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About the program

The Worker Support Program offers support to eligible native timber employees, supply chain employees, and their families as they navigate the transition away from native timber harvesting in state forests.

It provides a safety net to those who have been made genuinely redundant or had their casual employment contract ended due to the Victorian Forestry Transition Program.

The Worker Support Program provides:

  • support services
  • support payments.

The Worker Support Program commenced in November 2022 for eligible employees and their families and is available until 30 June 2026.

Types of support available

Once registered, eligible employees and family members can access the following services.

Support services

  • 1 to 1 case management
  • Employment support and career assistance including job matching
  • Funded training up to the value of $8,000
  • Health and wellbeing support including referrals to clinical services and gap payments for up to 10 sessions with an approved service provider
  • Referrals to other support agencies including Skills and Jobs Centres.
  • Financial counselling
  • Recognition of prior learning and current competencies to formalise skills acquired*
  • Pre-redundancy training*.

* specific to eligible employees only.

The Worker Support Program offers 3 types of Support Payments. These payments provide a safety net for employees who have been made genuinely redundant and lost their jobs as a result of the end of native timber harvesting in State forests.

Available payments

Eligibility

The Worker Support Program offers support to eligible native timber employees, supply chain employees, contractors, and their family members.

You can register if:

  • you go to work in Victoria
  • you are an employee of an eligible business
  • you work in the native timber industry
  • you are either a:
    • sawmill employee
    • harvest and haulage employee
    • community forestry employee
    • seed collector
    • chip truck driver
    • supply chain employee
    • pulp and paper employee (including Opal Australian Paper Maryvale Mill employee)
    • employee of an eligible native timber business.

You can also register is you are a family member of a native timber employee or contractor.

You are not eligible for the Worker Support Program if:

  • you work in plantation timber-related roles
  • you are an employee of an ineligible business
  • you have been employed for less than 12 months
  • you are voluntarily leaving your employment
  • your dismissal is due to disciplinary or inefficiency reasons
  • your dismissal is for reasons other than genuine redundancy
  • your dismissal is because you have reached normal retirement age
  • your dismissal is due to reaching the end of your fixed-term contract
  • your contract was ended by a principal contractor
  • you work outside of Victoria
  • you are a trainee or apprentice.

How to access the Victorian Forestry Worker Support Program

Visit ForestWorks or contact 1800 177 001 for more information.

Contact the Forestry Transition Information Line 1800 318 182

CFMEU Members

Visit the ForestWorks website or call 1800 177 001 for more information.

AMWU/ETU/UWU Members

Contact the Gippsland Trades and Labor Council on 5133 7684.

Other Opal employees

These can be white-collar employees. For registration assistance, call 1800 136 762.

Employment type definitions

An employee is a person employed by a business and performs work as a representative of the business. Employees can be:

  • full-time
  • part-time
  • casual
  • piece rate
  • seasonal.

For more information about employees, visit the Fair Work website.

Contractors provide services under a contract and can work for more than 1 client at a time. Contractors are also called:

  • self-employed workers
  • sole traders
  • ABN holders
  • independent contractors
  • contractors
  • subcontractors
  • business owners.

For more information about contractors, visit the Fair Work website.

Contractors have different rights and obligations to employees. This is because they provide services to another person or business, as opposed to being employed by that person or business.

Support for contractors

If you are a contractor or business, support is available for you and your native timber business. Please contact the Forestry Transition Information Line on 1800 318 182 or visit our Forestry Transition Program page.

Exceptional circumstances

Exceptional circumstances are intended to support eligible employees and their families who may face challenges beyond their control. Please note that exceptional circumstances apply only to those who are eligible employees.

To apply for exceptional circumstances, you first need to confirm your eligibility for the Worker Support Program or the government top-up Payment. Once your eligibility is confirmed, you can submit your application for exceptional circumstances in writing, either directly to the Department or through your service provider. The Department will then assess your circumstances in alignment with the policy intent of the Worker Support Program to ensure they satisfy the criteria for exceptional circumstances.

Frequently asked questions

General questions

The Worker Support Program is available until June 30, 2026.

Yes, you can register without access to the internet.

If you are an employee please contact ForestWorks on 1800 177 001. If you are a contractor or business please contact the Forestry Transition Information Line on 1800 318 182.

If you need assistance applying for payments or submitting online forms for the Worker Support Program, you can contact ForestWorks on 1800 177 001.

Support services

All family members of native timber employees and contractors can register for support. This includes 1 to 1 case management, employment support, training, and health and well-being support. Family members are not eligible for support payments.

Worker Support Program employment support

  • Employment Support – career assistance and planning, resume and application support, local employment advice, digital employment skills, referrals to other support as needed.
  • Training Support – recognition of prior learning and current competencies, development of a training plan, access to free and funded training programs.

Once registered for the Worker Support Program you will be assigned a case manager who will discuss your career and training pathways, and design a training plan with you. You can register for the program at the ForestWorks website or call ForestWorks directly on 1800 177 001.

Page last updated: 22/11/24