Budget Boost To Early Childhood Education Hailed By Neurofusion
'The government's recognition of young students with the highest learning needs suggests that the one in five children who are neurodiverse will receive specialist support,' says Graeme Bennett, CEO of Neurofusion.
'The observation we offer is that this isn't just a resourcing problem, it is a system design problem,' says Graeme Bennett. 'Our hope is that the solutions in the budget include changes to a rigid education system that rewards conformity, penalises difference, and assumes every learner thinks the same way.
'Timetables, curriculum, assessment, and participation are still shaped by industrial-era logic which are built for efficiency, not for human variability. Think fixed bell schedules, standardised content-heavy curricula, high-stakes timed exams, and an expectation of passive, uniform participation. These structures create hidden barriers for anyone who doesn't fit the mould.'
Adding more people to a broken system doesn't fix it, says Bennett.
'What we need is not more of the same but a radical, human-centred redesign that values difference, not just accommodates it. This is a new kind of learning infrastructure that begins with culturally responsive, neuro-inclusive environments. It maps how different brains think using personalised learner profiles. And it helps young people tackle real-world complexity using their unique cognitive strengths through dynamic, project-based learning.
'Fixing this doesn't mean just hiring more aides,' says Bennett. 'It's not a toolkit. It means transforming the system so every learner can thrive.'
Auckland-based Neurofusion works with businesses, educational institutions, and policymakers to create environments where everyone can reach their full potential. BrainBadge is Neurofusion's comprehensive certification programme based on agile and lean principles that reframes cognitive 'disorders' and 'disabilities' into valuable mindsets that can be leveraged to unlock business success.
Neurodivergence is a term used to describe people with brains that are designed differently. Neurodiversity embraces the differences in brain function and behavioural traits as a natural element of human diversity.
Neurodivergent conditions are part of the endlessly different ways that human minds are wired. These conditions known as neurotypes include autistic spectrum disorder (ASD), attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), dyslexia, anxiety, giftedness, sensory processing disorder, Tourette Syndrome, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Asperger's syndrome and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD).
As both children and adults, neurodiverse people can have talents and skills that include:
Leadership, innovation, creativity and initiative
High levels of technical and mechanical skill
New ways to solve problems
High levels of concentration
Exceptional design and visualisation skills
Keen accuracy and ability to detect errors
Strong recall of information and detailed factual knowledge
Pattern recognition and drawing connections
Gifted at ethical decision making
Reliability, persistence, high loyalty and retention
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scoop
an hour ago
- Scoop
Mindful Fashion Announces New Sponsor For Circular Business Innovation Award
Mindful Fashion New Zealand is pleased to announce that entries are now open for the Circular Business Innovation Award, a category within the Mindful Fashion Circular Design Awards 2025, celebrating bold leadership and innovation in New Zealand's transition to a circular economy. This year, the Circular Business Innovation Award is supported by a new sponsor - Untouched World, a pioneer in sustainable fashion and last year's winner of the award. By stepping into the role of sponsor in 2025, Untouched World is demonstrating its ongoing commitment to positive impact and leadership across the fashion and textile industry. 'With an estimated 143 tonnes of clothing waste sent to landfill every day in New Zealand, it's imperative we shift to a more circular way of operating — one that designs out waste and keeps our clothing and textiles in use,' says Jacinta FitzGerald, Chief Executive of Mindful Fashion. 'This award recognises the businesses leading that shift — turning challenge into opportunity and inspiring change at every level of the system.' The Circular Business Innovation Award recognises businesses across the fibre, textile, and clothing sectors that are actively embedding circular principles into their operations - from product design to business models, supply chain innovation to end-of-life solutions. The award is open to all New Zealand-based businesses committed to accelerating circular practices that regenerate, reduce waste, and rethink value creation 'Untouched World has long been at the forefront of sustainable business in Aotearoa,' says Jacinta FitzGerald, Chief Executive of Mindful Fashion NZ. 'To see last year's winner return as this year's sponsor is a powerful demonstration of leadership — and a commitment to nurturing the wider ecosystem of change.' 'We're honoured to sponsor this year's award,' says Peri Drysdale, Founder and CEO of Untouched World. 'Winning in 2024 was a powerful moment for us. It reinforced how these awards can amplify impact not just within our own operations, but across the broader industry and beyond our borders. As a company deeply committed to positive change, we believe in lifting others as we move forward.' The Mindful Fashion Circular Design Awards are a celebration of creative thinking, collaboration, and system innovation. Now in their third year, the Awards continue to spotlight and support the changemakers shaping a thriving, resilient and regenerative future for fashion and textiles in Aotearoa. Entries are open now and close Friday 1st August 2025. For more information and to enter, visit: Here's the full timeline for the Circular Design Award process leading up to the Gala event in October: Entries open | 9th June 2025 Entries close | 1st August 2025 at 5pm Judging | August 2025 Finalists notified | August/September Circular Design Award Gala | 7th October 2025
