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Job Seeker Network — Autism Valued

Job Seeker
Network

A structured, guided group pathway for autistic people actively pursuing work. Nine modules. One connected Roadmap designed to build real capability, clarity and confidence.

Join the Job Seeker Network Contact the Network Manager
📍
Currently open: Modules 3–9. Modules 1 & 2 are complete. Join from Module 3 — each session stands alone within the Roadmap.
9
Roadmap modules
M3
Next module open now
Monthly
Facilitated sessions · Last Friday of every month
Online
Zoom · Last Friday · 3:30–5:00 PM
What Is the JSN?

Structured pathways.
Practical progress.

The Job Seeker Network is our guided group pathway for individuals actively pursuing work. This is not a drop-in support space — it is structured and progressive.

Participants receive the Job Seeker Roadmap — a purpose-built 9-module framework that breaks employment into practical, achievable steps. The Start-Up Mindset runs through everything: you are the founder, the CEO, and the product. Employers are potential customers — you evaluate them too.

Sessions meet participants at different readiness levels. Modules 1 & 2 have been delivered — Modules 3–9 are now open, and you can enter the Roadmap at any upcoming session.

Who is this for?
Autistic and neurodivergent adults who are job seeking, considering a career change, rebuilding after burnout, or looking to understand employment systems with better strategy — at any stage of readiness. You can join from Module 3 onwards.

Three layers of support

👥
Group Roadmap Sessions
Monthly facilitated sessions through the 9 modules. The group setting builds shared insight and normalises the autistic job seeking experience. Each session stands alone — join from Module 3.
The Job Seeker Roadmap · 2026

Foundation → Self-Understanding → Exploration → Translation → Action → Momentum

Nine modules. One connected journey. Each produces a section of your Personal Career Portfolio — a document you own and take with you. Modules 1 & 2 are complete. Modules 3–9 are now open.

✓
M1
Done
✓
M2
Done
3
M3
Open
4
M4
5
M5
6
M6
7
M7
8
M8
9
M9
Module 01
Foundation
Meet Me Where I'm At
Wheel of Life · Personal Situation Audit · SWOT Self-Edition · Career Adaptability · SMART Goals
Module 02
Self-Understanding
Understanding Your Strengths
CliftonStrengths · VIA Character Strengths · Brand Audit · Strength→Environment Map
Module 03
Self-Understanding
Energy, Capacity & Resilience
Spoon Theory · Capacity Planner · Energy Tracking Journal · Reasonable Adjustment Guide
Register →
Module 04
Exploration
Career Discovery
Holland RIASEC · Market Research · Informational Interview Guide · Self-Employment Explorer
Register →
Module 05
Exploration
Understanding Workplaces
Workplace Observation Sheet · Sensory Needs Audit · Workplace Accessibility Checklist · Culture Fit vs Add
Register →
Module 06
Translation
Personal Value & Skills
Transferable Skills Matrix · Ikigai · Business Model Canvas (Self) · Lean Career Canvas · Disclosure Framework
Register →
Module 07
Action
The Job Seeker Toolkit
Resume Template · CAR Achievement Builder · Cover Letter · Pitch Deck Application Map · Pipeline Tracker
Register →
Module 08
Action
Interviews & Communication
STAR Response Worksheet · Interview Adjustment Request · Employer Evaluation Sheet · Post-Interview Debrief
Register →
Module 09
Momentum
Building Momentum
OKR Job Search Planner · Agile Sprint Planner · Networking Map · Post-Program Ecosystem Map
Register →
Upcoming Sessions

Modules 3–9 are now open

Sessions run monthly on Friday afternoons at 3:30 PM, online via Zoom. Modules 1 & 2 are complete — join now from Module 3. Each session is designed to stand alone within the Roadmap.

