Navigating Neurodiversity in the Workplace: Overcoming Bias for a More Inclusive Environment

Neurodiversity refers to the diverse range of neurological differences that exist among individuals, including conditions such as autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, or dyspraxia.

While the concept of neurodiversity was introduced to reinforce the idea that neurological differences are natural variations of the human brain, individuals who are neurodiverse often face unique challenges in the workplace.

In this article, we will explore some of the common challenges that neurodiverse individuals encounter and discuss strategies to create a more inclusive and supportive work environment.

1. Misunderstanding and Stigma

One of the primary challenges neurodiverse individuals face is the lack of understanding and the perpetuation of stigmas surrounding their condition. Neurodivergent individuals may exhibit behaviors or communication styles that differ from the neurotypical majority, leading to misconceptions and biases.

Colleagues and supervisors may struggle to comprehend the strengths and unique perspectives that neurodiverse individuals bring to the table, and expect the pace of their work to meet normative stereotypes.

To address this challenge, organisations should prioritise education and awareness programs.

Directives that promote understanding and celebrate neurodiversity spearheaded by leadership of an organisation can help create a more inclusive workplace culture.

2. Communication and Social Interactions

Social interactions and communication can be particularly challenging for neurodiverse individuals. Difficulty in interpreting non-verbal cues, maintaining eye contact, or navigating ‘office politics’ may lead to misunderstandings and isolation. The traditional emphasis on social or networking skills in the workplace may unintentionally disadvantage neurodivergent employees.

Employers can foster inclusivity by implementing clear communication guidelines and providing alternative communication channels. Encouraging collaboration in different forms – such as chat, digital whiteboarding or mind-mapping – and understanding different communication styles can help bridge the gap between neurodivergent individuals and their colleagues.

3. Sensory Sensitivities

Many neurodiverse individuals experience sensory sensitivities that can be triggered by aspects of the workplace environment, such as bright lighting, too much talking, or crowded spaces. These sensitivities can lead to discomfort, stress, and decreased productivity.

Creating a sensory-friendly workplace involves making simple adjustments, such as providing quiet spaces, adjustable lighting, or noise-cancelling headphones. Allowing employees to work shorter or more flexible hours also accommodates for differing needs and routines.

4. Executive Functioning Challenges

Individuals with neurodiverse conditions often face challenges related to executive functions, such as organisation, time management, and task prioritisation. Meeting deadlines, adhering to schedules, and multitasking may present difficulties for some individuals.

Implementing flexible work arrangements, offering organisational tools, and providing clear expectations with the broader team can help neurodiverse employees navigate executive functioning challenges more effectively. Additionally, fostering a supportive work culture that has an awareness of differing needs can create a more inclusive environment.

5. Limited Access to Opportunities

Neurodiverse individuals may encounter barriers when seeking employment or career advancement. Biases in recruitment processes, limited awareness of neurodiversity in the workplace, and a lack of awareness during interviews can contribute to underrepresentation.

Organisations committed to diversity and inclusion should actively seek to eliminate biases in the recruitment and promotion process. Creating mentorship programs and providing professional development opportunities can also contribute to a more equitable distribution of opportunities for neurodivergent individuals.

Promoting neurodiversity in the workplace is not just good for individuals – it is also essential for fostering creativity, innovation, and a truly inclusive organisational culture.

By addressing the challenges faced by neurodiverse individuals head-on, organisations can create environments that celebrate differences and empower all employees to thrive. Through education, awareness, and thoughtful accommodations, we can build workplaces that embrace all working styles and harness the unique strengths of every individual.

It’s not just good for business, it’s better for the community and society.

Learn more about Uniting’s Disability Employment Services.

Uniting Op Shops – where young people thrive.

Uniting Op Shops across Melbourne are celebrating community collaboration and inclusivity, encouraging everyone to discover their unique style, personality and self-expression.

Working with the Employment Services team, Uniting Op Shops are helping young people living with a disability make their way in the world.

Nestled in the heart of communities such as Preston, Yarraville and Glenroy, Uniting Op Shops have long been known for their haven of creativity, community, and diversity. However, what sets them apart from other second-hand stores is their commitment to providing valuable work opportunities for young people living with disabilities via Uniting’s School Leaver Employment Supports (SLES) program.

Uniting Op Shops have become thriving spaces where unique abilities and talents converge to create an inclusive and welcoming atmosphere. The SLES participants – each bringing their own strengths to the table – are not only gaining essential skills and confidence but also actively contributing to the shop’s success.

