The creators of a new children's book say they hope it provides a role model for youth living with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
Jordan Gould and Richard Pritchard co-authored and illustrated the newly-released Wylah: The Koorie Warrior.
Peek Whurrong man Gould, who lives with the disorder, says he was keen to represent kids like him with the character Poe, who appears alongside Wylah.
“I wanted to give him obvious signs of autism in the book because I wanted him to be almost like how I was when I was younger,” he told NITV News.
"I couldn’t sit still. I couldn’t focus. When I get excited, I get really, really excited."
ASD affects 1in 100 Australians, and it's estimated that around 85 per cent of the community has a personal relationship or connection with someone living with ASD.
Gould says he wanted to let children living with autism, and their parents and carers, feel that they can do anything they set their minds to with the right support systems.
“There are no real boundaries to do great things, only simple hurdles."
"If you can get over the hurdles you can do great things and no one is restricted to doing nothing,” said Gould.
A young warrior in the making
Wylah is a brave, clever and strong-willed young Peek Whurrong heroine whose best friends are megafauna animals.
However, she is not a warrior just yet.
In the book, Wylah's family is stolen one day by the dragon army, and her life is forever changed. She must find her inner courage and embark on a journey to save them and bring them safely home.
Her character's inspiration comes from Pritchard’s matriarchal Samoan culture, where female Samoan dancers have a strong warrior culture, much like their First Nations counterparts on this continent.
“If you have young children who are looking for something amazing to read," said co-author and illustrator Pritchard.
"There is a new superhero on the bookshelves. Her name is Wylah: she is the Koorie Warrior."
