iNDEPth employment strategy creating sustainable solutions for neurodivergent jobseekers and employment sector
Jobseekers who identify as neurodivergent are reaping the benefits of an innovative employment program purposely designed to give them the best chance of finding and sustaining meaningful employment.
MatchWorks, a genU division and leading national disability employment service, launched the iNDEPth neurodivergent employment strategy in 2024, following a successful pilot in WA and Queensland.
iNDEPth (which incorporates the term Neurodivergent Employment Pathways) is an innovative program co-designed with neurodivergent people to identify effective solutions and strategies to create sustainable employment opportunities.
MatchWorks National Partnerships Manager Louise Sheehy leads the neurodivergent employment strategy, working with neurodivergent participants, employers, stakeholders and educators.
“iNDEPth meets participants where they are and ‘flips the script’ on them needing to fit into a workplace environment by flexing our service delivery, the environment and the workplace to support the participant,” she said.
“Community is important to neurodivergent people and a large part of their motivation for working is they want to feel part of the community.
“Participants are an integral part of the co-design process. This allows us to understand communication styles, and environmental and organisational considerations that may support them in the service and the workplace environment.”
Ms Sheehy said there was an appetite among employers to tap into the potential and strengths of the neurodivergent people wanting to work, but they needed strategies to help get the best out of the person they are employing.
“We can support employers with information and education to help them create an equitable and safe environment for neurodivergent employees,” she said.
genu CEO Clare Amies said MatchWorks had exciting plans this year to continue growing iNDEPth, as it expands and imbeds more processes and supports for jobseekers, employers and the industry.
“These include forming a new Neurodivergent Participant Advisory Council, which will bring together participants from across Australia to provide feedback as iNDEPth continues to evolve,” she said.
“MatchWorks is also employing Neurodivergent Employment Consultant(s) and will keep hosting our National Neurodivergent Industry co-design Council.”
Ms Amies said the recognition for iNDEPth at the 2024 National Disability Awards as a finalist in the Innovation in Excellence category showed the strength of the program and its potential to be a gamechanger and help reach a major government goal.
“iNDEPth aligns perfectly with the Federal Government’s priority to lift the employment participation rate of people with disability,” Ms Amies said.
“We are committed to reducing the high rate of unemployment among people with disability and we believe iNDEPth creates holistic support needed to achieve this admirable aim.
“Ensuring that everyone who wants to work can get a job helps us reach the goal of genuinely inclusive communities.”
Read more about iNDEPth highlights in the attached information sheet or find out more here.