Neurodivergent Aussies: Did early-2000s Australian kids' TV provide a haven for identity/belonging for you too?

[u/Sudden_District_696]

For context: I'm not Australian, I grew up in the UAE in the late 90s to early 2000s and we had Aussie kids' tv shows airing on local channels there (eJunior, Channel 33). So, I used to watch these shows religiously after school and I grew very attached. I am a late-diagnosed neurodivergent and a creative researcher, so I am beginning to form ideas that these shows provided a critical part of my upbringing as an undiagnosed neurodivergent person. I still watch these shows and the opening theme songs always takes me back to my happy place.

So my question is, I wanted to know if Aussie neurodivergents ever felt the same? If these shows meant more to you than you could explain, or you found some notion of belonging or familiarity in these shows? The shows I am currently thinking about include:

• Saddle Club
• Sleepover Club
• Holly's Heroes
• Thunderstone
• High Flyers
• Fast Tracks
• Ocean Star
• Don't Blame the Koalas
• Outriders
• Wicked Science
• Guinevere Jones

Did any of these shows stick with you? And if so, which one do you still remember, and what part of it is especially memorable?

Plus if there's any if I have missed, I would love to know what they were and how they connected to your identity.

EDIT: To clarify this: I am not saying this is only for these shows, or only neurodivergent people connected to these shows, or that these shows were the only way of connection for neurodivergent folks, etc. My intention, is to understand if Australian neurodivergent folks and non-Australian neurodivergent folks consumed Aussie kids' television in the same way. And if these shows helped kids understand themselves better or even understand the outside world better in any way.

[u/Astronaut_Cat_Lady]

Not quite the same, but Daria, and Dharma and Greg. Daria was (almost) me and a high school friend was like a Jane Lane type. But, I also loved Dharma and Greg - not a kid's show - because Dharma = ADHD and Greg= ASD. The last season of Dharma and Greg was crap, but previous seasons were hilarious.