Individual Placement and Support Program and the Digital Work and Study Service

The Department of Social Services (the department) funds the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) program and the Digital Work and Study Service (DWSS). These programs, also known as work and study and work and study online respectively, help people with mental ill health achieve their work or study goals. One-on-one support is provided through:

A formal diagnosis is not required to access these programs. The decision that a person has a mental illness can be established by centre clinical staff.

headspace centre work and study support for young people

The IPS program is delivered to young people in 50 headspace centres across Australia. To access headspace work and study support, a young person needs to:

  • be aged 12 to 25 years with mental ill health
  • be an eligible client of a participating headspace centre
  • have work, study or training goals and be facing barriers to achieving these goals
  • be willing to participate in the service
  • be able to make an informed decision to participate.

headspace work and study specialists provide one-on-one support and collaborate with a young person’s mental health workers. Support continues for as long as it is needed, even after work and study goals have been achieved.

There are many ways this program can help a young person, including:

  • looking for and applying for jobs
  • writing job applications or resumes
  • preparing for a job interview
  • transitioning into a new job or training course
  • looking at different study options
  • enroling in a course
  • navigating community support systems and government agencies such as Services Australia
  • balancing mental health and wellbeing with work and study.

Six headspace centres (IPS headspace centre work and study locations) are also piloting the use of peer workers to provide support to young people accessing work or study support. Peer workers have lived experience of mental health challenges and recovery while looking for work or studying. They work with headspace staff, other health workers, and members of the local community to support young people to reach their work and study goals.

headspace online work and study support for young people

The DWSS, also referred to as headspace online work and study, is delivered by web chat, video conferencing, email and phone to young people with mental ill health aged 15 to 25 years.

Online work and study can help young people overcome employment barriers, build confidence and find work or study in an area of interest and can help young people to:

  • connect with a headspace online work and study specialist
  • access online resources
  • talk to other young people in group chats
  • get support from a mental health clinician
  • link with a volunteer career mentor through the online Career Mentoring Service.

The mentoring service allows young people across Australia, to connect with a working professional who they may otherwise be unable to connect with. The service aims to support young people to build successful and fulfilling careers, develop resilience to navigate shifting job markets and transition between roles.

Head to Health centre IPS program for adults

Head to Health centre IPS program for adults is delivered in Midland, Western Australia and Darwin, Northern Territory. To access the Head to Health IPS program a person needs to:

  • be an adult experiencing mental ill health
  • be an eligible client of a participating Head to Health centre
  • have work, study or training goals
  • be willing to participate in the service
  • be able to make an informed decision to participate.

The IPS program connects adults with potential employers or helps them find study options to increase the chance of finding work. The program can also help people to get back into work or provide support to change career paths.

Other ways the IPS program for adults can help is to:

  • create or update a resume and cover letter
  • prepare for an interview
  • talk with a new employer about feeling safe at work
  • provide support when starting a new job or study opportunity
  • provide ongoing job support.

IPS and DWSS resources

Locations

Guidelines

Evaluation

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