Neurodiversity

Interagency Group

T  erms of Reference

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link to page 2 link to page 2 link to page 2 1.  Context
Neurodiversity1 is a term often used to refer to the natural variability in how peoples’
brains engage in learning, perceive information, and organise and communicate. It
encompasses people from all walks of life and is commonly intersectional in nature,
and not limited to individuals of specific age, gender or ethnicity.
Since the term was first coined in the late 1990s, different approaches have emerged
to understand  neurological differences, including as  a  normal  variation in human
cognitive functioning, medical condition or disability.
From a clinical perspective,  neurodiverse conditions describe  a  broad range of
specific, non-specific, hidden and/or undetermined diagnoses, conditions, and
cognitive  variabilities. This includes  autism, Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity
Disorder (ADHD), traumatic brain injury, learning disability (e.g., dyslexia, dyscalculia
and dyspraxia), epilepsy, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD),  Tourette’s
syndrome and auditory or visual processing disorders.
Neurodiversity is often invisible, making its identification or diagnosis harder. A lack
of awareness about this kind of diversity can result in people not understanding the
unique requirements of this group.2
Some people with neurodevelopmental conditions (e.g., FASD) are known to have
barriers in accessing diagnostics and specialist assessments, services and supports.
This contributes to unmet health needs and worse health, disability, education, and
justice outcomes.
In Aotearoa New Zealand, there is no common definition, unified country approach or
shared sector or agency understanding on Neurodiversity. Neurodiversity is a new
area for government agencies.
The Government’s response to  Neurodiversity  is  spread across many ministerial
portfolios and government agencies  –  see table below.  Further,  agencies can be
responsible for, or share responsibility for, different aspects of the Government’s
response to Neurodiversity.
Agency
Responsibility
Ministry of Health
FASD Action Plan (Public Health Agency) and ADHD
policy advice (Mental Health Directorate).
Ministry of Education  Students with neurodiversity and learning support needs,
including those diagnosed with conditions like autism,
dyslexia, dyscalculia, dyspraxia.
Ministry of Social
Social welfare supports for those with neurodiverse
Development
conditions entitled to health and disability allowances and
supports and funds disability support services for eligible
people with autism and other neurodiverse conditions (from
September 2024).3

1 The term Neurodiversity wil  be capitalized for emphasis.
2 See https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/insights/topics/talent/neurodiversity-in-the-workplace.html.
3 In September 2024, Whaikaha’s core DSS functions delivered by the Commissioning, Design and
Delivery group and related policy and quality assurance functions were transferred to the Ministry of
Social Development.

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Ministry of Disabled
System leadership and strategic policy, system-level
People | Whaikaha
monitoring and community engagement on disability
issues, including Neurodiversity, accessibility, the NZ
Disability Strategy, UNCRPD implementation coordination
and monitoring, and disability information and advice.
Oranga Tamariki |
Children and young people with neurodiverse conditions,
Ministry for Children
for example FASD, in state care.
Health New Zealand
Health services for all people, including neurodiversity
diagnosis and treatment/care pathways and general health
care, and long-term support services for those who are
eligible people, including those with mental health and
addiction-related need, disabling health conditions and
age-related disability need.
ACC
People with injury-related neurodiversity e.g., traumatic
brain injury.
Stats New Zealand
Neurodiversity data.
The spread of responsibilities across many different government agencies is known to
create service access barriers and navigation difficulties for people and their whānau
families living with neurodiverse conditions.
Establishing an  effective  cross-government coordination mechanism  on
Neurodiversity action  is therefore seen as crucial  in  implementing  a new
Neurodiversity work programme to address the complex and diverse needs of this
group.
2.  Authorising environment - Ministerial roles in Neurodiversity
Hon Matt Doocey in his Associate Minister of Health role is the responsible minister
for Neurodiversity.  His portfolio overlaps with others that address Neurodiversity need.
  Minister
Portfolio
Neurodiversity responsibility
Hon Shane Reti
Minister of Health
FASD and Public Health
Health System and Services
Hon Matt Doocey
Minister for Mental Health  Mental Health and ADHD
Hon Louise Upston  Minister for Social
Social welfare supports
Development and
Employment

