WAAMH and ACE WA partnership
Apr 27, 2011
Mental Illness, Employment and Recovery in Western Australia.WA Association for Mental Health (WAAMH) Project Initiative, ACE WA Partnership
Background
WAAMH, as the peak non-government representative body for WA’s mental health sector, has a key interest in the development of a policy and systemic advocacy framework for the recovery of people living with mental illness.
Employment is one of the main elements of recovery. This is also recognized in WAAMH’s draft strategic directions where it has been listed as one of the ‘Major Areas of Priority Focus’. Employment is a key to poverty reduction and social inclusion. It is also regarded as an (early) intervention strategy in itself on the recovery journey.
In Australia, the employment outcomes achieved by people in with mental illness are low when compared to outcomes achieved under the Individual Support and Placement Evidence Based Model.
For example disability employment services in Australia generally achieve outcomes of 23% - 30%. By contrast, the Evidence Based Model has a proven record with employment outcomes for people with serious mental illness of 60%, and 90% in best-case examples.
Project Description
The objective is to initiate Evidence-Based Model pilot sites in WA, and, by so doing, improve the employment outcomes of people living with mental illness at the sites.
The project is to build the practice foundation for the eventual roll out of the evidenced-based model of mental health employment across the WA Mental Health system in partnership with the disability employment sector.
An action-research approach will be adopted in the establishment of between six to nine evidence-based pilot sites in the WA public Mental Health sector in partnership with the NGO mental health and disability employment sectors.
A proposal for funding the establishment, operation and evaluation of the pilot sites in 2012-15 will be prepared by August 2011.
An evaluation framework for the pilot sites will be established in accordance with the research methods and tools established in Australia by Dr Geoffrey Waghorn.
A report will also be prepared that will contribute to the employment component of the WAAMH recovery framework.
ACE WA Partnership Update
John Gherardi, WAAMH President, and Helen Lynes, Project Mental Illness and Employment Consultant, attended the 13th April ACE Board meeting. The ACE Board decided to give in principle support the project, and to:
- Nominate Jennifer Kitchin, National Disability Coordination Officer, to represent ACE on the Critical Reference Group for the project; and to
- Invite Helen Lynes to the July ACE Board meeting for an update on the project proposal and its progress, with specific information about the benefits and costs of the proposed project to DES services; and with recommendations about capacity building/training tailored to the requirements of the disability competitive employment sector.
Further information please contact Helen Lynes 0438 288 444, lynes@eftel.net.au
John Gherardhi, president@waamh.org.au