Tics, Tricks and a PhD – Dave’s journey with Tourette’s
From being labelled “unteachable” and told he’d never amount to much, to becoming an educator, author and PhD researcher – CQUniversity researcher Dave Brebner is using his lived experience with Tourette syndrome and other neurodiverse conditions to change lives.
Dave was just seven when he began experiencing involuntary tics, obsessive behaviours, and vocal outbursts – symptoms that worsened through adolescence and were misunderstood by the medical and education systems of the time.
“I developed an irresistible urge to grunt, squeak and repeat words. Teachers thought I was being deliberately disruptive,” said Dave.
“Some publicly ridiculed me – one even made me sit on an upside-down chair at the front of the classroom."
As a teenager in 1970s New Zealand, there was no diagnosis, no support, and no language to describe what was happening. He was admitted to a psychiatric unit and placed on heavy medication that dulled his symptoms – and his ability to function.
At 17, a professor told his parents he was “disabled” and unlikely to achieve anything beyond factory work.
But Dave had other plans.
Enrolled in a sheltered workshop, a retired aircraft engineer recognised his potential and mentored him in metalwork. That moment of encouragement sparked a new path.
“I realised I could do more with my life outside of the ‘normal’ educational format,” Dave said.
“That mentor helped me see that I learn differently – and that’s not a flaw.”
Over the years, Dave has built a career that defies those early limitations. He became a licensed electrician, taught electrical trades for 17 years, and earned multiple degrees including a Bachelor in Adult Education, a Masters in Career Development, and a Masters in Educational Neuroscience – the latter at CQUniversity.
He’s now completing a PhD with the same university, focused on neurodiversity in education and the workplace.
“As a neurodiverse public speaker and presenter, I draw upon my personal journey in thriving with Tourette’s to share real-life experiences that resonate with neurodiverse communities, families, educators and employers,” Dave said.
“I want to reach the students who think they aren’t smart because they don’t fit the system – and the teachers and parents who want to understand and support them better.”
Dave now speaks regularly at high schools, churches and corporate events, and consults on inclusive education and neurodiverse employment practices.
His memoir Living Beyond Limits: My Struggles and Triumph Over Tourette Syndrome is available via Amazon.
Professor Ken Purnell, an expert in educational neuroscience and Dave’s PhD supervisor at CQUniversity, said Dave’s work is as deeply personal as it is academically rigorous.
“Dave brings a rare combination of lived experience, compassion and academic insight to the field of neurodiversity,” Professor Purnell said.
“His research is already making a difference in how we understand diverse learners and how we can support them more effectively in educational and workplace settings.”
Professor Purnell believes Dave’s journey can help reshape how educators and employers approach neurodiverse talent.
“Dave’s story is a powerful reminder that intelligence and potential don’t always present in conventional ways,” he said.
“His advocacy and research are helping create more inclusive environments that enable all individuals to thrive.”
Dave also continues to share a favourite insight:
“In architecture, if you can’t hide something, you make a feature of it. That’s how I live now – I’ve stopped hiding who I am.”
