DXC Technology establishes Neurodiversity Hub with The University of Queensland
News Release -- January 17, 2018
Focused on helping improve the employability of students suffering from
autism, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and depression
Melbourne, Australia, 17 January 2017 - DXC Technology the world’s leading independent, end-to-end IT services company, today announced it has signed a memorandum of understanding with The University of Queensland (UQ) to establish the Neurodiversity Hub for students in Queensland.
The Neurodiversity Hub is focused on improving employability and creating opportunities for neurodiverse students by helping them obtain work experience and internships with DXC and its partner organisations. The hub also will help build a pipeline of students for neurodiverse-friendly employers and will leverage DXC's expertise in this area to drive research and derive further insights.
“It is a privilege to work with like-minded organisations that want to promote inclusiveness for students who are neurodiverse. These hubs provide hope for students and help us share our knowledge with other employers who want to participate in this journey. This partnership aligns with our ultimate objective to establish at least one neurodiversity hub in each major state in Australia and New Zealand,” said Seelan Nayagam, managing director, DXC Technology Australia & New Zealand.
This is an exciting opportunity for students on the spectrum and other students who are neurodiverse. SAP and DXC have a long-term pioneering relationship in this area, and by leveraging our knowledge, we are looking to make a sustainable impact. This also gives us the opportunity to attract and source talent from these neurodiversity hubs,” said Colin Brookes, president and managing director, SAP Australia.
Neurodiversity covers a range of differences in individual brain functions and behavioural traits regarded as part of the normal variation in the human population, including autism spectrum disorders, anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.
The University of Queensland Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Professor Joanne Wright said the hub was a welcome addition to the university’s broad program of supporting students with diverse needs.
“This is a great opportunity for us to help more students access workplace experiences that enhance their employability, boost their job confidence and to make vital connections with large-scale employers,” Professor Wright said.
“UQ worked with DXC to research the challenges faced by large organisations employing skilled workers on the autism spectrum, and this hub is largely the result of that research,” Wright said. “We are excited to see the outcomes of UQ research being used immediately to support Queensland’s neurodiverse student population, including our own, and to boost their employment outcomes after graduation.”
“These hubs will enable us to build a pipeline of candidates for our organisation — for clients such as the Australian Federal Government Department of Human Services, Department of Defence, and the Department of Immigration and Border Protection — and also for our partner organisations such as Microsoft, SAP and ANZ Bank,” added Nayagam.
About DXC Technology
DXC Technology (DXC: NYSE) is the world’s leading independent, end-to-end IT services company, helping clients harness the power of innovation to thrive on change. Created by the merger of CSC and the Enterprise Services business of Hewlett Packard Enterprise, DXC Technology serves nearly 6,000 private and public sector clients across 70 countries. The company’s technology independence, global talent and extensive partner network combine to deliver powerful next-generation IT services and solutions. DXC Technology is recognized among the best corporate citizens globally. For more information, visit www.dxc.technology.
Contacts
- Sheila Dhillon, Director, Corporate Communications, DXC Technology - sdhillon@dxc.com