The newly opened Brunswick Op Shop and warehouse on Victoria Street has generated excitement in the area, with a huge Op Shop and warehouse becoming a major hub for collecting and distributing goods. The large space houses kids, women’s and men’s clothing, a huge range of books, homewares, as well as vinyl records and hard to find retro and vintage items. The new space has also meant they’ve needed more hands on deck.

Jacob Miller – Uniting Op Shops Senior Manager says “We are delighted to be able to support the work of our colleagues running the School Leaver Employment program, and have these wonderful young people as part of our team. Our Op Shop Managers love being able to support them on their journey.”

Wolfie – one of the young people gaining confidence through work experience – enjoys learning how to count and handle money, and is beginning to gain familiarity with the workplace. He also likes making customers laugh with his jokes.

“It’s amazing to see [the SLES participants] develop a belief in themselves”, says Janet, one of the employment coaches supporting the young people. “They come in all nervous at the start…and then you see them coming out of their shell”. This is one of the most important aspects of the program – developing independence and confidence, Janet says.

Many of the young people live with a hidden disability, and can find everyday routines and interactions overwhelming. Navigating public transport, interacting with the community, understanding how to fill out forms and paperwork – many of these activities are taken for granted by people not living with a disability. The program helps young people to leave the familiarity of high school and supports them to develop essential skills that will set them up for life.

The community’s response to the Uniting Op Shop’s initiative has been overwhelmingly positive.

Visitors not only appreciate the vibrant atmosphere, but also applaud the young people in creating a space that champions diversity, inclusion and encourages self-expression.

The success of Uniting Op Shops is a leading example of the potential of inclusive employment programs. It highlights the importance of recognising and harnessing the unique talents of every individual, regardless of their abilities.

With understanding and a compassionate approach to young people living with different abilities, barriers to their career aspirations fall away and their goals for the future are brought that much closer.

Learn more about Uniting’s Disability Employment Services.

 

Minister launches July edition of Parity magazine at Uniting

The latest edition of the Council to Homeless Persons Parity magazine gives a voice to the often-invisible group of people experiencing homelessness during pregnancy. Uniting Vic.Tas was honoured to host the launch of this edition last week, coinciding with the start of Homelessness Week.   

We were grateful for the opportunity to hear from many speakers throughout the event, who shared their personal connection or lived experience with the topic of pregnancy and homelessness.   

Victorian Minister for Women, Hon. Natalie Hutchins, formally launched the July edition by graciously sharing her own story of growing up in social housing.   

Minister Hutchins described herself as “the daughter of a young woman of 17 who found herself pregnant”, recounting experiences of living in high-rise public housing during early childhood, and the continuation of housing stress after her family had moved into private rental accommodation.  

“By the time I turned 18 we had moved house 20 times”

“I know what it is like to have to pack up a house at five minutes to midnight because we were behind in the rent, or they gave us very short notice.”

Uniting’s General Manager Housing and Property, Kristie Looney, welcomed event attendees including fellow article contributors, members of the Pregnancy and Homelessness Network, people with lived experience of pregnancy and homelessness, and partners from across the sector such as Council to Homeless Persons, Launch Housing and Housing First.   

Ms Looney recounted a particular story involving a young woman who fell pregnant in high school.  

“She was very young, her son was born with a disability, and she was told he wouldn’t walk or talk,” Ms Looney said.

“She was single and applying for rental properties and couldn’t get a look in, so she found herself homeless.

“Then, one day her life changed. She was given the opportunity to rent a property through a social housing provider. Rent was affordable, the home was long term and it meant she could really focus on the important things in life.

“Things like finishing Year 12, getting a Uni degree and helping her son in therapy so he could have best chance in life. She was able to get a part-time job, so her income changed, and she was able to build confidence.

“This story is a true story – it’s my story. It’s why I’m here today and why I work in this sector and it’s what motivates me every day.”

Kristie also contributed an opinion article for this edition.  

Rose McCrohan, Manager Curran Place Mother and Baby Residential Withdrawal Service contributed the second Uniting-authored article in this edition. In collaboration with Sally Coutts and Kerri Felemonow from The Women’s Hospital, the article explores the work that goes into supporting pregnant women and new mums experiencing AOD-related harm and homelessness.  

