Maurice Blackburn Lawyers-Free Advice Service
All superannuation and insurance material contained in this section was prepared by Maurice Blackburn Lawyers.
Kim Shaw offers a free telephone advice service to any person with a chronic illness needing help to understand their superannuation and insurance rights and entitlements.
Kim’s details are:
Kim Shaw – Principal
Maurice Blackburn Lawyers
Free call: 1800 810 812
Office: (03) 9605 2792
Email: kshaw@mauriceblackburn.com.au
Berrill & Watson
Superannuation & Insurance Lawyers
Office: Suite 5, 4 Homer Street, Moonee Ponds, Vic 3039
Mail: PO Box 179, Moonee Ponds Vic 3039
P| 03 9448 8048
E| jberrill@berrillwatson.com.au
www.berrillwatson.com.au
Berrill & Watson are Australia’s first consumer superannuation, insurance & financial advice disputes law firm. John Berrill, Tom Cobban & Paul Watson can provide free legal advice on superannuation, insurance and financial advice claims and disputes for people with chronic illnesses, their family and friends anywhere in Australia. John authored the Chronic Illness Alliance workwelfarewills online chapters on superannuation and insurance, travel insurance and workplace discrimination, while at Maurice Blackburn Lawyers. Tom worked at Social Security Rights Victoria and can answer Centrelink questions and help clients outside Victoria. Paul runs the Brisbane office and can help Queensland and NSW clients.
Administrative Appeals Tribunal
The Administrative Appeals Tribunal is an independent body that reviews a wide range of administrative decisions made by Australian Government ministers, officials, authorities and other tribunals. It can also review administration decisions made by state government and non-government bodies in limited circumstances.
Level 16, HWT Tower, 40 City Road Southbank Victoria 3006
Tel: (03) 9282 8444
Country Areas call: 1300 366 700
Translating & Interpreter Service: 13 14 50
Web: www.aat.gov.au
Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA)
ASFA is a non-profit, non-political, national organisation whose mission is to protect, promote and advance the interests of Australia’s superannuation funds, their trustees and their members. It works to create a public awareness of superannuation issues.
ASFA Secretariat Office
Level 19,Piccadilly Tower,133 Castlereagh Street Sydney NSW 2000
Ph: (02) 9264 9300
Toll Free:1800 812 798
Web: www.asfa.asn.au
Community Legal Centres -see ‘Federation of Community Legal Centres’
David Davis and Associates
David Davis is expert in Wills, Power of Attorney, Estates and succession Planning.
His details are:
David Davis
Principal
David Davis and Associates
(03) 9415 8123
Email: legal@ddavis.com.au
Federal Privacy Commissioner
The federal privacy commissioner has responsibility for ensuring the proper use of personal information in a range of matters, including health. Specifically to health, the Commissioner provides protection for personal information handled by federal government agencies and all private sector health service providers.
Office of the Federal Privacy Commissioner
Level 8, 133 Castlereagh Street Sydney, NSW 1042
Ph: 1300 363 992 (cost of local call)
Fax: (02) 9284 9666
Web: www.privacy.gov.au
Multilingual Web page: www.privacy.gov.au/privacy_rights/languages/
Federation of Community Legal Centres:
The Federation is the peak body and contact point for Victoria’s 52 Community Legal Centres that provide free legal information and advice.
To contact your nearest centre telephone (03) 9654 2204.
Web: www.communitylaw.org.au
Financial and Consumers Rights Council
The Financial and Consumers Rights Council is the peak body for community based organisations and individuals concerned with the rights of low income and vulnerable consumers in Victoria. It runs a telephone and information referral service linking eligible clients to fee free financial counselling programs.
1st Floor, Ross House 247-251 Flinders Lane Melbourne Victoria 3000
Ph: (03) 9663 2000
Toll Free: 1800 134 139
Email: admin@fcrc.org.au
Web: www.fcrc.org.au
Financial Industry Complaints Service (FICS)
FICS is an external dispute resolution scheme providing free advice and assistance to consumers to help them resolve complaints relating to members of the financial services industry, including life insurance, pooled superannuation trusts, funds management, financial advice, stock broking, investment advice and sales of financial or investment products. There is no charge to consumers for any service provided by FICS in handling complaints.
Level 13, 31 Queen Street Melbourne Victoria 3000
Ph: 1300 780 808
Fax: (03) 9621 2291
Email: fics@fics.asn.au
Web: www.fics.asn.au
Fitzroy Legal Service
The Fitzroy Legal Service provides free legal advice to people in their catchment area [which includes the Carlton, Collingwood and Richmond areas]. It has a long history of running public interest cases.
124 Johnstone Street Fitzroy Victoria 3065
Ph: (03) 9419 3744
Fax: (03) 9416 1124
Email: enquiries@fitzroy-legal.org.au
Web: www.fitzroy-legal.org.au
Guardianship List, Victorian Civil & Administrative Tribunal
The role of the Guardianship List is to protect people aged 18 years or over who, as a result of a disability, are unable to make reasonable decisions about their personal circumstances or their financial and legal affairs.
