Vocational Functioning among People with Psychiatric Disabilities Five to Seven Years after Receiving Supported Employment Services

The purpose of this study was to report the outcomes from a controlled trial of evidence-based supported employment for people with psychiatric disabilities, five to seven years after participation commenced. Eligible participants from the original multi-site trial of supported employment conducted during 2008-2010 in the South East Queensland region of Australia were contacted by telephone and invited to participate in a follow-up survey. Of the original 266 participants, 74 (27.8%) completed the five to seven year follow-up survey. The results show that the proportion employed during the multi-site trial decreased over five years from 42% employed at any time during the trial to 30% employed in the past six months. However, vocational goals and interests persisted over this time because 92% of those who were previously involved in the employment program continued to be vocationally active or interested in employment as a recovery goal for the future. These results support increasing the availability of more continuous employment services to Australians with psychiatric disabilities.