Neurodiversity Project

The University of Melbourne Neurodiversity Project is a multi- faceted, interdisciplinary initiative which aims to better support our neurodivergent community.

Led by neurodivergent staff members, this initiative aims to improve the experiences of all neurodivergent staff and students at the University of Melbourne through:

Improving the understanding of neurodiversity and neuro-affirming teaching and learning practices across the university.

Building a stronger sense of community for neurodivergent staff and students.

Connecting neurodivergent staff and students with support services within the university.

Conducting world-class, neurodiversity-affirming research.

Initiatives

Over the next two years we will:

Build on this website to create a hub for resources, research, support, and community building for neurodivergent staff and students and those who would like to learn more about neurodiversity and neuroaffirming practices.
Conduct thorough needs analyses to ensure the voices and needs of neurodivergent staff and students across the university are heard.
Develop and run professional development workshops with willing staff members at the University of Melbourne, including workshops on: understanding neurodiversity, neuroaffirming teaching practices, and understanding and supporting neurodiverse colleagues and collaborators.
Showcase the current, ground-breaking research undertaken by neurodivergent staff and students at the University of Melbourne by running cross-faculty symposiums and disseminating research-findings on our webpage.
Establish a neurodivergent student-student peer mentor program for incoming first-years.
Run social events for neurodivergent staff and students.

Click here to learn more about our initiatives and register for updates

What is Neurodiversity?

Neurodiversity is an umbrella term to position neurodevelopmental differences, such as Attention-Deficit/Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD), Autism Spectrum Disorder, Tourette’s syndrome, and Dyslexia, as natural variations in human neurology rather than deficits to be fixed.

The neurodivergent community (individuals with neurotypes that differ from the neuromajority) have launched a worldwide movement promoting inclusion for all neurotypes in society and a shift away from the medical model of research to a more inclusive strengths-based approach. In doing so, it has helped to end stigma and fight prejudice for the estimated 10 to 20% of individuals within the Australian population who have neurological differences.

Neurodivergent staff and students at universities around the world often report feeling misunderstood, excluded, and unable to work to their strengths, resulting in disengagement and burn out. As a result, neurodiversity has become the forefront of many Diversity and Inclusion Plans at leading universities to help remove organisational, human capital, and systemic barriers to success and reshape the narrative for historically marginalised neurominorities.