Neurodiversity at Work: A Practical Workshop for Leaders & Managers
Learn how to create environments for neurodiversity to thrive
The number of people who identify as neurodiverse or have been diagnosed as neurodivergent is rapidly increasing, and it’s very likely there are neurodivergent people on your team.
So why is an awareness of neurodiversity and the ability to lead neuroinclusive teams so important for managers and leaders? Because with it, managers and people leaders are able to tap into individual team members’ strengths and preferences so that they feel safe, included and are able to perform at their absolute best. And when everyone is able to perform at their best, you have a high-performing team.
This workshop moves beyond introductory awareness to focus on real-world leadership practice. Participants will build a deeper understanding of neurodiversity in workplace settings and learn practical strategies to create psychologically safe, high-performing teams where people feel supported, included and able to do their best work. Through practical examples, reflection and applied activities, discover how embracing different cognitive styles can drive innovation, boost productivity, foster inclusivity and promote retention in the workplace.
What to Expect
Led by a seasoned Neurodivergent leader, keynote speaker, facilitator & inclusion consultant
Facilitated in a neuro-inclusive and psychologically safe environment, by a neurodivergent trainer
Small group-based activity sessions to translate theory into practice
Real-world learning with practical examples and case studies
Use applied leadership activities, reflection & discussion to facilitate action-oriented planning
Gain valuable knowledge of ISO 45003 & how psychosocial hazard risk management creates healthier, safer work environments
Callie Elward-Barrett (She/Her)
Neurodiversity Advocate & Leadership Coach, Executive Functioning Leadership
Callie (She/Her) has been a senior leader in the public service, non-profit, and private sectors. She started her professional life as a Police Officer in England and then in South Australia.
She actively promotes and models inclusive work practices for neurodivergent staff. She educates on the role of leaders in creating practices that enable NDers to succeed, and harnessing the incredible strengths diverse approaches bring to delivering better Government policy and programs.
She established and Chaired the Department of Health and Aged Care Neurodiversity Network, was a founding member of the APS-wide Neurodiversity of Practice, and was an SES signatory on the inclusion of a Neurodiversity question in the APS Census. She is a firm believer that the APS should lead the way in inclusive work places.
Callie identifies as having lived experience with disability, and as the parent of a child with disability
Callie Elward-Barrett (She/Her)
Callie Elward-Barrett, pronouns she/her, is a neurodivergent neurodiversity advocate!
Callie has acted in various Assistant Secretary positions at the Department of Health and Aged Care, and has led research, design, and development of multiple platforms, pathways, and communications for people who experience barriers in accessing health services.
Callie actively promotes and models inclusive work practices for neurodivergent staff. She educates on the role of leaders in creating practices that enable NDers to succeed, and harnessing the incredible strengths diverse approaches bring to delivering better Government policy and programs.
She has recently established and Chairs the Health Neurodiversity Community of Practice, is a founding member of the APS-wide Neurodiversity of Practice, and was an SES signatory on the inclusion of a Neurodiversity question in the APS Census. She is a firm believer that the APS should lead the way in inclusive work places.
Prior to working with Government, Callie worked in the Community Sector with both state and territory governments, and not for profit organisations. She started her professional life as a Police Officer in England and then in South Australia.
She has a successful podcast about adult ADHD and what it is like to get a late diagnosis, with all of the challenges it can bring.
Callie identifies as having lived experience with disability, and as the parent of a child with disability
Key benefits
Understand neurodiversity & neurodivergence in a workplace context
Navigate & unlock the profound strengths of neurodivergent team members
Identify hidden workplace barriers that can unintentionally exclude neurodivergent staff
Apply practical leadership strategies to reduce team burnout & poor performance while driving staff retention
Adapt communication, expectations & management approaches to support different working styles
Become a more effective leader through trust, inclusion, innovation & high performance
What’s new in 2026?
- Learn from a new facilitator with deep workplace neuroinclusion experience
- Refreshed agenda to take a deeper dive into practical strategies for workplace neuroinclusion
Who will attend
This workshop is designed for managers and leaders from all sectors, as well as those wanting to create thriving, high-performance workplaces. It also caters to neurodivergent people who want to understand how they can do their best work.