May 2026 · Fri 3:30 PM
Now Open

M3: Energy, Capacity & Resilience

Capacity planning · Burnout prevention · Spoon Theory · Sustainable work routines · Communicating energy needs as workplace adjustments

Register
June 2026 · Fri 3:30 PM

M4: Career Discovery

Labour market research · Holland codes · Informational interviews · Self-employment pathways · Portfolio careers

View Calendar
July 2026 · Fri 3:30 PM

M5: Understanding Workplaces

Sensory needs in real environments · Workplace accessibility · Reading organisational culture · Identifying employers who align with your values

View Calendar
The Roadmap Workbook

Every module comes with
tools you keep.

The Job Seeker Roadmap isn't just a group discussion — it's a structured learning program. Every session is paired with a dedicated workbook of practical tools and templates you complete as you go and own permanently.

📋

Structured Tools & Templates

Each module workbook contains research-backed frameworks, self-reflection exercises, and practical templates — from strengths mapping and energy audits to resume builders and interview preparation sheets.

📁

Your Personal Career Portfolio

Module workbooks build into a cumulative Personal Career Portfolio — a living document that grows across all nine modules. It holds your strengths evidence, career direction, adjustment needs, application materials, and momentum plan. You take it with you.

🧩

Designed for Autistic Job Seekers

The tools are designed with autistic ways of processing, communicating, and working in mind. They don't ask you to mask — they help you name what you actually bring, understand what you actually need, and build a strategy that works for how you actually work.

The Start-Up Mindset

The Roadmap is built around a single reframe: you are the founder, the CEO, and the product. Employers are potential customers — you evaluate them too.

This mindset runs through every module and every workbook. It shifts the dynamic from job-seeker-as-supplicant to candidate-as-decision-maker — because that's the truth of what a good employment relationship looks like.

Group Mindsets

How we show up
for each other.

All JSN sessions operate according to the AV Groups Way — shared mindsets that make every session feel safe, welcoming and genuine.

🌟
Positive
We see possibilities, strengths and talents.
📈
Growth
We learn together and don't judge each other.
💪
Empowerment
We listen, support and encourage others.
❤️
Empathy
We try to understand and help if asked.
🔒
Trust
We value privacy and confidentiality.
🤝
Respect
We acknowledge others' wishes, rights, and need for space.
🫂
Inclusion
All peers feel welcome and understood.
Acknowledgement of Country

Autism Valued acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the lands on which we live, work, and gather. We pay our respects to Elders past, present, and emerging, and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters, and community.

We acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded — this land always was and always will be Aboriginal land. We are committed to walking alongside First Nations communities with humility, respect, and a genuine spirit of reconciliation.

The AV Groups Way

The AV Way is how we show up — in every session, every conversation, every room we share.

  • ◆
    A Positive MindsetWe see possibilities, strengths and talents.
  • ◆
    A Growth MindsetWe pursue goals through continual learning and share that knowledge — we don't judge each other.
  • ◆
    EmpowermentWe listen, support and encourage others to grow.
  • ◆
    EmpathyWe try to understand another's situation and help, if asked.
  • ◆
    A Trust MindsetWe value the privacy and confidentiality of others in and outside the group.
  • ◆
    A Respect MindsetWe acknowledge the wishes and rights of others and believe we are responsible for our own behaviour — including respecting others' needs for space and their views.
  • ◆
    InclusionWe make all of our peers feel welcome and understood.



Upcoming events

  • Topic Spotlight Touchstone Meeting: What Recruitment Missed About You

    • 28 May 2026
    • 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM
    • Online via Zoom
    Register


    AV Career Network · Touchstone Meeting · Session 2 of 9

    Thursday 28 May 2026 · 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM AEST · Online via Zoom

    Free for AV members · $10 for non-members

    What Recruitment Missed About You

    A CV can only tell part of the story. For many Autistic people, it tells very little of it. This Touchstone asks the community to name the gap between what they can actually do and how they've been assessed on paper — and to explore what it would mean to be genuinely evaluated on capability, not performance.

    We look at the moments where the gap showed up most clearly: interviews that missed the point, applications that couldn't capture what you brought, roles you excelled at that your CV never predicted.

