Family and Injured Workers Support and Advisory Group

Mark joined FIWSAG after a serious farming incident that changed his and his family’s life for ever. 

He has worked in two high risk industries, mining and agriculture. Over that time, he’s experienced that there is a disconnect between management and the workers to reduce risk. 

"My goal is to consult with industry leaders, political leaders and advisors to advocate for accountability on management and the workers that cut corners.

To share the issues that I suffered going through a Worksafe investigation and the Enforceable Undertaking process. 

Personally I want to shine a light on mental health impacts that a workplace incident can cause. "

On the 24th May 2018, Debra tragically lost her 28 year old son Benjamin to a preventable workplace incident.  Benjamin died as a result of being exposed to toxic levels of hydrogen sulphide.

Debra’s experience following her son’s death, highlighted the need for timely communication, complete transparency and the empathy of human connection. 

"The Family and Injured Workers Support and Advisory Group has provided the platform I was seeking to advocate for change, so that workers and their families affected by workplace incidents receive immediate and ongoing support to process the trauma of grief and associated ongoing mental and physical issues."

Learn more by watching this video.

"On the 23rd of October 2017 my brother, Reece Marchello, was tragically killed in a preventable workplace incident at only 27.

Following this I took on the role of representing our family and dealing with the relevant agencies throughout the many processes that followed. I have since become passionate about promoting WH&S and the seriousness of complacency within the workplace.

Then in March 2019 my husband also sustained a workplace injury. Since his accident I have gained experience surrounding worker's compensation and the toll a long-term recovery can take, not only on the injured worker but on their whole family."

Patrizia is an International award-winning WHS advocate with a compelling and confronting life story. She shares the crucial lessons everyone in construction, manufacturing and engineering need to hear to shift out complacency and create a safe working environment for themselves and all their work mates.

Her devastating story is of a tragedy that was never an accident, but an incident waiting to happen, all because of complacency that took her 18-year-old son’s life.

Her foundation, Touched by Christopher, raises money to help families who have lost a loved one at work, so that they can grieve without the everyday burden.

Learn more by watching this video

Noeline's partner, Davern, was involved in a workplace incident in 2018. Tragically two lives were lost on the day and a third person was badly injured due to being exposed to toxic levels of Hydrogen Sulphide.

Davern took his own life, as a result of feeling responsible for sending them into the area, unaware of the fatal gas that had been released.

"My primary motivation for being involved in the Family and Injured Worker Support and Advisory Group is to raise awareness of how a traumatic incident affects the mental health of all workers at every level. And in my case resulting in a suicide."

Learn more by watching this video.

In 2019, tragedy struck David’s family with the loss of his son Joel in a preventable industrial accident. The devastating loss plunged his family and friends into a void of unbearable grief, a pain David says continues still and words can’t describe. Driven by his son’s passing, David has joined the group to transform his sorrow into an advocacy mission. “I want to work with the group to try and promote safe working conditions across industries, to implement measures that could avert similar tragedies and to strive to prevent such heart-wrenching incidents from befalling other families.”

David’s aim is to ensure that robust support services are available for families affected by such accidents, as he recognises the critical need for compassion and assistance during times of profound loss.

“Through this involvement I’d like to forge a legacy that honours Joel's memory by safeguarding the well-being of workers and their families.”

Linda’s husband, Iremar da Silva, was killed at a construction site in Ryde due to the unsafe work practices of two construction companies in October 2016.

"Apart from the immeasurable grief of losing my life partner, I have had to deal with many different processes and organisations such as the Police, the Coroner, SafeWork and lawyers in different capacities.

I was not ready for any of this and it has not been smooth sailing, but I have learnt a great deal from this experience; nothing will bring back my husband or the life I used to have ... but I feel that I can share this knowledge I have gained to empower others in the same situation to navigate the various proceedings in which they will be involved with clarity, direction and agency." 

Learn more by watching this video.

Graeme experienced tragedy at just 12 years of age, with his sister falling from a Sydney train on route to work, and it set his life on a path of helping others. Growing up in regional NSW, Graeme began his career as an electrician at Liddell power station. He also studied electrical engineering and became an electrical engineering technician, a role he held for 30 years.

Looking to help other workers to stay safe, Graeme served 20 years on an emergency first response team and 15 years on a safety committee.

It was during his time as a power plant operator that Graeme experienced his own workplace incident, being injured in a transformer explosion.

His injuries included third degree burns to 19 per cent of his body, three broken teeth, a torn rotor cuff in his left shoulder and damaged cartilage in his right knee, which led to arthritis and PTSD.

As a local councillor, Graeme continues to work to help others and give back to his local community.

“My wife and I have four children who are the centre of our universe. We love all things outdoors, especially cricket.”

Graeme joined FIWSAG because he wanted to share his experiences and learnings to effect change for the better.

Tanja Limnios, Director of Thinkahead Psychology is a corporate psychologist with over 30 years’ experience working within the field of clinical and organisational psychology.

Tanja is engaged as the registered psychologist to provide clinical expertise, psychological intervention, and support to the FIWSAG whilst supporting Safework NSW in an advisory capacity.  She has worked with hundreds of inspectors, injured workers and families who have lost a loved one due to a workplace incident. Tanja’s area of interest is mental health and wellbeing; return to work and complex trauma. 

Trent’s father, Ian, was killed in a workplace incident in 2017. He had been awake for more than twenty-four hours straight and was working in breach of every fatigue policy his employer had in place. While Ian lay dead on the road, he was replaced within six minutes, and another worker continued the job. The project was completed that afternoon without any delays.

No one was ever held to account for Ian’s death. Trent’s father deserved better, and so do the workers that are still being put at risk.

With more than twenty-five years in the construction industry and a decade working in safety, Trent is committed to turning personal loss into systemic change. By joining the FIWSAG, Trent seeks to encourage SafeWork NSW and other government agencies to strengthen policy, accountability and protections so no family endures the same preventable tragedy.

Sam’s lived experience journey began at six years old, when he found his father after he had taken his own life. Two years later, his mother passed away on Christmas Day, leaving Sam and his nine siblings to grow up in New Zealand’s housing commission areas.

Sam moved to Australia in 1987 with his wife and baby son to escape gang violence, and in 1994 faced further tragedy when his 17-year-old nephew was killed in a five-storey scaffolding collapse in Sydney.

Despite these hardships, Sam built a successful career in construction, progressing from labourer to national leadership roles in health, safety, environment, quality and compliance. He is committed to keeping people safe at every level, mentoring young workers and advocating strongly for MATES in Construction, mental health, suicide prevention and psychosocial awareness.

“Safety is a passion that I wear on my sleeve.”

Sam joined the FIWSAG to help broaden its impact by sharing lived experience that fosters support and respect, and ultimately leads to greater understanding, resilience and a sense of closure.

Sarah’s advocacy is shaped by her family’s journey after her husband, a former NSW Police Sergeant and Fire + Rescue NSW firefighter, medically retired with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety and moral injury. As co‑founder of Living Alongside Foundation, Sarah champions trauma‑informed systems that acknowledge and strengthen the vital role families play in recovery.

Living Alongside Foundation is a not‑for‑profit created by families for families that supports those living alongside a first responder with a workplace psychological injury. Grounded in lived experience, the foundation provides connection, education and advocacy for partners, children and families navigating the complex impacts of service‑related trauma.

Sarah is also a seasoned community disaster recovery and resilience practitioner with more than two decades working alongside regional NSW communities facing adversity. Her work centres on inclusion, collaboration and community‑led approaches to recovery, driving meaningful system improvement grounded in the wisdom and strength of communities.