood. Designed to educate and empower, it’s a powerful blend of storytelling, practical knowledge, and business relevance.
Living My Best Life in a Neurotypical World
ADHD in the Workplace
This keynote delivers practical insights into how ADHD shows up in the workplace and what managers and teams can do to support high performance. With humour and clarity, Rose shares real-world examples of how ADHD employees work, what gets in their way, and how simple adjustments can unlock their strengths. From creativity and lateral thinking to problem solving, ADHD talent brings unique value when supported effectively. The session is relevant for leaders, HR teams, and colleagues alike, offering actionable strategies that benefit everyone.
ADHD in the Workplace
Rose Callaghan brought an inspiring and refreshingly authentic perspective to Nestlé Oceania’s virtual session about neurodiversity in the workplace on International Day of Persons with Disa ... keep reading Nestle
I would like to thank Rose for being available to attend ADHD Australia’s Community and Carers information day in Brisbane earlier this year which followed the performance at the Australian ADHD Professionals Association (AADPA) evening. The feedback I received from those attending both functions was very positive. I am therefore glad to say that hiring Rose made a great positive impact to our events. Rose was the perfect act - both entertaining and professional - tailoring her material and style perfectly between the evening drinks, with the professionals on the Saturday, and our Community and Carers information day. I will definitely re-engage Rose for future activities we are planning.
I spent many years working as YWCA’s Events and Membership Coordinator. Rose was ALWAYS our MC of choice- adaptable, energetic, hilarious and able to engage a crowd- any crowd! Rowdy club goers to rowdy rescue dogs at our community dog show fundraiser, we always knew we had the right MC.
We had the absolute pleasure of learning from the brilliant Rose Callaghan, who delivered a truly unforgettable session on supporting colleagues and customers with ADHD. With warmth, honesty and a whole lot of humour, Rose shared insights from her own lived experience that were both deeply relatable and incredibly educational. From practical strategies to real talk about what it's like living and working with ADHD, this session had it all - and the feedback has been glowing.
Rose has performed at several Share the Dignity charity events including MCing our StandUp gala event at the Athenaeum Theatre and our large DigniTea event at the Docklands in Melbourne. Rose has proven to be funny, professional and adaptable to suit the event, including doing a clean material set at one of our daytime events. I would highly recommend Rose.
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