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Helpful contacts and websites

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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
- Aboriginal Health Council of Western Australia - Incorporates Aboriginal Community Health Organisations throughout the state. These organisations are multi-functional primary health care delivery services operating in defined geographic territories that have Aboriginal community recognition under a management structure that is accountable to and controlled by the Aboriginal people in those geographic territories. The scope of primary health care delivery services varies from community to community.
- Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia - Provides legal aid services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people throughout WA. The ALSWA provides legal advice and assistance in some criminal law matters, family law matters and civil law matters.
- Aboriginal Health Centres - Metropolitan
  Aboriginal Alcohol and Drug Service (AADS)
  Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet
  Derbarl Yerrigan Aboriginal Health Service
- Aboriginal Health Centres - Regional
  Beagle Bay Community Health Service - Broome
  Bega Garnbirringu Health Service - Kalgoorlie
  Bidyadanga Aboriginal Community Health Service - Broome
  Bindi Bindi Aboriginal Community - Onslow
  Broome Regional Medical Service (BRAMS)
  Carnarvon Aboriginal Medical Service
  Derby Aboriginal Health Service
  Geraldton Regional Aboriginal Medical Service
Jurrugk Aboriginal Health Service - Derby
  Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Service Council - Broome
  Marra Worra Worra - Fitzroy Crossing
  Mawarnkarra Health Service Aboriginal Corporation - Roebourne
  Milliya Rumurra Aboriginal Corporation - Broome
  Ngaanyatjarra Health Service - Alice Springs
  Ngangganawili Aboriginal Community Health Centre - Wiluna
Ngnowar Aerwah Aboriginal Corporation - Wyndham
  Ord Valley Aboriginal Health Service - Kununurra
  Puntukurnu Aboriginal Medical Service - Newman
  South West Aboriginal Medical Service - Bunbury
  Southern Aboriginal Corporation - Albany
  Waringarri Aboriginal Corporation - Kununurra
  Wirraka Maya Aboriginal Health Service - South Hedland
  Yura Yungi Aboriginal Medical Service - Halls Creek
- Dumbartung Aboriginal Corporation - Is a Nyoongah grass roots advocacy agency working to alleviate the suffering of trauma and pain associated with past Government policies of dispossession, displacement and religious disinheritance.
- Family violence - Women's domestic violence helpline.
- Kimberley Interpreting Service - Provides interpreters accredited by the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters (NAATI) in more than 18 Kimberley and central desert Indigenous languages to clients anywhere in Australia.
- Lifeline - 24/7 crisis support and suicide prevention services.
- Perth Aboriginal Resource Directory - This resource directory is produced to support Aboriginal people's access to the services that exist in the Perth community.
- Yorgum Aboriginal family counselling service - Program aims to raise awareness of the incidence of family violence in Aboriginal communities of metropolitan Perth and parts of South-west, Western Australia.
Age
- Advocare - Is an independent, community based, not for profit organisation that supports and protects the rights of older people and people with disabilities.
- Child Australia - Child Inclusive Learning and Development Australia (CHILD Australia) has over 21 years experience in providing programs and services that facilitate access to child care services for all children including those with additional needs.
- Older people's rights service (OPRS) - A free legal service and support for older people at risk of or experiencing elder abuse.
Community Legal Centres
- Albany Community Legal Centre Inc - Service covers the lower Great Southern Region of WA, which extends from Walpole to Bremer Bay and north to Newdegate, and provides family law and general legal assistance and a mediation service.
- Bunbury Community Legal Centre - Provides preliminary advice on general legal issues and some minor assistance and casework on child support issues and family law matters. Family and community mediation service provided.
- Citizens Advice Bureau - Provides advice and information relating to most areas of law including, family, civil, consumer, vehicle accidents, neighbourhood disputes, simple wills, power of attorney and probate. Initial legal advice given, no legal representation.
- Community Legal Centres Association (WA) Inc - Provides referral to appropriate community legal centres or other sources of assistance, but does not provide legal advice itself.
- Fremantle Community Legal and Advocacy Centre - Provides advocacy with Centrelink, Homeswest, other government bodies, financial counselling, legal advice and community legal education. There is an evening legal service twice weekly. Restraining Order Service at the Local Court in Fremantle. Assistance with Judgement summonses Local Court. Fortnightly Family Law information session.
