Neurodivergent students at Federation University are fighting to create a more supportive environment within the university. As recent surveys have demonstrated, many students often find themselves feeling alienated and sidelined. In answer, the Federation University Neurodivergent Club started projects to combat these stigmas. Liam Frost-Camilleri, a member of this new club, highlights how these surveys are key for informing and improving support outreach.
The university created inclusion officers to work with students in need of support. They have created “ND toolkits,” customizable, web-based resources meant to offer guidance and focus strategies to help students succeed within the tertiary education environment.
Survey Highlights Challenges
A recent Snapshot Survey, run by and for neurodivergent students at Federation University, revealed the depth of the struggle experienced by this neurodiverse cohort. Importantly, 75% said they were used to relying on themselves, and 62% confessed they didn’t feel confident enough to ask for help. Moreover, two-thirds said they were afraid of being identified or pigeonholed when seeking help.
Liam Frost-Camilleri noted the importance of these findings in helping the university tailor its approach to better serve its neurodivergent cohort. He stated, “There are a lot of systems that many of these students feel have never really helped them, or they don’t feel safe enough to really even disclose that they have neurodivergence.”
The drastic results of this survey predicted a need for the university to step up and make substantive improvements to their internal support systems. According to Frost-Camilleri, “The earlier you engage … the better, because they will be able to suggest things that you haven’t even thought of.”
Advocacy and Community Support
Federation University’s Neurodivergent Club has been integral to creating a culture of advocacy for neurodivergent students. Aaron Valdes, another club member, highlighted the urgent need for increased support: “We are a demographic that doesn’t have much support or agency — there’s so much discrimination.” His firsthand experiences transitioning to university was quite hard, highlighting the need for improved outreach and support.
The club’s most recent, and most ambitious, initiative has been to design and implement a low-sensory space on campus. In short, construction is already out of the ground! Valdes highlighted the importance of this space as a retreat for neurodivergent students who suffer from sensory overload. “Believe me, you’re never alone,” he said, academic community and mutual support were important among students facing the same challenges.
Along with Valdes, club participant Liam Frost-Camilleri expressed that strong sense of community that existed in the club. He remarked, “There’s a community here and we will lift each other up and we will support each other.”
Creating Inclusive Resources
To better support neurodivergent students, Federation University has implemented “ND toolkits” for educators and students. These web-based resources offer valuable, practical strategies and tips for thriving — not just surviving — academia. The university wants to create a culture that encourages neurodivergent people to feel able to ask for support.
Beyond these resources, inclusion officers are present on campus to help students find individualized PAWSitive support. These initiatives reflect the university’s commitment to creating an inclusive environment for all students and addressing the unique challenges faced by neurodivergent individuals.
Frost-Camilleri emphasized the need for proactive engagement: “Some students say, ‘I don’t go and ask [for help] because I want to see if I can do it by myself first,’ rather than get the support.” This highlights a big issue within the neurodiversity community. There is incredible shame that so many people are feeling that leads to them feeling like they can’t reach out.
