Call out for 2026 Advisory Group Members

ASAN AUNZ NEWS

ASAN AUNZ Employment PROJECT Expressions of Interest Callout

Translating Rights into Practice – Improving Employment for Autistic People

With support of the National Autism Strategy Employment Grant, ASAN AUNZ is delivering the employment project ‘Translating Rights into Practice – Improving Employment for Autistic People’.

As part of this project, ASAN AUNZ is creating two new panels: the Employment Advisory Panel and Entrepreneurship Advisory Panel.  These panels will help us address the ongoing exclusion of Autistic people in employment and entrepreneurial contexts by translating existing knowledge into practical guidance for Autistic people.

Our experience with running advisory groups is informed by the ASAN AUNZ Autistic Advocacy Groups Guide and Toolkit, published in August 2026. The guide and toolkit were developed in 2025-2026, based on input from two advisory groups ASAN AUNZ created to help guide its governance around member engagement and advocacy initiatives. 

The Member Engagement Advisory Group (MEAG) focuses on engagement with ASAN AUNZ’s members, promotes diversity and inclusion, and improves membership benefits and participation.

The Advocacy Advisory Group (AAG) supports ASAN AUNZ’s systemic advocacy efforts and self-advocacy initiatives, and focuses on our influence in policy and legal areas.

All of these groups and panels have 7–10 members each and are designed to be Autistic-led and accessible. Members share lived experience, ideas and feedback to help shape decisions, resources and actions.

We have positions available in all four groups, and we are looking for people who are interested in participating and contributing. We especially welcome people from communities and experiences that are often underrepresented, including First Nations people, culturally and linguistically diverse people, nonspeaking or unreliably speaking people, multiply disabled people, LGBTQIASB+ people, people in regional or remote areas, and people with lived experience of barriers, exclusion or discrimination.

Activities and Commitments

Members will be asked to attend meetings, read or listen to information before meetings, share feedback in ways that work for them, and respect the group’s agreed ways of working.

For the AAG and the MEAG, the expected commitment is around four hours each month. This includes preparing for meetings, attending meetings and providing feedback, and includes regular (online) meetings, usually once or twice a month. Members will contribute to the development of advocacy tools and resources, and provide input on board initiatives such as policies and action plans.

For the two panels, there will be a commitment of up to 20 hours total meeting attendance between now and April 2027, with a possibility of extension through to June 2027. This may include as much as 5 hours per fortnight, including meeting preparation and attendance.

Remuneration

All group members will be paid an honorarium of $55 an hour up to $165 for each advisory group meeting.

Accessibility

We aim to make information and participation as accessible as possible.

  • Information about support and access needs will be collected from all members, and shared with the group.
  • Meetings will typically be held online to maximise accessibility.
  • Plain language, Easy Read, accessibility tools, and closed captioning, will be available as needed.
  • Interpreter services and TIS National interpreter services can be facilitated.
  • Support persons will be permitted to attend, subject to meeting additional requirements, and guidance will be offered for their inclusion. Information about requirements for support persons will be provided on request.

Next Steps

All applicants will be advised of the outcome within 21 days (3 weeks) of EOIs closing. You may be advised that you are shortlisted, waitlisted or ineligible. We will ask shortlisted applicants to:

  • Share information on their interests to assist in addressing any potential or perceived conflicts of interest
  • Undertake a police or other check to provide assurance on their suitability to engage with vulnerable people
  • Sign a nondisclosure agreement
  • Agree to ASAN AUNZ’s position statements (Easy English available) and code of conduct
  • Advise on availability for advisory group meetings

ASAN AUNZ will arrange and pay for any police checks or similar that are required if they are not free or do not already exist.

Express Your Interest

Expressions of interest close at midnight (your local time) on 16 October 2026.

To express interest in joining an advisory group, please use the online form. If you want a pdf of the entire form, you can download it here.

Express your interest in joining an Advisory Group or Panel >

Before you start, please ensure that you:

  • Have relevant information and supports available
  • Are using a laptop or computer with internet access
  • Have an hour available to complete the form

If you need help applying or another way to apply, email apply@asan-aunz.org.