Diversity Council Australia (DCA), in partnership with Amaze, has launched a first-of-its-kind guide to help organisations take a crucial step toward neuroinclusive workplaces: capturing and reporting on workforce neurodiversity data in ways that are safe, respectful and accurate.
Built in consultation with neurodivergent people across Australia, Neurodiversity Data at Work provides practical, evidence-based guidance on collecting neurodiversity data through HR systems and workplace surveys.
The guide draws on insights from a national community consultation survey of nearly 3,000 people, including more than 2,200 neurodivergent individuals as well as HR and diversity and inclusion practitioners. It is grounded in lived experience and informed by national and international research.
Diversity Council Australia CEO Catherine Hunter said the absence of workforce data on neurodiversity has been a significant barrier to meaningful inclusion.
"An estimated 15 to 20% of people are neurodivergent, yet until now, many organisations haven't had the tools they need to understand their employees' experiences or the barriers they face at work," Catherine said.
"Capturing neurodiversity data safely and respectfully is a vital first step toward identifying and removing these barriers. The guide places people's lived experiences at the centre, prioritises trust and safety, and provides practical, evidence-based support to help organisations use data to drive positive change."
"Neurodiversity is increasingly recognised in workplaces, but it is rarely visible in workforce data," said David Tonge, CEO of Amaze.
"Without that visibility, organisations cannot see where barriers sit or whether their inclusion efforts are improving outcomes. Establishing safe, voluntary ways to understand workforce neurodiversity is a critical step toward designing workplaces where neurodivergent people can participate and progress."
Why neurodiversity data matters
For many Australian organisations, collecting neurodiversity data is new territory. This guide focuses on establishing baseline data that can be used alongside other workforce insights to:
- understand the workplace experiences of neurodivergent employees
- identify hidden barriers and bias in recruitment, development and progression
- improve workplace design, adjustments and support
- track the impact of neuroinclusive initiatives
- build more equitable, inclusive and supportive workplace cultures.
What the guide provides
Neurodiversity Data at Work outlines six guiding principles for respectful, safe and accurate data collection, alongside step-by-step guidance on how to approach collecting neurodiversity data – including sample questions and reporting suggestions.
"Crucially, this guide supports organisations to build trust, protect privacy, manage risk and commit to meaningful action," said Catherine.
"Neuroinclusion isn't about fitting people into existing systems. It's about co-designing workplaces that work for all minds. Neurodiversity Data at Work helps organisations move beyond assumptions, reduce stigma, and create environments where everyone can perform at their best – which ultimately unlocks more productive, more engaged and more innovative workplaces."
Neurodiversity Data at Work is available now via Diversity Council Australia's website.
