Local Employment Access Partnerships (LEAP) Project
Local Employment Access Partnerships (LEAP) have been established in 6 local areas of Victoria. The partnerships typically include the Area Mental Health Service, PDRS Services (outreach and day programs), Disability Employment Services, and other related agencies that support job seekers with mental illness.
The LEAP partnerships promote service integration and provide wrap-around support for people with mental illness who are preparing for paid employment. The partnerships meet on a quarterly basis and also collaborate to deliver the Health Optimisation Program for Employment (HOPE).
HOPE assists job seekers with a mental illness to take greater control of their wellbeing. The HOPE program has been adapted by SoFA and Frameworks for Health, from an existing evidence-based psychoeducational program.
HOPE is delivered jointly by a mental health peer educator and a facilitator. Facilitators are sourced from within the LEAP partnership and trained by Frameworks for Health. The HOPE program is delivered in all 6 of the LEAP partnership areas: Coburg, Northcote, Footscray, Dandenong, Prahran, and Maryborough/Bendigo.
LEAP is a 3 year project that will run until June 2012. During this time, 340+ job seekers with a mental illness will be supported to manage anxiety and other symptoms and improve job readiness skills to secure and sustain employment.
The Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations is funding the project.
For further information contact Caitlin McDowell
