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Policy Covering the Provision of Relief

STATEMENT OF POLICY COVERING THE PROVISION OF RELIEF

  1. "Recipient" means:
    1. a person who has worked in and contributed to the Australian music industry; or
    2. a relative of such a person; selected by the Board of Directors of the Company; and who in either case is
    3. a person who is a citizen or permanent resident of Australia.
  2. “A person who has worked in and contributed to the Australian music industry” in the case of a person seeking financial assistance is taken to be:
    1. Any person who has earned his or her living from music for the greater part of his or her adult working life; or
    2. Any person who has (most recently) worked part-time for at least ten years as a permanent part-time worker and who has received remuneration for all of that time and who considers they have contributed to the music industry;

      Note: Annual tax returns may be required as confirmation of such employment/remuneration details.

      or
    3. Any person who has been continuously self employed for at least the last ten (10) years in categories including but not limited to the following:
      • Composer
      • Writer/Lyricist/Arranger
      • Performer
      • Agent/Promoter
      • Manager
      • Sound Engineers/Producer
      • Music Journalist
      • Road Crew Member
  3. 'Relative' in relation to any person means the following persons:
    1. The partner of that person who has been dependent on them for at least the preceding 10 years;
    2. The child of that person and dependent on that person at the time of the claim and remaining dependent for a future period;
    3. A person who most recently and for a substantial period was wholly or mostly dependent on that person for his or her maintenance, education or advancement in life.
  4. A Recipient is considered to be in need or suffering hardship if he or she is in financial difficulty because of illness, accident, old age, death of a person on whom they were dependent or some other misfortune. Recipient would not normally include a party claiming for motoring expenses, household repairs or rent but such claims may be considered based on particular circumstances.
  5. Assistance Limitations
    1. for the avoidance of doubt, it is expressly declared that Support Act Limited funds will not be used (a) to support a person whose only claim for relief arises from want of employment, or (b) to pay for a funeral, even if the deceased was formerly eligible or an actual Recipient of relief. The death of a recipient does not necessarily mean, however, that a relative or dependent as set out in this policy is not eligible for the continuation of benefits.
    2. Before providing any assistance the Casework Committee will take into account that any person applying for assistance has exhausted any/all other avenues of funding and assistance.
    3. Whenever possible, approved financial relief will be paid directly to a third party such as a public utility and not to a Recipient.
    4. Financial relief by way of grant or loan is limited to a maximum of $3,000.00 per financial year on a year by year basis for not more than a three year period, except where the Board decides otherwise whereby the period can extend to 5 years in total.
    5. At its sole discretion Support Act Limited reserves the right to deny or approve relief without entering into any discussion about the reasons.
  6. Relief may be provided by Support Act Limited facilitating the provision of counseling or specialist advice by a third party to a Recipient.
  7. Relief may be provided by Support Act Limited providing short term interest free loans for special situations.
  8. Support Act has limited funds and any application may be rejected (for no other reason than) for lack of funds.
  9. Applications to establish eligibility to seek relief must be made by completing Form A. If details provided in Form A to establish eligibility to seek assistance are accepted then the applicant will be required to complete Form B. All applications (A and B) will be submitted to the National Co-ordinator, P.O. Box 2190, Clovelly NSW 2031.