Specialisterne was excited to partner with the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) Albury Centre in June 2020 to source, assess and place autistic applicants in the Client Account Services team within regional Victoria.
This was an amazing opportunity as the majority of our talent hub programs are delivered in capital cities and we know there is so much untapped talent and often limited employment opportunities in the regional areas for individuals on the spectrum. In addition to partnering with the ATO, Specialisterne also worked closely with a major Albury based Disability Employment Services Provider, Personnel Group, to source autistic candidates.
The ATO recognises that one of their greatest assets is the diversity that their staff bring to the organisation.
By embracing differences, the ATO supports everyone to realise their full potential. It is important for the ATO that their staff reflect the Australian community they serve. The ATO is focused on building a culture of inclusiveness and making the necessary cultural changes to align with the transformed employee experience.
This opportunity at the ATO Albury were for casual entry level roles in the Client Account Services as Service Delivery Officer’s that involved maintaining the quality and integrity of information by accurately recording client details and interactions, managing the input of and data entry of client correspondence into the ATO’s internal systems, including the sorting, scanning and opening of mail.
Once employment offers were made, Specialisterne worked closely with the ATO Albury Centre to successfully onboard the new employees and support their transition into the roles.
Virtual Assessment Program
Twelve applicants were invited to attend a 7-day virtual assessment program that they could participate in from the convenience of their home. A range of data entry and administration activities were delivered through the program as well as series of work-ready modules that prepared candidates for the workplace. From the 12 candidates that attended the 7-day assessment program, 10 people were offered employment and this was an outstanding recognition of the candidates’ talent in the assessment program as there were initially only 8 positions on offer.
What the hiring managers and candidates have to say:
“ATO Albury were happy to participate in the recent recruitment process which saw eight staff with Autism commence their career with the ATO. The staff have settled in well to the routine of changing shifts and changing work focus and are a welcome addition to our casual cohort of staff. We have all taken away learnings from the programme and it has certainly enriched the working relationships of all involved.”
“Training with Specialisterne has been a wonderful experience that has taught me various useful skills I can use in the future.”
“Despite years of work experience, I still learned some good new strategies for managing my autism and its associated anxieties in the workplace.”
