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Patmisari E, Huang Y, Orr M, Govindasamy S, Hielscher E, McLaren H. Supported employment interventions with people who have severe mental illness: Systematic mixed-methods umbrella review. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0304527. [PMID: 38838025 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0304527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIMS Primary and review studies show that supported employment interventions showed promise in assisting people with severe mental illness (SMI) in achieving successful employment and health-related outcomes. This umbrella review synthesises evidence from across review studies on supported employment interventions for individuals with SMI, to identify key findings and implementation challenges in relation to five key outcomes: (1) employment, (2) quality of life, (3) social functioning, (4) clinical/service utilisation, and (5) economic outcomes. METHODS A systematic search of eleven databases and registers (CINAHL, Cochrane, EmCare, JBI EBP, ProQuest, PsycINFO, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, and Prospero and Campbell) was conducted to identify meta-analyses and systematic reviews on supported employment interventions for individuals with SMI, peer reviewed and published in English. Quality assessment and data extraction were performed using standardised Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) tools. A mixed-methods synthesis approach was employed to integrate both quantitative and qualitative evidence. RESULTS The synthesis of 26 review studies primarily focused on the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model among various supported employment interventions. Overall, combining supported employment with targeted interventions such as neurocognitive therapy and job-related social skill training showed a positive effect on employment (including job retention) and non-employment outcomes (e.g., health, quality of life, social functioning) relative to standard forms of supported employment for people with SMI. Contextual factors (intervention fidelity, settings, systemic barriers) were important considerations for intervention implementation and effectiveness. DISCUSSION Significant overlap of primary studies across 26 review studies exposed considerable variations in interpretation and conclusions drawn by authors, raising questions about their reliability. High volume of overlap reporting from the USA on IPS interventions in review studies is likely to have biased perceptions of effectiveness. There is no one-size-fits-all solution for supporting individuals with SMI in obtaining and maintaining employment. Tailoring strategies based on individual needs and circumstances appears crucial to address the complexity of mental health recovery. We propose creating centralised registries or databases to monitor primary studies included in reviews, thus avoiding redundancy. OTHER This umbrella study was registered with PROSPERO (No. CRD42023431191).
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Affiliation(s)
- Emi Patmisari
- Institute for Mental Health and Wellbeing, College of Education, Psychology and Social Work, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia
| | - Yunong Huang
- Institute for Mental Health and Wellbeing, College of Education, Psychology and Social Work, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia
| | - Mark Orr
- Flourish Australia, Sydney Olympic Park, New South Wales, Australia
| | | | - Emily Hielscher
- Flourish Australia, Sydney Olympic Park, New South Wales, Australia
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, Queensland, Australia
- School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Helen McLaren
- Institute for Mental Health and Wellbeing, College of Education, Psychology and Social Work, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia
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Wooden M, Watson N, Butterworth P. Data Resource Profile: Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Survey. Int J Epidemiol 2024; 53:dyae043. [PMID: 38553031 DOI: 10.1093/ije/dyae043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Mark Wooden
- Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Nicole Watson
- Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Peter Butterworth
- SEED Lifespan, School of Psychology, Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia
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Bishop GM, Kavanagh AM, Disney G, Aitken Z. Trends in mental health inequalities for people with disability, Australia 2003 to 2020. Aust N Z J Psychiatry 2023; 57:1570-1579. [PMID: 37606227 PMCID: PMC10666511 DOI: 10.1177/00048674231193881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/23/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Cross-sectional studies have demonstrated that people with disability have substantial inequalities in mental health compared to people without disability. However, it is not known if these inequalities have changed over time. This study compared the mental health of people with and without disability annually from 2003 to 2020 to investigate time trends in disability-related mental health inequalities. METHODS We use annual data (2003-2020) of the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia Survey. Mental health was measured using the five-item Mental Health Inventory. For each wave, we calculated population-weighted age-standardised estimates of mean Mental Health Inventory scores for people with and without disability and calculated the mean difference in Mental Health Inventory score to determine inequalities. Analyses were stratified by age, sex and disability group (sensory or speech, physical, intellectual or learning, psychological, brain injury or stroke, other). RESULTS From 2003 to 2020, people with disability had worse mental health than people without disability, with average Mental Health Inventory scores 9.8 to 12.1 points lower than for people without disability. For both people with and without disability, Mental Health Inventory scores decreased, indicating worsening mental health, reaching the lowest point for both groups in 2020. For some subpopulations, including young females and people with intellectual disability, brain injury or stroke, mental health inequalities worsened. CONCLUSION This paper confirms that people with disability experience worse mental health than people without disability. We add to previous findings by demonstrating that disability-related inequalities in mental health have been sustained for a long period and are worsening in some subpopulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Glenda M Bishop
