March 18, 2026This week marks Neurodiversity Celebration Week (16–22 March), with a focus on moving from awareness to action and creating meaningful organisational change.
Neurodiversity is not something to fix. It is something to understand, support and value. At Northern Health, recognising and embracing different ways of thinking strengthens our teams and improves the care we provide to our community.
Deepmala Awasthi, Disability Liaison Officer (DLO), shared that creating accessible workplaces for neurodivergent staff also leads to safer, kinder and more inclusive care for patients.
“Different minds strengthen teams, and when everyone can work in the way they work best, everyone benefits.”
Andy Allen, Social Work – Allied Health Clinical Educator, shared their experience as a neurodivergent staff member at Northern Health.
“Northern Health has a well-established culture of being inclusive from diverse perspectives. This extends to neurodivergent staff, creating an environment where differences are not only accepted but respected,” Andy said.
Andy also highlighted the impact of practical adjustments, such as Northern Health’s bring your own device (BYOD) approach.
“Being able to use my own device allows me to access personalised accessibility tools and systems that help me manage my workflow more efficiently and in a neuro-affirming way. This flexibility is vital.”
A key message for the week is simple: Recognise. Support. Include.
Recognise
Neurodiversity is a natural part of human diversity, with around 15–20 per cent of the population being neurodivergent. Each person has a unique profile of strengths and challenges. Many neurodivergent individuals bring valuable strengths such as deep focus, creativity, pattern recognition and strong problem-solving, which are highly relevant in healthcare.
Support
Small adjustments can make a meaningful difference.
For staff, this may include clear communication, structured expectations and flexible ways of working.
For patients, it may involve using simple language, allowing time to process information, reducing sensory stress and providing written information where possible.
These changes benefit everyone.
Include
People do their best work when they feel safe to ask for adjustments, share what helps them succeed and be themselves at work. Creating inclusive environments strengthens both staff wellbeing and patient care.
Looking ahead, Andy shared that there are opportunities to further strengthen inclusion at Northern Health.
“Establishing a neurodiversity working group could empower staff voices, provide insights to leadership and support ongoing improvements in accessibility and inclusion.”
Neurodiversity Celebration Week is an opportunity for all of us to reflect on how we can better support our colleagues and patients, and to take practical steps towards more inclusive, neuro-affirming care.
For more information and resources, including events and learning materials, visit:
• https://www.neurodiversityweek.com/resource-hub
• https://www.neurodiversityhub.org/resources-for-employer
