ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This resource was developed by the Resource Project Officer, Dr Jesse Shipway, in conjunction with the National Disability Coordination Officer (NDCO) Program in Tasmania and a Project Advisory Committee. This committee had representation from the University of Tasmania, Tasmanian Polytechnic, Mental Health Council of Tasmania, Advocacy Tasmania, Wise Employment, CRS Australia and Choose Employment. The Project Team would like to thank Keith Mahar not only for his foreword but also his considered contributions to the development of the material. Also thanks to Red Jelly for their creative input and support of the resource. This resource was funded by the Australian Government Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations under the National Disability Coordination Officer Program. For more information about this resource, please contact: Debbie Hindle National Disability Coordination Officer Southern Tasmania C/- University of Tasmania Private Bag 2, Hobart TAS 7000 Ph: (03) 6226 1796 Mobile: 0419 364 585 Darlene McLennan National Disability Coordination Officer North & North West Tasmania C/- University of Tasmania Locked Bag 1335, Launceston TAS 7250 Ph: (03) 6324 3758 Mobile: 0419 154 368
Identifying your personal values is an important part of a successful career-related values In this context, the word ‘value’ refers to how you feel about the work itself and the contribution it makes to society. Most people who pursue work that lines up with their values feel satisfied and successful in their careers. Work values can be divided into two functional categories. Intrinsic values are those that relate to a specific interest in the activities of the work itself, or to the benefits that the work contributes to society. Extrinsic values relate to the favourable conditions that accompany an occupational choice, such as physical setting, earning potential, and other external features. Most people, in order to feel truly satisfied with their work, must find some personal intrinsic value in it. The following is a list of personal values that many people have identified as being important to them in their careers. To begin exploring your own personal work values, rate each listed with the following scale and add other values you consider essential to your list.
1 – Things I value VERY MUCH 2 – Things I VALUE 3 – Things I DON’T VALUE very much Help Society Do something which contributes to improving the world we live in Help Others Be directly included in helping other people, either individually or in small groups Public Contact Have a lot of day-to-day contact with the public Work with Others Work as a team member toward common goals Work Alone Do projects by myself, with limited contact with others Competition Engage in activities which pit my abilities against others Make Decisions Have the power to decide courses of action and policies Work Under Pressure Work in situations where time pressure is prevalent Influence People Be in a position to influence the attitudes or opinions of other people Knowledge Engage in the pursuit of knowledge and understanding Work Mastery Become an expert in whatever work I do Artistic Creativity Engage in creative artistic expression General Creativity Have the opportunity to create new programs, materials, or organisational structures Aesthetics Participate in studying or appreciating the beauty of things, ideas, etc Supervision Have a job in which I am directly responsible for the work of others Change and Variety Have work activities which frequently change Precision Work Work in situations where attention to detail and accuracy are very important Stability Have a work routine and job duties that are largely predictable Security Be assured of keeping my job and receiving satisfactory compensation
Security Be assured of keeping my job and receiving satisfactory compensation Recognition Physical Challenge Do activities that use my physical capabilities Independence WORK VALUES AUDIT Add others which are important to you. My five most essential values: 1. Be publicly recognised for the high Be able to determine the nature quality of my work Fast Pace Work in circumstances where work must be done rapidly of my work without significant direction from others Moral Fulfilment Feel that my work contributes 2. 3. Excitement Experience a high degree of (or frequent) to a set of moral standards which I feel are very important excitement in the course of my work Adventure Have work duties which require frequent risk-taking Financial Gain Have a high likelihood of achieving very great monetary rewards for my work Community Live where I can participate in community affairs Time Freedom Be able to work according to my own schedule 4. 5. Source: Once you’ve done this audit, you might be in a better position to narrow down your work targets.
