Dylin Hardcastle Speaker | Teen Speakers & Creative & Well-being & Disability & Mental Health

Dylin Hardcastle

A young Australian trans author and mental health spokesperson with a healthy disregard for the impossible

Dylin Hardcastle is a trans author, artist, screenwriter, former Provost’s Scholar at the University of Oxford and World Mental Health Ambassador.

As a mental health spokesperson, Dylin has spoken to over 10,000 young people across Australia and the UK in schools and universities, and has facilitated mental health discussions with parents and teachers. Dylin has spoken at international writer’s festivals, corporate conferences and awards nights, destigmatising mental illness by sharing their story openly and honestly.

Dylin’s story encourages open conversations and inspires resilience. They identify the healthy lifestyle practices that help maintain positive mental health. Their message that mental illness does not discriminate is especially important for high achieving professionals in the corporate sector. Dylin has also appeared on national radio programs, and in 2017 was made a World Mental Health Ambassador. In more recent years, they’ve spoken at writers festivals and in universities as an advocate for the LGBTQIA+ community.

Dylin is the author of Below Deck (2020), Breathing Under Water (2016) and Running Like China (2015). Their books have been published to critical acclaim across the world and have been translated into eight languages. Their forthcoming novel will be published in 2024 and is being adapted for screen. They are the co-writer and co-director of Cloudy River, which was made with principal funding from Screen Australia and after premiering at Mardi Gras Film Festival, was acquired by SBS On Demand where it screened as part of SBS’s Rainbow Collection. Dylin’s forthcoming TV show, Fruit has been optioned and is in development. As an artist, Dylin has travelled to Antarctica, Patagonia, France and Switzerland for artist residencies.

Testimonials from Teachers

"Sophie was great. She engaged the girls really well and didn't avoid the difficult topics which was good for the girls to hear about. Sophie balanced this with humour well so the overall vibe was upbeat. The girls were interested in what she had to say. Overall it was a pleasure to have Sophie at the conference and we would recommend her to other schools."

– David Beaumont, Head of Sixth Form, Tudor Hall School

"I thought Sophie had an excellent rapport with the year 7 & 8 pupils and has an inspirational story to share. I would definitely recommend."

– Mrs Dianne Bates-Brownsword, Head of Lower School, Headington School

"I absolutely loved being able to talk to and hang out with Sophie. I think it was so helpful for me to see that I am not alone, that may other people have problems with their mental health. And seeing what Sophie has been able to do with her life, even with her disorder, has inspired me so much. Her writing is so beautiful and captivating, I read Running Like China in one sitting."

– Yr10 student (female), St. Mark's Anglican Community School

"Sophie gave my year group a talk about her memoir and about her life in general and it was awesome to hear little details about her life and what she was thinking when she was writing these books. She also came surfing with my class for Outdoor Ed so we go to see her awesome surfing skills! Sophie was honestly such a down to earth, easy to talk to person and at lunch and recess she hung out with a few of my friends and myself and was happy to spend time with us. She inspires me to keep being creative and I’m just so happy that I had the privilege to meet such a remarkable, talented, kind person who has moved so many people with her words. They say that “people will forget what you’ve said, people will forget what you did, but they will never forget how they made you feel” and I will certainly never forget how accepted and happy Sophie made me in the week of being in her presence."

– Yr10 student (male) St. Mark's Anglican Community School

"She gave great soul bearing presentations to the various classes and year levels and always left them with a positive message to take with them. She exposed how raw her life had been as a teenager but gave them hope to see her standing there looking healthy and sounding so positive about life and her future. We have had quite a few authors and author-in-residence visits, but Sophie’s time with us was by far the most powerful and impacting and our students still talk about her."

– Shirley McKibbin, Head of Library, St. Mark's Anglican Community School