Among other service providers and practitioners within the sector, Rose joined a panel discussion that focused on the extent, nature and impact of homelessness on pregnancy outcomes for mother and infant. Panel members were asked to reflect on the outcomes they have witnessed for people accessing their services, Rose concluded the session with an acknowledgement of positivity within the sector.  

“We see just how strong women are, and the human spirit… you keep judging that these young women will not cope and then you see magic within them.”

You can read Rose’s article ‘An Inevitable Collaboration? Working Together to Support Pregnant Women Experiencing Homelessness and Alcohol and Other Drug Related Harm’ here and Kristie Looney’s opinion article here.

The team that keeps giving

For most, Christmas is the ‘season of giving.’

But for the team at Epworth HealthCare, it’s something they do all year round.

A few years ago, the Epworth team joined our Food For Families appeal.

“Some of our staff commented that this is something we could do all year round, not just at Christmas,” says Scott Bulger, Executive Director of the Epworth Medical Foundation and Brand.

“Staff are encouraged to buy a few extra items when they do their shopping, bring them in and place them in one of the collection bins.”

The team have donation sites set up at their Richmond, East Melbourne, Camberwell, Box Hill and Geelong sites.

“It’s nice to know that the food we donate will immediately help people in their time of need,” says Scott.

Along with collecting food and essential items last year, the Epworth team raised $10,000 for Food For Families.

To find out how you can get involved in Food For Families visit the website.

Pictured: Executive Director of the Epworth Medical Foundation and Brand, Scott Bulger and Peri-Anaesthetic Manager, Alice Whitbread are happy to support Food For Families all year round.

Response to Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System

One of Australia’s largest community services and mental health support providers, Uniting Vic.Tas, has welcomed the final report of the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System released today in State Parliament.

Uniting Vic.Tas CEO Bronwyn Pike said of the recommendations, it was particularly important there was greater recognition of the need to improve treatment and outcomes for those with dual diagnosis.

Ms Pike said the Uniting Vic.Tas service model provided clients with a ‘one stop shop’ whether people with mental health issues could also address housing, employment or alcohol and drug treatment with the one organisation.

“We’re pleased the Commission included a number of our recommendations, including increased investment in early intervention and prevention and improved co-ordination of clinical and community mental health services,” Ms Pike said.

“Sadly, we’ve seen a sharp rise in demand for our mental health and crisis support services over the past 12 months, so it’s never been more important to invest in mental health.

“As one of Victoria’s leading mental health support agencies, we stand ready to partner with the Government to implement the recommendations included in the report.”

Uniting Vic.Tas Alcohol, Other Drugs and Mental Health General Manager Laurence Alvis told the inquiry about the need for better integration between mental health and alcohol and drug services.

“About 70 per cent of our clients have both mental health and alcohol and other drug issues, so it’s important these links have been recognised,” Mr Alvis said.

“If a client presents seeking treatment for alcohol or drug addiction, they will often not only have issues with their mental health, but also housing or employment, all of which are impacting on their lives.

“The holistic and integrated service model approach we have at Uniting Vic.Tas to dealing with all of the issues in people’s lives is the key to giving vulnerable people renewed hope, a path to recovery and better days ahead.”

You can read Uniting’s submission to the enquiry here

Media enquiries:

Cameron Tait 0407 801 231 – [email protected]

Caring for generations to come

A legacy that lights the way.

Janet is committed to caring for others – now and in the future.

Janet and her brother were raised on a healthy diet of caring, compassion and kindness. Taught by their mother to support those facing hard times, Janet has never lost the ‘habit of helping.’

A gift in her Will to Uniting serves 2 meaningful purposes for Janet: a tribute to her mother, and a way of caring for her community – long into the future.

“My mother died more than 50 years ago,” says Janet. “But, while she was alive, she always encouraged us to think about others.”

Janet is helping to ensure vital services will always be available and accessible to the most vulnerable in our community.

And you can too.

For information about how to leave a gift in your Will, please call us on 1800 668 426 or contact us.

Everyone deserves a place to call home

Securing stable housing can be the first step towards a brighter future. But for many, finding a place to call home can seem impossible.

The issue.

For people experiencing homelessness, housing affordability is often a hurdle on the road to stability.

Being unable to afford – or find – safe, stable housing affects their ability to better their circumstances and work towards a brighter future.

The problem.

Housing affordability continues to be an issue throughout our communities.

As property prices continue to rise, more and more people are finding themselves in housing stress. Yet, after decades of underinvestment,

Victoria still has the lowest proportion of social housing in Australia. 3.2% of Victoria’s housing stock is social housing – well below the national average of 4.2%.

