An experiential discussion to barriers to employment, long-term unemployment effects and exploration of innovative services. /

Paper presented by Brooklyn Storme and Rebecca Sullivan from the Brotherhood of St Laurence, at "The full employment imperative : proceedings of the 5th Path to Full Employment Conference and 10th National Conference on Unemployment, 10-12 December 2003, the University of Newcastle, Australia." Edited by Ellen Carlson, Callaghan, N.S.W. Centre of Full Employment and Equity, University of Newcastle 2003

Abstract: Unemployment entails a complex range of effects, from social to emotional, and biological. Social effects of unemployment can include social isolation and relationship issues, emotional effects can include mental. health problems such as depression and anxiety, while biological effects can include sleep disturbance, nutritional or dietary changes as well as physiological responses to depression and anxiety. The present paper explores psychological long-term unemployment effects, including barriers to employment, from the perspective of Psychologists and Case Managers who work within the Personal Support Programme, a federally funded program of the Department of Family and Community Services. In addition to a presentation on current trends in barriers to employment, the presentation will explore innovations in service delivery to meet the needs of this client population. The presentation is designed to be accessible to professionals from the fields of mental health, community development, social work, employment sector and public services, such as Centrelink. Information packs will be distributed that contain useful resources for follow-up.