ANMF members requiring advice and support to dispute a WorkCover insurance decision will be referred to the specialised Union Assist service from mid-November.
Union Assist provides WorkCover conciliation services for regional and metropolitan union members who become injured or ill as a result of their work.
The decision to use an external service is to ensure members have access to experts in the conciliation process and the law and regulations.
The process is becoming increasingly complex with WorkSafe recently introducing the Workers Compensation Independent Review Service. There is also a proposal to introduce an arbitration process at conciliation.
It is important ANMF members have the support of people who are subject experts in this narrow field.
WorkSafe Victoria established Union Assist in 1999 and it is fully funded. The service is based in offices located at the Victorian Trades Hall Council and it also has offices at the Bendigo Trades and Labour Council. Union Assist staff travel across Victoria to support union members.
The dedicated service is provided at no cost to union members.
ANMF will continue to provide members with advice and support through the WorkCover claim process, including recalculation of pre-injury average weekly earnings (PIAWE), return to work matters and termination of weekly payments.
ANMF Organisers will continue to support and advise members with conciliations scheduled in November.
All member conciliation services will transfer to Union Assist from 1 December.
How will this affect members?
Members should contact ANMF Member Assistance for all WorkCover inquiries including requests for conciliation advice and support.
ANMF will provide a referral to Union Assist if required. If you have a conciliation coming up and haven’t advised ANMF – let us know so we can refer you to Union Assist.
Contact ANMF Member Assistance via our online inquiry form.
This article was updated on 20 November 2020.
