1. The document discusses a study in Queensland, Australia that aims to enhance employment outcomes for people with serious mental illnesses by co-locating employment specialists within community mental health teams. 2. Preliminary results from an early trial show that 54% of clients receiving integrated employment and mental health services found competitive jobs within 12 months, compared to 36% of clients receiving standard brokered employment assistance. 3. Integrating employment specialists and mental health services has been well-received and shows promise based on international evidence, though long-term outcomes data is still being collected. Barriers to referring clients to employment services are being addressed.

1. Enhancing recovery and social inclusion through competitive employment: The Queensland Employment Specialist Initiative (ESI-12) Geoff Waghorn PhD The Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research (QCMHR) and The University of Queensland Supported by Queensland Health (The Directorate of Mental Health) and QCMHR

5. Labour force exclusion by diagnostic category Persons aged 15-64 years Not in the labour Force (%) Looking for work (%) Employed part-time or full-time (%) Source 1,2 Healthy Australians 19.1 4.0 76.9 Waghorn et al., 2009. Anxiety disorders 46.1 4.2 49.7 Waghorn et al., 2009. Mood disorders (excluding post-natal) 51.6 6.6 41.8 Waghorn et al., 2009. Bipolar affective disorder (with psychosis) [1998] 61.8 4.5 28.0 Jablensky et al., 1999; Waghorn et al., 2005 Psychotic disorders [1998] 75.2 3.7 21.1 Jablensky et al., 1999; Waghorn et al., 2002 Schizophrenia 73.5 10.7 15.9 Waghorn et al., 2009 1. Primary data source: Australian Bureau of Statistics Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers, N =36,088. One in 400 households sampled throughout Australia. 2. References available on request.

11. Disability Employment Services employment outcomes 1,2,3 DEN Funding level Employment milestone Psychological or Psychiatric (% attaining) All other disability categories (% attaining) Level 3 4 weeks employment 44.3 50.5 26 weeks employment 26.5 33.3 Level 4 4 weeks employment 40.8 48.0 26 weeks employment 24.0 35.2 1. Outcomes by 31 Dec 2007 for new clients entering from July 2005-30 June 2006 (n=6,750). 2. Unpublished data provided by DEEWR to QCMHR. 3. DEEWR (2007), Disability Employment Network Case-based Funding Report.

13. Positive Comments ‘ Extremely beneficial for clients and invaluable resource for adult community Mental Health Team’ (Referrer) ‘ Clients I have referred and have gained employment through the program feel it has been a positive experience, it has improved self-esteem and the quality of their lives’ (Referrers) ‘ It has been a major turning point in a change of focus for our clients. The buzz word now is work. This is new and helps motivate our clients to get out there and integrate’ (Referrer) ‘ Our goal was to achieve more consistent referral flow of consumers with a mental health condition and the project has provided a steady flow of consumers during a time when other similar services were having difficulties with referral flow’ (Team Leader) ‘ Most of our staff have reported positive interactions with clinical teams. Personally, I feel clinical teams have embraced this project and any that may have been skeptical initially, have seen the benefits and results and referrals to our program have been forthcoming’ (Team Leader) ‘ [I have achieved a] greater understanding regarding the capacity of clients to participate in competitive employment’ (Employment Consultant) ‘ Involvement with the Community team has been very positive and my involvement has included attending their team meeting and community events’ (Employment Consultant)

14. Top five reported barriers to referring clients to the IEP

15. Seven lowest reported barriers to referring clients to the IEP