The La Trobe Neurodiversity Placements Program

Beth Radulski and Nyssa Jaworowski

2023 marks La Trobe’s third year participating in Neurodiversity Celebration Week via our Neurodiversity Project!

Neurodiversity Celebration Week aims to transform how schools, universities, and organisations support Neurominority groups—including Autism, ADHD, Dyslexia, mental health conditions, cognitive disabilities, and beyond. Our Health, Wellbeing, and Inclusion division offers a variety of support relevant to these groups. This year, we’re thrilled to share an update on our Neurodiversity Placements Program, alongside interviews with two of our placement students!

What is the Neurodiversity Placements Program?

La Trobe offers several elective subjects, in addition to a Minor in Industry Placements. In each elective placement subject students will gain 100 hours of professional experience with a placement host, with the goal of enhancing their employability after graduation.

The La Trobe Neurodiversity Project is now hosting students interested in supporting Neurodiversity in educational and professional settings. Our students are learning these skills on a Work Integrated Learning placement here at La Trobe while gaining CV experience, and a subject credit towards their degree!

In some cases, once students complete their Neurodiversity Project Placement as an elective subject, they can opt to complete the Industry Placements Minor. Students in this minor can be matched with an industry partner who is interested in Neurodiversity.

There, they will do additional three-hundred hours of placement. These students will apply the skills they gained on the Neurodiversity Placement, in a professional setting, and build networks along the way!

What do Placement Students do, and why is this Important?

Neurominority groups can bring many strengths into classrooms and workplaces. However, they have unemployment rates 30-40% higher than the general population. Often, this is due to a combination of stigma, discrimination, and a mismatch between an individual’s access needs, and the physical and social environment in question. To resolve these issues, schools, workplaces, and their employees need to be educated on how to support Neurominorities. Then, they need to use this knowledge to change from within.

Our Neurodiversity Placement students are learning how to support these changes by:

Placement students will assist in making La Trobe more Neurodiversity inclusive under the guidance of a Neurominority supervisor and Neurodiversity researcher. They will be the first generation to enter the workforce with the skills, expertise, and experience needed to make society more Neurodiversity inclusive!

Here’s what two of our current placement students have to say:

What interested you about becoming a placement student?

Jamie Collins: I have experienced anxiety and depression throughout my university life and understand the pressures that come with it. I want to help the next generation of university students to better understand the resources available to help them through this stage in their lives and meet their full academic potential.

Erin Salmon: This placement gives me the opportunity to learn how I can advocate for and support my fellow Neurominority individuals in workplaces. By completing this placement, I hope to grow as an individual and a future psychologist, with the hope I can provide the best support to my clients.

Why do you think it’s important to increase access to employment for under-represented groups?

Erin Salmon: Everybody that has the skills should have the right to be employed… Employers should make allowances for staff that need additional resources to make the workplace a safe and rewarding experience.

What are some examples of Neurodiversity-friendly inclusion practices?

Erin Salmon: Yellow Ladybugs [the Autism organization] has a sensory safe space… Next Level Collaboration has headphones that cover the ears for noise, and [use] whiteboards to communicate [when speaking is not possible]… [or] signs which allow breaks or time outs… These allowances don’t need to be costly as they may just involve a quiet place where someone can have a time-out, encouraging fidgeting [toys] and/or listening to music.

How do you feel about Neurodiversity Inclusion in the workplace?

Jamie Collins: I think it’s very important as nobody should be excluded because of their disability.

Erin Salmon: Neurodiversity in the workplace encourages inclusiveness and allows workplace access to a diverse range of thinking… It also encourages understanding and acceptance which inspires a more welcoming and supportive environment for everyone.

Interested in learning more?

Organisations interested in Neurodiversity, and/or hosting placement students in this area, should contact Beth Radulski at Neurodiversity@latrobe.edu.au.

We hope to offer this opportunity again in 2024. Students interested in the Neurodiversity Placements Program should contact Neurodiversity.Hub@latrobe.edu.au

In the meantime, check out our partner Neurodiversity Hub for some great resources, tips and tricks and supporting Neurodiversity at school and work. 

*Jamie Collins is a pseudonym used to protect the student’s privacy