Raising a Child with Autism While Working? How to Navigate Career Breaks and Starting Again with Porscia Lam

When Porscia Lam received the news that her son Harry was autistic, her world shifted. She put her legal career on pause to become his full-time therapist, diving headfirst into the world of autism therapy and the challenges of raising a neurodivergent child, all during Melbourne’s long covid lockdowns. Returning to work after a career break is challenging for any parent, but what happens when that break is dedicated to being a full-time carer for a child with autism? In this deeply personal and insightful episode, Carina speaks with Porscia Lam, former corporate lawyer, mother of two, and author of The Unlocking: An Autism Story, to discuss her journey of parenting an autistic child, navigating therapy for autism, and re-entering the workforce after a three-year career break. In this episode, we chat about: Early signs of autism and the diagnosis journey (during Melbourne's record lockdown) The impact of early intervention therapy  The emotional and financial realities of taking a career break as a full-time carer Returning to work after a long career gap—what worked, what didn’t The stigma around career breaks and how to position yourself when re-entering the workforce How to support parents of neurodivergent children Whether you’re a working mum, a parent of a neurodivergent child, or someone navigating a career break, Porscia’s journey is one of resilience, determination, and advocacy. Her insights provide not only hope, but practical strategies for navigating work and family life.   Links & Resources Connect with Porscia  Buy Porscia’s book, The Unlocking: An Autism Story Connect with Porscia: porscialam.com or @porscialam   Connect with Carina and Working Mumma  Follow on @workingmummacommunity or LinkedIn  Get your free 'How to share the mental load' checklist workingmumma.com.au/mental-load/ Connect with Carina on LinkedIn