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Supporting People with Mental Health Conditions: The Three Legged Stool for Successful Employment

Despite being highly motivated to work, at 13% participation Australians with complex mental health conditions have the lowest employment rate compared to other disabilities and health conditions (1).
WISE IDEA, a centre of best practice in mental health and employment and an initiative of WISE, is committed to shifting this. “Working to get better rather than getting better to work” (2) is a principle that underpins WISE IDEA’s approach to supporting people achieve inclusion through employment. WISE IDEA has developed innovative, evidence-based programs that translate research into practice by assisting people with employment goals and building the capability of the inclusive employment workforce supporting them, and their employers.
This presentation explores WISE IDEA programs in the context of Inclusive Employment Australia (IEA) settings where Occupational Therapists (OTs) skilled in mental health and employment work with:
1) job seekers/employees to develop tailored vocational plans including cognition and sensory preferences, targeted support and workplace adjustments: enabling optimal employment experiences, and
2) frontline inclusive employment staff and employers through building capability by providing timely support and advice to build confidence and knowledge

The presentation will provide the audience with a deeper understanding of the:
•value of coordinated support between jobseekers/employees, inclusive employment providers, employers and OTs in improving service efficiency, mental health and employment outcomes,
•innovative, cross‑sector ways of working: moving beyond siloed practice, and
•evidence‑based role of OTs in delivering tailored, holistic employment supports that build skills, knowledge and confidence for people with mental health conditions, their inclusive employment providers and employers

Presenters

ShannonLangConference

Shannon Lang

Director, WISE IDEA, WISE

Shannon Lang is an Occupational Therapist. She joined WISE in 2022 to lead and develop WISE’s initiative, WISE IDEA: Centre of Best Practice in Mental Health and Employment. She has long recognised the positive impact employment can have on mental health and the importance of collaboration in this area between state and federal support services. Shannon has represented the mental health sector on Victorian Government committees and worked in senior leadership and management roles in mental health, and health, for over 20 years. Strategy, planning and staff capability development have been key areas of responsibility over those years, and Shannon is now applying these skills and her commitment to achieving sustainable employment and associated quality of life and social and economic inclusion for people living with mental health conditions.

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Ms Jessie Martins

State Manager, Inclusive Employment Australia, WISE, WISE

Australia

Jessie brings 20 years of experience in Employment Services, including over a decade in leadership roles. She focuses on building structured, consistent programs that drive sustainable employment outcomes and enhance the customer experience. Her operational leadership experience spans performance management, capability development, and embedding best-practice approaches across teams. Jessie works closely with managers, clinicians, and executive stakeholders to align strategy with delivery, ensuring programs are practical, effective, and scalable. She is committed to supporting individuals into meaningful work by enabling and guiding teams to deliver high-quality, person-centred services that improve independence and quality of life through WISE programs.