Stolen wages helpline opened

By Anna Nikolov

The Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) recently launched a free, confidential telephone information service to assist Aboriginal people claiming unpaid wages and entitlements from the NSW Aboriginal Trust Fund Repayment Scheme.

PIAC’s Stolen Wages Helpline offers free information and advice to people making claims under the Scheme.

PIAC has been instrumental in ensuring that Aboriginal people have access to legal advice and support in relation to these claims.

Previously, PIAC’s Indigenous Justice Program and the Public Interest Law Clearing House (PILCH) established a Stolen Wages Referral Scheme, enabling PILCH members to provide pro bono advice and representation to Aboriginal Trust Fund Repayment Scheme claimants. PIAC and PILCH have assisted hundreds of claimants through the Referral Scheme. However, there remain an estimated 3,000 claimants without access to legal advice or representation.

PIAC hopes the Stolen Wages Helpline will ensure more claimants receive advice and support during the claim process.

The Stolen Wages Helpline opened on 30 March 2010. It will operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays (except public holidays) between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm. Claimants who call outside of these hours will be asked to leave a telephone message. These messages will be answered during the Helpline’s operating hours.

To contact the Stolen Wages Helpline, phone 02 8898 6544.