- Geraldton Regional Community Education Centre - Is a non government, not-for-profit, incorporated community organisation which deliver services in education and care; transition to and through education, training and employment; individual and family support; counselling; partnership development and service co-ordination.
- Geraldton Resource Centre - Is a non profit community based human services organisation which provides a range of free services to people experiencing disadvantage, including help with financial hardship or crisis, having a low income, a disability, being geographically isolated or experiencing cultural or language barriers.
- Goldfields Community Legal Centre - Is a non profit Community Legal Centre providing free advice and information to low income and other disadvantaged members of the community.
- Gosnells Community Legal Centre - Promote basic human rights, including housing, income, equality, freedom and dignity, by a variety of support services to resolve legal, economic or social issues.
- Kimberley Community Legal Service - Generalist legal services: advice, information, casework and limited representation in the areas of family law, family violence, criminal injuries compensation, credit and debt, tenancy, general civil law.
- Lockridge Bluesky Community Group - Services: food assistance, financial counselling, migrant services and community resources.
- Marninwarntikura Fitzroy Women's Resource Centre - The Centre is a family violence prevention unit and provides legal advice and representation and community legal education for women.
- Midland Information Debt and Legal Advocacy Service - Provides a range of free services including disability advocacy, financial counselling, tenancy advocacy, legal service and an information and referral service.
- Northern Suburbs Community Legal Centre - Provides information, referral, advice, minor assistance and advocacy on family, civil, criminal, tenancy law and older people's rights.
- Peel Community Legal Services - Provides free legal advice, free advocacy and community education includes family, criminal law, centrelink, child support agency matters, tenancy issues and credit and debt.
- Pilbara Community Legal Centre - Provides financial counselling, referrals and advocacy.
- Wheatbelt Community Legal Centre - Is an independent non-profit organisation that provides legal and tenancy services.
- Southern Communities Advocacy Legal and Education Service - A legal clinic within Murdoch University. Free generalist legal service with advice and casework on consumer disputes, criminal injuries compensation; criminal including court; domestic violence matters; equal opportunity; family law matters relating to children, Immigration; MVA; Centrelink; Tenancy; law reform, community development, community legal education, family law forums and young people.
- Sussex Street Community Legal Service - Generalist legal service providing advice and assistance in civil law and family law. Also provides specialist services in tenancy and welfare rights and financial counselling.
- Welfare Rights and Advocacy Services - Is a not for profit community legal centre that provides independent advice, information, referral, representation and advocacy in relation to Centrelink, Family Assistance, Tenancy and Social Security prosecution matters.
- Women's Law Centre - Provide information about legal issues and referral to support services, legal advice, casework, community legal education and law reform advocacy.
- Youth Legal Service - A service for young people, their families and those who work with young people providing representation in the Children's court, advice, information, advocacy, education, resources, law reform and policy referral.
Consumer Rights
- Consumer Association of WA - Is a non-profit, voluntary organisation run by consumers for consumers. They focus on a wide range of Western Australian and Australian issues that impact on people living in Western Australia.
- Consumer Credit Legal Service (WA) Inc - Is a not-for-profit charitable organisation which provides legal advice and representation to consumers in WA in the areas of credit, banking and finance.
- Consumer Protection - The State Department of Commerce is responsible for fair trading and protecting the rights of consumers and businesses in WA.
- Financial Ombudsman Service - Provides accessible, fair and independent dispute resolution for consumers and financial services providers.
- Privacy Commissioner - Federal - The Hotline gives general assistance: about the Privacy Act and privacy issues more generally and promotes best practice in privacy standards; to individuals about their rights under the Privacy Act and related legislation; and to federal and ACT government agencies and private sector organisations on how to comply with the Privacy Act and related legislation.
Identity theft and cyber fraud
- Scamwatch - Is run by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC). It provides information to consumers and small businesses about how to recognise, avoid and report scams.
- IDcare - Is a non-profit national identity support service to assist people affected by identity fraud.
Education
- International Student Conciliation Service - Provides a free independent service to assist in resolving problems between international students and their education providers.

