About Me - Sarah Gray
As both a teacher and a mum, I know how overwhelming it can feel when school becomes a battle.
You don't need someone to tell you to "be firmer" or "just get them to school".
Most families I work with are already doing everything they can. My role is to listen, understand what's really happening beneath the surface, and help you find practical next steps.
I support young people experiencing school refusal, school can't, anxiety, neurodiversity and other barriers to school engagement.
Why I started Gray Matters...
I'm Sarah Gray, a teacher with more than 20 years' experience supporting young people experiencing school refusal, anxiety, neurodiversity and school disengagement. I created Gray Matters because I saw too many families falling through the gaps.
While schools work incredibly hard, they often have competing demands, and many allied health professionals may not fully understand how school systems operate. Gray Matters provides a unique bridge between home, school and support services.
I work alongside families to understand what's getting in the way for their young person, identify practical strategies and help reconnect them with a suitable education pathway.
For more than 20 years I've worked as a secondary teacher in a variety of educational settings, including Learning Diversity, Inclusion and Vocational Education. Throughout my career I've supported young people experiencing anxiety, neurodiversity, learning difficulties, emotional regulation challenges and school disengagement.
My experiences have shown me the most effective support comes from understanding the individual, not simply focusing on attendance.
What families can expect...
When we work together, my focus isn't simply getting a child back through the school gate. It's about understanding what's beneath the surface, building confidence and reducing barriers to participation and helping young people find a pathway that works for them.
Sometimes that means supporting a return to school. Sometimes it means exploring alternative educational pathways. Whatever the goal, we'll work together to develop practical strategies that are realistic, achievable and tailored to each young person.
What parents say:
"Sarah has been an incredible support for our family. She is warm, practical and genuinely understands the challenges that both children and parents face. Her guidance has helped us better understand our son and given us strategies that have made a real difference at home."
Qualifications & Professional Experience
- Bachelor of Education
- Bachelor of Arts
- Certificate IV Workplace Training & Assessment
- VIT Registered Teacher
- 20+ years experience working in Victorian Schools
- Currently studying Graduate Diploma in Psychology
Additional professional training/experience includes: Mental Health First Aid, DIBELS Literacy Assessor, Morrisby Careers Profile training, VCE VCAA Marker, NAPLAN Writing Marker, Level 1 Calisthenics Coach and Trainee Calisthenics Adjudicator.
Sarah Gray - Gray Matters - School Engagement Support
Ready to talk?
If you're wondering whether Gray Matters might be the right fit for your family, I'd love to hear from you. I offer a free 15-minute, no-obligation phone consultation where we can talk through your concerns and discuss whether my support is likely to help you.
My service includes working collaboratively with families, students and schools to:
- identify barriers to engagement and attendance
- develop practical strategies and achievable next steps
- support school advocacy and communication if required
- explore pathways and alternative education options
- provide practical recommendations and reasonable adjustments that schools can implement to better support the young person.
- NDIS Capacity Building (Daily Living) funds can be used