Today is a landmark celebration for the AFP's award-winning Dandelion Program, which provides a specialised pathway into the AFP for neurodivergent individuals, with the graduation of its first trainees to full-time permanent AFP employees.
The graduation is the culmination of a two-year traineeship for the six graduates, who through their hard work have earned permanent positions with the AFP's Covert and Technical Operations area, helping to build the technical capabilities required to support the AFP's frontline today and into the future.
The Dandelion Program, which is delivered in partnership with DXC Technology and Untapped Talent, is the only one of its kind in Australian policing.
Launched in July, 2023, the initiative connects talented, neurodivergent people with meaningful employment opportunities, while combatting skill shortages and creating more inclusive workplaces in the AFP.
Throughout their traineeship, graduates have worked across various areas within the Covert and Technical Operations branch, including roles in data analytics, software development and hardware engineering.
AFP Commander Rob Nelson, who oversaw the operational aspects of the Dandelion Program, said the graduates brought a contagious sense of enthusiasm to their roles.
"I feel privileged to see our Dandelion trainees graduate today - they have leaned into every new opportunity, assisted with several major investigations, and their impact has reinforced to our entire workforce the value of diversity and different ways of thinking," Commander Nelson said.
"For many of this group, the program has been their first entry into the workforce, and while it has required some adjustment for them to get into the groove of a workplace, we have watched them flourish in their roles and build their skills, providing great service to the AFP, which we are sure will continue well into the future.
"In Covert and Technical Operations, problem-solving is critical, and it has been incredible to see how the neurodiverse skill set of the Dandelion members has benefitted the work we do.
"Their ability to think outside of the box and innovate has inspired other members to consider different perspectives, which bring different solutions."
Commander Nelson said the program had already been recognised beyond the AFP, having been awarded an Inclusive Communities trophy at the 2024 National Disabilities Awards.
"This award was in recognition of the AFP's efforts as an organisation to support and promote greater inclusion through providing meaningful employment for those in the community with a disability," Commander Nelson said.
"I am extremely proud of this program, and the internal changes this has influenced.
"We have seen the organisation expand our internal support network and capabilities, with the goal of the AFP having the skills and experience to independently support and ultimately enable our neurodiverse employees to flourish within a policing agency."
*Speakers on VNR are (in order of appearance) AFP Deputy Commissioner Lesa Gale; DXC Technologies Chief of Staff, Natasha Copley; Untapped Talent Associate Director, Tia Squire; and Dandelion Graduate Lachlan Cameron.
