Up Late-ish - November

Could university be the next step for your gifted teen - even before finishing high school? 

Join Debra Cushing as she shares her experience of gaining early entry to university for her child at 13, exploring advocacy, readiness, and balancing school with university study.

About the Presenter – Debra Cushing

Debra is the parent of two twice-exceptional (2e) gifted children, one profoundly gifted and one moderately gifted, and has been advocating for their educational needs for over 12 years.

Her advocacy journey includes successfully securing early entry to Prep for her profoundly gifted son, contributing to the establishment of a full-time High Capacity gifted education program, and securing early university entry for her son at just 13 years of age. He now combines part-time senior secondary schooling with university studies, studying towards a Bachelor of Science (Physics/Chemistry).

Debra has managed the Parents of Gifted Children Australia Facebook group for 12 years and has served as President of the Bayside/Redlands branch of QAGTC since 2025.

With qualifications in Health Science, Special Needs Education and Primary Teaching, Debra now teaches in the High Capacity program she helped establish. She brings a unique perspective combining lived experience, parent advocacy and professional expertise in gifted and twice-exceptional education.