Business software company, SAP Australia, has launched Autism at Work, an initiative that enables people with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) to find qualified employment in the company.
It made the announcement at the
NDIS New World: Disability in the 21st Century conference in Brisbane, hosted by the National Disability Insurance Agency.
SAP Australia plans to have one per cent of its workforce comprising people with ASD by 2020. This is in line with SAP SE’s ASD workforce goal of one per cent globally and consistent with the percentage of people with ASD in the general population.
“SAP is committed to its Autism at Work program, which enables us to leverage the unique skills and abilities that people with autism bring to the workplace,” SAP chief diversity and inclusion officer, Anka Wittenberg, said. “We are excited to launch this successful program in Australia, which will enable the region to add talented, skilled individuals to the team and enable SAP to benefit from the innovation and value they bring to our business.”
Launched in 2013 with Specialisterne – a Danish company that focuses on helping people with ASD find jobs – SAP’s Autism at Work program currently employs people in offices in Brazil, Canada, the Czech Republic, Germany, India, Ireland and the US.
Australia is the eighth country where SAP has launched this program. SAP plans to have about 100 people with ASD employed at the company by the end of this year.
Specialisterne Australia chairman, John Craven, said, “We are sure that SAP’s commitment will inspire other Australian companies to follow and harness the power that autism diversity can deliver. Assisting SAP also helps Specialisterne move a step closer to its goal of one million jobs for people with autism globally.”
SAP Australia plans to hire new employees with ASD across various business functions by March 2016. Interested candidates and organisations should contact SAP Australia to learn how to apply and for further information.
