An interview with La Trobe’s first openly autistic lecturer
In 2016, La Trobe Senior Lecturer Dr. Benjamin Habib had an anxiety attack on live national television during a guest appearance as a political analyst. While this highly publicised experience resulted in what Dr. Habib refers to as “the worst public embarrassment of [his] career”, it was also the launching pad for a celebrated public profile as a mental health advocate. A search for answers as to what had triggered his meltdown that day also sparked a journey of self-discovery, with Dr. Habib ultimately coming to the unexpected, late-life realisation that he is Autistic.
Published by Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre at La Trobe University
Date: 20 May 2021