Embracing neurodiversity in the public sector

Listen to Episode #77: Embracing neurodiversity in the public sector.

PM&C's passionate advocates in neurodiversity recently sat down with IPAA’s Work with Purpose podcast. In this episode, they discussed the importance of neurodiversity inclusion in the public sector, and the potential benefits to organisations, teams, and individuals.

Host David Pembroke brought to the conversation to life with PM&C’s very own Lee Steel, Ability Network Champion and First Assistant Secretary, Intergovernmental Relations and Reform Division, in conversation with Robin Edmonds, Ability Network Co-Chair and Adviser, Inclusion and Diversity; and Andrew Pfeiffer, Ability Network Executive and Adviser, BETA; both co-founders and co-chairs of the Public Sector Neurodiversity Community of Practice. 

Covering a comprehensive topic, the conversation revolved around three priorities:

• Recruitment 
  • Increasing representation and making accessible pathways for diverse staff - how can we help applicants to show us their best?
• Retention
  • Creating safe, accessible, and inclusive workplaces for all staff, including:
    1. the physical workplace – including sensory factors such as noise and light, and flexible work arrangements
    2. workplace attitudes – culture, competency, and open communication
    3. workplace technology – digital accessibility for individuals, but also for events, documents, and resources
    4. reasonable adjustments
• Progression
  • Considering meaningful career development and progression opportunities for neurodivergent staff.

Lee added, “For senior managers and leaders - try to be more flexible yourself – take an open minded view of what leadership attributes looks like, and consider how you can support a range of people coming into leadership roles – take a strengths based approach but work actively to support people if there are potential career blocking factors.”

Find out how you can support and advocate for neurodivergent individuals in the workplace. Access the podcast episode here.

Additional Resources

The AHRC accessibility resources are especially useful as a practical guide for managers and workplaces.

For key case studies and statistics:

• Business benefits of employing people with disability (Australian Network on Disability)
• The inaugural APS Diversity and inclusion report 2022 (APSC)
• Creating an accessible and inclusive workplace (Australian Human Rights Commission)
  • This is a great resource for employers as it includes both legal responsibility and how to create an accessible workplace in relation to:
    • the physical workplace
    • workplace attitudes
    • workplace technology
    • reasonable adjustments

And for additional definitions:

• The human rights model of disability (Victorian Government)
• Intersectionality (UN Women Australia)
• Prevalence of disability and autism in Australia (Australian Bureau of Statistics)

Employment of people with disability (Australian Human Rights Commission)