ADACAS’s Employer Confidence Program has made significant strides in fostering workplace inclusivity, with St Vincent de Paul Society Canberra/Goulburn being the latest organisation to benefit from their comprehensive neurodiversity and disability awareness training.
The training, delivered in partnership with Employ for Ability, is focused on creating an inclusive environment for Vinnies’ members, volunteers, and employees. This initiative demonstrates Vinnies’ commitment to enriching their workplace through diversity and inclusion.
ADACAS’s Employer Confidence Program focuses on several key areas:
- Creating inclusive environments that accommodate diverse disabilities
- Developing inclusive communication strategies
- Understanding professional environments from different perspectives
- Implementing Supported Decision Making principles
The program’s effectiveness is evident in the feedback from Vinnies’ leadership team.
Goodies Junction Operations Manager Andrew Barber said the training provided valuable tools for understanding and leveraging the strengths of neurodivergent employees at Goodies.
“It was a reminder that when we’ve met one autistic person, we’ve only met one autistic person.” Andrew said.
“Everyone is individual and we need to adjust our practices in the workplace to suit each individual’s needs.”
Homelessness Programs Manager Sarah Dunn was impressed with the practical strategies in the Employer Confidence Program.
“It really helped us to understand how we can support our team members that are neurodivergent,” Sarah said, “things that we can fairly easily implement to give them the best chance of having a good experience with us at Vinnies.”
Moving forward with the ADACAS Employer Confidence Program
The success of this training at St Vincent de Paul Society sets a promising precedent for other local businesses. ADACAS has announced plans to expand their Employer Confidence Program throughout 2025, offering customized workshops that can be delivered both virtually and in person.
Workshop availability
Organisations interested in building more inclusive workplaces can access ADACAS’s workshops, which are:
- Customized to meet specific needs of the business or organisation
- Delivered by educators with expert knowledge and lived experience
- Available via Zoom, Microsoft Teams, or in person
- Supported with comprehensive resources and reference materials
- Designed to create lasting positive change in workplace culture
The success of the St Vincent de Paul Society training demonstrates how the Employer Confidence Program can help organisations create genuinely inclusive workplaces where all employees can thrive.
For more information about the Employer Confidence Program or to book a workshop, contact ADACAS today.