abstract: 'This paper evaluates the effectiveness of disability employment policy in assisting people with psychiatric disability to find, or return to, paid work. We argue that the poor employment outcomes from current programs establish the need for a paradigmatic shift in the form of a state-provided Job Guarantee (JG) for people with psychiatric disability. In the absence of measures to generate suitable jobs, forthcoming changes to the eligibility criteria for Disability Support Pension will create risks rather than opportunities. Under the JG, the Federal Government would maintain a `buffer stock'' of minimum wage, public sector jobs to provide secure paid employment for this highly disadvantaged group. The role of the state in this alternative model is two fold. First, the state must provide the quantum of JG jobs required. Second, the state must ensure the design of jobs is flexible enough to meet the heterogeneous and variable support needs of workers. This will require effective integration of the JG scheme with mental health, rehabilitation and employment support services.' affiliation: 'Bill, A (Corresponding Author), Univ Newcastle, Ctr Full Employment \& Equ, Newcastle, NSW 2308, Australia. Univ Newcastle, Ctr Full Employment \& Equ, Newcastle, NSW 2308, Australia.' author: Bill, Anthea and Cowling, Sally and Mitchell, William and Quirk, Victor author_list: - family: Bill given: Anthea - family: Cowling given: Sally - family: Mitchell given: William - family: Quirk given: Victor da: '2023-09-28' doi: 10.1002/j.1839-4655.2006.tb00007.x files: [] issn: 0157-6321 journal: AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF SOCIAL ISSUES keywords: mental health; supported employment; mental health policy language: English month: WIN number: '2' number-of-cited-references: '21' pages: 209-220 papis_id: deebf7b06c897d23e2c659f064b0c605 ref: Bill2006employmentprograms times-cited: '6' title: 'Employment programs for people with psychiatric disability: the case for change' type: Article unique-id: WOS:000239052400006 usage-count-last-180-days: '0' usage-count-since-2013: '2' volume: '41' web-of-science-categories: Social Issues year: '2006'