6.1.1.2 Information and support

Circular No: 2022/03

As soon as possible, and after discussions with the employer, the family member or representative must be contacted by:

• the WorkSafe FLO Family Liaison Officer, supporting families through investigations and prosecutions of OHS breaches, if involved, or
• the Agent Family Support Specialist.

Note: the WorkSafe FLO or Coordinator - Death and Dependency Claims or a funeral director appointed to handle the burial arrangements may be able to provide details of next of kin or family representative.

Contact family member

The WorkSafe FLO (or Agent as required) must contact the family member Family member means a partner, parent, grandparent, sibling or child of the worker or of the worker's partner to:

• offer support and guidance for their emotional, financial and community needs
• offer WorkSafe's Bereavement Support Services
• discuss potential entitlements
• if the family member agrees, arrange an appointment for a home visit
• gather information and/or documents for potential Immediate Support payments
• explain how to lodge a dependency claim and the claims process and timeframes.

This can be done over a number of contacts.

The Agent must deliver a copy of the WorkSafe Family Companion information pack to the relevant family member.

See: Entitlements

Offer to visit employer and family member

The WorkSafe FLO (or Agent as required) must offer to visit the family member or representative to:

• deliver the Family Companion information pack
• help complete necessary forms
• help collect supporting documentation
• provide advice and information about claims processes.
• offer access to the Bereavement Support Service

For information on relevant supporting documentation – see: Guidelines for Claims for Compensation following the Death of a Worker.

Appointments for a home visit with the deceased worker’s family must be made with the consent of the family. It may be that the family is not ready for a visit and may ask for it to take place later; the family’s wishes must be respected.

Home visits may be anywhere in Victoria. The visits may be scheduled at the venue of a third party such as the family lawyer or funeral director.

The Agent may also offer to visit the employer.

Forward information

If not provided at the home visit, the Agent must immediately forward:

• a standard letter to the:
• relevant employer
• family representative advising of potential entitlement
• the Claim for Compensation Following a Work-related Death form
• WorkSafe's Family Companion information pack with tailored publications such as:
• How to make a claim for payments following a work-related death
• Coping with your loss – the grief process
• The first week
• Collection Statement WorkSafe's Worker's Claim Form contains a page explaining the privacy policy in relation to the management of a claim. This text is titled 'Collection of personal and health information to manage your claim'..

Bereavement Support Service

Bereavement Support Services are available from 27 January 2022 for any family member or loved one impacted by a workplace death. As this is a service, not an entitlement, a separate claim for compensation does not need to be made to receive this service.

The service is funded by WorkSafe and is delivered by an independent panel of service providers who will:

• “walk the journey” with the family member, providing emotional and practical support;

• undertake a non-clinical assessment of their needs and develop a tailored support plan;

• recommend and refer family members Family member means a partner, parent, grandparent, sibling or child of the worker or of the worker's partner to other organisations and community support groups (e.g. Law Institute of Victoria, financial planning, etc.);

• help the family deal with government and non-government organisations that may contact them following the loss of their loved one; and

• complement the roles of the FLO and FSS.

An information sheet is available to assist families with selecting their preferred provider.

Referral process

Activity	Agent/Self-Insurer Action
Discuss Bereavement Support Services (BSS)	Upon notification of any potential work-related death, the Agent or Self-Insurer should inform the family of the service. The Agent or Self-Insurer should provide the family with the BSS information sheet to help each family member select their preferred provider.
Obtain consent	Obtain consent of each family member and pass on the following information to the BSS using the Client Referral Template: • Name • Contact number/email • Name of deceased and circumstances of their death
Email referral to provider	Refer the above information to the selected provider and Cc bereavement.support@worksafe.vic.gov.au
Receive confirmation of referral	By return email (cc bereavement.support@worksafe.vic.gov.au), the Agent or Self-Insurer will receive confirmation from the BSS provider of the referral and that they will contact the family member within 1 business day of receiving a referral.
Client disengagement	Upon disengagement from the service, the Agent or Self-Insurer will be notified by the BSS provider via email (cc bereavement.support@worksafe.vic.gov.au).

Dependency entitlements

If the Agent believes a claim may be lodged for dependency entitlements (particularly weekly pensions), the Agent should also forward:

• Tax File Number (TFN) Declaration forms for each dependant
• Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT) forms (should the dependant want to receive pension payments directly into their bank account).

Employer

If an employer receives information from the Agent, the employer, in turn forwards:

• the Claim for Compensation Following a Work-related An injury/disease is work related if it arose out of or in the course of employment and the scope of employment. Death form to the family or representative
• relevant WorkSafe publications to the deceased worker's family and bereaved work colleagues.

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