Teen Parliament 2025: Teenagers Patrick Saunders and Jack Harrison reveal personal battles in quest for change
Just two-and-a-half years ago, autistic teen Patrick Saunders wanted to die. Yesterday, he stood up in front of his peers at Teen Parliament to spread an inspirational message to South Aussies.
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Just two-and-a-half years ago, autistic 15-year-old Patrick Saunders wanted to die.
The year 10 homeschooled student struggled to communicate as he is non-speaking, has ADHD and developmental co-ordination disorder, which impacts his motor skill development.
Since then, he learned to communicate by pointing at letters to spell out words on a letter board.
On Friday, the Joslin teen used his new-found way of communicating to advocate for autistic people in Teen Parliament in front of state politicians and 29 of his peers.
“I hated my life and felt so lonely,” Patrick said.
“People presumed I was intellectually challenged but I am not, I am smart.
“My purposeful motor planning does not always work with my brain.”
But now, he is thriving and his accomplishments include a 79-day bicycle expedition across the US and completing a 56km bushwalk in the Mt Lofty Ranges.
“I am able to communicate and I now have friends and a community,” he said.
“Autistic people need equality and to feel a sense of belonging.”
Patrick told his peers and politicians in South Australia’s House of Assembly that he “missed out but no autistic person should”
“I learned to communicate at home, not school,” the teen said.
He advocated for the creation of an autism and neuro-diversity academy guided by autistic people.
“It would increase understanding of strategies and autistic culture,” the teen said.
His parents, Fiona Churchman and Travis Saunders, who works with children and adults who are non-speaking, “couldn’t be more proud” of their son and his achievements.
“It’s pride in how he wants to use his abilities, empathy and communication skills to improve South Australia for autistic people,” Ms Churchman said.
After finishing his schooling, Patrick hopes do go to university to study disability advocacy to continue to share his experiences.
The teen also hopes to continue his passion for bushwalking and become the world’s first non-speaking bushwalking guide.
Jack’s dream of leading reform
Jack Harrison hopes to be the first Child Protection Minister in South Australia who has seen first-hand how the system works.
Growing up in Whyalla, the 15-year-old spent the first ten years of his life in what he describes as an “abusive” family environment, surrounded by physical violence and relatives with substance problems.
While Jack was rescued by extended family, two of his siblings are in child protection, and seeing news stories about neglect in foster care, the Christies Beach High School student only hopes the system does not fail them.
“It makes me angry, sad and frustrated that it’s 2025 and those issues are still there,” Jack said.
“It’s never going to be perfect, but like I said in my speech, it’s not a crisis of resources, it’s a crisis of priorities.
“The children of Australia are the future of this nation and every child deserves to thrive and feel safe. The fact that thousands and thousands don’t have that opportunity is unacceptable.”
Speaking in the House of Assembly, Mr Harrison said child protection authorities needed to proactively monitor at-risk children and practice early intervention, before they are put in harm’s way.
He also wanted South Australia to establish a watchdog to identify and address failings in the Department of Child Protection.
“There’s just not enough case workers and too many cases,” Jack said.
“For example, with my own sibling, his case worker was with him for six months, and she recently resigned because every days he was coming home crying, had too many cases, wasn’t getting the support she needed from her bosses.
“If a child protection worker has a desk full of cases, how are they supposed to put the same amount of passion into every child’s situation?”
Jack also said he regularly spoke to Child Protection Minister Katrine Hildyard to offer his perspective.
Originally published as Teen Parliament 2025: Teenagers Patrick Saunders and Jack Harrison reveal personal battles in quest for change
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