Scoop
an hour ago
- Scoop
Stage 3 Of Major Auckland Hospital Upgrade Funded
Minister of Health Health Minister Simeon Brown has today announced a major investment to strengthen critical infrastructure at Auckland City Hospital and Greenlane Clinical Centre, as part of the third tranche of the Facilities Infrastructure Remediation Programme. 'This Government is committed to investing in and upgrading critical infrastructure that supports our health system – and that includes ensuring the hospitals we rely on every day are safe, modern, and fit for purpose,' Mr Brown says. 'Over the next three years, tranche three of the Facilities Infrastructure Remediation Programme in Auckland will fund critical upgrades and replacements to the power, heating, building management, and safety systems that support clinical services at Auckland City Hospital and Greenlane Clinical Centre. 'These upgrades are about ensuring Auckland Hospital is able to deliver reliable care for patients and has increased resilience through upgraded systems.' This third investment tranche is part of the Government's $1 billion Budget 2025 hospital infrastructure investment includes: Upgrades to the high voltage power supply to improve power security at Auckland City Hospital. Replacement of the ageing steam heating system to boost reliability and reduce utility costs. Improvements to electrical monitoring and building management systems at both sites. Design work for the next stage of the Auckland hot water pipes replacement project, with construction on the first stage already underway. 'Replacing the hot water pipe system in the main building of Auckland City Hospital is a priority within the Health Infrastructure Plan, and this investment will help speed up delivery by funding the design work for the next stage of this project. Getting ahead on the design work now will mean we can fast-track the next stage by eight months.' This tranche builds on the first two stages of the remediation programme, which addressed the most urgent infrastructure issues at these sites and are scheduled for completion by the end of 2025. Health New Zealand is carefully managing this work to minimise any disruption to clinical services, and ensure patients and staff are not impacted as this vital infrastructure is upgraded. 'This is about investing in the future of Auckland's health services – getting the basics right so frontline teams can keep delivering high-quality care to New Zealanders. 'As we continue to invest in hospitals across the country, projects like this are key to ensuring our infrastructure can keep pace with growing demand and support better health outcomes over the long term,' Mr Brown says. The Facilities Infrastructure Remediation Programme is a rolling Auckland district programme to identify, upgrade, and replace infrastructure that poses the greatest risk to our largest hospital operations. Tranche three sets out work to be delivered through to 2027, with planning for a fourth tranche already underway.
RNZ News
an hour ago
- RNZ News
NZ Rugby boss Mark Robinson resigns
NZ Rugby chief executive Mark Robinson Photo: Martin Hunter/ActionPress New Zealand Rugby chief executive Mark Robinson has resigned and will leave the organisation at the end of the year. Robinson has been in the position for six years and has led the organisation through some difficult times. During his time New Zealand Rugby had to deal with the Covid pandemic, the drawn-out Silver Lake negotiations when the US private equity firm invested in the game here and the debate over the organisation's governance. Robinson acknowledged that there have been challenging times during his tenure, which brought with it significant scrutiny. "The past six years have been a period of rapid change, or unprecedented challenges through the pandemic, and significant evolution across commercial, competitions and structures," Robinson said in a statement. "I will reflect on that as I get closer to stepping away, but I firmly believe the foundations of our organisation are extremely strong and the game is well-placed for the future. "I have had the privilege of leading an amazing group of people at NZR who have a huge amount of care for the game. There's a deep hunger to get better every day no matter how well we think we are doing and that drive sits right across every person working for NZR, our competitions and our national teams." "We remain focused on implementing a new financial model for the game in New Zealand and completing the remaining work on what will be an exciting future international calendar." Robinson's family has been based in Australia for the last few months. NZR chair David Kirk acknowledged Robinson for his contribution over a six-year period. "Mark has driven significant change, both in New Zealand and internationally, and the Board believes the organisation is well-placed to capitalise on this. Of note was his leadership through a global pandemic that saw the game deal with an unprecedented crisis. "We also understand Mark's desire to relocate to Australia where his family are now all living. He will go with our best wishes when he moves there at the end of this year. Mark will continue to lead for the remainder of the year as we conclude key projects, and the Board will now commence recruitment for the new role." Robinson played nine tests for the All Blacks between 2000 and 2002. He was on the NZR Board for seven years before taking over as chief executive. -RNZ