It’s no better in Tasmania, where people in need of social housing struggle to find a safe, secure home.

The solution.

With your ongoing support, we are working to fix this problem.

So far, we have:

  • pledged $20 million to address the affordable housing shortage in Victoria and Tasmania.
  • planned 500 new social and affordable housing properties across Victoria over the next 5 years, including a 30- to 36-unit development at Ringwood.

“The bottom line is that we need to invest in more stock,” says Uniting Vic.Tas CEO, Bronwyn Pike.

“We are providing housing for people on low incomes – we are not going to get the kind of rent that will pay back a commercial mortgage or loan,” she says.

“We need governments and private developers to partner with us during the construction phase.”

By speaking up and standing together, we can fix our system and support our community.

See more of our Advocacy work

The photo accompanying this story is for illustrative purposes. It is not a photo of Uniting consumers.

Help end homelessness

Affordable, safe and secure housing is an essential human right.

Yet on any given night in Australia, over 116,000 people are homeless.

It doesn’t have to be this way.

People who come to us for support consistently tell us that a lack of affordable housing directly affects their ability to better their circumstances and look forward to a positive future.

There is strong evidence from around the world that a Housing First model of intervention for people in crisis works.

This means that providing safe and permanent housing must be the first priority. 

Once that is secured, other complex needs, such as employment, mental health or alcohol and drug problems can be addressed.

This Homelessness Week, we’re joining forces with organisations across the country to raise awareness of people at risk of, or currently experiencing homelessness, and take action to achieve enduring solutions.

We all have the power to advocate for change.

There are a number of ways you can show your support:

Let’s unite our voices to ensure everybody has a place to call home.

Ensuring everyone has a place to call home

Megan is one of the 12,111 Victorians experiencing crisis and homelessness that we supported in the last financial year.

She is the human face of the housing crisis that is leaving thousands of people across Victoria and Tasmania vulnerable, barely surviving and, in many cases, homeless.

As a single mother with four children, Megan struggled to keep up with all her everyday living costs, let alone school-related payments. It was a challenge to find the money for excursions and stationery, and with four children the family felt the pinch four times over.

School expenses, fees, rent and food were simply too much for a single mother to afford. Megan’s greatest fear became a reality when they were evicted and had nowhere to go.

Fortunately we were able to provide immediate emergency relief and food for Megan and her family. We were also able to secure transitional housing for them, providing stability for Megan to get back on her feet and start rebuilding for the future.

There are thousands of families just like Megan’s who need our support – and we will provide it through our homelessness and emergency relief services across Victoria and Tasmania.

But until we address the underlying causes of the crisis that many people are facing, stories like this will keep being told.

Fixing the problem

The housing market is broken. It has caused a chronic shortage of affordable housing. This has created a homelessness crisis that’s reaching record levels.

Fixing the problem requires all of us to get involved. That is why we’ve joined the Everybody’s Home campaign. We’re working with other organisations across Australia to campaign for change we all know is needed and will make a difference for vulnerable people. We’re asking for Federal and State Governments to:

  • Increase public housing levels to 10% of all housing stock
  • Develop a national housing strategy for more low-cost rental properties to meet the demand for affordable housing
  • Provide a better deal for renters to stop unfair rent increases and evictions, and give all renters the security they need
  • Give immediate financial relief to Australians by increasing Commonwealth Rent
  • Assistance for those struggling just to get by
  • Commit to a plan to end homelessness by 2030
  • Make home ownership more achievable to reduce pressure on the private rental market.
  • Find out more about what we want State Governments to do to fix the housing crisis.

Read our position paper on Housing and Homelessness in Tasmania.
Read our position paper on Housing and Homelessness in Victoria.

Get involved and make change happen

There are three ways you can make a difference with us.

  1. Let’s unite our voices and make a change. Join us in signing the Everybody’s Home petition.
  2. Attend one of our Homelessness Week events. Find an event near you.
  3. Support our homelessness and crisis services – your donation now will support vulnerable people in our community today.

Where to find support

If you need help with housing or homelessness, call 1800 825 955 (Victoria) or 1800 800 588 (Tasmania) to be connected to a service near you.

If you are experiencing family violence, call 000 if you are in immediate danger, or call 1800 015 188 (Victoria) or 1800 633 937 (Tasmania) to be connected to local services.