Desperate mother-of-two Vanessa Fisher is pinning her hopes on a Labor victory this weekend so she doesn't have to give up her nursing studies at university.
Ms Fisher's son Corey, 7, is autistic and has clocked up three primary schools in 18 months.
She choked up as she told Opposition Leader Bill Shorten at a town hall meeting in Nowra, on the NSW south coast, about her frustrations with under-resourced schools.
Her son's condition is not considered severe enough to get access to funding for a teacher's aide and as a result, his learning progress is at kindergarten level rather than mid-year one.
"He has to have a teacher with him constantly or he won't learn," Ms Fisher said.
"Should I quit university and go and teach him myself? I don't feel I have faith in the education system."
Mr Shorten sympathised with Ms Fisher's plight, saying it has nothing to do with her child's capacities or where he sits on the spectrum.
"You shouldn't quit university, I'll give you a better strategy, vote Labor at the next election," he said.
The Gonski needs-based school funding model was critical to helping special needs children access the right assistance and resources, Mr Shorten said.
"Plenty of parents of children with disabilities, (face) such a rotten system and they are made to feel like a bully and a troublemaker," he said.
"You want your child to get an equal go."
Apprenticeships, indigenous affairs, out-of-pocket subcontractors doing work for the commonwealth and the controversial anti-bullying program called Safe Schools were among issues canvassed at Mr Shorten's 33rd town hall meeting.
Nowra is in the Liberal marginal seat of Gilmore.
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