- Disability and Health Unit, Centre for Health Equity, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Anne Marie Kavanagh
- Disability and Health Unit, Centre for Health Equity, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - George Disney
- Disability and Health Unit, Centre for Health Equity, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Zoe Aitken
- Disability and Health Unit, Centre for Health Equity, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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Maheen H, King T. Employment-related mental health outcomes among Australian migrants: A 19-year longitudinal study. Aust N Z J Psychiatry 2023; 57:1475-1485. [PMID: 37211808 PMCID: PMC10619185 DOI: 10.1177/00048674231174809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Migrants experience various stressors at different stages of migration based on their country of origin, ethnic backgrounds, migration context and host country. Employment is one important post-settlement factor associated with mental health among migrant groups. The study investigates whether the country of origin modifies the association between employment and mental health for Australian migrants. METHODS Nineteen waves of data from the Household Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia Survey were used. Using fixed-effects regression, we examined the effects of within-person changes in employment status on mental health outcomes as measured by the Mental Health Inventory (MHI-5), controlling for time-varying confounders and stratified by sex and examined effect modification by country of origin. RESULTS The relationship between unemployment and mental health was modified by country of origin for men but not women. Unemployed men from Asian (β = -4.85, p < 0.001), African and Middle Eastern (β = -3.61, p < 0.05) countries had lower mental health scores compared to employed Australian-born men. For men, there was evidence of effect modification of the association between employment and mental health by country of origin, with the combined effect of being unemployed and being a migrant from an Asian country was almost three points lower than the summed independent risks of these factors (β = -2.72; p = 0.01). Also, for men, the combined mental health effect of not being in the labour force and coming from a non-English-speaking European country was greater than the summed effects of these factors (β = -2.33; p < 0.001). CONCLUSION Tailored employment-support programmes may be beneficial for migrants from ethnic minorities, particularly those from Asian, African and Middle Eastern countries in Australia. Further research is needed to understand why the mental health of migrant men from these countries is particularly vulnerable to unemployment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Humaira Maheen
- Centre for Health Equity, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Carlton, VIC, Australia
| | - Tania King
- Centre for Health Equity, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Carlton, VIC, Australia
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Arai Y, Okanishi T, Noma H, Kanai S, Kawaguchi T, Sunada H, Fujimoto A, Maegaki Y. Prognostic factors for employment outcomes in patients with a history of childhood-onset drug-resistant epilepsy. Front Pediatr 2023; 11:1173126. [PMID: 37576149 PMCID: PMC10419209 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2023.1173126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective The employment outcomes of childhood-onset drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) has not been studied enough. The aim of this retrospective cohort study is to investigate the employment outcomes of childhood-onset DRE in June 2022 and identify the risk factors associated with non-employment. Materials and methods The sample consisted of 65 participants ≥18 years of age with a history of childhood-onset DRE. Fifty participants (77%) were salaried employees and 15 participants (23%) were non-employed. Clinical and psychosocial information were evaluated for calculating the relative risk (RR) of non-employment. Results Regarding medical factors, lower IQ [RR, 0.645; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.443-0.938; p = 0.022] was positively associated with employment. In contrast, age at follow-up (RR, 1.046; 95% CI, 1.009-1.085; p = 0.014); number of ASMs at follow-up (RR, 1.517; 95% CI, 1.081-2.129; p = 0.016); use of medications such as phenobarbital (RR, 3.111; 95% CI, 1.383-6.997; p = 0.006), levetiracetam (RR, 2.471; 95% CI, 1.056-5.782; p = 0.037), and topiramate (RR, 3.576; 95% CI, 1.644-7.780; p = 0.001) were negatively associated with employment. Regarding psychosocial factor, initial workplace at employment support facilities (RR, 0.241; 95% CI, 0.113-0.513; p < 0.001) was positively associated with employment. In contrast, complication of psychiatric disorder symptoms (RR, 6.833; 95% CI, 2.141-21.810; p = 0.001) was negatively associated with employment. Regarding educational factor, graduating schools of special needs education (RR, 0.148; 95% CI, 0.061-0.360; p < 0.001) was positively associated with employment. Conclusions Specific medical, psychosocial, and educational factors may influence the employment outcomes of childhood-onset DRE. Paying attention to ASMs' side effects, adequately preventing the complications of psychiatric disorder symptoms, and providing an environment suitable for each patient condition would promote a fine working status for people with childhood-onset DRE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuto Arai