Employment

Apprentices and apprenticeships - Department of Training and Workforce Development.

Comcare - Responsible for workplace safety, rehabilitation and compensation in the jurisdiction of the Australian Commonwealth (i.e. Federal) Government.

Fair Work Commission - The national workplace relation Tribunal.
- Contact details and language assistance.
Eligibility for unfair dismissal
Bullying - from 1 January 2014, the FWA can hear complaints of bullying:
- Summary
- Information about bullying and harassment on FWO website
- Anti-bullying - am I eligible to apply? - online quiz in FWC website
- Process of lodging an application at FWC

Fair Work Ombudsman - Helps employers and employees understand their rights and responsibilities under Australian workplace laws. They also work with them to resolve workplace issues which may arise. The services are free to all workers and employers in Australia.
- Contact details
- Workplace bullying and harassment information

Department of Commerce - Provides information and advice to Private Sector employees, not covered by federal system. Cannot give out legal advice and will refer complaints on to Legal Aid.
Provides information and advice on the following things:
- Termination and Dismissal Public holidays
- Minimum conditions of employment
- Leave entitlements
- Other employment entitlements
- Complaints and wages
- Wage rates and awards

Employment Law Centre of Western Australia - Is an independent, not for profit community legal centre specialising in employment law. They provide free, confidential legal advice on employment matters to vulnerable Western Australian employees.

Director of Equal Opportunity in Public Employment - Is about ensuring all employees in public authorities have equal opportunity in their work place and are not subject to discrimination.
It also provides:
- Assistance with the development of Equal Opportunity Management Plans.
- Advice on the design and implementation of specific strategies to address the equity and diversity needs of the organisation.

Public Sector Commission - Purpose is to bring leadership and expertise to the public sector to enhance integrity, effectiveness and efficiency.

Supporting Working Parents - Australian Human Rights Commission - extensive range of tools and resources for employees and employers for all issues around parental leave and return to work.

UnionsWA - Is the state's peak union body, representing over 30 affiliated unions which have over 150,000 members in Western Australia. To find out which union protects your rights and to join you can either go online here or call 1300 486 466.

Wageline - Is a free confidential employment information service.

Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission - Are an independent quasi-judicial tribunal established under the Industrial Relations Act 1979 to deal with industrial matters in the State of Western Australia by conciliation or, if necessary, arbitration. Their main objectives are to prevent and settle industrial disputes.

WorkCover WA - Is the government agency responsible for overseeing the workers’ compensation and injury management scheme in Western Australia.

Worksafe WA - The principal objective of the occupational safety and health (OSH) laws is to promote and secure the safety and health of people at the workplace.

Workplace Gender Equality Agency - The aim of gender equality in the workplace is to achieve broadly equal outcomes for women and men, not exactly the same outcome for all individuals.

Provide:
- Assistance with the development of Equal Opportunity Management Plans.
- Advice on the design and implementation of specific strategies to address the equity and diversity needs of the organisation

Environment
- Environmental Defenders Office (WA) - Is a non-profit, non-government Community Legal Centre specialising in public interest environmental law. The services include providing community groups and individuals with free legal advice and representation on environmental issues, promoting environmental law reform, and undertaking community legal education.
Government departments - Commonwealth

Government departments - Commonwealth
Links to all Commonwealth government departments and associated sites. Also links to MyGov and other state governments.

