Psychosocial disability
Alternative labels
Psychologicalimpairment
Description
Psychosocial disability is not a diagnosis, it is the functional impact and barriers which may be faced by someone living with a mental health condition.
Report
Capturing the economic value of psychosocial support
This report provides an overview of the economic evidence available in relation to psychosocial support programs within Australia’s mental health system. The report concludes there is promising but limited evidence to demonstrate that psychosocial supports not only improve the wellbeing and quality of life for individuals but also lead to economic gains.
Submission
Submission on the National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026
This submission highlights concerns that without due consideration of the complex nature of psychosocial disability, the proposed changes to the NDIS may reinforce inequities in access, increase unmet need and shift demand to acute, intensive and costly parts of the broader mental health system.
Journal article
Strengthening the IPS workforce
This article describes the development of the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) Workforce Development Framework. The framework aims to address challenges in IPS workforce availability, capacity, and capability in headspace centres across Australia, with the goal of improving vocational recovery outcomes for young people with mental ill-health.
Article
Bringing relational contracting to life
This article draws on Social Ventures Australia's experience with the Resolve Social Benefit Bond (Resolve SBB), which funded a psychosocial, recovery-oriented community support program. It reviews the features of relational contracting and provides insights from this experience for commissioners to understand what relational contracting looks like when taken from concept to delivery.
Discussion paper
Capturing the economic value of psychosocial support: a discussion paper
This discussion paper examines psychosocial support in Australia’s mental health system and the economic evidence of its impact. While emerging findings indicate mental, social, and economic benefits, robust evaluation remains limited. Gaps include definitions, frameworks, and system-level data. The paper calls for investment in measurement, mapping, and economic evaluation to strengthen evidence and inform reform.