Working will help you to…

• Increase confidence
• Make new friends
• Be independent
• Have more money

Eligibility

To be eligible to register with Advance Employment a job seeker must have a diagnosed mental health condition and have participated in a Job Capacity Assessment (JCA), which is current for 2 years.  It is essential that a Medical Report be taken to the JCA appointment to ensure that an appropriate referral is made. 

Referral Process

A job seeker in receipt of the Disability Support Pension (DSP) must go directly to Centrelink, where he/she will be referred for a Job Capacity Assessment (JCA); this assessment is only related to determining work capacity, it will not trigger a full DSP review.

A job seeker in receipt of Newstart Allowance may register directly with Advance Employment or go to Centrelink, where a referral will be made for a Job Capacity Assessment (JCA). 
Once the JCA is completed, in both instances, the job seeker may request to be referred to Advance Employment Inc.

Programs

What happens when you get to Advance?

Attend initial interview and registration

Prepare Employment Assistance Plan and Resume

Skills assessment and training (if appropriate)

Job Search

Apply for Jobs

Prepare for Interviews

Interviews

Start Work

Ongoing Job Support

About Advance

Advance Employment Inc. is a not for profit Mental Health Community organisation funded by the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR).  Advance Employment is a specialist mental health Disability Employment Service (DES) service provider.  Advance has been in operation in the Townsville region since 1996.

Management and staff at Advance Employment realise that successful service delivery occurs as a result of positive and supportive relationships with job seekers based on dignity, trust and respect.
Service delivery is based on the philosophy and methodology of Dr William Glasser’s Choice Theory, Reality Therapy and Lead Management.

Philosophy

The team at Advance Employment works with the job seeker to determine employment of choice.  We offer a professional service based on many years of industry experience and knowledge that is tailored to meet the needs of both the job seeker and employer.

It is the policy of Advance Employment to establish and maintain a positive and supportive relationship with each job seeker based on dignity, trust and respect. That is, a service in which the job seeker takes the leading role in order to ensure that our mission statement is achieved...

"Advance Employment will promote, encourage, assist and support job seekers to improve their mental health in order to achieve meaningful, open employment through employment related opportunities."

A job seeker with a mental health condition has often lost his/her identity and suffered rejection and discrimination; Advance Employment works with him/her to ensure that a positive difference is made in his/her life.  This is achieved by using the principles of Choice Theory, Reality Therapy and Lead Management.  This philosophy nurtures and encourages the formation of a meaningful relationship, which empowers the job seeker to make more effective life choices.

Vision

“Making a difference through employment”

Values & Beliefs

Advance strives to provide a service where there is little distinction between management, staff and the job seeker, other than to respect individuality and to remember who is the job seeker and who is responsible for providing the service.

Advance Employment aims to always to see past the disability/label/diagnosis and focus on the job seeker’s strengths. The following values and beliefs are central to the services provided at Advance Employment; each job seeker is entitled to a service that promotes... 

• Recovery
• Human rights & social justice
• Respect & dignity.
• Physical, emotional, social, cultural and spiritual wellbeing.
• Participation and contribution in the formulation of policy and service delivery design
• Access to open employment opportunities of choice

Service Feedback

Advance Employment is committed to ensuring that job seekers receive every opportunity to achieve open and meaningful employment to this end Advance is always willing to receive feedback to improve service delivery.  If you wish to provide feedback regarding how Advance can improve service delivery you may…

• Give feedback directly to your Employment Consultant
• Leave written feedback in the Suggestion Box at Reception
• Talk/Write to the CEO or Operations Manager at…

Advance Employment Inc.
PO Box 789
Castletown
Hyde Park 4812 

How Do You Get A Job?

Your employment consultant will work with you to identify a range of open employment opportunities of your choice using a variety of methods, for example…

• Organising work trials
• Mailing job seeker profile/resumes to identified employers.
• Applying for advertised positions in the local newspaper.
• Registering with local labour hire companies if appropriate.
• Searching the Australian Job Search Website.
• Develop a personalised marketing plan.

What Happens When You Get A Job?

Your employment consultant will work with you to ensure that you transition into the workplace place smoothly by carrying out a Job Site Assessment and making sure that you are…

• aware of your job requirements
• paid at the award wage for the job that you are doing
• aware of your rights and responsibilities
• looking after your physical and mental health

When you are settled at your workplace you will also have the support of your Employment Consultant, who will offer a variety of job support options to maintain your employment, which may include...

• Contacting Centrelink to arrange changes to your DSP or New Start Payments.
• Offering on and off the job support to assist to overcome any barriers that you may face in the workplace.
• Negotiating with your employer regarding any issues of concern that may arise.
• Establishing strategies to assist you to get to and from work.
• Establishing strategies to assist you deal successfully with a range of workplace stress/issues that may cause some anxiety.

Testimonials

“The people at Advance Employment are great”  “They are very nice to talk to and they look after me very well”  “If I need any help they are there to help me”  “They helped me find the type of work I was looking for.  I tried different jobs before I found the work I was looking for and the staff at Advance supported me in my decisions to change jobs”.  “Thank you Advance Employment for helping me to get this job and for the support given to me during my employment”
“Being back in the workforce has changed my life.  I now have financial independence which has enabled me to purchase my first brand new car!    I am more confident, more outgoing and socially active and have high self esteem. Thank you Advance Employment! ”