Union Assist

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 agent rejecting your claim, reducing your payments or terminating your claim?
• Do you have a dispute with your employer, the WorkCover agent or the Victorian WorkCover Authority over any issue relating to your claim?

If you are a member of VIEU, then Union Assist 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 WorkCover agent 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 WorkCover agent hasn't given an answer, or has refused treatment; or
• You believe that your pre-injury average weekly earnings have been calculated wrongly.

VIEU provides specialist WorkCover services for members through Union Assist. Union Assist provides independent advice and representation to assist workers in the WorkCover conciliation process.

What Union Assist can do

Union Assist are able to help union members 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 WorkCover agent has used to justify the decision you wish to dispute;
• Assist you to prepare for negotiations with the employer and the WorkCover agent;
• Provide a representative to attend WorkCover conciliation conferences with you and support you at them; and
• Refer you for legal advice where necessary.

Union Assist provides services in regional areas as well as in Melbourne.

If you believe you need help with WorkCover, please contact VIEU to discuss your problem and VIEU can then provide a referral to Union Assist.