The Family and Injured Workers Advisory Committee (the committee) provides advice to the Government on the needs of people affected by serious work-related incidents.
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About the committee
On 18 February 2025, the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations Murray Watt announced the appointment of the inaugural committee members. The committee’s 6 members appointed on a 3–year term from March 2025-2028 are:
- Kay Catanzariti (co-chair)
- Andrea Madeley (co-chair)
- Julieann Buchanan
- Sarah Dawson
- Janelle Rowswell
- Paul Younger.
The committee will provide advice to the Minister and Commonwealth work health and safety regulators about the needs of people affected by workplace incidents involving death, serious injury or illness.
The establishment of the committee was provided for under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 in December 2023 as part of the amendments under the Closing Loopholes Act 2023.
The committee’s establishment follows the recommendations from the 2018 Senate Inquiry report, They never came home – the framework surrounding the prevention, investigation and prosecution of industrial deaths in Australia. The report identified the need for bereaved families and seriously injured workers and their families to have the opportunity to give feedback to the Government.
The establishment is also consistent with Safe Work Australia’s National principles to support families following an industrial death.
Contact details
If you would like to engage with the committee, please email the secretariat at fiwac@dewr.gov.au
Helplines and Support Contacts
Lifeline
13 11 14, by text on 0477 13 11 14 or www.lifeline.org.au
24 hours, 7 days a week
Beyond Blue Support Service
1300 224 636 or www.beyondblue.org.au
24 hours, 7 days a week
Support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders
13 YARN (13 92 76) or https://www.13yarn.org.au
24 hours, 7 days a week