You’ll probably need to think about the kinds of employment that fit with your values. If financial rewards are at the top of your list, applying for work in an aid agency might not be a great idea. Working as a gardener might not suit you if you like a fast-paced environment. You’ve already on your values in choosing and completing your certificate, degree or diploma. If you already know what you want to do, please don’t feel obliged to use the values tool. Like everything else in this resource, it’s strictly optional. Ryan’s Story Ryan turned 51 in August. When he was a little kid something bad happened to him that he doesn’t like talking about. The doctors called it trauma and now they say he suffers from stress disorder. Ryan’s had mental health issues all his life. He can count on one hand the years when his health has been plain sailing. But Ryan never gave in to his condition. Over the years he built a strong support network made up of friends, family and counsellors. He spent time in hospitals in Tasmania and interstate. He worked more jobs than he can count but never got a qualification. Finally this year, he completed a Certificate IV in Counselling and landed a job at a Job Network straight away. Even though he was really excited to be offered a role so quickly, Ryan found his anxiety build as the start date for the job drew nearer. When his first day arrived, Ryan was a wreck. His hands were shaking and his thoughts were racing. He knew he couldn’t go to work in that state so he contacted his own Disability Employment Services provider and for help. His case manager helped him calm down and asked if he’ d disclosed his mental health issues when he applied for the job. Ryan said he had disclosed so his case manager simply called the workplace and told them what had happened. Ryan went to see his psychiatrist who changed his medication. Two weeks later he started at the job. post- traumatic
PART-TIME, CASUAL OR FULL-TIME WORK It’s important for everyone to look after their health and this is especially true for people who’ve had a mental health issue. Even if you’re fully recovered, working part-time or casually is one way to give yourself a good work-life balance. There’s been a lot of research done recently on the idea of wellness. Wellness means keeping your body and mind in good shape so you can function at as close to an optimum level as is realistic and thus have a better chance of reaching your potential. Mental health is a physical condition as well as a mental one. Your brain is an organ like your heart or your lungs and it’s a good idea to keep it in good working Reaching your potential doesn’t mean going so hard that you burn out. It’s all about balance. Getting exercise, taking time off for recreation and staying on good terms with your friends and family can all be important of the picture. If you have a more solitary life, you might have some other techniques like exercise or meditation for staying reasonably calm and happy about things. For lots of people, optimum performance can mean part-time work and lots of time for rest and recuperation. Choosing part-time or casual work can help you enjoy your work more. Staying well is important for everyone who has a lived experience of mental illness and working in a flexible or part-time capacity should give you more time to work on your wellness. You can spend time doing things like exercising, going fishing, helping out your friends and family and doing more cooking, repairs and gardening at home. If you do more around the house and spend your free time doing a budget and looking for bargains, you’ll probably save money too. days, the workplace is pretty open to flexible working arrangements and you’ll probably find plenty of opportunities to choose part-time employment. But this does depend a bit on the sector in which you hope to be employed. From what we’ve heard, building sites, for instance, are still pretty closed to the idea of part-time work. This comes down to values as well: if you aren’t all that materialistic and don’t need a lot of disposable income, you could be happier in a part-time role. You’ll also have more time then to act out some of your values in volunteer work or art or sport.
