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Community mental health services

Long-Term Evaluation of Individual Placement and Support Program Yields Positive Employment Outcomes

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

A team of investigators from the Hunter New England Local Health District in Australia has conducted a 10-year evaluation of the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) employment program, a well-established evidence-based model of supported employment. The study aimed to examine program engagement and employment outcomes in an Australian community mental health service and identify differential employment patterns and opportunities for service development. The research found that program engagement was substantial, with a mean duration of 1.5 years, and that over a third of participants obtained employment, with 70.4% retaining their jobs for 13 weeks or more.

Key Takeaways:

  • The IPS program was in place at 9 community mental health service locations, with a governance model supporting program actualization and monitoring.
  • The majority of referrals (58%) were male, with a mean age of 33.9 years and a high prevalence of psychotic disorders (45.7%).
  • Program engagement was substantial, with a mean duration of 1.5 years.
  • Over a third (36.3%) of participants obtained employment, with 70.4% retaining their jobs for 13 weeks or more.
  • Logistic regression analyses revealed that the strongest predictor of employment was having fewer employment consultants.
  • Longitudinal outcomes suggested an increased likelihood of obtaining employment in rural locations.
  • The study found similar employment outcomes regardless of age, gender, or diagnosis.
  • The strongest predictor of employment was having fewer employment consultants (AOR = 3.20; p
  • The study provides insight into factors that may support IPS implementation in real-world settings.

Statistics:

  • Mean age of participants: 33.9 years
  • Mean duration of program engagement: 1.5 years
  • Percentage of participants who obtained employment: 36.3%
  • Percentage of participants who retained employment for 13 weeks or more: 70.4%
  • Percentage of participants who exited employment as independent workers: 31.4%
  • Mean duration of employment for those who obtained a job: 45.5 weeks
  • Odds ratio for employment with fewer employment consultants: 3.20

Sources:

  • A 10-year Multisite Evaluation of an Individual Placement and Support (IPS) Employment Program Based in an Australian Community Mental Health Service. Community Mental Health Journal, 2025.
  • NewsRx. Researchers from Hunter New England Local Health District Describe Findings in Mental Health Diseases and Conditions [A 10-year Multisite Evaluation of an Individual Placement and Support (IPS) Employment Program Based in an Australian Community ...]. Mental Health Weekly Digest. October 20, 2025; p 964.

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