Evie Gallagher, 17, says primary school was tough as a girl with undiagnosed autism.
"I just felt a bit different to everyone else, because people were learning at different paces," she said.
After the Albanese government launched the first National Autism Strategy last week, Evie and her mum - ACT Labor senator and Finance Minister Katy Gallagher - decided to share their story, so other families might have a different journey.
"[I hope] Evie talking about it, and me talking about it, helps someone in a similar position to maybe have an easier pathway," Senator Gallagher said.
Once she'd been diagnosed with autism in Year 7, Evie said, she was finally able to get the support she needed to cope with school, friendships and life.
Until then, Senator Gallagher said, Evie's autism went "under the radar" despite her struggles to learn to read and conform to the behaviour expected of her.
"It's helped us sort of reframe," she said.
"It's not about changing them or making them fit in. It's about understanding them and then accommodating them in the world."
Senator Gallagher said the fact that it took her - a woman of means, who understood government and healthcare systems - so long to get to the bottom of her daughter's struggles illustrated how girls had been overlooked.
"It still took me until Evie was nearly 14 years old to get that [autism diagnosis]," she said.
"That shows you how hard it is, and that's why a lot of women are being diagnosed as adults."
Evie, who loves fashion and wants to be a model, said her autism diagnosis in Year 7 had allowed her to better understand and accept herself, and improved her friendships and school life.
She could explain her behaviours and reactions, such as talking a lot at times - "I try to fill the silence" - or needing to withdraw when overstimulated.
"They can understand me a lot better," she said.
"I've had great friends for years now, supportive friends, which is great and has helped me a lot."
"The way she's learned how to fit in is to kind of pick up visual clues from people and then execute them."
The National Autism Strategy aims to create "a safe and inclusive society where all autistic people are supported and empowered to thrive".
It commits to considering the feasibility and acceptability of current screening and diagnostic tools and exploring ways to make them more affordable.
Thanks to her diagnosis, Evie has been able to access help at school, both through support teachers and accommodations.
Senator Gallagher said Evie had masked her autism in primary school, by "picking up on clues" in the classroom when she could not read instructions.
Her teachers had tried to force her to sit and complete tasks when she was unable to focus, causing distress.
As her mother, Senator Gallagher wished she could have figured out earlier that her daughter - who was diagnosed with dyslexia, dyscalculia and ADHD as a young child - had autism.
"I do feel like if we'd got a diagnosis earlier, primary school could have been easier on Evie," she said.