People with psychosis face multiple barriers to employment that include demand-side phenomena such as inadequate labour demand and stigma, as well as supply-side characteristics such as clinical symptoms, educational disadvantage, co-morbidity with other disabilities and substance abuse, social isolation, an elevated likelihood of having a criminal record or history of homelessness and inadequate government employment policies. This paper proposes that the government provide a Job Guarantee consisting of jobs paid at the Federal Minimum Wage for all those who are willing and able to work. Job Guarantee jobs would provide purpose and a living wage while acting as a stepping-stone to other jobs. They would be tailored to the needs of individuals with psychosis through workplace adjustments that include flexible job design and working hours, graduated return to work, education of supervisors and co-workers, modifications to the physical environment and could incorporate vocational training to increase skills and productivity.
The Aftermath of the Crisis: Incorporating the 12th Path to Full Employment Conference and 17th National Conference on Unemployment. The Aftermath of the Crisis: Incorporating the 12th Path to Full Employment Conference and 17th National Conference on Unemployment: Proceedings: Refereed Papers (Newcastle, NSW 2-3 December, 2010) p. 79-91