Victorian Trades Hall Council Occupational Health and Safety
VTHC is the peak body for affiliated Unions in Victoria. This site provides health and safety information and advice on how to resolve workplace issues, with particular attention given to asbestos.
WorkSafe manages Victoria's workplace safety system. They are responsible for the prevention of workplace injuries, enforcement of occupational health and safety legislation and assist workers return to employment.
This site is maintained by the Department of Human Services and provides environmental health material. DHS is responsible for the publication of the Asbestos In the Home brochure, outlining where asbestos can be found and how it should be handled.
The EPA is responsible for the administration of several pieces of legislation, including the Environmental Protection Act 1970. It is the body responsible for regulating where asbestos can be treated and how it can be transported.
The National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) is Australia’s national laboratory accreditation authority. This site provides technical information on asbestos identification, along with information on the accreditation process.
Palliative Care Victoria is the peak body representing palliative care providers, consumers and their families. This includes supporting people living with a terminal illness. PCV’s primary function is to meet the needs of its members and assist the community through education.
The Cancer Council Victoria is a non-profit organisation involved in cancer research and cancer support, prevention and advocacy. This site provides information on asbestos related cancers such as mesothelioma and lung cancer.
Quit Victoria is dedicated to eliminating the pain, illness and suffering cause by tobacco. This site provides good strategies for quitting smoking, which places people exposed to asbestos at a greatly increased risk of developing asbestos related disease.
Cancer Backup is a British site providing up to date information in easy to understand language. The site includes online forums and extensive information on various forms of cancer including lung cancer and mesothelioma.
Life Goes On is a service offering strategies for seriously ill people and their families. Confidential telephone counselling is available for the cost of a local call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. All counsellors are highly trained and have experience facing death or supporting someone who did.
The MPMSAA is an employer body that represents plumbing members and is responsible for the dissemination of information and training programs in OH&S. The site includes information on all aspects of asbestos – from generalised information to insurance and medical disease.
The Asbestos Disease Society of Victoria (ADSVIC) is a not-for-profit providing information, referrals and counselling for those with asbsetos-related disease.
The Asbestos Diseases Society of Victoria (ARD) runs a support group for
people with asbestos related diseases. For further information contact
the Support Group Co-ordinator, Rod Smith on:
mobile: 0418 319 757
email:
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
GARDS
The Gippsland Asbestos Related Disease Support (GARDS) is a not-for-profit, voluntary organisation dedicated to supporting victims of asbestos and their families. This website provides referrals to medical and legal support for those affected by asbestos-related disease.
The Australian Lung Foundation aims to promote lung health and the awareness of lung disease. This website includes information on asbestos and the damage it may cause to the lungs.
The Bernie Banton Foundation offer support offer support, comfort, encouragement, hope and a listening ear to sufferers of asbestos disease, their carers and loved ones. The group operate out of New South Wales.
Maurice Blackburn are one of Australia's leading plaintiff law firms specialising in asbestos litigation. If you have mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis, pleural plaques or gastro-intestinal cancers you may be eligible to make a claim.
Asbestos.com is committed to providing the latest, up-to-date information to our visitors in the hopes of spreading awareness about the dangers of asbestos cancer. This website offers a one-stop resource on all asbestos issues ranging from occupational exposure to mesothelioma treatment options. As the leading asbestos and mesothelioma resource, Asbestos.com offers more than 3000 pages of the most comprehensive and cutting edge information on the web.
The Pleural Mesothelioma website has up to date and comprehensive information about pleural mesothelioma ranging from a list of symptoms, to treatment options and steps to take after a diagnosis.
In addition to the various lead bodies and advocacy groups, AISS provide links to important pdf documents published by a range of authorities.
In the Home
The New South Wales State Government's Asbestos Safe Work Fact Sheet provides excellent information on how to prepare a site, appropriate equipment and disposal protocols.
The Victorian State Government's has released an asbestos fact sheet available in pdf format here. For more detailed information on domestic property containing asbestos, AISS recommends the Department of Human Services' information booklet Asbestos in the Home.
In the Workplace
WorkSafe's Handbook for Workplaces provides some good general information including what asbestos is, where it can be found in workplaces, health risks and the legal duties of employers.
Resources & Info Links