The Independent Health and Aged Care Pricing Authority (IHACPA) has launched the Odyssey Neuroinclusion Program to improve access to meaningful APS careers for neurodivergent Australians.

In partnership with Employ for Ability, Odyssey provides a neuroinclusive recruitment and onboarding pathway that values diversity of thought, fosters belonging, and removes barriers to employment.

Odyssey offers analyst roles across IHACPA’s key operational and policy areas and:

• provides a supported career pathway into the Australian Public Service (APS) for individuals with a clinically verified neurodivergent diagnosis, such as autism, ADHD, dyslexia, dyspraxia, or other recognised neurodivergent conditions
• demonstrates the individual and organisational benefits of employing neurodivergent people through inclusive and evidence-based recruitment practices
• showcases the distinct strengths, skills, and perspectives neurodivergent individuals bring to the workplace
• supports IHACPA’s ongoing commitment to increasing the representation of people with disability within the APS workforce
• advances IHACPA’s vision of an equitable, inclusive health and aged care system informed by diverse lived experience.

IHACPA is an independent government agency that promotes efficiency and transparency in the delivery and funding of public health and aged care services across Australia. Its vision is for a sustainable Australian care system that is accessible, resilient, and delivers quality outcomes for everyone.

IHACPA achieves this by:

• collecting detailed cost and activity data from states, territories, and care providers
• using classification systems to group similar treatments and services for accurate cost comparison
• determining the National Efficient Price (NEP) and National Efficient Cost (NEC) for public hospital services
• providing pricing advice for aged care services, which informs the Australian Government’s funding decisions.

Through Odyssey, IHACPA is offering analyst positions (APS5) across all branches, including:

• Pricing & Analytics
• Costing & Data Infrastructure
• Hospital Policy & Classification
• Aged Care Policy
• Corporate Affairs

Analysts will gain hands-on experience in data analysis, policy development, project and program management, classification design, communications, and governance.

Key work may include:

• analysing hospital and aged care cost data to inform national pricing models
• contributing to health and aged care policy frameworks
• supporting classification development and data management processes
• drafting reports, technical papers, and policy advice
• supporting stakeholder engagement, communications, and governance activities.

Employment type:

These positions are full-time roles based in Sydney, NSW, with both ongoing and non-ongoing opportunities available. IHACPA recognises that some candidates may prefer to commence on a part-time basis and transition to full-time hours over time as they adjust to their new role. Such arrangements may be negotiated with successful candidates, subject to operational requirements.

Working from home (AFH) arrangements:

IHACPA supports hybrid working arrangements, with employees typically maintaining an approximate 50/50 balance between working from the office and working from home. During the initial three to six months of employment, new starters may be required to attend the office more frequently to support onboarding, training, and team integration. Alternative arrangements may be considered on a case-by-case basis, subject to operational needs.

Salary:

$87,843 to $94,988 plus 15.4% superannuation, depending on qualifications and experience.

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for Odyssey, applicants must:

• have a formal neurodivergent diagnosis (such as autism, ADHD, dyslexia, dyspraxia, or another recognised neurodivergent condition)
• hold Australian citizenship at the time of employment offer
• hold a minimum Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in a relevant discipline.

Acceptable diagnostic evidence includes:

• a full or redacted diagnostic report stating the condition
• a letter from a psychologist, psychiatrist, or general practitioner confirming the diagnosis
• documentation from a supporting agency (e.g. NDIS or Disability Employment Services provider).

If you have questions or concerns about your documentation, please contact: jay.white@employforability.com.au

Pre-employment Requirements

Shortlisted candidates will be required to complete:

• an Australian Federal Police criminal history check
• a medical declaration (and medical check, if required)
• provision of qualification evidence.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to participate in our tailored selection process, delivered in partnership with Employ for Ability, a specialist neuroinclusion organisation.

Employ for Ability’s approach focuses on the social model of disability—removing barriers that exist for neurodivergent jobseekers in traditional recruitment processes. Their team supports IHACPA to design inclusive recruitment environments, while helping candidates identify and showcase their strengths.

The selection process is inclusive, supportive and merit-based, and does not involve traditional interviews or psychometric testing. Instead, it uses practical, scenario-based activities to identify job-ready candidates with the skills and qualities IHACPA requires.

There are five steps in the process:

Step 1: Application and scoring

Submit your online application via the “apply now” button on the IHACPA page on the Employ for Ability website.
All applications are reviewed and scored against the eligibility and suitability criteria.

Candidates who meet the required benchmark will be invited to the next stage — the Online Screening Workshop.

Step 2: Screening Workshop

The Screening Workshop is a structured, two-day process requiring approximately (up to) eight hours in total.

Day 1 –Wednesday, November 26th Online (via MS Teams)

Day 1 of the workshop includes three activities:

• Quiz (1 Hour) — Candidates complete a short online quiz designed to assess comfort with researching and interpreting information from the IHACPA website. This activity helps gauge attention to detail and information-processing skills.
• Individual challenge (2 Hours) — Candidates are provided with a scenario based on real work undertaken at IHACPA. They have two hours to respond to a set of scenario-based questions.

Break (30 Minutes)

• Team challenge (2 Hours) — Following the Individual Challenge, there will be a short break. After the break, candidates are placed into small groups (three to five people). Each group receives the same scenario but a new set of requirements, and has two hours to collaborate and submit a group response.

Day 2 – Thursday, November 27th  Online (via MS Teams)

Day 2 of the workshop includes two activities:

• Individual presentation — Each candidate meets with the IHACPA Odyssey Selection Panel for a 15-minute discussion about their individual challenge submission from Day 1.
• Team presentation — Later that day, each team presents their group challenge response to the Selection Panel for a 30-minute discussion via MS Teams. This concludes the Screening Workshop stage.

Step 3: Assessment

Candidates shortlisted from the Screening Workshop are invited to the IHACPA offices (1 Oxford Street, Sydney, 1pm-5pm) for a half-day assessment. This assessment involves an activity designed to assess how candidates apply their thinking to real-world, simulated work problems. Following the assessment, the Selection Panel deliberates and determines which candidates will progress to pre-employment checks.

Step 4: Pre-employment check

Before any offer can be made, candidates must complete standard APS pre-employment checks, including a criminal history check. Support will be provided to complete all required documentation.

Step 5: Job offer and support

Successful candidates will receive an offer of employment with IHACPA.
Before starting, IHACPA Managers and teams receive neurodiversity awareness training, and each new starter is provided with a buddy and access to a neurodiversity coach for ongoing support.

If you require assistance with your application or have accessibility needs, contact Jay White, Employ for Ability Odyssey Project Lead jay.white@employforability.com.au