The Great Time Machine Experiment

If you could send a message back to yourself as a child, what would you say to help you grow up with confidence in yourself?

(Tip: If there was a time machine that could take you back to your childhood (first five years of school) what advice would you give your younger self to help you feel confident, accepted or respected?)

What do you wish you knew as a child that would have helped you understand who you are?

(Tip: As a child, what information or supports can assist you to understand who you are and your place in the world. Consider people, environments or actions where you learnt about your identity)

On the scale below, please rate how much each category forms a part of how you see yourself (your identity) now as an adult.

(Note to mobile phone users: You may need to scroll right to select your answers)

	Does Not	A Little	Some	A Lot	Very Much
Culture or Ethnic background (e.g. First Nations)	Culture or Ethnic background (e.g. First Nations) - Does Not	Culture or Ethnic background (e.g. First Nations) - A Little	Culture or Ethnic background (e.g. First Nations) - Some	Culture or Ethnic background (e.g. First Nations) - A Lot	Culture or Ethnic background (e.g. First Nations) - Very Much
Gender (e.g. Female)	Gender (e.g. Female) - Does Not	Gender (e.g. Female) - A Little	Gender (e.g. Female) - Some	Gender (e.g. Female) - A Lot	Gender (e.g. Female) - Very Much
Sexual orientation (e.g. Asexual)	Sexual orientation (e.g. Asexual) - Does Not	Sexual orientation (e.g. Asexual) - A Little	Sexual orientation (e.g. Asexual) - Some	Sexual orientation (e.g. Asexual) - A Lot	Sexual orientation (e.g. Asexual) - Very Much
Job/Profession (e.g. Electrician)	Job/Profession (e.g. Electrician) - Does Not	Job/Profession (e.g. Electrician) - A Little	Job/Profession (e.g. Electrician) - Some	Job/Profession (e.g. Electrician) - A Lot	Job/Profession (e.g. Electrician) - Very Much
Religion and/or Spirituality (e.g. Christianity)	Religion and/or Spirituality (e.g. Christianity) - Does Not	Religion and/or Spirituality (e.g. Christianity) - A Little	Religion and/or Spirituality (e.g. Christianity) - Some	Religion and/or Spirituality (e.g. Christianity) - A Lot	Religion and/or Spirituality (e.g. Christianity) - Very Much
Mental Health (e.g. Anxiety)	Mental Health (e.g. Anxiety) - Does Not	Mental Health (e.g. Anxiety) - A Little	Mental Health (e.g. Anxiety) - Some	Mental Health (e.g. Anxiety) - A Lot	Mental Health (e.g. Anxiety) - Very Much
Neurodivergence (e.g. Autism)	Neurodivergence (e.g. Autism) - Does Not	Neurodivergence (e.g. Autism) - A Little	Neurodivergence (e.g. Autism) - Some	Neurodivergence (e.g. Autism) - A Lot	Neurodivergence (e.g. Autism) - Very Much
Disability (e.g. Physical)	Disability (e.g. Physical) - Does Not	Disability (e.g. Physical) - A Little	Disability (e.g. Physical) - Some	Disability (e.g. Physical) - A Lot	Disability (e.g. Physical) - Very Much

What region are you in?

Before You Submit: Your Voice, Your Consent

The responses to this survey will help inform new knowledge and resources to support children in growing up with a healthy sense of identity and respectful self-advocacy skills. This project is proudly delivered by Social Science Translated for the Peer Support and Capacity Building (PSCB) grant for the NDIS.

We are also collaborating with the University of Southern Queensland (USQ) on research into identity development for neurodivergent children.

A healthy identity helps children understand who they are, how they belong, and that they matter. Too many neurodivergent children grow up feeling misunderstood. Together, we're changing that — thank you!

By selecting "Submit", you give consent for your responses to be used in this project and any associated research, subject to approval by a research ethics committee. Your answers will be kept private and secure. Any personally identifying information will be de-identified or removed.

Please select "SUBMIT" below to share your message and help create a stronger future for our kids.

The great time machine experiment

Complete a Short Survey

You’re invited to step into the Great Time Machine Experiment.

Send a message back in time and help kids understand who they are!