- Division of Child Neurology, Department of Brain and Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago, Japan
| | - Tohru Okanishi
- Division of Child Neurology, Department of Brain and Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago, Japan
| | - Hisashi Noma
- Department of Data Science, The Institute of Statistical Mathematics, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Sotaro Kanai
- Division of Child Neurology, Department of Brain and Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago, Japan
| | - Tatsuya Kawaguchi
- Division of Child Neurology, Department of Brain and Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Sunada
- Advanced Medicine, Innovation and Clinical Research Center, Tottori University Hospital, Yonago, Japan
| | - Ayataka Fujimoto
- Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, Seirei Hamamatsu General Hospital, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Yoshihiro Maegaki
- Division of Child Neurology, Department of Brain and Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago, Japan
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Tański W, Dudek K, Adamowski T. Work Ability and Quality of Life in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:13260. [PMID: 36293837 PMCID: PMC9603111 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192013260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2022] [Revised: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Reduced work participation has social implications (sickness absence, economic impact) and consequences for the individual patient (impoverishment, depression, limited social interaction). As patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are more likely to experience job loss and/or at-work productivity loss and are at higher risk of sickness absence and, ultimately, permanent work productivity, consideration should be given to the association between work productivity or partial work capacity and quality of life (QoL). The aim of the study was to assess the relationship between QoL and the risk of work disability, as well as to estimate the risk of a future event and identify factors affecting the risk of work disability in RA inpatients. MATERIAL AND METHODS This cross-sectional study included 142 inpatients (65 male) aged 47 (38-58) years, who met the established criteria for a diagnosis of RA and treatment with biologic drugs. Only standardized tools were used to examine the patients: WHOQOL-BREF, MFIS and AS-WIS. RESULTS An analysis of the QoL scores on the WHOQOL-BREF demonstrated that the patients' QoL was lowest in the physical health domain and highest in the social relationships domain. The median WHOQOL-BREF total score in the group studied was 62.8, which indicates a moderate QoL. The median total score for the risk of work disability (AS-WIS) was 10.1, which indicates that the level of risk of work disability in the patients was higher than the average level reported in the literature. A multivariate analysis showed that the following were significant independent determinants of a higher risk of work disability: low QoL in the WHOQOL-BREF physical health (β = 0.961; p = 0.029) and psychological health (β = 1.752; p = 0.002) domains, being in a relationship (β = 0.043; p = 0.005) and the use of opioids for pain (β = 3.054; p = 0.012). CONCLUSIONS RA patients presented with moderate QoL, moderate fatigue (MFIS) and high risk of disability (AS-WIS). There is an association between a high risk of work disability and lower QoL, especially in the physical and psychological health domains. The lower the QoL in those domains, the higher the risk of work disability. The identification of factors increasing the risk of work disability will help in planning tailored interventions to improve at-work productivity loss and thus prevent work disability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wojciech Tański
- Department of Internal Medicine, 4th Military Teaching Hospital, R. Weigla 5, 50-981 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Krzysztof Dudek
- Department of Transport Systems, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Technology, 50-370 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Tomasz Adamowski
- Department of Nursing and Obstetrics, Wroclaw Medical University, 51-618 Wrocław, Poland
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Mallick S, Islam MS. The impact of co-location employment partnerships within the Australian mental health service and policy context: A systematic review. Int J Ment Health Nurs 2022; 31:1125-1140. [PMID: 35429075 PMCID: PMC9543853 DOI: 10.1111/inm.13007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2021] [Revised: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 04/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Adults with a serious persistent mental illness (SPMI) express a strong desire to work. However, they continue to experience higher levels of unemployment, barriers, and occupational exclusion that impact their vocational outcomes and choice of work. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of co-location partnerships between adult mental health and disability employment services (DES) on employment outcomes and consumer choice of work for adults with a SPMI. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) methodology, a systematic literature review was conducted by searching four databases. The relationship between mental health, employment, and DES was examined. Inclusion criteria were adults with a SPMI; employment services and outcomes; and job retention and sustainability. Twelve studies met inclusion criteria. All studies were peer-reviewed, Australian-based, and published between 01 January 2017 and 30 August 2021. Individual placement and support (IPS); DES practice, funding, policy, and reform within the Australian mental health system; and barriers to participation in DES were the three main themes that emerged. Findings highlight the importance of joint, co-location partnerships between mental health and employment services, including a collaborative approach to policy reform between both services, to assist adults with a SPMI to gain and sustain competitive employment. Vocational, non-vocational, systemic, and structural barriers still exist; hence, adults with a SPMI continue to face challenges with gaining and sustaining long-term employment. Hence, it is important for these partnerships to be systematically set up to support the complexity of the employment journey for adults with a SPMI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sue Mallick