    This month's podcast anchor

    This Touchstone is built around the AV World of Work episode You're More Capable Than Your CV Shows. Listening before attending enriches the conversation significantly. Listen on Apple Podcasts or search AV World of Work on Spotify, YouTube, Amazon Music or your preferred podcast app.

    This month's guest

    • Sandra Thom-Jones — Autistic Professor · Author of Autistics at Work (MUP 2025) and Autistics in Academia (Cambridge 2025) · Former Pro Vice-Chancellor, Australian Catholic University

    Discussion prompts

    These are the three questions your facilitator Xavier Gunn will bring to the conversation. Come prepared with your own three contributions using the 3+3 framework below.

    • What did recruitment consistently fail to see about what you can actually do?
    • Which of your strengths have proven most valuable in work — that you'd never put on a CV?
    • What would it look like to be genuinely assessed on your capability, not your performance in an interview?

    The 3+3 framework — come prepared with your own three

    • 1 question to raise verbally — something you want the group to sit with and discuss live
    • 1 comment or open thought for the Zoom chat — a reflection or observation you want in the room
    • 1 statement or reflection to post in our LinkedIn group after the session — to seed the ongoing community conversation

    How the session runs

    • 5:45 PM — Room opens early. Settle in, cameras optional. Unrecorded.
    • 6:00 – 6:10 PM — Formal welcome, Acknowledgement of Country, Group Mindsets. Unrecorded.
    • 6:10 – 7:00 PM — Facilitated conversation with Xavier Gunn. AI capture begins after the formal welcome.
    • 7:00 – 7:10 PM — Soft close. Open floor, one contribution each. Unrecorded.

    This session uses AI-assisted capture — not a video recording. AI capture is not published as footage. Jacob Alan Kness (Programs Manager, Autism Valued) will name the capture window clearly when it starts and stops.

    Your facilitators

    • Xavier Gunn — AI Enablement Lead, Minikai · Session facilitator
    • Jacob Alan Kness — Programs Manager, Autism Valued Inc. · Session host & room manager · programs@autismvalued.org.au

    Continue the conversation

    The conversation doesn't stop when the Zoom call ends. Join our AV Career Network LinkedIn group to keep reflecting, share resources, and expand on what was discussed each month.

    Acknowledgement of Country

    Autism Valued acknowledges the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the land on which we meet — the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung People of the mighty Kulin Nation. We pay our respects to Elders past and present. Always was, always will be, Aboriginal land.

    Questions? Contact programs@autismvalued.org.au and we'll make sure your voice is in the room.

    What Are Touchstone Discussions?

    A touchstone is a measure — something used to test the strength and validity of an idea.

    At AV, our Touchstone Discussions are exactly that.

    They are a space where ideas around work, employment, and inclusion are explored in real time — shaped by lived experience, not assumption.

    These are live, guided community conversations designed to sit alongside the AV: World of Work platform and podcast.

    While the podcast is still being prepared for release, these sessions are helping shape the direction of those conversations. Moving forward, each Touchstone will reflect on a specific podcast episode and topic — creating space to unpack what was shared, challenge it, and explore how it shows up in real-world experience.

      How this connects forward

      As the AV: World of Work podcast launches, these discussions will directly align with each episode — forming a continuous loop between:

      Episode → Community Reflection → Insight → Action

      THE GROUP MINDSETS

      Touchstone Meetings operate under six shared mindsets, agreed by the community. Facilitators are encouraged to name these briefly at the start of each session.

      Mindset

      Value

      What it means in practice

      Positive

      We see possibilities, strengths, and talents.

      Lead with what people can do,
      not what they can't.

      Growth

      We pursue goals through learning and share that knowledge — without judgement.

      It's okay not to have answers. It's okay
      to change your mind.

      Empowerment

      We listen, support, and encourage others to grow.

      Your role is to open doors,
      not tell people which one to choose.

      Empathy

      We try to understand another's situation and help, if asked.

      You don't need to have lived it to
      honour it.

      Trust

      We value the privacy and confidentiality of others.

