Dear Colleague,

The work of building inclusive, accessible workplaces has never been straightforward, and doing it when the world feels uncertain takes real commitment. That commitment, across organisations of every size and sector, is what drives us at Australian Disability Network.

Last month, we finalised the results of our 2025 Voice of Members survey, and the insights have been invaluable. Member organisations told us that securing leadership buy-in and ongoing competing priorities remain real barriers to progress, but they also told us something powerful: how much they value the connections they make through our network and the strength of 450+ organisations working together toward meaningful impact. The results were encouraging with 81.6% of members reporting improved disability confidence, relationship manager satisfaction has reached 91%, and our Net Promoter Score jumped 41 points in a single year.

Throughout February and early March, we've also been taking our Member Connection Events to cities across Australia, and the conversations have reinforced the survey findings: peer connection and collaborative problem-solving make the real difference in inclusion work. Those insights are directly shaping our new three-year strategy, and we'll be sharing more about that direction later in the year.

In this edition, we're celebrating Neurodiversity Celebration Week with practical tools and resources you can use to mark the week in your workplace. We're also demystifying our Internship Program, welcoming back the AIP Masterclass Series, and sharing a training offer you won't want to miss.

Here's to a collaborative and impactful March.

• Member connections, conversations and momentum
• Build a neuroinclusive workplace in Neurodiversity Celebration Week
• Our learning solutions and a special offer
• Learn answers to Member's 3 most common questions
• Quick reminders: Mentees, masterclass and manager's guide
• Sector news and events

Member connections, conversations and momentum

What an incredible start to 2026!

In February and early March, we took our Member Connection Events to Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, and Brisbane — and our members showed up in force. The conversations that followed were as insightful as they were energising.

Together, we dug into the big questions shaping access and inclusion right now: from engaging senior leadership to drive real change, to smarter ways of tracking workplace adjustments that make a genuine difference. The insights shared, the connections made, and the ideas sparked across four cities are exactly what this network is all about.

None of it would have been possible without our generous hosts — Sportsbet, Comcare, Ashurst, and University of Queensland. A heartfelt thank you for opening your doors and creating the space for these conversations to happen.

Neurodiversity Celebration Week

This week is Neurodiversity Celebration Week - a global initiative celebrating and raising awareness of neurodiversity.

It's an opportunity for workplaces to promote understanding and champion neuroinclusive practices. Here is a list of actions you can take to build a neuroaffirming workplace:

• Download our 10 Tips for Neuroinclusive Workplaces
• Discover our Co-designing Neuroinclusive, Neuroaffirming Workplaces research.
• Utilise our Neurodiversity Toolkit
• Register for our a Neuroinclusion in the Workplace workshop.

Together we can build a neuroinclusive community.

Our learning solutions

We've spent decades working alongside organisations committed to creating workplaces where everyone can participate and thrive. Our training translates that expertise into practical, engaging learning that helps your people build real disability confidence, not just awareness.

We offer flexible learning pathways to support your people at every stage of your inclusion journey; from organisation workshops tailored to your team, to public workshops your people can self-book, as well as self-paced eLearning that scales across your whole organisation.

Our training topics:

• Disability Confident Workforces
• Disability Confident Managers
• Inclusive Recruitment
• Inclusive Customer Experiences
•  Accessible Communications
• Workplace Adjustments
• Neuroinclusion in the Workplace

Special offer:

We're currently updating our entire eLearning suite to be more relevant, accessible and customisable. Purchase eLearning SCORM modules before 30 June 2026 and receive complimentary access to all equivalent updated content as it launches.

Learn more at our website or reach out to info@ausdn.org.au. 

Internship Program Q and A's

Over the years we have consistently fielded similar questions about our Internship Program. We know you want to do the right thing when it comes to hosting an intern with disability so we’re here to help! 

Here are three of the most common questions we get about the program. 

What if we're not disability confident enough to host an intern?
That's OK! Our programs are a great way to start embedding inclusion - we support you with training and resources throughout the internship. This is why the program exists.

What if our organisation already has an early career internship pathway?
AusDN's Internship Program complements your existing program by adding a disability inclusion lens, structure and our award-winning support.

How do we accommodate adjustment requests?
That's where we come in - we navigate this process with you and your intern. In fact, the most common adjustment requests are very straightforward.

If you're ready to build a more capable, confident, and inclusive workforce or just curious about how this member exclusive program can support your inclusion goals into the future then please register for a personal discussion with our Internship Program Lead, Rudy Haruta.

Our Internship Program aims to challenge views and tackle unconscious bias about people with disability. It develops leadership skills across your organisation and embeds inclusion into your everyday.

Quick reminders!

Our mentees are usually recent graduates, job seekers, returning to the workforce or early career professionals wanting to progress their career.

If you or someone you know is looking to be coached and supported in their career, apply today – but be quick, applications close March 31, 2026.

Visit our website to find out more.

Whether you're starting from scratch, unsure of your next steps, midway through development, or reviewing an existing Access and Inclusion plan - this masterclass series gives you everything you need to (re)launch your Disability Inclusion and Access Plan.

Last call for registrations - series kicks off end of March!

Reach out to your relationship manager or email info@ausdn.org.au

For managers and people leaders, this digital resource will guide you to build disability confidence and create a truly inclusive, accessible workplace where employees with disability thrive.

To purchase this guide, please reach out to us at info@ausdn.org.au or call 02 8270 9201.

Sector news and events

• CEO of Inclusive Made, Paul Nunnari gets the golden buzzer!
• Hailo launches in Victoria - a world first digital hailing platform. 
• Friend of AusDN Sam Drummond releases new podcast - Building Inclusion.
• DCA and Amaze launch the Neurodiversity Data at Work guide 
• Services Australia's Aurora Neuroinclusion Program is now recruiting in Melbourne  
• CPActive Young Changemakers Program is taking applications!
• I Swear hits Australian cinemas 26 March 

Keep up with our stories, insights, research and events on our social accounts.