Angus Sutherland is a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Data Analyst who works at the Department of Natural Resources and Mines, Manufacturing and Regional and Rural Development (the Department). This Queensland Government department is the custodian of numerous databases essential for the state’s prosperity. He recently transitioned his employment to the Department after kick-starting his geospatial career at ASA, which led to an 18-month embedding opportunity via our Talent Services offering.
ASA is very grateful for the ongoing support from the Department, which is an excellent example of how the Queensland Government creates social impact for young neurodivergent adults from its supply chains. Our relationship began with some projects where ASA undertook data services work to help upskill our young neurodivergent analysts (see our cadastral and roads/address validation geospatial case studies). At the same time, the Department receives updated datasets used to make crucial management decisions for Queensland’s future.
Department staff have also undertaken all of our Neurodiversity Training Program courses to enable a neuroinclusive workplace and have now transitioned Angus's employment – we hope, the start of many! He is now permanently employed by the Department, another great case study of what happens when autistic people are given a chance with the right support. Find out more below.
Angus Sutherland: I was born and raised in the United Kingdom (UK). I grew up in the western part, in Dorset. It's the boot shape of the UK, just before Cornwall and Devon. I found out that I was neurodivergent fairly early, around seven or eight years old. My parents noticed that I was behaving ‘strangely’. I was picking up on things other kids wouldn't. I saw patterns that others didn't, even though I was only two or three years old at the time. So, they thought that was more than a little bit odd. The fact that I seemed to know these things before even reading made them think I was different. Turns out they were right. I was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome or ‘high-functioning autism’, whatever you want to call it!
“The best way that I could describe my childhood is ‘trial by fire’. It’s different in the UK compared to Australia, where people are generally more open and social. In the UK, people tend to be more reserved and closed off. Being autistic often means that you don't understand social cues. In the UK, there are a few additional social cues that you should be aware of, as well as numerous double meanings. So, I often had to make mistakes, learn from them, and eventually, I’d try to pass myself off as being neurotypical.”
It wasn't a matter of shame or anything like that. It was more about not making anyone else uncomfortable, because you can only make so many weird noises and exhibit so many behaviours before you start upsetting other people. I'm not alone in this world. I have to be considerate of other people's feelings.
Some people used to comment on my eccentric expressions. Everything from my peculiar looks and being called a little bit weird, and at worst case, there was some bullying, being called awful names, like an abomination, freak, that sort of thing. It sucked, but it helped me realise that not everyone's going to be nice. Not everyone will be understanding. However, what I can do is strive to be a better person. So, I don't let it upset me so much. However, I did make a few good friends. Friendship has always been a bit odd for me because I didn't make many friends per se, but the ones I did make usually stuck around for a very long time. I've old friends from preschool, and I’ve maintained contact with them.
About a month after my 15th birthday, my family moved to Australia. When I first heard the news, much to my parents’ surprise, I appreciated the change because I just felt that it was a fresh start. In the UK, I felt like I wasn't taking my education seriously enough. I wasn't a slacker or anything. But when you're 15 years old, you don't really understand how the world works. And it wasn't until my first set of British exams that I realised I may need to start taking things seriously. I’m glad we made the move; it’s been overwhelmingly positive. You could say Australia is my second home, but also my primary home, if that makes sense! Because I've travelled to many different countries, coming back to Australia always feels like I belong here. Australians speak a similar language to those in the UK, but with more swearing!
I started Year 10 at a high school just north of Brisbane. I expected something similar to what I had in the UK, perhaps a bit worse because I was a foreigner. I figured students would pick on me for that, but I found that everyone was friendly and open. I enjoyed high school, aside from an insane amount of stress from exams and assignments. During this time, I had a general idea of what I wanted to be. I wanted to pursue a career in criminology and law, so I focused on English and legal studies. I did pretty well in my exams, achieving high grades. I then went to university immediately after school. I hold a degree in criminology from the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) at Gardens Point, which is, coincidentally, right next to where I work now.
But then, I graduated from university in 2019, just before the pandemic hit, when the whole world turned into bricks. Needless to say, it wasn't easy trying to land a career start. Surprisingly, I managed to secure a couple of odd jobs. The first one was my first job ever, which was in traffic control. It was pretty awful. Not the actual work itself. But I found the lack of routine and structure soul-destroying. I was usually given short notice of where I’d be working. I could be starting at 8 am or 8 pm. There was also no regular workplace, so I wouldn't be assigned a specific site. I could be working next door or two hours away. I kept at it until my mother noticed I was miserable. She described it as a cloud hanging over my head. My face was sagging. I didn't smile anymore.
