Travels From Victoria
Speaker Topics
Dream Big - Work Hard - Dream Bigger: Setting and Chasing Down Goals
Shae’s journey to becoming a paralympian isn’t the typical tale of achieving childhood dreams but one of resilience, stubbornness, and a dash of aussie spirit.
With big dreams of being like cathy freeman and/ or playing soccer for australia, shae grew up with the idea that if she worked hard, she could do whatever she set her mind to. After sustaining a c6 incomplete spinal cord injury as a backseat passenger in a car crash at 18, shae’s world was turned upside down.
She used that same mindset and work ethic to rebuild her life, set herself new goals and find new dreams to chase after.
Her life didn’t work out exactly the way she had pictured it as a teenager, but it got pretty damn close.
Read lessThe Power of Perception
Shae lives life looking for the positives, to her the glass is always half full, even if she has to (occasionally) force herself to see it that way.
After sustaining life threatening injuries in a car crash, shae’s dad taught her the most important lesson she has ever learnt- a small change in perception /focus can change your life.
Shae shares her story; the tragedy, the triumphs, the trailblazing and each of the key moments (the small shifts in perception) that changed her life and helped her chase down her goals – the big and the small.
Read lessThere’s Winning and There’s Learning
After losing a bet to her brother in 2013, shae reluctantly hopped in her first wheelchair rugby chair. Instantly falling in love with the sport shae set herself the goal of playing for australia.
Wanting to play a male dominated sport meant proving her worth and breaking down barriers, and in 2019 she became the first female to represent australia playing wheelchair rugby. Shae shares her story through her wins and the lessons she has learnt along the way – the most important one being: “there’s winning and there’s learning.”
Read lessShae Graham
From Tragedy to Triumph, a Journey to Paralympic Glory and Beyond
Shae Graham’s journey from a sports-loving teenager to becoming a trailblazing Paralympian and athlete isn’t the classic tale of achieving childhood dreams, but rather a narrative woven with resilience, twists of fate, and an unmistakable Aussie spirit.
At 18, Shae's life took a tragic turn when she was involved in a car accident in Mackay, QLD, leaving her with a C6 incomplete spinal cord injury, fractured spine and pelvis, a brain injury, and a ruptured bladder. However, her unwavering determination and an inherent refusal to accept limitations defined her recovery, which spanned nine months of hospitalisation and rehabilitation.
After nearly a decade away from Para-sport, a bet with her brother reignited Shae’s competitive spirit. Reluctant at first, she entered the world of wheelchair rugby and quickly rose to prominence as the first female member of Australia’s national team, the Steelers. Her international debut at the 2019 Four Nations in Alabama, USA, showcased her talent, leading to her inclusion in the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic squad. Shae was also the first female to sit on the board of World Wheelchair Rugby.
Tokyo marked a pivotal moment in Shae’s career, despite falling short of the podium. Undeterred, she and her teammates found redemption at the 2022 Wheelchair Rugby World Championship in Denmark, securing a historic victory. Alongside Ella Sabljak and Emilie Millier, Shae made history yet again as part of the first all-female trio on a World Championship-winning team.
Off the court, Shae balances her athletic pursuits with a career as a librarian, a role that fuels her passion for books and knowledge, with the dream of one day owning a bookshop of her own.
Shae’s storytelling is unfiltered and raw, reflecting her journey of loss, fear, resilience, and seizing every opportunity. She’s not only fuelled by her own drive to succeed, but to also pave the way for other women and girls in male dominated sports. Shae passionately believes in the healing and educational power of stories, inspiring audiences with her unique blend of determination, grit, and heartfelt vulnerability.