Workplace Cancer Advocacy
A cancer diagnosis changes everything and for many working Australians, the workplace impact is overwhelming.
Approximately 68,000 workingage Australians are diagnosed with cancer each year, and 67% report employment changes following diagnosis. Many face unfamiliar dispute and conciliation processes, financial disruption, and workplaces that often lack the policies to support them
GNS Strategic Advisory provides practical support and guidance for cancer survivors navigating these challenges, and works with organisations to build the workplace policies, training, and capability to support employees through diagnosis, treatment, and return to work.
Workplace Cancer Advocacy
Real experience. Practical guidance. Meaningful change.
Individual Consulting
Practical, structured support for cancer survivors navigating workplace challenges, disputes, and financial complexity during treatment and recovery. Clear pathways, informed decisions, and guidance at every stage.
Organisational Services
Advisory support for organisations to build canceraware workplaces through policy development, risk management, and manager capability. Designed to support employees while protecting the business.
Why GNS Strategic Advisory
A unique combination of lived experience and financial expertise. Delivering practical, commercially grounded support with a deep understanding of workplace cancer challenges and outcomes.
INDIVIDUAL CONSULTING SERVICES
Trusted. Qualified. Globally recognised.
Practical support and guidance for cancer survivors facing workplace disputes, conciliation processes, and financial complexity during treatment and recovery. Not sure where to start? The Initial Consultation helps identify the right pathway for your situation.
INITIAL CONSULTATION & ROADMAP
A starting point to understand your situation, explore your options, and receive a clear plan before deciding on a pathway.
- Situation assessment and documentation review
- Pathway options explanation (AHRC, WorkCover, or both)
- Recommended next steps
- Written roadmap document
Practical support for cancer survivors navigating WorkCover claims and conciliation processes:
NAVIGATE (AHRC) AHRC complaint process guidance, evidence organisation, documentation gathering, complaint preparation and submission support
CONCILIATION PREPARATION Conference preparation, outcome preparation, process overview
SUPPORT PERSON (Addon) Attending a conciliation conference as your support perso
Practical support for cancer survivors navigating WorkCover claims and conciliation processes:
NAVIGATE (WorkCover) Claim process guidance, documentation requirements, medical evidence guidance
CONCILIATION PREPARATION Conference preparation, process overview, WCIRS review guidance
SUPPORT PERSON (Addon) Attending a conciliation conference as your support person
Helps cancer survivors understand what a settlement offer means in practical terms, using practical cost comparison to help evaluate options. Available as a standalone service or as an addon to either conciliation pathway.
Service Includes:
- Comprehensive assessment of financial, emotional, and practical factors
- Sidebyside comparison of estimated costs of continuing versus settlement outcomes
- Nonfinancial factors discussion (time, stress, broader implications)
- Overview of cost protection provisions under October 2024 reforms
Guidance for cancer survivors managing financial complexity during treatment and recovery, drawing on Chartered
Accountant and Tax Adviser expertise to help coordinate entitlements, income streams, and financial needs
Service Includes:
- Financial situation and entitlements review
- Superannuation insurance claims guidance (TPD, income protection)
- Cash flow planning during reduced income periods
- Income stream coordination (leave, WorkCover, insurance)
- Returntowork financial coordination
Organisational Services
Supporting Workplaces Through Cancer
For employers and HR teams. With 1 in 2 Australians diagnosed with cancer by age 85, every organisation will need to support employees through diagnosis, treatment, and return to work. These services help build the policies, processes, and capability to do so effectively.
A starting point for organisations to understand where their current survivorship support stands and what to prioritise.
Service Includes:
- Current state assessment of survivorship policies and practices
- Gap identification against best practice
Priority recommendations with implementation guidance
Development of comprehensive workplace cancer survivorship policies aligned with best practice and regulatory requirements.
Service Includes:
- Returntowork framework with graduated capacity provisions
- Manager guidelines for supporting employees through treatment
- Reasonable adjustment framework
- Communication templates and conversation guides
Review of current HR practices to identify and address discrimination risk, helping organisations protect both employees and the business.
Service Includes:
- Policy and procedure review for illness/disability/returntowork
- Performance management discrimination risk assessment
- Gap analysis against regulatory requirements
- Process improvement recommendations
Training sessions equipping managers with the knowledge and confidence to support employees through cancer diagnosis and return to work.
Service Includes:
- Halfday or fullday awareness sessions
- Disclosure conversations and reasonable adjustments
- Regulatory framework overview and employer responsibilities
- Practical scenarios and conversation practice
Let’s talk about what’s possible
Financial clarity.
Practice strength.
Workplace cancer advocacy. Start here.
Every good engagement starts with a conversation. Tell us what you're navigating, and we'll tell you honestly whether and how we can help.
