In early 1998, the Howard Government overhauled Australia’s employment services, by dissolving the Commonwealth Employment System and replacing it with Job Network, now Job Services Australia. A network of private and community organisations are now contracted by the Federal Government to deliver employment services to unemployed job seekers on Government income support payments, as well as to employers. Mission Australia is one of these employment services organisations, a 150-year-old, not-for-profit organisation which has the stated aim of “Standing together with Australians in need, until they can stand for themselves”. Mission Australia provides services across a range of areas – employment and training, children and families, youth, and community housing – and delivers these through a nationwide team of over 3,800 people.
Mission Australia’s employment services assist people of all ages who have experienced barriers to employment, such as educational, personal or health-related issues, to gain the skills and confidence to find and keep a job. The organisation recognises that employment has the potential to change lives and can make a difference to a person’s health and wellbeing, financial situation and their social and family life, and works closely with government, businesses and training organisations across the nation to change lives, families and communities through employment.
The psychologist’s work
The client demographic referred for psychology services evolves and changes constantly, ranging from teenage school leavers experiencing social isolation and depression due to unemployment, through to redundant workers in their 50’s and 60’s dealing with loss issues and trying to come to terms with job seeking and the recruitment process. Women returning to the workforce after many years of child rearing are an emerging group.
The ‘long-term unemployed’ are given priority for psychological intervention and some of these clients have been unemployed for more than a decade. Working with these challenging and complex clients requires an integrated, multi-faceted approach and frequently involves liaison with Centrelink, Probation and Parole, Child Safety Officers, refuges and mental health services. Intergenerational unemployment is apparent in certain areas, and this can foster a familial ‘culture’ of remaining unemployed which manifests as an active resistance and sometimes even rejection of job offers. Engaging clients can present difficulties as many have negative pre-conceived views regarding psychologists. Sessions are presented as being an opportunity to develop skills to function better in life, including the skills to understand behaviours and choices and how to make changes to enable better outcomes.
Once clients gain employment they continue to receive psychological support for 26 weeks. Providing strategies to ensure a successful transition to sustainable employment is a critical aspect of the psychological work. Clients who may be accustomed to living from day-to-day and frequently in crisis, benefit from learning to plan, to have strategies to manage the unexpected, and to learn to cope without ‘catastrophising’ and regressing to avoidance and withdrawal. Assertive communication, the ability to set boundaries and state expectations – often with family members – is fundamental.
Stress, anxiety and depression are endemic to the unemployed cohort. Homelessness, domestic violence, drug and alcohol dependency, self-harm, and literacy and numeracy issues are commonplace. Undiagnosed mental health disorders are frequently encountered and often involve personality disorders. With the client’s consent, guidance is provided to Mission Australia staff to enable effective management and recommendations of appropriate employment options. Some clients are not suitable to mainstream employment services and ideally should be referred to Disability Employment Services, and, in collaboration with Centrelink staff, this is facilitated where possible.
| Mission Australia’s stated aims resonate with my own values as a psychologist – to assist clients to develop skills, and provide strategies and options so they may function successfully in their life – however ultimately it is the clients’ choice to determine their own destiny. My experience has been that Mission Australia delivers services according to organisational values – compassion, integrity, perseverance, respect and celebration. Psychology staff are supported with monthly peer supervision, generous study leave allowances and financial support for professional development activities. Mission Australia fosters an accomplished working environment and is the best employer I have encountered in my career. As a generalist psychologist, my journey has been fascinating and continues…I love my job! |