A research project funded by the Australian Institute of Business and Economics (AIBE) is focusing on ways to improve the mental health and long-term employment of people with autism.
Involving researchers from the UQ Business School and School of Psychology, the project focuses on developing a Mental Health Framework that employers can use to effectivey identify and manage the needs of employees on the spectrum.
AIBE Research Fellow and Project leader Dr Anna Krzeminska said people on the autism spectrum had the lowest labour force participation rate of any group and can experience loneliness and depression at work.
“Through this new framework, and the collaboration between researchers and industry leaders, we will be looking at how employers can assist employees with autism to reduce the experience of loneliness or depression,” she said.
AIBE Director Professor John Mangan said supporting this project was part of an AIBE funding scheme to help develop new applied research projects and assist in establishing collaborative research agreements with industry partners.
“AIBE has set up this funding scheme to support Business, Economics and Law Faculty researchers in an applied project within the four research areas of applied economics, business analytics, strategy and innovation and law.
“Each of the four research program areas will be awarded $40,000 for the successful proposal.”
This AIBE-funded research is also supporting the work of the new Queensland Neurodiversity Hub.
The new hub – a partnership between UQ and DXC Technology – aims to help connect students with autism, anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and other neurodiverse needs with employers.
Read more about this project here.
Media: Caroline Enright, AIBE Communications, +61 7 3365 2596 or c.enright@uq.edu.au
