Aurora Neuroinclusion Program – FAQ for potential candidates

Aurora Program locations are determined by workforce demand and available vacancies within Services Australia business areas. As a result, the program can only be advertised and delivered in locations where vacancies are available. These locations and dates are published at: https://employforability.com.au/aurora/.

The program works the same way for everyone who is eligible, regardless of whether they have ADHD, ASD, or both. If applicants have a formal diagnosis of at least one of these two conditions, have Australian citizenship, and are at least 18 years of age, they have an equal opportunity to apply.

Yes. ADHD and autism are the only conditions we need to know about for program eligibility. Disclosure of any other condition will have no impact on your application.

A formal diagnosis is a methodical evaluation by a licensed healthcare professional using clinical interviews, observation, and standardised testing. We accept documents from professionals such as psychiatrists, psychologists, and paediatricians. If primary documents (like a diagnostic report) are unavailable, we may accept other records identifying that a diagnosis has been given in the past—for example, a GP confirming that you have already been diagnosed.

Yes. If you can provide appropriate evidence that you have received a formal diagnosis, the timing of that diagnosis does not matter.

We require applicants to have a formal diagnosis to be eligible.

If you have an Australian passport, that is usually the simplest way to prove citizenship. Another option is to provide an Australian citizenship by descent or adoption extract. If neither of these are available, you can contact us at aurora@employforability.com.au.

• Update: You can update your application prior to applications closing. Please email aurora@employforability.com.au with your updated documents.
• Withdraw: To withdraw your application, please email us at the same address.

We are unable to accept late applications, although there may be rare exceptions (such as our website being offline). We begin reviewing applications very shortly after the cutoff time to ensure a quick turnaround for applicants.

If you are having technical difficulties applying, contact us at aurora@employforability.com.au. Please include the details of the issue, your completed application, and if possible, screenshots of the problem.

Yes, current Services Australia or Australian Public Service employees may apply. There is no advantage or disadvantage for those applying from within the APS. Please note that APS candidates must comply with the terms of the APS handbook for internal position applications, including not utilising APS-provided resources or devices during the application process. 

Yes. There are no restrictions on the number of times a person may apply for the program.

Candidates who are shortlisted following the application stage will be invited to participate in the Screening Workshop. The Screening Workshop is used to determine candidate suitability to progress to the final stage of the recruitment process – the Aurora Assessment.

The Screening Workshop will typically begin around one week after applications close and involves:

• Online individual activities completed independently at nominated times selected by you. These will typically include a short research-based quiz (60 mins) and a position-based individual assessment (90 mins). These activities are emailed directly to you at your scheduled commencement time and are not live or facilitated.
• A short 1-to-1 MS Teams conversation with an Employ for Ability team member to discuss your individual assessment and provide an opportunity to talk through your approach.

You will be provided with clear instructions, scheduled times and MS Teams invitations for each activity before the Screening Workshop begins. You will need access to a computer or laptop, a reliable internet connection, and a working microphone and speakers or headset for the MS Teams activities.

If invited to in-person activities, you will need access to a personal laptop and Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint (free alternatives like LibreOffice and Google Suite are fine, though unfamiliarity may make assessments slightly harder). We also recommend planning your travel route to arrive on time, planning your lunch, and contacting Employ for Ability early if you require reasonable adjustments.

Outcomes are announced roughly 4-6 weeks following the conclusion of Assessment Week, though this varies depending on the number of applicants & delegate approval times. If you are the top scorer for more than one position, you will be given the choice of which to accept. We will contact all applicants regardless of the outcome as soon as possible.

We can provide feedback upon request following an unsuccessful outcome. Please note that for the initial application phase, feedback is limited due to time constraints.

Aurora employees and their managers receive regular 1-1 coaching from the Services Australia Aurora coaches. This coaching helps employees navigate challenges related to self-advocacy, communication, workplace norms, and executive functioning.

Additionally, before commencing work, successful candidates undergo “Work Ready” training (4 x 3-hour sessions) with Employ for Ability, and a Career Success Plan is developed with assistance from your coach.

Your manager, and likely some colleagues, will be aware you have a diagnosis of ADHD or Autism due to the program’s eligibility requirements. However, whether you share specific details beyond that is entirely up to you.

You are required to provide your manager with a Career Success Plan—a document outlining your communication preferences, work style, and information to help support you and is developed collaboratively by the candidate and their EFA coach.

The Services Australia Enterprise Agreement (2024-2027) provides full details of salaries and conditions for all APS level classifications. There are no additional conditions for Aurora employees, other than completing Work Ready training prior to commencement, developing a Career Success Plan, and attending coaching sessions.

The requirements vary depending on the position and hiring team. Some positions have security requirements that make WFH challenging, or time-sensitive work unsuitable for part-time arrangements. Therefore, please apply under the assumption that you will be working 5 days per week, commuting to the office, unless the position description indicates otherwise.

This information is included in the job description PDF on our website. You do not need to have an active clearance to apply or before commencing the position. You can begin working in a somewhat limited capacity until your security clearance is finalised.

Yes. The positions advertised are jobs just like any other, it is the recruitment process and support that is different.

No. The Aurora Neuroinclusion Program does not give us enough information to confidently act as a referee for future job applications outside of the program.