WELFARE SUPPORT
What help does the CIBF give?
Chiefly financial, but the records of the Fund through the years are studded with a wide variety of aid given to personnel of all ages and in all sections of the industry:
- 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.
For further information about welfare or hardship support, please contact the CIBF.
ELIGIBILITY
Who are eligible for assistance?
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.
If I need help, how can I get it?
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.
How quickly can help be given?
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.
How long will help continue?
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 .