- Managers & people leaders
- Team leaders & supervisors
- Early career & emerging leaders
- Learning & development practitioners
- HR, People & Culture, & Diversity & Inclusion leaders
- Mental health & wellbeing practitioners
- Facilitators & leadership coaches
- Neurodivergent non-neurodivergent people who want practical insight & tools for creating more inclusive workplaces
Agenda
All times are shown in AEST
Acknowledgement of Country & Opening remarks
Module One: Foundations for neuroinclusion & psychological safety
- Setting the tone: practical, respectful, psychologically safe participation
- The importance of Neurodiversity conversations at work
- Neuroinclusion as a workplace, team, and design issue
- Inclusion, psychological safety, and performance implications
- Why awareness matters, and why awareness alone is not enough
- Introducing the 5Cs as a practical lens for understanding what helps people thrive
Morning break
Module Two: Understanding neurodiversity at work
- Neurodiversity versus neurodivergence – practical implications
- Common neurodivergent workplace experiences
- Strengths without stereotypes
- Sensory and cognitive load at work
- Masking, hidden effort, and fluctuating capacity
- Anxiety triggers, task paralysis, task initiation and rejection sensitivity
- Communication differences: reframing language and reducing misunderstanding
- What helps people feel understood, supported and able to do their best work
Lunch Break
Module Three: From awareness to action in everyday work
- Turning understanding into practical neuroinclusion
- The 5Cs Model for Neuroinclusion – practical application
- Communication, collaboration, and reducing unnecessary friction
- Meetings, expectations, feedback, and workload design
- Accommodations, adjustments, and making work more workable
- Best First Move: interpreting behaviour more effectively
- Prepare and Repair: handling tension, misunderstanding, and conflict
- Workplace scenarios and applied discussion
Afternoon break
Module Four: Building safer, more workable & more inclusive teams
- Creating conditions for sustainable performance and belonging
- Understanding psychosocial hazards and risks, including ISO 45003
- Identifying hidden friction in team practices, workflows, and environments
- Fast Friction Mapping: where work creates strain, confusion or exclusion, and practical ways to improve team practices
- Building psychological safety through design thinking
- Creating workplace champions and shared responsibility for inclusion
- Action planning: one practical change to take back into the workplace
Summary and Close of Workshop
Day 1
Acknowledgement of Country & Opening remarks
Module One: Foundations for neuroinclusion & psychological safety
- Setting the tone: practical, respectful, psychologically safe participation
- The importance of Neurodiversity conversations at work
- Neuroinclusion as a workplace, team, and design issue
- Inclusion, psychological safety, and performance implications
- Why awareness matters, and why awareness alone is not enough
- Introducing the 5Cs as a practical lens for understanding what helps people thrive
Morning break
Module Two: Understanding neurodiversity at work
- Neurodiversity versus neurodivergence – practical implications
- Common neurodivergent workplace experiences
- Strengths without stereotypes
- Sensory and cognitive load at work
- Masking, hidden effort, and fluctuating capacity
- Anxiety triggers, task paralysis, task initiation and rejection sensitivity
- Communication differences: reframing language and reducing misunderstanding
- What helps people feel understood, supported and able to do their best work
End of Day 1
Day 2
Module Three: From awareness to action in everyday work
- Turning understanding into practical neuroinclusion
- The 5Cs Model for Neuroinclusion – practical application
- Communication, collaboration, and reducing unnecessary friction
- Meetings, expectations, feedback, and workload design
- Accommodations, adjustments, and making work more workable
- Best First Move: interpreting behaviour more effectively
- Prepare and Repair: handling tension, misunderstanding, and conflict
- Workplace scenarios and applied discussion
Morning break
Module Four: Building safer, more workable & more inclusive teams
- Creating conditions for sustainable performance and belonging
- Understanding psychosocial hazards and risks, including ISO 45003
- Identifying hidden friction in team practices, workflows, and environments
- Fast Friction Mapping: where work creates strain, confusion or exclusion, and practical ways to improve team practices
- Building psychological safety through design thinking
- Creating workplace champions and shared responsibility for inclusion
- Action planning: one practical change to take back into the workplace
Summary and Close of Workshop
Pricing
Save until 8 May
+GST
Early bird pricing
Save $500
Save until 22 May
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Early bird pricing
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Save until 12 June
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Early bird pricing
Save $200
Save until 3 July
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Early bird pricing
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Standard pricing
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Price after early bird
Can’t attend in-person? Join the online masterclass and save $200 off
Groups of 5+ save 10% | Groups of 10+ save 20%
Relevant to managers struggling to manage staff with different needs.
Jane Burgett
Unit Head Incident Management
The course improved my understanding on how neurodiversity can present in the workplace and provided practical and inclusive examples to lead neurodivergent staff.
Sara Raishbrook
Customer Experience
Very good introduction to neurodiversity and raising awareness in the workplace.”
John Turnbull
Investigator, ACT Government, July 2025
The course broadened my awareness of neurodiversity leadership. It also provided tools that I can use and implement to increase effective participation at work.”
Fiona Mavris
Assistant Director, Air Cargo Policy, Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry, July 2025
Excellent and timely content. Keep the conversation going! Stop the Stigma!”
Nadine Owen
Services Australia, July 2025
Very worthwhile, such a timely training.”
Melissa Young
Senior Team Leader Child and Family Specialised Programs, Upper Murray Family Care, July 2025
I loved the neuro-inclusive leadership course. Lots of good tips and resources.”
Michelle Tan
Manager, Corporate Services, Victorian Disability Worker Commission, July 2025
Great training! Highly recommended for all levels of management.”
Amanda Freeman
Learning & Development Lead, Wallara, July 2025
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