”Feed me two minute noodles or chips and gravy”
With Erin Mahmud, General Manager at Ararat Wellness
Another in our neurodivergent series, this episode focuses on autism, ADHD, and food.
Erin was diagnosed with autism at 31 and ADHD at 33, and is passionate about better supporting neurodivergent people in workplaces.
This conversation explores masking and unmasking, learning personal values, sensory overload, and the push for gentleness and understanding rather than stigma.
Erin discusses the challenges of being on the NDIS while working in it, barriers to supports, and using AI to assist self-advocacy.
She also details sensory-based “safe foods,” how stress affects eating, and her goal to create resources on healthy eating aligned with sensory needs and task breakdowns.
About Erin
Erin began working in the disability sector at nineteen after leaving a small town in New South Wales to study Human Services and Social Work. Her path through the sector has taken her across a wide range of community roles, from working with Aboriginal communities experiencing homelessness in Walgett, to community mental health and housing support in Gippsland and Ararat.
In her current role as a General Manager, Erin supports teams and leads within a neurodivergent workforce.
Erin was diagnosed with autism at 31 and ADHD at 33, a discovery that dramatically reshaped how she understands her life, work, and leadership. Today, she speaks openly about the reality of working within the NDIS while also being an NDIS participant.
Alongside her leadership role, Erin is developing a project focused on healthy eating and “safe foods” for people with autism and ADHD, grounded in her own lived experience.
In this episode
05:29 Late Diagnosis and Identity
11:46 Masking Unmasking and Values
27:32 Workplace Support and NDIS Reality
35:40 NDIS Stress and Rejections
38:32 Advocacy Tips and AI Help
42:21 Safe Foods and Sensory Eating
01:00:33 ADHD Tax and Task Breakdown
01:11:00 Workplace Support and Closing Advice
Connect with Erin & the Ararat Wellness service through:
Website: www.araratwellness.com.au
Facebook: www.facebook.com/araratwellness
youtube.com/@AraratWellness