Australian Human Rights Commission
AHRC Contacts
AHRC Complaints information

Other states equal opportunity commissions
Government Departments - State
- WA State Government home page - Links to all state government departments and associated sites.
- Department of Corrective Services - Provides support to the justice system and the community of Western Australia by ensuring the security and safety of the community, staff and those in the Department's care.
- Department of Health - Ensuring people in Western Australia receive safe, high quality and accessible health services underpins our strategic priorities. This includes delivering health services that are patient-centred, based on evidence and within a culture of continuous improvement.
- Department of Housing and Works - Is s an affordable housing provider involved in land development, housing construction and property management.
- Disability Services Commission - The Commission works in partnership with service providers and other government departments to provide information, supports and services to people with disability, their families and carers.
- Health and Disability Services Complaints Office (HaDSCO) - Is an independent statutory authority offering an impartial resolution service for complaints relating to health and disability services in Western Australia (WA) and the Indian Ocean Territories. This service is free and available to all users and providers of health and disability services.
- Office of Multicultural Interests - Co-ordinates the development of State Government policies and programs to promote multiculturalism and meet the needs of Western Australians from diverse cultural, linguistic and religious backgrounds.
Health
- Department of Health - Ensuring people in Western Australia receive safe, high quality and accessible health services underpins our strategic priorities. This includes delivering health services that are patient-centred, based on evidence and within a culture of continuous improvement.
- Australian Department of Health and Ageing - WA State Office -
- Health Consumers Council - A health information and referral telephone service and advocates for individuals with problems with the health system and informs them of their rights.
- Health Direct - Is a 24hr health call centre. The service means people can speak directly to a registered nurse and receive information and advice. Advice is provided on which health service can help, on the level of urgency, and what people should do until they receive face to face medical attention.
- Health and Disability Services Complaints Office (HaDSCO) - Is an independent statutory authority offering an impartial resolution service for complaints relating to health and disability services in Western Australia (WA) and the Indian Ocean Territories. This service is free and available to all users and providers of health and disability services.
- Sexual Assault Resource Centre - 24hr Counselling and crisis help line offers information and support in dealing with the effects of sexual assault or sexual abuse.
- Womens Health and Family Services - Is a not for profit organisation which provides medical, counselling, drug and alcohol support, domestic violence, mental health and other health services for women and their families.
- South West Women's Health & Information Centre - Provide accurate and up to date health information to women, of all ages and ethnic backgrounds living in the South West. To assist women to make informed choices and be empowered about their own health and those for whom they care.
24hr Counselling and crisis help line offers information and support in dealing with the effects of sexual assault or sexual abuse
Helplines
- Crisis Care - Is a telephone information and counselling service for people in crisis needing urgent help.
Call Crisis Care when:
- you need someone to help sort out a serious problem
- you are concerned about the wellbeing of a child
- you are escaping domestic violence and need help
- you are experiencing family problems
- you are alone or afraid and urgently need someone to talk to
- you are homeless
- you need counselling, information or other support
- Family Helpline - The family helpline is a confidential telephone counselling and information service for families with relationship difficulties.
Call the Family Helpline when:
- you want counselling or information
- you need someone to turn to
- people in your family could get on better
- you want to stop taking things out on others in your family
- you don't want people in your family to hurt each other
- you are worried about someone you know.
- Men's Domestic Violence Helpline - Provides counselling for men who are concerned about their violent and abusive behaviours. Can also provide information about accessing legal advice, accommodation and other support services for people who have been served with a violence restraining order.
- Lifeline WA - Delivers services that aim to prevent suicide, support people in crises and create opportunities for emotional wellbeing.
Lifeline WA can help with:
- suicidal thoughts or attempts
- personal crisis
- anxiety
- depression
- loneliness
- abuse and trauma
- stress from work, family or society
- self-help information for friends and family
- Parenting Line - The Parenting WA Line is a telephone information and support service on parenting.
Parenting Helpline can help with:
- what to expect as your child grows and develops
- how to manage your toddlers tantrums
- play ideas for different ages
- ideas to manage childhood problems like lying and stealing
- what can you do about bullying
- how to talk with your teenager about difficult things
- where to get information about alcohol, drugs and teenagers
- what services and groups can help you and your family
- Sexual Abuse/Assault - 1800RESPECT telephone counselling is available 24/7, whether you're seeking help for yourself, a friend or relative, a colleague or a client.
- Suicide Counselling - The Samaritans is a Western Australian based not for profit organisation working towards a society in which fewer people die by suicide. Our helpline is available to callers both locally and nationally, Samaritans is available every day to all individuals, from all walks of life.
- Women's Domestic Violence Helpline - Provides support and counselling for women experiencing family and domestic violence. Can help to find refuge or a safe place to stay or just someone to talk to.
Housing
- Department of Housing and Works - Is s an affordable housing provider involved in land development, housing construction and property management.
- Tenancy WA - Is an independent not-for-profit specialist community legal centre that provide free, quality legal services to residential tenants across Western Australia.
- Foundation Housing - Is one of WA’s largest developers and managers of affordable housing for people in need. They also provide a high level of service and support to help tenants sustain their home.
- Daydawn Advocacy Centre - Advocate, lobby and negotiate with government and non government agencies on behalf of the Indigenous people, especially the Noongar people of the South West. They also provide legal, medical, financial, educational and social services for the Indigenous people.
- REIWA Real Estate Institute of WA - main objectives are to create the best possible business environment for real estate practitioners, and to promote professionalism, ethical behaviour and integrity within the industry.
Impairment
- Access to buildings
  The Building Code of Australia (BCA)
- The BCA is developed and maintained by the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) on behalf of the Australian Government and the State and Territory Governments of Australia, each of whom have statutory responsibility for building control and regulation within their jurisdiction. The BCA is a comprehensive statement of the performance and technical requirements relevant to the design and construction of buildings and other related structures. The BCA is therefore a national code, administered at a state and territory government level.