7th Floor, 55 King Street Melbourne Victoria 3000
Ph: (03) 9628 9911
Fax: (03) 9628 9932
Toll Free: 1800 133 055
Web: www.vcat.vic.gov.au
Health Services Commission
The Health Services Commission is a free and confidential service that protects the consumer’s right of access to their health information, helps make concerns known to health service providers, conciliates and assists in the resolution of complaints between consumers and providers of services, and recommends improvements to services.
Office of the Health Services Commissioner
30th Floor, 570 Bourke Street Melbourne Victoria 3000
Complaints & Information
Ph: (03) 8601 5200
Toll Free: 1800 136 066
Fax: (03) 8601 5219
Email: hsc@dhs.vic.gov.au
Web: www.health.vic.gov.au/hsc
Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commissioner (HREOC)
HREOC is a national independent government body responsible for inquiring into alleged infringements of the anti-discrimination laws, such as discrimination on the grounds of race, colour or ethnic origin, racial vilification, sex, sexual harassment, marital status, pregnancy or disability.
Complaints infoline: 1300 656 419
General phone line: (02) 9284 9600
Email: paffairs@humanrights.gov.au
Web: www.hreoc.gov.au
Insurance Ombudsman Service (IOS)
The Insurance Ombudsman Service is an independent body which offers a national, free service to consumers who have disputes with insurance companies relating to a wide range of insurance cover including travel and sickness & accident.
PO Box 561,Collins Street West Melbourne Victoria 8007
Ph: (03) 9613 6300
1300 780 808
Fax: (03) 9621 2060
Email: ios@insuranceombudsman.com.au
Web: www.insuranceombudsman.com.au
Law Institute of Victoria Legal Referral Service
The Law Institute of Victoria Legal Referral Service provides free referrals to law firms who are members of the Law Institute of Victoria, and who practice in specific areas of law. Law firms participating in the service undertake to see clients up to 30 minutes free of charge after which normal rates apply.
Online Legal Referral Service: www.liv.asn.au/directory/firmsref/
Phone service
Hours: 9am -5pm Monday to Friday
Ph: (03) 9607 9550
Email: referrals@liv.asn.au
2/182 Victoria Parade, East Melbourne VIC 3002
Phone:(03) 9662 9644
Living,Dying and Grieving Well. A guide to palliative care
Office of the Public Advocate
The Office of the Public Advocate (OPA) promotes and protects the rights and dignity of people with disabilities. If needed, the OPA will use legal powers on behalf of people with disabilities where there is concern about their safety and interests.
5th Floor,436 Lonsdale Street Melbourne Victoria 3000
Ph: (03) 9603 9500
Toll Free: 1800 136 829
Fax: (03) 9603 9501
Email: publicadvocate@justice.vic.gov.au
Web: www.publicadvocate.vic.gov.au
Probate Office (Justice Department of Victoria)
The Probate Office is part of the Supreme Court Registry and deals with all applications for grants of Probate and Administration of deceased estates in Victoria.
Level 2, 436 Lonsdale Street Melbourne Victoria 3000
Ph: (03) 9603 9296
Email: probate@supremecourt.vic.gov.au
Social Security Appeals Tribunal
The Social Security Appeals Tribunal reviews decisions made by Centrelink and the Child Support Agency about social security, family assistance, education and training, and child support payments.
14th Floor, 628 Bourke Street Melbourne Victoria 3000
Ph: (03) 9954 0700
Toll Free: 1800 011 140
Email: Melbourne@ssat.gov.au
Web: www.ssat.gov.au
State Trustees of Victoria
The State Trustees of Victoria is a state-owned enterprise that provides a range of services including will making, trustee, executor and personal financial administration.
168 Exhibition Street Melbourne Victoria 3000
Ph: (03) 9667 6444,
1300 138 672
Web: www.statetrustees.com.au
Victorian Legal Aid
Victorian Legal Aid provides free legal information, advice and assistance in relation to criminal issues, family breakdown, family violence, immigration, social security, mental health, debt and traffic offences. They also produce legal advice publications available for download from their website.
350 Queen Street Melbourne Victoria 3000
Tel: (03) 9269 0234
Country Callers: 1800 677 402
Web: www.legalaid.vic.gov.au
Villamanta Disability Rights Legal Service
Villamanta is a free, state-wide community legal service that works only on disability related justice issues. It provides free information, advice and referrals to people with a disability and those who support them, however the main focus is on the rights of people with an intellectual disability.
44 Bellarine Street Geelong Victoria 3220
Advice, Information and Referral:
Monday to Friday 1-3pm
Ph: 5229 2925
Advice Line: 1800 014 111
Email: legal@villamanta.org.au
Web: www.villamanta.org.au
Welfare Rights Unit
The Welfare Rights Unit is an independent organisation that provides specialist information, training, co-ordinated advocacy and casework support in the area of welfare rights and social security law, policy and practice. It provides a free independent state-wide telephone advice and assistance on the full range of social security matters, other than defending social security prosecutions.
155 Easey Street Collingwood Victoria 3066
Ph: (03)9416 1111
Toll Free:1800 094 164
Fax: (03)9419 3552
Email: wruvic@vicnet.net.au
Web: www.welfarerights.org.au