- Vocational Consultant/Senior Occupational Therapist, Western Sydney Local Health District (WSLHD), Mental Health Services, NSW Health, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Md Shahidul Islam
- School of Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New England, Armidale, New South Wales, Australia
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McGovern ME, Rokicki S, Reichman NE. Maternal depression and economic well-being: A quasi-experimental approach. Soc Sci Med 2022; 305:115017. [PMID: 35605471 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2022.115017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Revised: 04/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Maternal depression is associated with adverse impacts on the health of women and their children. However, further evidence is needed on the extent to which maternal depression influences women's economic well-being and how unmeasured confounders affect estimates of this relationship. In this study, we aimed to measure the association between maternal depression and economic outcomes (income, employment, and material hardship) over a 15-year time horizon. We conducted longitudinal analyses using the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study, an urban birth cohort study in the United States. We assessed the potential contribution of time-invariant unmeasured confounders using a quasi-experimental approach and also investigated the role of persistent versus transient depressive symptoms on economic outcomes up to 15 years after childbirth. In models that adjusted for time-invariant unmeasured confounders, maternal depression was associated with not being employed (an adjusted risk difference of 3 percentage points (95% CI 0.01 to 0.05)) and experiencing any material hardship (an adjusted risk difference of 14 percentage points (95% CI 0.12 to 0.16)), as well as with reductions in the ratio of household income to poverty by 0.10 units (95% CI -0.16 to -0.04) and annual household income by $2114 (95% CI -$3379 to -$850). Impacts at year 15 were strongest for those who experienced persistent depression. Results of our study strengthen the case for viewing mental health support services as interventions that may also foster economic well-being, and highlight the importance of including economic impacts in assessments of the cost-effectiveness of mental health interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark E McGovern
- Department of Health Behavior, Society and Policy, Rutgers School of Public Health, USA
| | - Slawa Rokicki
- Department of Health Behavior, Society and Policy, Rutgers School of Public Health, USA; Geary Institute for Public Policy, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
| | - Nancy E Reichman
- Department of Pediatrics, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ, USA; Child Health Institute of New Jersey, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ, USA; Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
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Weld-Blundell I, Shields M, Devine A, Dickinson H, Kavanagh A, Marck C. Vocational Interventions to Improve Employment Participation of People with Psychosocial Disability, Autism and/or Intellectual Disability: A Systematic Review. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph182212083. [PMID: 34831840 PMCID: PMC8618542 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182212083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2021] [Revised: 11/11/2021] [Accepted: 11/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Objective: To systematically review interventions aimed at improving employment participation of people with psychosocial disability, autism, and intellectual disability. Methods: We searched MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, Web of Science, Scopus, CINAHL, ERIC, and ERC for studies published from 2010 to July 2020. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of interventions aimed at increasing participation in open/competitive or non-competitive employment were eligible for inclusion. We included studies with adults with psychosocial disability autism and/or intellectual disability. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration Risk of Bias II Tool. Data were qualitatively synthesized. Our review was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42020219192). Results: We included 26 RCTs: 23 targeted people with psychosocial disabilities (n = 2465), 3 included people with autism (n = 214), and none included people with intellectual disability. Risk of bias was high in 8 studies, moderate for 18, and low for none. There was evidence for a beneficial effect of Individual Placement and Support compared to control conditions in 10/11 studies. Among young adults with autism, there was some evidence for the benefit of Project SEARCH and ASD supports on open employment. Discussion: Gaps in the availability of high-quality evidence remain, undermining comparability and investment decisions in vocational interventions. Future studies should focus on improving quality and consistent measurement, especially for interventions targeting people with autism and/or intellectual disability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabelle Weld-Blundell
- Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne 3010, Australia; (I.W.-B.); (M.S.); (A.K.); (C.M.)
