Resilience Unravelled

Bridging the Implementation Gap: Neurodiversity at Work and Australia’s NDIS Under Threat

Jodie Herbert · August 17, 2026

Leadership · Executive Coach · Life Coach

Interview with Jodie Herbert

Bridging the Implementation Gap: Neurodiversity at Work and Australia’s NDIS Under Threat — Jodie Herbert

Podcast: Resilience Unravelled

August 17, 2026 · 30 min

Host Dr Russell Thackeray interviews Jodie Herbert in Canberra, Australia, founder of Ability Pathways Australia and a carer of three children on the autism spectrum. They discuss neurodiversity as natural variation in thinking, differences in autism categorisation (ASD 1–4),…

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Bridging the Implementation Gap: Neurodiversity at Work and Australia’s NDIS Under Threat

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Key topicsAustralia's new disability reforms could reshape far more than the NDISThe proposed changes to Australia's National Disability Insurance Scheme are often discussed as a government funding issue, but their impact reaches families, employers, small businesses and the wider economy. After producing a 113-page Senate submission analysing the reforms, Jodie explains why reducing disability supports risks creating far greater economic and social costs than many policymakers recognise. This conversation offers Australian audiences a practical understanding of what's changing, who will be affected, and why the consequences extend well beyond the disability sector. What paid work can look like with significant autismInclusive employment audiences often talk about disability inclusion without getting specific about people with very high support needs. Jodie's 21-year-old son, who is ASD level 3 and part of a family context that includes non-verbal autism, epilepsy, and alexia, now works 16 hours a week and is paid award wages through an employment model she developed. That example opens a grounded conversation about what has to be designed differently when the goal is real paid work, not token participation. The future of HR belongs to employers who design work for real peopleTraditional HR practices were built around the idea that everyone works, learns and communicates in the same way, but today's workforce is more diverse than ever. Jodie introduces the concept of closing the "implementation gap"—the space between good intentions, workplace policies and the reality employees experience every day. She explains how applying practical systems, clear communication and implementation science allows organisations to unlock talent that is too often overlooked. View all topics →

About Jodie Herbert

Data-Driven Disability Advocacy & Inclusive Employment Consultant

113 pages Evidence-based NDIS submission to the Australian Senate21 years Executive-function barriers and advocacy experienceFounder Ability Pathways Australia20+ years Market analytics experience

Jodie Herbert is a disability advocate, workplace inclusion strategist and founder of Ability Pathways Australia, helping organisations, carers and people with disability bridge the gap between policy, intention and real-life implementation. After more than two decades in market analytics, Jodie combines her professional expertise with a lifetime of lived experience as a carer, including supporting family members with complex disabilities, to develop practical solutions that help people thrive at work and in everyday life.

Known for combining compassion with rigorous analysis, Jodie does not rely on opinions alone. She has produced detailed evidence-based reports that have contributed to national disability funding discussions, including a 113-page submission to the Australian Senate examining the economic and human impact of proposed National Disability Insurance Scheme reforms. Her work focuses on turning complex challenges into practical systems that organisations, leaders, managers and support networks can realistically implement and sustain.

Central to Jodie’s work is The Implementation Gap: the often-overlooked space between what has been promised, planned or agreed and what is required to make it work in practice. Informed by Implementation Science, she examines the less visible conditions that determine whether workplace policies, inclusion strategies and reasonable adjustments succeed or fail during delivery.

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About this episode

Host Dr Russell Thackeray interviewsJodie Herbertin Canberra, Australia, founder of Ability Pathways Australia and a carer of three children on the autism spectrum.

They discuss neurodiversity as natural variation in thinking, differences in autism categorisation (ASD 1–4), and how modern workplaces with constant digital channels can make neurodivergent needs harder to accommodate.

Jodie describes practical, low-cost adjustments employers can make—written follow-ups, clear SOPs, and quiet workspaces or work-from-home options—and explains her data-driven “longitudinal study” approach: clients complete daily questionnaires for 30 days, producing visualised recommendations to help employers close the “implementation gap.”

They also cover Australia’s disability legislation and the NDIS, noting proposed 2026 funding cuts and a pending parliamentary bill, with concerns about service loss, economic impact, and participant wellbeing.

00:00 Welcome and Introductions

00:21 Life in Canberra

01:28 Jodie’s Story and Mission

02:50 What Neurodiversity Means

03:56 Autism Levels Explained

06:37 Workplace Overload and Inclusion

11:33 Simple Adjustments That Work

14:57 Remote Work and Real Needs

17:31 Closing the Implementation Gap

20:56 Australia Disability Policy and NDIS

23:32 NDIS Cuts and What’s at Stake

27:16 How to Connect and Final Thoughts