A person with a mental illness should only work at low stress jobs that require no interpersonal contact MYTH BUSTED People with a mental illness can perform high stress jobs if they have a high stress tolerance, learn effective coping mechanisms and manage their illness well. Interpersonal contact at work can have restorative effects for people with a lived experience of mental illness. SOURCES OF STRESS Physical environment, social environment, life transitions and physical changes, thoughts and self-talk, gender differences and roles STRESS REDUCTION TECHNIQUES Relaxation, adopting a constructive mental pattern, structured problem solving, normal sleep, reducing alcohol, coffee consumption, making healthy choices FIGHT OR FLIGHT RESPONSE BREAKING THE CYCLE
Nick’s I find things are looking bright these days. I’ve finished my Social Work degree and have my mind set on one day working in social research. But it’s been a challenging and scary ride at times. I have suffered a long-term battle with depression. I’ve seen periods of extreme highs and severe lows, which has made it hard for me to find a balance in life. During university, I struggled with a lot of social barriers. I had abysmal self-esteem, would set off the anxiety. I suffered some paranoia and would over-analyse interactions with people, thinking they were making fun of me or didn’t like me. Eventually I just isolated myself from any social setting that made me feel like that. I have experienced dark hours, some of which are Leaving university and having to find work was stressful and frustrating, and I constantly questioned where I was heading. I had no purpose or self-esteem. I felt like I was stuck in a trench. I was disappointed in myself for not being able to cope with life’s challenges the way I expected I should. The longer I was unemployed, the deeper my depression, which eventually led to suicidal thoughts. I felt like I was plummeting fast and was scared about what I might do, so I took myself down to the mental health services to get professional help. This eventually led me to having a Job Capacity Assessment (JCA) to help determine the most It was here that I met my CRS Australia Vocational Rehabilitation Consultant, Helene, who worked with me to address my barriers to employment and set a goal to work towards. I participated in a vocational program to help me explore my job interests lie. Having a job goal has given me direction and a focus, something I have lacked in the past. I am actively searching for suitable jobs and doing volunteer work, which is helpful to put some of the skills I’m learning with Helene into practice. CRS Australia has taught me how to and allowed me to find a purpose in life. I’m feeling as good as I’ve ever felt and I’m looking forward to what’s ahead.
THE INTERVIEW It’s important to try not to get too stressed out before interviews. A little bit of anxiety is normal for most people and can help you focus your energies, but if you start to panic you should probably take some preventative steps: you could talk to someone in your support network, do some mindfulness exercises or regulate your breathing. It be an idea here to remind yourself of your achievements so far. You could remind yourself of your strengths and your skills and your knowledge and tell yourself, I have a right to apply for this job and a right to get it too. Mindfulness is a stress reduction technique that has its roots in Buddhist meditation practices. The evidence so far is that it can really reduce anxiety and stress at a moderate level. If you’re having panic attacks or experiencing more serious turbulence you should probably see your GP, psychologist or psychiatrist for help. For an introduction to mindfulness you can follow this link: HandoutMindfulnessinEverydayLife.pdf Only employers who are Good Samaritans will hire someone with mental illness. MYTH BUSTED People with a mental illness can be just as productive as anyone else and add good to the workplaces in which they operate. Employers hire people with mental illness because they earn their keep.
Before your interview, you might want to make a decision about whether you intend to disclose – this might be the last chance you’ll get before you start work if you’ve decided that you intend to ‘come out’. If you do decide to disclose, we think it’s a good idea to work out what you’re going to say before you approach your employer so you’re not caught out when the time comes to describe your situation. But remember employers are not allowed to take your condition into account unless it stops you from performing the ‘inherent requirements’ of the job (more about that later...). Further information is available here: askthesiteqandas/ mentalandemotionalhealthqandas/ interviewpanicattack documents/Work_and_Mental_Illness.pdf copingwithsad/a/jobinterviewtips.htm work/How_to_prepare_for_and_attend_ interviews/Pages/home.aspx work/Pages/home.aspx The stress of working is likely to cause relapses for someone with severe mental illness. MYTH BUSTED Stress is an issue for people with a mental illness but it can be managed through techniques like mindfulness, meditation, exercise, medication and therapy.
