Former prison guard wins payout after being assaulted on the job Former prison guard wins payout after being assaulted on the job Michael Parker has not set foot behind prison walls for three years. He can’t – the memories of the brutal assaults and vulnerable teenagers threatening to take their own lives are still too fresh. The former youth corrections officer has lifted the lid on […] Read More…
Victoria Police officer Matthew Cocks strikes court win Victoria Police officer Matthew Cocks strikes court win A police officer who took on his bosses over allegations they were bullies has reached a confidential settlement days before the case was meant to go to trial. Former Victoria Police officer Matthew Cocks had been a career policeman, working his way up through the ranks over […] Read More…
Bullying ‘rife’ among police Bullying ‘rife’ among police More police and emergency service workers said they were bullied at work in the past year than any other public sector employees. Almost a fifth of more than 9000 police and emergency services workers who responded to the People Matters Survey – released last month by the Victorian Public Sector Commission […] Read More…
WorkSafe crackdown on building site falls after spike in injury claims WorkSafe crackdown on building site falls after spike in injury claims Construction companies are facing increased scrutiny from the state’s workplace watchdog and brickies launching legal action over devastating falls amid a spike in injury claims. Bricklayer Nicholas Hopkins is preparing to launch legal action against his former employer after he landed on his head […] Read More…
Victorian universities fork out thousands of dollars in WorkCover claims Victorian universities fork out thousands of dollars in WorkCover claims More than 180 staff and students were injured at Victorian universities last year, with institutions forced to pay tens of thousands of dollars in WorkCover claims as a result. Exposure to chemicals, vehicle incidents and explosions were among the causes of injuries across the state’s […] Read More…
High Court rules that ‘sham’ terminations can cause psychiatric injury, overturning century-old law High Court rules that ‘sham’ terminations can cause psychiatric injury, overturning century-old law In a momentous outcome for all workers, this week the High Court of Australia ruled in our client’s favour and reinstated a $1,442,405 damages verdict for breach of contract previously awarded by the Supreme Court of Victoria in December 2022. For […] Read More…
‘Ignorance is not an option’: Family claims companies caused father’s slow asbestos death ‘Ignorance is not an option’: Family claims companies caused father’s slow asbestos death The daughter of a man killed by deadly asbestos poisoning says her family was forced to watch her “loyal and generous” father slowly die. Ian Fitzsimmons, 78, died in March after a years-long battle with illnesses his family claim were the result […] Read More…
New WorkCover laws leaving injured Victorian workers behind New WorkCover laws leaving injured Victorian workers behind New controversial WorkCover laws have created the most dramatic reduction in support for injured Victorians in more than a decade, lawyers claim. Major changes to the workers compensation scheme were introduced across the state in March this year including new whole person impairment requirements. This means injured workers must […] Read More…
WorkSafe Victoria data reveals thousands of claims paid out to injured teachers and tertiary staff WorkSafe Victoria data reveals thousands of claims paid out to injured teachers and tertiary staff More than $50m has been paid out to Victorian teachers and tertiary staff who were injured on the job in the past two years, with experts blaming the “explosion” of compensation claims on aggressive students and staff bullies. WorkSafe data […] Read More…
Disability support worker suing former employer after thumb bitten off in attack Disability support worker suing former employer after thumb bitten off in attack A disability support worker is suing her former employer after her thumb was bitten off during a violent prolonged assault by a client. Jamie Reardon said she suffered 17 bite wounds, fractured her foot, had her hair ripped out and tip of her […] Read More…