There are two agencies mandated to provide information
- Advice from the Federal Government - For general queries regarding issues in relation to the Building Code of Australia or other issues in relating to the ABCB.
- Advice from the Western Australian Government - In Western Australia enquiries about the BCA and its application can be put to.
- National Disability Services - Is to promote quality service provision and life opportunities for Australians with disability. This is achieved by influencing governments at all levels and providing members with information and advice, networking opportunities and business support.
- Sussex Street Community Legal Service SSCLS - Specialises in legal services for people with disabilities.
- SSCLS Disability Discrimination Unit - Provides free information and advice to people who feel they have been discriminated against due to their disability.
- SSCLS Individual Disability Advocacy Service IDAS - Is an independent free and confidential service to people in the regional areas of the Mid West, Goldfields/Esperance and the Great Southern areas of Western Australia.
- Disability Services Commission - The Commission works in partnership with service providers and other government departments to provide information, supports and services to people with disability, their families and carers.
- Ethnic Disability Advocacy Centre - Provides individual and systemic advocacy services for people with all types of disability including physical, sensory, intellectual and psychiatric conditions.
- Mental Health Law Centre - Core service is free legal advice and representation to people who are involuntary patients in the Western Australian mental health system. They may also provide legal help, advice, representation and/or referrals in other areas of law including criminal, guardianship and administration, criminal injuries compensation, equal opportunity, discrimination and other civil matters.
- Mental Health Review Board - The Mental Health Review Board (the Board) is an independent quasi-judicial review body established under Part 6 of the Mental Health Act 1996 (the Act) which commenced operation in November 1997. Members of the Board are required to be either legal practitioners, psychiatrists or persons who are neither legal practitioners nor psychiatrists, who are known as community members, and are appointed by the Governor, on recommendation of the Minister.
- Mental Health Advocacy Service - Are a free, independent service helping people with a mental illness know and protect their rights. They will advocate according to your wishes and make sure you get heard.
- National Disability Abuse and Neglect Hotline - A telephone service for reporting cases of neglect and abuse of disabled members of the community.
- People With disabilities WA - Is a consumer managed organisation represents and advocates for the rights and equity of all Western Australians with a disability - physical, intellectual, psychiatric and sensory.
- RUAH Community Services - Is a non-government community based service, which provides a comprehensive range of flexible, holistic support programs to people who experience mental illness, their families and carers.
- Advocare - is an independent, community based, not for profit organisation that supports and protects the rights of older people and people with disabilities.
Legal Services
- Legal Aid WA - Provides information , advice and other legal help. The type and amount of help you will get depends on your finances, your legal problem and our resources.
- Legal Profession Complaints Committee - Has statutory responsibility under the Legal Profession Act 2008 for supervising the conduct of legal practitioners in Western Australia. Its main role is to ensure ethical conduct and professional behaviour in the legal profession.
LGBTI
- Living proud - is a non-profit organisation which aims to promote the wellbeing of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans*, intersex, queer and other sexuality, sex and gender diverse people in Western Australia.
Multicultural Services
- Ethnic Disability Advocacy Centre - Provides advocacy services for people with disabilities from a non-English speaking background. EDAC can help you access services that you need, such as lawyers, health-care, education, child-care, employment and transport. can assist you to resolve problems with government bodies including Homeswest, Centrelink, Immigration and Justice Departments, as well as schools, hospitals and health services.
- Fremantle Multicultural Centre (FMC) - Design and delivers services that aim to build capacity and improve outcomes for migrants and refugees from a diverse range of cultural and linguistic backgrounds. They provide crisis accommodation services, mental health services and settlement support as well as a number of regular programs.
- Metropolitan Migrant Resource Centre - Provides a range of services that assist recently arrived humanitarian entrants and longer term residents who experience difficulties due to language and other cultural barriers which limit their full participation in Australian society.
- Multicultural Services Centre of WA Inc - A specialised Legal Service for clients form non-English speaking background. The centre operates as a community legal program within a Multicultural Service. Provides initial advice, minor assistance and casework. Main area of Work is family law. Community education provided to specific ethnic groups on primarily family law and domestic violence issues.
- Office of Multicultural Interests - Co-ordinates the development of State Government policies and programs to promote multiculturalism and meet the needs of Western Australians from diverse cultural, linguistic and religious backgrounds.
Ombudsman / Freedom of Information
- Commonwealth Ombudsman - investigate complaints from people who believe they have been treated unfairly or unreasonably by an Australian Government agency.
- Credit and Investment Ombudsman - Provide a free, independent and impartial dispute resolution service. Facilitate the resolution of complaints between consumers and participants of their scheme. In doing so, they provide both consumers and financial services providers with an alternative to legal proceedings for resolving financial services disputes.
- Fair Work Ombudsman - Helps young workers and students understand their rights and responsibilities under Australian workplace laws. They also work with them to resolve workplace issues which may arise. The services are free to all workers and employers in Australia.
- Financial Ombudsman - Offers a free, fair and accessible service to consumers who are unable to resolve a dispute directly with a financial services.
- Freedom of Information Commissioner - The Information Commissioner is an independent officer reporting direct to the WA Parliament who deals with complaints about decisions made by government agencies under the FOI Act.
- Ombudsman Western Australia - Serves Parliament and Western Australians by resolving complaints about the decision making of public authorities and improving the standard of public administration.
- State Administrative Tribunal (SAT) - Deals with a broad range of administrative, commercial and personal matters. These matters span human rights, vocational regulation, commercial and civil disputes, and development and resources issues.
- Superannuation Complaints Tribunal - Is an independent dispute resolution body which offers a free, 'user-friendly' alternative to the court system. The Tribunal is completely impartial—they make decisions on the individual facts and merits of each complaint. They do not act for or represent any side to a complaint.
Race/Racial Harassment and Vilification

