What is Union Assist?
Union Assist provides WorkCover conciliation support for union members
- Do you have injuries or illnesses related to your employment?
- Have you made a claim for WorkCover?
- Have you received a notice from the WorkCover Insurer rejecting your claim, reducing your payments or terminating your claim?
- Do you have a dispute with your employer, the insurer or the Victorian WorkCover Authority over any issue relating to your claim?
- Are you a union member, or are you willing to join the union?
If so, we can help you. Trade unions believe that workers who are injured should be able to get independent advice and support to deal with disputes over WorkCover. We can help with disputes over issues such as:
- The insurer has rejected your claim for WorkCover;
- WorkCover has reduced your payments without legal justification;
- WorkCover has terminated your payments;
- your employer won't provide a return to work plan;
- Your doctor has recommended particular treatment but the insurance company hasn't given an answer, or has refused treatment; or
- You believe that your pre-injury average weekly earnings have been calculated wrongly.
Some unions provide specialist WorkCover services for their members. Other unions provide these services through Union Assist which is set up and controlled by the Victorian Trades Hall Council, with funding from the Victorian WorkCover Authority. We provide independent advice and representation to assist workers in the WorkCover conciliation process.
WHAT WE CAN DO
Union Assist are able to help you in the following ways:
Advise you about your rights and obligations under WorkCover;
Assist you to prepare and lodge a request for conciliation;
Make contact with treating doctors and assist you to obtain medical reports where necessary;
Help you to get copies of reports which the insurer has used to justify the decision you wish to dispute;
Assist you to prepare for negotiations with the employer and insurer;
Provide a representative to attend WorkCover conciliation conferences with you and support you at them; and
Refer you for legal advice where necessary.
If you need help with WorkCover, contact your union or Union Assist.
Union Assist Contacts
Phone: 9639 6144 fax: 9639 6155 Email: Union Assist
