Legal and Workplace Support

If your patients and their carers are experiencing financial hardship, we can help them access advice on legal issues associated with a cancer diagnosis.    

We can also assist patients and carers access guidance and support regarding workplace issues that arise due to a cancer diagnosis.

If your patient speaks a language other than English, we can arrange a telephone interpreter for them.

We can connect eligible patients and carers with human resources and recruitment professionals for advice and support in managing workplace issues resulting from a cancer diagnosis before, during and after treatment. 

For people affected by cancer who are currently employed, human resources professionals can provide information and advice regarding: 

  • disclosure of a cancer diagnosis and confidentiality obligations 
  • entitlement to flexible working arrangements  
  • leave and payment of salary during sickness leave 
  • management of employers and colleagues’ expectations 
  • discrimination at work. 

For people who would like to return to work after a cancer diagnosis or are caring for a person affected by cancer, recruitment professionals can provide advice on:

  • strategies when looking for work, including obligations to tell a new employer about past cancer 
  • how to explain the gap in a CV due to your treatment when applying for a job 
  • preparing and reviewing a CV and interview techniques.  
Health professionals can refer patients and carers for support using the online referral form.
  • Cancer Council NSW does not provide advice directly.  
  • We connect eligible patients and carers with volunteer lawyers and human resources professionals in the community who provide free advice and assistance.   
  • Usually, people will meet professionals at their office, however, assistance may be provided via video, phone and email where appropriate. 

To be eligible for our Legal Referral Service and Workplace Referral Service, patients and/or carers must: 

  • be experiencing a legal or workplace issue listed above that is related to the patient’s cancer diagnosis,  
  • be experiencing financial hardship and be unable to afford the cost of professional advice,  
  • not have already accessed support from Cancer Council NSW for the same issue, and  
  • not be receiving support from another professional with this issue or be seeking a second opinion.