      What's shared in the room
      stays in the room.

      Respect

      We acknowledge the wishes and rights of others.

      Including respecting someone's need
      for space or silence.

      Inclusion

      We make all peers feel welcome and understood.

      Actively, not just passively.

      CODES OF CONDUCT

      These apply to all online Touchstone sessions. Facilitators name them briefly at the start, and can return to them if needed during the session.

      CODE

      DETAIL

      Brevity

      Keep answers under 2 minutes.
      Succinct communication is a professional skill      —
      and it creates space for others.

      Attentiveness

      Wait your turn. Avoid interrupting.
      When not speaking, be present for whoever is.

      Language

      Use appropriate, professional language throughout.

      Focus

      Keep discussion on topic. Refrain from oversharing.
      This is a professional networking group.

      Respect

      Be inclusive and respectful to all members at all times.

      Comfort

      Turn your camera or mic on or off as feels comfortable.
      Consider others' sensory needs.

      Accessibility

      The Zoom chat function is always available for those who prefer
      written participation.

        The intent

        Not to speak about the community
        —but to think with it

        And to ensure what we build reflects real experience, not assumptions.

        What happens with the insights

        The reflections, patterns, and themes raised in these sessions are captured and reviewed to help inform:

        • Future podcast episodes and direction
        • Job Seeker Network and program design
        • Advocacy and sector conversations
        • Practical tools and resources for the community

        Cost and Membership Information

        Registered job seekers may be eligible to have their AV membership reimbursed or covered by job-seeking support programs, such as those offered through Disability Employment Services (DES) or NDIS providers. To check eligibility and request support:

        1. Contact your job-seeking program provider or NDIS plan manager.
        2. Explain that AV membership provides access to employment support programs designed for neurodiverse individuals.
        3. Provide them with AV’s details and a description of the AV Job Seeker Network (available upon request from our admin team).

        If you need further assistance, please reach out to our Facilitator directly.

        AV Membership Benefits

        • Access to free tickets for activities, including the AV Job Seeker Network.
        • Exclusive access to members-only programs and interest groups.
        • Opportunities to support the work AV does for the neurodiverse community.

        If cost is a barrier; and you would like to join AV, please contact our admin team for support. 

        Registration Guidelines

        • Registration is required for all AV activities.
        • For online events, you must register to receive the Zoom meeting link.

        Community Guides

        We’ve created step-by-step guides to make participation easy:

        These guides are designed to ensure that every participant has a smooth and enjoyable experience.

        For Assistance or More Information

        Get in Touch

        Programs / Network Manager

        Jacob Alan Kness
        programs@autismvalued.org.au 
        0427 553 077

        General Admin

        admin@autismvalued.org.au   |  0480 385 710

        Office Hours

        Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm

        After-Hours Support

        Phone support available 1 hour before and during
        the first hour of each event

        Please note emails may not be attended to afterhours

        Policies and Terms


        Show details

      • Job Seeker Network — Roadmap Module 03 - Energy, Capacity & Resilience

        • 29 May 2026
        • 3:30 PM - 5:00 PM
        • Online via Zoom
        Register


        Job Seeker Network

         Roadmap Series

        Module 03 - Energy, Capacity & Resilience


        Energy, Capacity & Resilience

        Sustainable work starts with understanding your own energy system. In this session, we explore why capacity differs across people, how to identify your personal peaks and limits, and how to design a working week that you can actually repeat — without burning out.

        Many autistic adults have spent years trying to meet workplace demands that weren't designed with them in mind. This session shifts the focus. Rather than asking how to push through, we ask: what does a working life look like when it's built around your actual system?

        Module 3 introduces the concept of capacity planning — a practical, evidence-based framework for understanding your energy, identifying what drains it, and designing conditions that support your best and most sustainable work.

