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.

Yes. People with mental health conditions are able to work as effectively as any other person in the workplace, with appropriate levels of support. In some cases it may be necessary to adopt a flexible approach to recruitment in order to achieve the best job match to suit both the employer and the job seeker.

Yes. People with mental health conditions can live fulfilling lives and manage their health in a variety of ways e.g. appropriatel levels of support, participation in effective counselling activities and well managed clinical support.

As with any other person in the community there is no one job fits all. People with mental health conditions can work successfully in a wide range of jobs and industries. As with all jobseekers, suitability for a particular job depends on individual skills, abilities and personal attributes. Staff at Advance Employment work with job seekers to ensure that the best possible job match is achieved.

Research has shown that 90% of companies reported no effect on insurance premiums. (Firms, 1976: Disability Employment Centre)

In Victoria in 1991 only 4% of employees with a disability claimed for accidents compared with 14.7% claimed by non-disabled employees. (Occupational health & Safety Report on People With Disabilities, 1991)

Advance Employment has been operating since 1996 and in that time only two people who have made small work cover claims and neither of which were related to mental health conditions.

Advance Employment pays close attention to workplace health and safety. As with any other employee you will be required to ensure that the job seeker particpates in a safety induction upon commencment at the workplace. Employment Consultants can provide one-on-one WH&S training for job seekers if necessary; remember as an employer you have a duty of care to ensure that all relevant safety issues are addressed.

No. Sometimes job seekers are anxious when commencing work especially after a lengthy period out of the workforce; but Advance Employment recognises that employers have time constraints; therefore it is the role of the employment consultant to provide any additional on-the-job support that may be required to ensure that job seeker settles into the workplace with as little disruption to the business as possible.

However remember as an employer you also have a duty of care to provide induction training for all new employees.

Job seekers with mental health conditions want, as much as anybody else to achieve job satisfaction that is gained from performing quality work. Quality of work is as important to their reputation as it is to the employer’s reputation. In preparation for commencing a job the employment consultant works with the job seeker to ensure that he/she understands what is expected at the workplace.

Yes, it is a common myth that people with mental health conditions are only able to perform simple, repetitive jobs. People with mental health conditions are employed successfully in all areas of the workforce. Many are trade or tertiary qualified and hold, or are capable of holding, senior managerial positions.

During a formal job interview questions should be framed, as for any other job applicant, to ascertain the individual’s ability to perform the essential requirements of the job.

Questions relating to disability may be asked in the context of what adjustments may be required to assist the person to do the job. Remember, as with all potential employees, inappropriate and unnecessary questioning may be in breach of the Commonwealth Disability Discrimination Act or other state legislation.

The employment consultant will work with the job seeker to develop a plan that addresses how personal information may be handled.

Not all people with mental health conditions take medication. If a job seeker is taking medication that affects his/her ability to operate machinery this information will be forwarded to the employer as safety in the workplace is of paramount importance.

Conact Advance Employment if you have any concerns at all about the employee's well being, otherwise the procedure is the same as for any other employee.

Privacy and confidentiality are very important, therefore you can only provide information to other workers that the job seeker has agreed to share, as they have the same right to privacy as other staff.

The employment consultants will work closely with the employer and the job seeker to assist in the formation of friendships at the workplace. It is very helpful if there is someone at the workplace who is happy to work as a mentor to assist the job seeker to settle into the workplace. Work is a primary factor in Social Inclusion for people with mental health conditions and as such fitting into the workplace is very important.

Just like anyone else employed at the business, that is, treated with dignity and respect.