DISCRIMINATION The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) ensures that a person with a disability has a right to the same employment opportunities as a person without a disability. The DDA makes it illegal for an employer to discriminate against someone on the grounds of disability. So if you disclose at an interview or in a written application, you can’t just be crossed off the list because of your mental illness. Employers must equal employment opportunities to everyone. This means that if a person with a disability can do the essential activities or ‘inherent requirements’ of a job, he or she should have just as much chance to do that job as anyone else. For example, an essential activity or ‘inherent requirement’ for a clerical job is to follow detailed instructions. But it is not an ‘inherent requirement’ to take these instructions orally. If your mental illness means you are more comfortable receiving written instructions, the employer might be required to make this ‘workplace adjustment’. They may also have to make ‘training adjustments’ to help you perform the role. It’s important to remember that you are legally required to disclose your condition if you think it will impact on your capacity to perform the inherent requirements of the job. If you don’t disclose your condition, the employer won’t be able to makes the necessary changes to your role and there could be other legal implications. However the DDA does not require workplace changes to be made if this will major difficulties or unreasonable costs to a person or organisation. This is called ‘unjustifiable hardship’. If your mental illness could only be accommodated by major changes to the role or the workplace, your employer may be entitled to refuse you the position. If you feel that you have been discriminated against because of your mental health issue, you should seek advice from the Australian Human Rights Commission. You may also decide to contact Legal Aid, your local community legal service or a private lawyer.
It might be useful to think about the first week of work in light of your decision to disclose your illness or keep it to yourself. If you haven’t disclosed, you’ll start work through whatever induction process is in place. You won’t be given special treatment or assistance from occupational health and safety staff. You might be a bit on edge here because you could need a cover story for your condition. If you have a history of missing work or a patchy work record you might need an explanation for the time you’ve had out. If you’ve never had your progress interrupted by your illness – if you’ve gone straight through tertiary studies, for instance, without missing semesters or years – this might not be too big of a challenge. If you have disclosed, you may be wary of people making comments about your illness and you might get told that your role has been modified or can be modified to suit your strengths. Remember, you have landed that job because of your skills and strengths – we you should focus on them. Perhaps the most important to do in your first week is to stay well. All the stimulation and new contacts and tasks are probably going to be taxing on your system. We suggest that you remember the stress relief tips from pages 34–35 of this resource. We suggest that you make good use of your support network and try to get on friendly terms with other staff members who seem understanding or have a lot in common with you. Your manager will probably go easy on you in the couple of days but this could vary across trades and professions. If you get stressed out or symptomatic, we think you should do your best to stay at work. Try your best not to miss a day in your first week. If it all gets too much, go outside for a walk or tell your manager that you’re getting a bit overloaded with new information. They’ll probably be understanding if they see you doing your best to stay on task. Remember that it’s okay to muddle through and make
RESOURCES BIBLIOGRAPHY Taking Care of Yourself and Your Family: A Resource Book for Good Mental Health by John Ashfield, Peacock Publications, Norwood, 2007 Beyond Blue Website: SANE wellness group: Job access: Black Dog Institute: gettinghelp/helpfullinks.cfm See Me (Anti-stigma website): Australian Network on Disability: Employability: Opportunities for disabled Australian Disability Clearing House on Education and Training, <http://www.adcet. edu.au/View.aspx?id=5826>, viewed 12 October 2010. Australian Government, Job Access, <http:// jobaccess.gov.au/Jobseekers/Getting_work/ Why_work/Pages/home.aspx>, viewed 2 October 2010. < mentalhealth/publishing.nsf/Content/ mental-illness-employment-1>, viewed 6 October 2010. Jobs in Jeopardy, <http://www.centrelink. gov.au/internet/internet.nsf/services/jobs_ jeopardy.htm>,viewed 28 September 2010. Australian Network on Disability, Fact Sheet, < Ebersold, S. OECD, ‘Transition to tertiary education and to employment of young adults with mental health problems’, <http:// pdf> viewed 2 Oct 2010. Houghton, A., L. Piggot & J. Armstrong, ‘Disabled Graduates DP 11’, DEIP Disability Effective Inclusion Policies. Hyun, J., B. & S Lustig, ‘Graduate student mental health: needs assessment and utilization of counselling services’, Journal of College Student Development, vol.7, no. 3, 2006 , pp. 247–66. < qa3752/is_200605/ai_n17175771/>, viewed 6 October 2010. Leff, J., & R. Wagner, Social Inclusion of People with Mental Illness, Cambridge University