Experiences of Welfare to Work Legislation
The Federal Government’s Welfare to Work legislation came into effect on 1 July 2006. Since this legislation was first proposed by the Government, disability advocates were concerned about its potential adverse effects on people with disabilities. Within the first few months of its implementation, it appeared that many of the concerns were indeed eventuating. There are clear links between meaningful employment and mental health, and evidence has shown that for many people with a mental illness, meaningful and fulfilling work can aid recovery and help reconnect people with society.Whilst the purported aim of the Welfare to Work legislation is to promote employment, including for those with disabilities, it does little to actually enable the placement of people into meaningful roles, and instead takes a big stick approach to ensuring compliance with requirements. The project comprised a series of facilitated focus groups/consultations with: a) consumers, b) carers, and c) mental health and disability employment staff, to find out their experience of the employment and welfare environment during the first 12 months of the legislation, as well as recommendations for MHCC action in the area.