WORKability II: Solutions – People with Disability in the Open Workplace

[Taken from Executive Summary] People with disability represent a significant proportion of Australia\u27s working age population (16.6%), yet they participate in the workforce at lower rates, they are less likely to be employed when they do attempt to participate, and they will earn less if they do get a job. This has been the case for a long time and the problem is not just ongoing, it seems to be getting worse. The National Inquiry into Employment and Disability (the Inquiry) was launched on 4 March 2005 to address this important issue. The Inquiry\u27s interim report - WORKability I: Barriers - makes it abundantly clear that people with disability face higher barriers to participation and employment than many other groups in Australian society. This final report - WORKability II: Solutions - focuses on how to address these barriers and ensure equality of opportunity for people with disability in the open workplace

False Beliefs About Asylum Seekers to Australia: The Role of Confidence in Such Beliefs, Prejudice, and the Third Person Effect

There has been much controversy about the treatment of asylum seekers in Australia in recent years, with the Australian Government continuing to enforce a very hard-line stance on asylum seekers who arrive to Australia by boat. The present study examined attitudes towards asylum seekers using 164 Australian community members during June 2015 by way of questionnaire. Our primary research question involved how five variables predicted false beliefs about asylum seekers. Specifically, we measured prejudice, the third-person effect, and confidence in the answers given to false beliefs about asylum seekers. Regression results indicated that the main predictors of false beliefs were right-wing political orientation, prejudice, confidence in espousing false beliefs, and the third-person effect (politicians). Furthermore, most of our community participants accepted a large number of false beliefs as being true, with approximately two-thirds of our participants scoring above the midpoint. This reflects similar findings over the last decade or so. Our results indicate that, if one believes in bottom-up change, a more nuanced approach needs to be undertaken with community anti-prejudice interventions

The impact of restructuring mental health services on occupational therapy

Major reform of mental health services in Australia has been taking place. In Queensland, the Queensland Mental Health Plan set out specific objectives and strategies for implementing mental health services reform which have had an impact on the professional role of staff working in those services. A pilot study, using a qualitative design, was conducted to examine the impact of restructuring mental health services on occupational therapy. The results of this study indicate a commitment to the profession of occupational therapy, enthusiasm, and a highly perceived sense of competence in and contributions to mental health