Help for victims of racially motivated crime
The WA Police State Security Investigation Group has responsibility for responding to racially motivated unlawful behaviour within the community or providing specialist support to the police districts when they respond to racially motivated unlawful behaviour.

The group comprises investigators with an understanding of community diversity issues and work to provide improved policing services to Indigenous and multicultural groups. They have been working closely with the Equal Opportunity Commission and the WA Police Indigenous, Community Diversity & Corporate Research Unit.

Reporting racially motivated crime
If you are the victim of racially motivated unlawful behaviour or need help, call police on 131 444 (24 hours) or the State Security Investigation Group on (08) 9370 7394 (business hours).

Racial Discrimination Act 1984
Guides to race discrimination at the Human Rights Commission and coverage of racial vilification under section 18c.
Refugees
- Association for Services to Torture and Traumas Survivors (ASeTTS) - Provides services to people who are humanitarian entrants or are from a refugee type background and who have experienced torture or trauma in their country of origin, during their flight to Australia, or while in detention.
- The Humanitarian Group - Provide professional migration assistance, legal advice and education for people new to Australia who are disadvantaged in their access to legal services.
Seniors
- Seniors Information Service - Provides general information and referral advice for older people in relation to accommodation options, education, finance, business, health and wellbeing.
Sport
- Play by the rules - Provides education, information and resources for individuals and organisations to ensure that sport is safe and free from discrimination and harassment.
- Department of Sport and Recreation - Support an industry that encourages participation, develops talent and contributes to the health and wellbeing of all Western Australians. Their core function is to help local communities and organisations to be better at delivering sport and recreation services.
Young Workers
- Fair Work Ombudsman - Helps young workers and students understand their rights and responsibilities under Australian workplace laws. They also work with them to resolve workplace issues which may arise. The services are free to all workers and employers in Australia.