Minister for Disability
Disability system leadership and
Issues
monitoring, including on the
New Zealand Disability Strategy,
compliance with the UNCRPD
and Disability Support Services
Hon Erica Stanford  Minister of Education
Neurodiversity and Learning
Support
ADD OTHERS
TBC
TBC

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3.  Neurodiversity Interagency Group
The Neurodiversity Interagency Group (the Group) is established to provide effective
interagency  coordination on the Government’s  work programme on action  on
Neurodiversity.
Membership
The Group includes officials from a range of agencies with different Neurodiversity
responsibilities. The Ministry of Health wil  convene the group – see table below.
Role
Agency
Section representing
Chair
Ministry of Health
Health of Disabled People Policy
Secretariat  Ministry of Health
Disability Policy / Mental Health
Member
Ministry of Education
Policy and Operations

Ministry of Disabled People
Policy, Strategy and Partnerships

Ministry of Social Development   International, Disability & Generational
Policy

Oranga Tamariki
Disability Policy

Health New Zealand
Disability Health

ACC
TBC

Stats New Zealand
TBC

Other agencies
Co-opted in, by invitation, as required
Objectives
The Group’s objectives are to:
•  progress the Government’s  work programme on Neurodiversity,  aimed  at
improving outcomes for people with Neurodiversity and their whānau.
•  provide information and advice to responsible ministers on the Government’s
work programme and response on Neurodiversity.
Approach to joint agency work
Effective joint working is enabled by demonstrated collective commitment to:
Core values
Our commitment
Leadership
We support a model of shared agency leadership and strategic
responsibility for Neurodiversity action.
Voice
We have equal voice around the table in representing our
agency interests.
Trust & Respect
We trust each other and work to achieve that, accepting
differences of view and perspective.
Collaboration
We work cooperatively in a friendly and constructive manner,
encouraging open discussion with all views being fully heard.

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Col ective decision  We strive to achieve broad acceptance on the work and reach
making
decisions on which the group can act.
Joint accountability  We deliver on what we commit to and represent our agencies
for the good of the shared mahi.
Information sharing  We share willingly  with each other our information and
& communications  expertise and update on our agency work activities.
No surprises
We keep our own agencies and ministers informed of
significant or controversial matters.

4.  Roles and responsibilities
Ministry of Health
The Ministry as convenor of the group:
•  Chairs the meetings (ensure consensus decision making, manage differences of
opinion, conflict of interest).
•  Provides secretariat (organise and prepare meetings, invitations, agenda,
information, note taking, minute circulation).
•  Provides support to agencies.
•  Deals with queries.
•  Provides updates on relevant matters.
•  Reports on behalf of the group to ministers (each agency is expected to update
their own ministers).
Neurodiversity Interagency Group Members
All members are expected to:
•  Attend meetings as the primary contact for your agency.
•  Represent your agency’s views.
•  Participate in discussions.
•  Support collective decision making.
•  Ensure an effective joint approach is taken in supporting the work programme.
•  Ensure balanced interagency advice is given to Government.
•  Provide specific knowledge and expertise to support the work programme.
•  Use existing relationships and linkages either within your organisation or agency,
or across government to help support the work programme.
5.  Indicative work programme deliverables 2024/25
The table below outlines the current year deliverables.
Deliverables
Lead/Contribute  Action required
Deadline
Work programme
All
Agreement
30 Sep 2024
Terms of Reference
MOH/ All
Approval
30 Sep 2024
Interagency stocktake  MOH/ All
Design
18 Oct 2024

Data collection
Oct-Nov 2024

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Agency response
30 Nov 2024

Analysis
22 Dec 2024
Stocktake report
MOH/ All
Drafting
Jan-Feb 2025

Discussion
Feb 2025

Final Report
Mid-Mar 2025

Advice
31 Mar 2025
Interagency hui
All
Engagement
Every 4 – 6 weeks

6.  Confidentiality
Work undertaken is confidential to the group, the organisation or agency that they
represent, and the Ministry of Health.
7.  Conflict of interest
Al  group members are expected to disclose any perceived, potential or actual conflict
of interest.
8.  Ministry of Health lead contact details:
Out of scope

Manager Health of Disabled People Policy
Strategy, Policy and Legislation
s9(2)(a)
Out of scope
health.govt.nz
Manatí Hauora, 133 Molesworth Street Thorndon, Wellington 6011

END.

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