The Cinema Industry Benevolent Fund of Victoria was established in 1937 by a cross section of industry personnel, to assist present and past members of the industry (and/or their immediate families) who incur financial stress through ill health, loss or employment, accident, death or other misfortune. Since 1994, the CIBF has also awarded scholarships to eligible students
The Fund is a recognised charitable organisation with income tax exempt status and was registered as an Incorporated Association (no. A 0033167Z) in 1996.
Every person who is engaged in the cinema industry in Victoria, Tasmania, and the Riverina District of NSW is, by virtue of our constitution, able to be a member of the Benevolent Fund. This includes proprietors, managers, projectionists, ticket sellers, floor and candy bar staff, cleaners etc., all film distribution company personnel, and projection and sound equipment providers and service personnel.
The regular income of the Benevolent Fund comes from investment income and donations, with a proud history of luncheon and preview film screenings, charity golf days and raffles.
The fund chiefly provides financial support, but the records of the Fund through the years are studded with a wide variety of aid given to people of all ages and in all sections of the industry. Some examples include:
- Medical and hospital fees beyond amounts recoverable from government and health funds have been covered, likewise;
- Assistance with convalescence following surgery/hospitalisation;
- Family hardships when the breadwinner has lost employment income, caused by accident or illness, have been alleviated and assistance with funeral expenses provided; &
- Supplementation of personal income to assist towards day to day living expenses.
No person is entitled to automatic assistance. The Fund does not recognise the right of anyone to demand aid of any kind; neither does donation to the Fund, regular or otherwise, entitle the donor to specific aid.
On the other hand, the Fund endeavours at all times to extend practical assistance to those industry personnel genuinely in need of support.
Every case referred to the Fund is fully investigated and dealt with upon its own individual merits. A specially appointed Investigation Officer will attend upon an applicant and report to a defined sub-committee for consideration and decision.
Assistance is available to present and past industry personnel who are or were employed in the State of Victoria, Tasmania or the Riverina District of New South Wales. Evidence of such employment is required.
Any eligible person may make application direct to the Fund either by contacting the Fund Registered Office, through a member of the Council or by approaching their employer/manager who can contact the Fund on their behalf.
Obviously the Fund must ask full details of the applicant’s financial circumstances, but this information is kept STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL within the Investigation Sub-Committee and no applicant’s or recipient’s name or other private information concerning him/her is ever revealed outside that Sub-Committee.
This will depend upon the urgency of the case, but will normally be within a few weeks following the Investigation Officer’s interview with the applicant. However, in an emergency, assistance may be granted within days subject to the case circumstances.
Answer – For as long as such help is required! At the present time, some grantees have been receiving assistance for more than 10 years. The Council is untiring in its efforts to support any eligible person in genuinely needy circumstances.
For further information about welfare or hardship support, please contact the CIBF .
