In 2023, 52 per cent of Australian children aged between 7-14 registered in the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) were autistic*. In the coming five years, these children will enter the workforce.
How do we harness their potential?
Neurodivergent people experience many barriers to finding and keeping employment. These barriers are not a reflection on the potential contribution they could make in the workplace.
The Australian Meat Processor Corporation and the Federal Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry are working together on research that is exploring the opportunities for neurodivergent people and what roles they could excel at in the red meat processing industry.
The two organisations have engaged a neurodiversity specialist to explore these opportunities. The specialist is currently exploring the kinds of roles which would be best suited to neurodivergent people and whether technologies such as shadow robotics might present opportunities.
The research is also looking into barriers and so far things such as safety, education, and awareness are some of these.
AMPC Program Manager Amanda Carter said, “As part of this important research we have visited red meat processing sites across Australia and spoken to management and conducted tours of the plants, to further inform this research.
“We also hosted roundtables with red meat processors recently and outcomes from these meetings showed that there is definitely an appetite to further explore opportunities in this area.”
Initial findings of the research will be presented to the Minister for Autism shortly.
A final paper will be presented to the Agricultural Workforce Forum, whose purpose is to attract, skill, protect and retain workers in the agriculture and processing sector.
Next steps for the Australian Meat Processor Corporation are to set up a pilot where neurodivergent people will work within a red meat processing plant.
For more information contact a.carter@ampc.com.au