b'I CAN NETWORKStudents attend the I CAN Expo 2025 at the Melbourne Convention Exhibition CentreChristine Horvath has no idea what she inspired. AMore than 32 per cent of children with autism do not teacher and head of junior school at Wantirna Secondarycomplete year 10 or above, and only 8 per cent manage to College, she passed away from cancer in late 2005, just asachieve a university qualification. one of her students, Chris Varney, was completing Year 12. Essential to autistic children enjoying a more satisfying, Her untimely passing meant Christine didnt get topositive life are building networks, participating in see Chris fully blossom. He had been an autistic boyactivities, listening to and taking part in student struggling to cope, battling anxiety and depression,presentations, and being informed about education and before she, along with other helpful teachers and hisemployment pathways beyond school. parents, nurtured and coaxed him out of his chosen invisibility, changing his life. Chris became a law graduate,In 2013, along with two autistic friends, Chris created an Australian youth representative to the United Nations,the I CAN Network, a not-for-profit organisation with and a World Vision volunteer for more than a decade,the mission statement of having the world embrace opening his eyes to what he calls the other side of theautistic people by proving what they can do, rather than story: if you didnt have a Christine Horvath, what wouldnegativity about where they might struggle. happen to you? Now with 108 staff and embedded in 191 Victorian I realised there were people with my same functions whoschools, along with national programs, I CAN works to were very anxious and felt like they were total misfits,create Christine Horvath levels of positivity for autistic didnt ever find a place to belong, Chris said. That waskids who might be battling to find their way in the world. confronting, and I realised we needed something toThe scale of the achievement was on show onbridge that huge gap. 9 October 2025 when the I CAN Expo celebrated itsYoung people with autism are seven times more likely10th anniversary, supported by the Newsboys Foundation. to engage in self-injury than their non-autistic peers,The event was supersized to host more than 620 people according to research from the Olga Tennison Autismat the Melbourne Convention Exhibition Centre.Research Centre. They have a suicide rate seven times the national average, and education is a major challenge. 6NEWSBOYS FOUNDATION ANNUAL REPORT 2025'