        In this session we explore:

        • Why capacity differences are neurological, not a reflection of effort or character
        • The four key energy drains that affect many autistic workers in neurotypical workplaces
        • How to identify your personal energy peaks and low-capacity periods
        • The difference between your sustainable capacity and your maximum — and why that distinction matters
        • Workplace adjustments as professional tools, not special treatment
        • The ongoing cost of masking, and strategies to reduce it over time
        • How to design a working week you can sustain across months and years

        Meeting Details

        Our meetings are currently held online via Zoom on the last Friday of every month.

        Participants gain access to a 09 module self-paced learning series, alongside monthly Job Seeker Meetings that provide space for reflection, questions, and connection regardless of which module someone is currently engaging with.

        The new program introduces a clearer structure with monthly modules, practical worksheets, and a dedicated facilitator who is an Careers Practitioner Specialising in Neurodiversity and Disability Employment Supports. 

        This means the program now combines two things that matter deeply to Autism Valued:

        • Professional career development expertise
          Lived experience leadership from within our community



        In this session we explore:

        • Why capacity differences are neurological, not a reflection of effort or character
        • The four key energy drains that affect many autistic workers in neurotypical workplaces
        • How to identify your personal energy peaks and low-capacity periods
        • The difference between your sustainable capacity and your maximum — and why that distinction matters
        • Workplace adjustments as professional tools, not special treatment
        • The ongoing cost of masking, and strategies to reduce it over time
        • How to design a working week you can sustain across months and years

        What you'll walk away with:

        A completed Capacity Plan — Portfolio Section 3 — including your energy profile, accommodation list, masking inventory, and sustainable week summary. This section feeds directly into the modules that follow, including workplace navigation and your application kit.

        Who this is for: Autistic adults exploring, preparing for, or returning to employment. No formal diagnosis is required to attend or participate.

        Part of the 9-module Job-Seeker Roadmap. Builds on Module 2: Strengths and Values.

        All AV facilitators and volunteers are peers of their group participants and hold a valid Working with Children Check. If you know a child whom could benefit from our sessions, they must be registered by the parents membership, and/ or accompanied by an adult.

        Cost and Membership Information

        Registered job seekers may be eligible to have their AV membership reimbursed or covered by job-seeking support programs, such as those offered through Disability Employment Services (DES) or NDIS providers. To check eligibility and request support:

        1. Contact your job-seeking program provider or NDIS plan manager.
        2. Explain that AV membership provides access to employment support programs designed for neurodiverse individuals.
        3. Provide them with AV’s details and a description of the AV Job Seeker Network (available upon request from our admin team).

        If you need further assistance, please reach out to our Facilitator directly.

        AV Membership Benefits

        • Access to free tickets for activities, including the AV Job Seeker Network.
        • Exclusive access to members-only programs and interest groups.
        • Opportunities to support the work AV does for the neurodiverse community.

        If cost is a barrier; and you would like to join AV, please contact our admin team for support. 

        Registration Guidelines

        • Registration is required for all AV activities.
        • For online events, you must register to receive the Zoom meeting link.

        Community Guides

        We’ve created step-by-step guides to make participation easy:

        These guides are designed to ensure that every participant has a smooth and enjoyable experience.

        For Assistance or More Information

        Get in Touch

        Facilitator (JSN)

        Sarah Ballard
         jsmoderator@autismvalued.org.au 

        Programs / Network Manager

        Jacob Alan Kness
        programs@autismvalued.org.au 
        0427 553 077

        General Admin

        Admin@autismvalued.org.au   |  0480 385 710

        Office Hours

        Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm

        After-Hours Support

        Phone support available 1 hour before and during
        the first hour of each event

        Please note emails may not be attended to afterhours

        Policies and Terms

        Join the AV Job Seeker Network and take the first step toward meaningful employment, supported by a community that values your unique strengths and potential.