I wouldn't say it's the worst job ever, but you need to have a strong sense of adventure and an impulsive nature to do a job like that. And for someone like me who likes order, structure and predictability, that wasn't very good. I quit and then worked packaging honey at a local farm. It didn’t pay much, but it was more structured, as I went to the same place every day at the same time. But that didn’t last long, and I was unemployed.
“I then came across ASA through a family friend. They have an autistic daughter, and while she wasn’t interested in ‘big data’ work, they thought I might be. I liked what I saw and figured it was right up my alley. I emailed ASA, went through the recruitment process, and started in 2022. After all of the previous rejection letters from other prospective employers, when ASA gave me a chance, it felt great. Like, I was worth something.”
I worked in the geospatial stream and spent most of my time creating a ‘single source of truth’ for Queensland’s electricity assets. What I enjoyed at ASA was the stability: working at the same place at days and times that suited me, every week, so that I could earn an income. When I first started, I was able to work at my own pace. ASA was my first real job, and I actually enjoyed it! I was nervous at first. I asked myself, am I even qualified for this? My degree is in criminology, not data analysis or GIS. I was worried that one day, someone might walk up to me and say, 'Sorry, this isn't working out; we're going to let you go.' But fortunately, that never happened. Once I got into the groove, it felt great. When I was told I was doing a good job, learning, getting better, making fewer mistakes, and that I was appreciated, it felt nice. I was part of a community.
After learning these skills on the job, a secondment opportunity came up in early 2024 at the (then) Queensland Department of Resources, allowing me to work in their offices on a regular basis. It looked interesting and I applied, thinking I wouldn’t get it. I was pleasantly surprised when they showed interest. I worked there for about 18 months, and I’m now officially one of their employees, as of July 2025! Our previous Transitions Coordinator, Seath, was a massive help. He explained clearly what was involved, including the work structure, the relationship between ASA and the Department, and other important details.
Still, at first, I was nervous about working in a new environment with new people and felt like I didn’t know what I was doing! But ASA and Department staff kept in contact with me, providing support. Department staff were very open with me and said I could ask questions whenever I felt the need. I thought it might have been more tense, but as the months passed, I became comfortable there and began to think this was a place where I would like to transition my employment. I felt like I belonged at the Department because I was able to communicate effectively with everyone on my team and got along well with them. The culture at the Department is really good. They're pretty relaxed, much like ASA. They obviously have standards to uphold, like other workplaces, but it’s very clear what they expect of you.
“None of this would have been possible without ASA. The first thing they helped me with was improving my sense of self-worth, as finding work was very difficult, especially during the pandemic. Being passed over for the most basic of jobs felt disheartening. But ASA was not just a job. I was learning new skills and getting better from it.”
Other workplaces can learn a lot from ASA. You don’t need to treat neurodivergent people like ‘special others’, like they’re fragile individuals. They just need to keep things simple. For example, easing people into work and providing simple, clear instructions to avoid overwhelming them. You don’t need to use kid gloves. People are people, regardless of whether they are neurotypical or neurodivergent.
I have felt a variety of emotions since receiving a permanent position at the Department. I’m very happy and grateful for this amazing opportunity. I have learnt so much since I have been embedded in their offices. ASA helped make this possible by providing the knowledge and skills I required to not only obtain but succeed in the role. I am certain that this is a completely positive outcome that wouldn’t have been possible without the training, the opportunity, and the support from ASA.
But to get here in the first place, it’s nice to be given a chance. To be given the opportunity to show what I was worth. It was invaluable because, in this modern day and age, it seems like you need five degrees and 10 years of service just to be a janitor, as opposed to being given a job and seeing what you can do. It felt as if the job market was completely closed off, because even the most basic jobs required a degree and several years of service, as well as previous work experience, making it feel insurmountable. How can I get work experience if you won't give me the job?
“When ASA told me I had landed an analyst role, I couldn't put into words how much that meant to me.”
In terms of other interests, I would say I'm rather creative. I like things like video games and writing. I love stories because, despite having communication issues, stories are a primary way of communicating these days. Even with fiction, you can tell, assuming it's written well, the sort of psychology of both the reader, the characters they create, and the world they create. I've always loved stories. That's also why I like video games, because they can tell a story. I also enjoy travelling whenever I can. I also have a love-hate relationship with politics because, on one hand, I’m interested in many topics, especially some of the heftier stuff. However, I also dislike it because it brings out the worst in people, as they can become very angry over differing opinions.
For the future, it’s baby steps. I aim to achieve a similar technical level to that of my team. I'm still the new guy, and therefore, my responsibilities are less than those of my colleagues. But I want to reach their level. Things like using ArcGIS software more efficiently. Learning to use a Feature Manipulation Engine (FME) in a more work-related endeavour, as opposed to just looking at training modules. I want to enhance my geospatial skills and continue learning.
Anyway, I’m excited about what happens next. Here’s to the future!
