Description
Aim: This project examines the pain-points of the transition to the graduate work-force following tertiary study by individuals with a neurodevelopmental condition (eg. ADHD, autism).Introduction with Rationale: There are increasing numbers of university students identifying as neurodiverse (Hiller et al, 2018), yet neurodiverse graduates are the least employed group of higher education graduates (Vincent, 2019). Work Integrated Learning (WIL) and university arranged and/or evaluated internships can serve as important bridges between universities and industries, ideally benefiting students, companies, and universities alike. Yet alignment in expectations between the groups is difficult to achieve (Ajjawi et al, 2019).
Methods: A survey was distributed to all students registered with the relevant disability support services at three Australian universities and via an open call-out on LinkedIn. The survey addressed questions about satisfaction with their experiences as well as questions asking students to reflect on whether or not they received adequate support and training in their WIL placement and during their university studies. We conducted a thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2006) of the survey data (n=187) and of semi-structured interviews with 24 students.
Findings/Results: Key university supports identified as crucial to success during coursework studies included flexible attendance and assessment deadlines, access to assistive technologies and early access to class resources. Undertaking a WIL placement benefited students by demystifying future careers, facilitating practical application of theory, and professional networking. Barriers both at university and at placement included inaccessible environments, fear of discrimination, challenges balancing commitments, and social and communication difficulties.
Implications for WIL: This research identifies that universities are successfully making some changes to better support neurodiverse students. Using student input we then developed a 'Work-Integrated Learning' neurodiversity hub resource developed for stakeholders including academic and professional staff, WIL industry partners and graduate employers (hyperlink: https://www.acds.edu.au/teaching-learning/resource-repository/)
| Period | 15 Apr 2026 → 17 Apr 2026 |
|---|---|
| Event type | Conference |
| Conference number | 6th |
| Location | Auckland, New ZealandShow on map |