August 2008 - We Are Running at a Hectic Pace
The Workplace Tragedy Family Support Group is only in its fledgling stages (we launched in September last year at the 2007 CFMEU Construction Industry Dinner), yet we have got up and running at an extremely hectic pace;

1.	We now have our own website - www.workplacetragedy.com
2.	We have been asked to address meetings of Construction Company Site Managers to explain our message of the impact of workplace deaths, and to also see if we can find common ground to establish problems employers may face in workplace safety. We are trying to get an industry benchmark standard on what should take place concerning the family when a fatality occurs on site.
3.	We are developing 2 kits - one for the family (to help them through the period), and one for employers to see if a benchmark family-empathetic process can be established, in addition to the processes required by Workcover.
4.	We have talked at delegates meetings and on job sites.
5.	We have unveiled plaques in various councils that acknowledge workplace deaths and provide a local place for widows/families of those killed at work to go to on International Day of Mourning for Workers Killed (this is an ongoing campaign)
6.	We have been invited by the NSW Premier personally to attend roundtable discussions about the reality that faces a family following a workplace death, and the impact of legislation in NSW on families.
7.	We have been invited (and are attending) the ACTU Federal Government talks discussing the National Harmonisation of OH&S process.
8.	We have developed a committee (of 10), and seem to be getting supporters and bereaved people joining every week. Our group of 10 met at the CFMEU Wall of Remembrance where our own loved ones are commemorated with dignity.
9.	We are now organising our own speaker training - most of the families have never had to speak publicly before, and would like to have training in this area, although we don't want to lose our 'speaking from the heart' approach. Generally our speakers will firstly tell their own personal story, then talk briefly about our group its work and its aims, and finish up by advising how people can help in our campaigns.

All of these initiatives of course help our members of the group with their own healing, because they believe their actions will ensure their loved one's death was not in vain. The CFMEU has just produced a new video (yet to be officially released) which we may use in the future. It discusses the loss of some young people who died very quickly after entering the workforce in construction.

What you can do

If you are interested in joining with us, please complete our contact form available here.

Our group is open to both families of those who die in a workplace tragedy, and general supporters.