APS Inclusive Onboarding Toolkit: Disability and Neurodivergence

Welcome to the APS Public Service (APS) Inclusive Onboarding Toolkit (the Toolkit). This Toolkit provides best practice information and resources to assist agencies and employees to undertake inclusive, accessible, safe and informed onboarding processes that welcome and support new team members with disability and/or neurodivergence to the APS.

Navigating this toolkit

The Toolkit is divided into sections for easy navigation; an introduction, information for business areas, information for managers, and information for employees. The toolkit can be read in its entirety, or users can read the information most relevant to their needs.

Why inclusive onboarding is important in the APS?

Representation of people with disability and neurodivergence is vital in the APS as it enables us to reflect the diversity of the Australian population, in turn, delivering better informed policy and services. Despite this, data from the APS Employment Database (APSED) shows the representation of people with disability in the APS has grown minimally in the past 20 years.

Representation is a foundation for true inclusion, equity and innovation. When people with disability and neurodivergence see themselves reflected across all levels of a workplace, it affirms that they are welcome and their contributions are valued.

Representation helps challenge stereotypes and foster workplace cultures where diverse ways of thinking and working are valued. It makes space for people to bring their best selves to work. Improving onboarding through this lens focuses on creating a welcoming environment where every new team member is supported to thrive.