EP #77: Embracing neurodiversity in the public sector

Neurodiversity has become an important topic in the Australian public sector. With research suggesting that teams can be 30 per cent more productive with neurodivergent professionals, workplaces stand much to gain from greater inclusivity. Yet, many public sector workplaces can still do more to be neurodiversity inclusive.

This time, we feature three public service thought leaders in the field, Lee Steel, Ability Network Champion and First Assistant Secretary, Intergovernmental Relations and Reform from PM&C (Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet), Robin Edmonds, Inclusion and Diversity Adviser and Co-Chair of the Ability Network at PM&C, and Andrew Pfeiffer, Ability Network Executive and Adviser at PM&C. They discuss what public sector workplaces could look like in 2028 and how to better support neurodivergent individuals.

For key case studies and statistics:

• The inaugural APS Diversity and inclusion report 2022 (APSC)
• Business benefits of employing people with disability (Australian Network on Disability)
• 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)