91% of Australians Believe Organisations Should Do More to Support Long-term Employment for Neurodivergent Individuals
DXC Technology unveils ten small acts to improve sustainable employment and bridge the employment gap on the 10th anniversary of the DXC Dandelion Program
SYDNEY, Australia, July 15, 2024 — A survey by DXC Technology (NYSE: DXC), a leading Fortune 500 global technology services company, has found that 91% of Australians believe organisations can do more to support long-term employment for neurodivergent individuals in the workplace.
The survey of 1,410 neurodivergent and neurotypical Australians found that organisations are failing to create a sustainable environment for neurodivergent individuals, with 61% of respondents reporting they would not feel comfortable disclosing their neurodivergence to a potential employer due to concerns it would impact their career opportunities.
To mark the 10th anniversary of the DXC Dandelion Program, which helps neurodivergent individuals build valuable skills to pursue a career in IT, DXC has unveiled ten small acts that organisations and colleagues can adopt to improve sustainable employment.
It is estimated by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, that 30-40% of the Australian population today is neurodivergent, and while many organisations have policies in place to support neurodivergent individuals, DXC’s survey found only 41% of neurotypical Australians feel confident they know how to effectively support their neurodivergent colleagues in the workplace.
This lack of support within Australian organisations is driving a higher turnover, with the average neurodivergent Australian spending less than half the time in a role (on average 4.4 years) compared to neurotypical Australians who spend 9.1 years in a role.
The survey also revealed that an overwhelming 97% of neurodivergent individuals say that small acts made them feel appreciated at work and most believe that supportive acts including creating a positive work environment, enabling flexible working or offering adapted workstations and sensory rooms, would improve both their job satisfaction (68%) and overall wellbeing (68%).
“This year marks the 10th anniversary of the DXC Dandelion Program, and we are proud to celebrate not just the unique talents and skills of neurodivergent individuals, but their contribution to the Australian economy. Neurodivergent individuals bring a lot of value to the workplace, with strengths such as great attention to detail, focused concentration, pattern recognition, spotting anomalies in data and out-of-the box thinking. These are valuable skills, especially in areas of technology such as data analytics, software automation, and cybersecurity. It gives me immense pride to see how the DXC Dandelion Program has been instrumental in empowering so many individuals and changing their lives,” said Seelan Nayagam, President Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa, DXC Technology.
“Having worked with customers, industry partners, and academic institutions on this program, we have learnt it is important to create a culture of support and inclusion at every level of an organisation. While formal policies are important for organisations to create an equitable environment for neurodivergent individuals, the survey highlights that building a culture of peer-to-peer support is the key to developing a truly inclusive workplace. Our findings further affirm that small acts or adjustments in the workplace can make all the difference to the long-term employment of a neurodivergent individual,” said Michael Fieldhouse, DXC Dandelion Program Executive, DXC Technology.
To mark the 10th anniversary of the program, As part of the campaign, DXC Technology has published a guide with 10 small acts and conversation starters that Australians can adopt to create a more sustainable environment for neurodivergent individuals and help bridge the current employment gap. Find out more information on DXC's Small Acts, Big Impacts here.
“Small acts can transform lives, infuse purpose and give neurodivergent individuals a chance to thrive in a world that often overlooks their unique strengths and capabilities. It can have a big impact on the overall employment experience and the length of time we stay in an organisation. This is something I have experienced first-hand through the DXC Dandelion Program,” said Matt Crowley, a trainee with the Australian Federal Police’s Covert and Technical Operations branch as part of DXC’s Dandelion Program. “I have personally experienced small acts from my colleagues which have contributed to my job satisfaction and wellbeing at the AFP.”
Andrew Baird, Operations Manager, ANZ Bank, said “Having worked with the DXC Dandelion team, we’ve successfully transitioned over 11 individuals to permanent employees, who have brought extraordinary skills and expertise to our organisation. We have found that the training tools we have in place for our employees to support neurodivergent individuals have created an empowering and constructive workplace environment, as well as a culture that allows them to thrive.”
DXC’s Dandelion Program was launched in 2014 in Australia with a focus on creating employment pathways and careers for neurodivergent individuals within the IT industry. With no prior professional experience required to participate, DXC has made the program available to individuals of all abilities with the motivation to work in technology. In addition to offering employment, DXC provides participants with technical and vocational training plus professional support by specialised consultants.
Following the success of the program in Australia and New Zealand, DXC’s Dandelion Program has now been launched across European and Asia Pacific markets including the United Kingdom, Bulgaria, Poland, and the Philippines, with plans to start the program in Italy, the Middle East and the United States.
About the DXC Dandelion Program
The DXC Dandelion Program provides an environment that supports and celebrates the talents and skills of neurodivergent individuals — such as those with Autism, ADHD or Dyslexia — and helps them build valuable skills to pursue a career in information technology. Learn more about how we are supporting neurodiversity in the workforce at DXC.com.
DXC Dandelion Program in Numbers:
- Employment opportunities created for more than 350 individuals to date
- 92% employment retention rate
- 30-40% increase in the overall productivity of teams which participate in the program
- Recognised by industry organisations globally, winning 22 international awards for its contribution to the development of socially beneficial initiatives
- Recognised in the Top-Scoring Companies list by the Global Disability Equality Index, achieving a score of 100% for the company’s disability and inclusion achievements in the last five years
Survey Methodology
The research was commissioned by DXC Technology and was conducted by Lonergan Research in accordance with the ISO 20252 standard. Lonergan Research surveyed 1,010 Australians 18+ and 400 Australians 18+ as a part of a boosted sample that identify as having a Neurodivergent Condition. Surveys were distributed throughout Australia including both capital city and non-capital city areas. The survey was conducted online amongst members of a permission-based panel, between 02 April 2024 and 09 April 2024. After interviewing, data was weighted to the latest population estimates sourced from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
Forward Looking Statements
All statements in this press release that do not directly and exclusively relate to historical facts constitute “forward-looking statements.” These statements represent current expectations and beliefs, and no assurance can be given that the results described in such statements will be achieved. Such statements are subject to numerous assumptions, risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in such statements, many of which are outside of our control. For a written description of these factors, see the section titled “Risk Factors” in DXC’s upcoming Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024, and any updating information in subsequent SEC filings. No assurance can be given that any goal or plan set forth in any forward-looking statement can or will be achieved, and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such statements which speak only as of the date they are made. We do not undertake any obligation to update or release any revisions to any forward-looking statement or to report any events or circumstances after the date of this report or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events except as required by law.
About DXC Technology
DXC Technology (NYSE: DXC) helps global companies run their mission-critical systems and operations while modernizing IT, optimizing data architectures, and ensuring security and scalability across public, private and hybrid clouds. The world’s largest companies and public sector organizations trust DXC to deploy services to drive new levels of performance, competitiveness, and customer experience across their IT estates. Learn more about how we deliver excellence for our customers and colleagues at DXC.com.