        Show details

      Past events

      30 Apr 2026 Topic Spotlight Touchstone Meeting: If You Could Redesign Recruitment — What Changes First?
      24 Apr 2026 Job Seeker Network — Roadmap Module 02 - Understanding Your Strengths
      27 Mar 2026 Job Seeker Network — Roadmap Module 01 - Meet Me Where I'm At
      6 Nov 2025 Topic Spotlight with Paul Micallef: Understanding Non-Literal Communication Why It’s Hard and What We Can Do About It
      28 Oct 2025 October -- AV: World of Work — Community Touchstone Series
      6 Oct 2025 Job Seeker Network:October: Self-Employment – Should I Consider Turning My Passion into Profits?
      30 Sep 2025 September -- AV: World of Work — Community Touchstone Series
      1 Sep 2025 Job Seeker Network: September: Interview Preparation: Answering with Confidence
      4 Aug 2025 Job Seeker Network: August: Mastering Job Boards and Finding Hidden Opportunities
      7 Jul 2025 Job Seeker Network: July 2025 - Applying Online: Standing Out in Automated Systems
      5 Jun 2025 Career Network: June 2025- Topic Spotlight Session: Speaker Q&A Event
      2 Jun 2025 Job Seeker Network: June 2025 - Communicating Your Strengths and Accommodations - Crafting a Neurodiverse-Friendly Resume and Cover Letter
      27 May 2025 May 2025- Touchstone Meeting
      5 May 2025 Job Seeker Network: May 2025 - Understanding your Position: Maslow's Hierarchy applied
      7 Apr 2025 Job Seeker Network: April 2025 - Building Your Job Search Toolkit: Software and Strategies
      3 Apr 2025 Career Network: April 2025- Topic Spotlight Session: Speaker Q&A Event
      6 Mar 2025 Career Network: March 2025- Topic Spotlight Session: Speaker Q&A Event
      4 Mar 2025 March 2025- Touchstone Meeting
      3 Mar 2025 Job Seeker Network: March 2025 - Setting Career Goals: Mapping Your Path
      6 Feb 2025 Career Network: February 2025 - Topic Spotlight Session: Speaker Q&A Event
      5 Dec 2024 Career Network: December - Topic Spotlight Session: Speaker Q&A Event
      7 Nov 2024 Career Network: November- Topic Spotlight Session: Speaker Q&A Event
      3 Oct 2024 Career Network: October - Topic Spotlight Session: Speaker Q&A Event
      5 Sep 2024 Career Network: September - Topic Spotlight Session: Speaker Q&A Event
      1 Aug 2024 Career Network: August - Topic Spotlight Session: Speaker Q&A Event
      4 Jul 2024 Career Network: July - Touchstone Meeting: Dealing With Burnout
      6 Jun 2024 Career Network: June - Topic Spotlight Session: Speaker Q&A Event
      2 May 2024 Career Network: May - Touchstone Meeting
      4 Apr 2024 Career Network: April- Speaker Q&A Event
      7 Mar 2024 Career Network: March- Speaker Q&A Event
      1 Feb 2024 Career Network: February- Touchstone Meeting
      7 Dec 2023 Career Network: December- Speaker Q&A Event
      2 Nov 2023 Career Network: November - online meeting
      5 Oct 2023 Career Network: October - online meeting
      7 Sep 2023 Career Network: September - online meeting
      25 May 2021 Teens Work Know How Program - Round 2 - Expression of Interest
      13 Oct 2020 Danny Blackford: Building Resilience - How to Bounce Back in a Tough World
      7 Sep 2020 Raelene Dundon - Anxiety and Pathological Demand Avoidance in Autism
      11 Aug 2020 "Different Not Less" with Chloe Hayden
      21 Jul 2020 ***CANCELLED*** Demand Avoidance in Autism with Kristy Forbes
      8 Jul 2020 'My Career From Nerd To Novelist' with Graeme Simsion
      9 Jun 2020 GameAware Event with Andrew Kinch
      30 Apr 2020 AV's World of Work: Socialising & Executive Functioning with Barb Cook
      18 Feb 2020 International Aspergers Day Celebration Event
      18 Feb 2019 International Aspergers Day Breakfast Celebration
      3 Dec 2018 Strategies for Success @ Work
      18 Sep 2018 Jobs for People with Aspergers


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