Who We Are
What We Stand For
Neuroaffirming Professionals Alliance Australia (NAPAA) is a social enterprise founded by an Australian psychologist and IT expert with lived experience of neurodivergence. NAPAA’s mission is to break down barriers and improve access to neuro-affirming professional services.
For far too long, neurodivergent individuals have faced significant challenges when seeking services from professionals who understand their unique needs. Whether it’s psychologists, GPs, driving instructors, or even hairdressers, finding the right support can often feel overwhelming.
Many people give up before they even start, while others face long waitlists or are unable to find a provider who truly gets neurodivergence. Professionals themselves are often left scrambling to find appropriate referrals, wasting valuable time and resources that could be spent on direct care.
So, we say, "Enough is enough." Getting the right services and support we need shouldn't feel like an overwhelming, near-impossible task, just because we are a minority. We decided to be the change we want to see — and so, NAPAA was born.
But the journey doesn’t stop here…
While we’ve made great strides in the last decade, the reality is that the number of professionals truly versed in working with individuals across the neurodiverse spectrum is still low. We’re here to change that.
In psychotherapy, compatibility between therapist and client is crucial to the effectiveness of the process—more so than any specific therapy modality. Even if the therapist is highly skilled and the client is committed, if they’re not a good fit, the chances of success are slim. The same applies to most professional services. Think about your own experiences — how much more engaged were you in a class taught by a teacher you truly connected with, for instance?
With the pool of neuro-affirming professionals being so small, finding someone compatible who offers the support we need becomes a significant challenge.
NAPAA’s main aim is not only to be an inclusive platform for neuro-affirming professionals in Australia, but also to create a space where professionals can support each other’s learning. By being a platform for sharing knowledge, we aim to help more professionals incorporate neuro-affirming practices into their work, expanding the number of neuro-affirming services available.
We all start somewhere. NAPAA does not believe that you’re either a neuro-affirming professional or you’re not. Just like our beautiful neurodiverse spectrum, neuro-affirming practice should not be rigid or one-dimensional.
It is not our place to dictate exactly what it means to be neuro-affirming. No one can speak for the entire neurodiverse community or define what each person needs. What may be affirming for one individual could be derogatory for another.
Think of it like music. What’s empowering and motivational for one person may be offensive to someone else. Just as one person may find strength in rap music, another may find it jarring or unpleasant. This same principle applies to neuro-affirming practice.
Rather, NAPAA believes that what truly makes a professional neuro-affirming is their investment in learning not just about neurodivergence in general, but also about each and every neurodivergent person they work with. This means understanding their strengths, struggles, perspectives, values, and sensory needs. It means seeing that person whose day—or even life—could improve simply because they encounter a professional who is genuinely invested in learning how to better support them.
NAPAA seeks to create a safe and welcoming space for neuro-affirming professionals, no matter where they are on their journey. Here, professionals can learn from one another and support each other in improving their practices.
Our goal is ambitious but vital: to create and grow an alliance where neuro-affirming professionals in Australia are as diverse as our neurodivergent community. One day, we hope neurodivergent individuals will have the power to choose from a diverse range of professionals who truly fit their needs and values.
If you or your neurodivergent loved ones have received outstanding support from any professionals in Australia, we’d love to hear about it! Please take 2 minutes to fill out the form below (on the left) to recommend them. We’ll review the information and may invite them to join the NAPAA database, helping more neurodivergent individuals access the care and support they deserve.
Humans of NAPAA
Jasmine K. Y. Loo
Executive Director & Editor
A proud AuDHDer, Jasmine is a practicing Educational and Developmental Psychologist based in Melbourne, Australia. With a career dedicated to supporting neurodivergent individuals and those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, she brings a wealth of experience and compassion to her work and vision for NAPAA. Jasmine is also the author of Nurturing Neurodivergence, which has received multiple accolades and literary nominations for its insightful and empowering approach to late-identified neurodivergence.
Kanaka Sundhoro
Founding Director & Chief Technology Officer (CTO)
Kanaka is the ADHDer tech wiz who transformed lines of code into the foundation of NAPAA, bringing its vision to life. With a rich background in IT, operations, and management —combined with a dash of neurodivergent hyperfocus — Kanaka has crafted a seamless platform designed to connect and empower neuroaffirming professionals across Australia. His innovative mindset and dedication to supporting the neurodiverse community make him an integral part of NAPAA’s mission to create meaningful change.