Autism and Employment
Autistic people bring a range of strengths, interests and skills to the workforce but face barriers finding, maintaining and engaging in employment.
Why work matters
Employment is an important part of our lives – it provides financial security, social connection, maintains mental health and wellbeing, and builds our self-esteem.
However, for Autistic people, the path to employment can be challenging. In Australia, the unemployment rate for Autistic people is 34% – more than eight times that of people without disability, and three times the rate of people with disability generally.
Autistic people bring unique strengths, skills and talents to the workforce. As we look to a future that is more complex than ever, the genuine diversity of thinking that Autistic people offer can drive innovation and create positive, inclusive change in Australia.
Xceptional currently has job vacancies across several industries across Australia. Some of these are part time and work from home. Click on the link below for the list of vacancies:
There are many services and programs can assist Autistic people to find and keep work.
Services funded by the Australian Government to support people with disability access employment in the open labour market include:
- Disability Employment Services (DES)
These organisations provide training and recruitment support to people with disability who are looking for work, and also on-the-job support for people who are already employed. - JobAccess
Free and confidential information and advice for people with disability and employers, including a free phone support line. - Employment Assistance Fund
Provides financial support for eligible people with disability to buy work-related modifications and services, such as communication devices. - National Disability Insurance Scheme
Provides individual funding to support NDIS participants to achieve their employment related goals.
Other autism-specific supports and programs
- Specialisterne Australia
Specialisterne is an innovative social business organisation originally founded in Denmark in 2004. Specialisterne Australia assists organisations to recruit and support Autistic people at work. - DXC’s Dandelion program
The DXC Dandelion Program is an initiative to build valuable information technology skills and careers for Autistic people. Combining mentoring, support and training over three years in specially matched ‘pods’ the focus of the program is on developing technical, life and career building skills.
Discrimination is treating someone unfairly because of a personal characteristic. This includes: during the recruitment process, when determining terms and conditions of employment and when identifying employees for promotion or demotion, transfer, training, retrenchment or dismissal.
Discrimination can take the form of:
- Bullying, harassing or abusing a person
- Refusing to make reasonable adjustments that are requested to enable a person to access services or activities
- Rules or policies that negatively affect people who have a particular characteristic
- Being asked questions that could be discriminatory
In the law, autism is grouped under disability discrimination. In Australia, it is illegal to discriminate against someone because they have, or you think they may have, a disability.
People with disability are protected under three laws:
- Victorian law – the Equal Opportunity Act 2010 of Victoria
- Commonwealth law – the Disability Discrimination Act 1992
- For employment cases – the Fair Work Act 2009.
Read more about disability discrimination on the Disability Advocacy Resource Unit website and the Australian Human Rights Commission website.
For more information
For more information on autism and employment – including strategies to navigate the workplace’s hidden codes of behaviour and supports and services in Victoria – contact the Amaze Autism Connect advisors on 1300 308 699, email [email protected] or use the webchat on this site.
This service is open from 8am–7pm, Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays).
References
Jones, S, Muhammad A, Murphy, PM, Vickers, N 2019, ‘Autism and Employment’, Australia’s Attitudes & Behaviours towards Autism; and Experiences of Autistic People and Their Families. Melbourne, Amaze. Autism and Employment in Australia.