AuDHD Council of Australia - Public Statement on the 2026-27 Federal Budget

The AuDHD Council of Australia welcomes the Australian Government's continued investment in employment, skills, and workplace reform as part of the 2026-27 Federal Budget.

Measures focused on employment services, skills and training, and workplace relations reflect that Australia's workforce faces structural challenges; including participation, retention, and productivity. These issues sit directly within the advocacy remit of the Council for its members.

While the Budget includes additional funding across employment and workplace systems, there still remains a significant gap between investment and outcomes.

Too often, employment programs focus more on job entry, than maintaining sustainable careers, and workplace systems continue to be designed around narrow assumptions about how people think, process, and perform.

For individuals with AuDHD, these system design issues are the difference between thriving at work, and being excluded. The AuDHD Council believes this Budget presents an opportunity to shift from 'participation' to sustainability for its members.

The Council will continue to advocate for:

• inclusive employment services that allow for job entry, and also have a focus on long-term retention;

• skills and training systems that are flexible and accessible;

• workplace relations settings that recognise psychosocial hazards and support safer work design

• stronger integration between health and employment portfolios and systems to support individuals across their full workforce career.

Noting the importance of continued investment in inclusion and social supports, the AuDHD Council of Australia stands ready to work with government, employers, and industry bodies to translate this investment into real outcomes.