| | - Marissa Shields
- Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne 3010, Australia; (I.W.-B.); (M.S.); (A.K.); (C.M.)
| | - Alexandra Devine
- Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne 3010, Australia; (I.W.-B.); (M.S.); (A.K.); (C.M.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Helen Dickinson
- School of Business, University of New South Wales, Canberra 2610, Australia;
| | - Anne Kavanagh
- Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne 3010, Australia; (I.W.-B.); (M.S.); (A.K.); (C.M.)
| | - Claudia Marck
- Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne 3010, Australia; (I.W.-B.); (M.S.); (A.K.); (C.M.)
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Devine A, Shields M, Dimov S, Dickinson H, Vaughan C, Bentley R, LaMontagne AD, Kavanagh A. Australia's Disability Employment Services Program: Participant Perspectives on Factors Influencing Access to Work. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:11485. [PMID: 34770000 PMCID: PMC8582653 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182111485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2021] [Revised: 10/21/2021] [Accepted: 10/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Disability employment programs play a key role in supporting people with disability to overcome barriers to finding and maintaining work. Despite significant investment, ongoing reforms to Australia's Disability Employment Services (DES) are yet to lead to improved outcomes. This paper presents findings from the Improving Disability Employment Study (IDES): a two-wave survey of 197 DES participants that aims to understand their perspectives on factors that influence access to paid work. Analysis of employment status by type of barrier indicates many respondents experience multiple barriers across vocational (lack of qualifications), non-vocational (inaccessible transport) and structural (limited availability of jobs, insufficient resourcing) domains. The odds of gaining work decreased as the number of barriers across all domains increased with each unit of barrier reported (OR 1.22, 95% CI 1.07, 1.38). Unemployed respondents wanted more support from employment programs to navigate the welfare system and suggest suitable work, whereas employed respondents wanted support to maintain work, indicating the need to better tailor service provision according to the needs of job-seekers. Combined with our findings from the participant perspective, improving understanding of these relationships through in-depth analysis and reporting of DES program data would provide better evidence to support current DES reform and improve models of service delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Devine
- Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne 3010, Australia; (M.S.); (S.D.); (C.V.); (R.B.); (A.K.)
| | - Marissa Shields
- Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne 3010, Australia; (M.S.); (S.D.); (C.V.); (R.B.); (A.K.)
| | - Stefanie Dimov
- Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne 3010, Australia; (M.S.); (S.D.); (C.V.); (R.B.); (A.K.)
| | - Helen Dickinson
- School of Business, University of New South Wales, Canberra 2610, Australia;
| | - Cathy Vaughan
- Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne 3010, Australia; (M.S.); (S.D.); (C.V.); (R.B.); (A.K.)
| | - Rebecca Bentley
- Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne 3010, Australia; (M.S.); (S.D.); (C.V.); (R.B.); (A.K.)
| | - Anthony D. LaMontagne
- School of Health and Social Development, Deakin University, Melbourne 3125, Australia;
| | - Anne Kavanagh
- Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne 3010, Australia; (M.S.); (S.D.); (C.V.); (R.B.); (A.K.)
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