The WA Department of Justice has launched the Neurodiverse Talent Internship Program pilot in partnership with the Autism Association of Western Australia, ACS Foundation and Kinetic IT. The program aims to remove barriers for neurodivergent people and support long-term workforce capability, combining evidence‑based research with practical workplace experience. Applications are now open through the ACS Foundation.
Neurodivergent Western Australians keen on a career in IT are being encouraged to apply for the Neurodiverse Talent Internship Program pilot being launched by the WA Department of Justice in partnership with the Autism Association of Western Australia, ACS Foundation and Kinetic IT.
The Neurodiverse Talent Internship aims to create supported employment pathways for neurodivergent people while strengthening long-term digital and technology capability within the public sector.
The pilot brings together government, industry and academia to address persistent barriers to workforce participation for neurodivergent individuals.
The program has been developed by the ACS Foundation – a charity founded by the Australian Computer Society – in partnership with the Autism Association of Western Australia and Curtin University’s Professor Tele Tan, combining evidence-based research with practical, real-world delivery environments.
The program is delivered through the Autism Academy for Software Quality Assurance (AASQA) at Curtin University and has already produced several success stories in the mining and resources sector.
As the pilot lead, the WA Department of Justice – via its Technology and Talent & Diversity branches – is driving the initiative to build a more inclusive and sustainable workforce across its organisation.
Kinetic IT, a long-standing service provider to the Department across enterprise service delivery, service desk and service integration and more, is co-sponsoring the pilot.
Account Director Chris Lebes says supporting neurodiverse talent is something close to Kinetic IT’s heart as part of its broader commitment to inclusive workforce development.
“We want more people to see a future career for themselves in technology – that includes people from all walks of life and who see the world differently,” Chris explains.
“Diversity of perspective is vital to the future strength and integrity of our sector, so we’re really excited to bring onboard more professionals via this pilot program.”
The internship provides participants with structured, paid opportunities to gain hands-on experience in technology roles, supported by tailored onboarding, mentoring and workplace adjustments aligned to individual needs.
Across the technology sector, demand for skilled workers continues to outpace supply. ACS’ 2025 Digital Pulse report states Australia will need an additional 230,000 tech workers to meet demand by 2030.
At the same time, neurodivergent people remain significantly underrepresented in employment, often due to recruitment processes and workplace environments that do not accommodate different communication styles, sensory needs or ways of working.
“Neurodiverse talent internships, such as this, are increasingly viewed as a practical way to expand Australia’s technology talent pipeline by unlocking under-represented capability rather than relying solely on traditional recruitment pathways,” WA Department of Justice Chief Technology Officer, Sean Halligan, says.
“The internship pilot seeks to address this gap by redesigning traditional models. Rather than expecting candidates to conform to standard hiring and onboarding practices, the program has been designed around flexibility, strengths-based placement and ongoing support.”
For the organisations involved in getting this pilot program off the ground, the initiative helps build more diverse, equitable and inclusive environments, while also contributing to long-term workforce capability in areas such as IT service delivery, data, cyber security and digital operations.
The pilot has been more than a year in development, originating from early discussions between industry and community stakeholders about the lack of practical pathways into technology careers for neurodivergent people. Those conversations led to collaboration across government, academia and industry, culminating in the launch of the Department-led pilot.
Sean says the cross-sector team took time to ensure the program would be delivered with strong governance, clearer support structures and alignment to evidence-based practice.
The Neurodiverse Talent Internship is being delivered as a pilot, with the intention to assess outcomes and participant feedback before considering broader rollout.
The program represents a shift from policy intent to practical action, demonstrating how government and service providers can work together to unlock talent, remove barriers, and build a more inclusive and capable public sector workforce.
Success will be measured not only by internship completion, but by skills development, confidence, and longer-term employment outcomes.
Visit the ACS Foundation website for more information or to apply for the Neurodivergent Talent Internship Program.
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