STAMINA IN A SOCIAL DEMOCRACY

 SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC HEART: 
Australian Labor Party Parliamentary representatives gather in Ipswich for a

COMMUNITY CABINET 
Tuesday 10th July, 2012

    

Oxley MP Bernie Ripoll, Prime Minister Gillard and Blair MP Shayne Neumann
Announce a new cancer clinic at Springfield.

 AT REDBANK PLAINS STATE HIGH SCHOOL local citizens
(including me) pose questions to government ministers, with PM as top
 Principal in masterful form.

BEFORE THE FORUM PEOPLE COULD APPLY TO SPEAK TO A MINISTER

FOR 10 MINUTES!

MY NEIGHBOUR AND FRIEND CAME ALONG WITH ME TO MEET THE MINISTER FOR MENTAL HEALTH, AGEING AND SOCIAL INCLUSION 

(that's a good summary of both of us!)

Instead of the Hon.Mark Butler we had to gain the ear of his 

Parliamentary Secretary, Catherine King, MP for Ballarat, (centre).

Elise and I were there to respond to the recent published Report and Recommendations of 

WORK WANTED: Workplace Participation
by People with Mental Health Disabilities. 

Mental illness is the single largest cause of disability in Australia.

Mental disorders account for 13.1 per cent of Australia's total 

burden of disease and injury and are estimated to cost the

economy $20billion annually in lost productivity and labour 

participation (House Standing Committee on Education&Employment 

chaired by Amanda Rishworth MP).

This is what was prepared, presented and passed on for the Minister.
EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE

• More job agencies and case-workers specialising in people with psychiatric disabilities. Currently agencies mainly deal with people needing literacy and work-ready preparations for low-skilled placements.
• People with higher competencies and education, or not receiving DSP due to their spouse's income are often side-lined.
• Centrelink restricts people going to appropriate job agencies suited to them by having boundaries; the closest assistance for people with psychiatric conditions is in Brisbane yet I had to waste time and resources going to agencies that didn't 'fit' even if I was keen to attend a more relevant one.(obviously like politicians, it's all about encroaching on territory)

• Provision of DVD to workplaces on working with people with mental illness - include about extra sensitivity, less resilience to cope with bullying and negativity.
• Support worker supplied to debrief situations that may cause resignation or sacking, also liase with employer after recovery from episodes.

DISCLOSURE - STIGMA

The Report makes it clear the issue of stigma of people with mental illness which is the major barrier to employment.

• All staff need to be aware of anti-discrimination legislation and training modules and workshops provided to make it clear. Halting rosters because somebody disclosed they had bi-polar until their doctor fills out a form of physical competencies whilst their co-workers continue is discriminatory(and I experienced this in the Department of Disability Services).

CONSIDER JOB SHARING

• THE BLAIR ELECTORATE - job opportunities are limited, mainly aged care, disability services, corrections and child-care, some retail, but there are many talented and intelligent people with skills. But these jobs also have high stressors, pressures and expectations which can't be met by people with my illness without understanding by co-workers and management.

SMALL BUSINESS GRANTS/STARTER LOANS

• As a square peg in a round hole in my curriculum vitae, but with a wealth of creative experience and ideas a scheme to help start up a project or small business(similar to New Enterprise Incentive Scheme).
• It's expensive trying to find work - you need a car, mobile phone, clothes. The investment or credit needed is risky when a lot of work in Blair is of a casual, ad-hoc nature.

CENTRELINK DISCRETIONS

• People with a mental illness who are required to Report income for Disability Support Pension ought to be reminded if they forget their date due to symptoms of their condition, and not cut off!
• Non-compliance can be avoided by employing a social worker to report on their behalf!

RETURN TO WORK AFTER RECOVERY FROM EPISODES

• Self-esteem and confidence could be boosted by assistance of a case-worker who can liase with an employer in a previous work-place -  a second chance.

For various reasons I have always found it difficult to find a job, and then keep it - it used to be youth age discrimination, no experience and now 40 something age discrimination and too much experience are a general rule of excuse!
In many locales, my creative ideas and independent spirit are seen as a threat; the syndrome of the square peg in a round hole...(google it)

I HAVE THUS HAD THE TIME TO WRITE, BE A FULL-TIME MOTHER, AND CREATIVE PARTNER 
IN PUPPETRY WITH MY HUSBAND.  THERE'S NO MONEY IN IT YET, BUT NOW  I HAVE EMBARKED 
ON THE STORY OF 'LOVE IN AN ENGLISH REPUBLIC'.
 IT'S THE TUG OF WAR BETWEEN THE IDEAS AND POWERS OF PARLIAMENT AND ROYALISTS. 
IT GOES TO THE  WESTMINSTER ORIGIN OF OUR AUSTRALIAN PARLIAMENT, AND THE ORDINARY
PEOPLE WHO WANT TO HAVE A SAY IN HOW THE COMMON-WEALTH IS DISTRIBUTED.

I BETTER GET ON WITH IT BEFORE  THEY FIND ME A 'REAL JOB'...(laughter)