Careers in mental health– psychiatric disability rehabilitation and support services

Page content: What are Psychiatric disability rehabilitation & support services | Who can work in the PDRS sector? | Careers in the PDRS sector | VICSERV

Victoria has the largest non-government mental health sector in Australia. Known as psychiatric disability rehabilitation and support (PDRS) services, this sector plays a vital role in supporting consumers and carers throughout the recovery process and forms part of the broader Victorian specialist mental health service sector.

PDRS services are commonly referred to as non-clinical services. Strong and effective working relationships between clinical and PDRS services are essential to providing quality treatment and care.

PDRS services are predominantly funded by the Department of Health to provide services to the adult population (aged 16–64 years). However, there are a number of limited programs offered to the aged population (aged 65 years and over) in some areas. Local PDRS services have defined catchment areas, typically in line with the local area mental health services.

What are psychiatric disability rehabilitation and support services?

The PDRS sector is a critical partner with clinical services, providing the rehabilitation focus that assists people with mental illness to remain out of hospital. PDRS staff focus on addressing the impact of mental illness on a person's daily activities and the social disadvantage resulting from mental illness.

PDRS is a specialist function and staff work within a recovery and empowerment model to maximise people's opportunities to live successfully in the community. PDRS staff provide programs for people with psychiatric disabilities that are not available to them through generic community services. They assist service users to regain or develop skills they may need to actively participate in daily life, in personal and social interactions and in community life and activities.

Who can work in the PDRS sector?

PDRS services employ a range of workers with diverse qualifications and experience. In 2000, the main areas of qualification for the sector were social work (19 per cent), psychology (19 per cent), social sciences (15 per cent), welfare studies (14 per cent) and education (10 per cent). PDRS workers frequently have experience in more than one other sector such as community and welfare (32 per cent), disability (28 per cent) and mental health (24 per cent). A high proportion of workers are relatively new to the sector with 56 per cent working in the sector for less than three years.

Careers in the PDRS sector

A range of career opportunities are available through the PDRS sector. These include:

• carer support
• mutual support
• self-help
• information and advocacy
• respite
• psychosocial rehab
• day programs
• residential rehab
• home-based outreach.

Career progression can be gained in direct care and management positions in this sector. Management positions exist in psychosocial day programs and home-based outreach services, as well as across a broad range of service areas and service types.

VICSERV

VICSERV is the peak body for the PDRS sector in Victoria. VICSERV provides a range of services to its member agencies including:

• sector coordination, support and advocacy
• training and professional development
• policy development
• information services (through publications, its library and website).

For further information, visit the VICSERV website.

Member agencies provide: housing support; home-based outreach; psychosocial and pre-vocational day programs; residential rehabilitation; mutual support and self help; employment, training and support; carer education; respite; and advocacy. Websites and contact details for individual VICSERV member agencies can be accessed via the member agencies section of the VICSERV website.

VICSERV also provides a comprehensive range of education and training to its members. For further information, visit the training section of the VICSERV website.

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