Kathie Melocco
The Story Behind Kathie Melocco
Kathie Melocco is a mother, chaplain, storyteller, writer, speaker, and emerging film director. Kathie’s advocacy work seeks to reform a broken system that harms instead of heals. As co-founder of GIDII Advocacy and Executive Producer of 'Shattered' Documentary Series, Kathie shares her journey of advocacy, healing, and forgiveness with the world."
Key Award Highlights:
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United Nations Award for communicating priority issues - Breast health campaign
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Portfolio Independent Woman of the Year Award
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Portfolio Small Business Woman of the Year Award
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Best Campaign - Cyberhealth and Safety Summit - Workplace Bullying
Systems are built by humans. Humans can change systems and processes. We have to stop morally injuring those we should be helping. This is a leadership issue.
Kathie Melocco
It's A Finance System Not A Health System
When Kathie exited the Scheme, the State Insurance Regulatory Authority cited "workplace bullying and harassment" as the cause of her injury, highlighting systemic failures across multiple systems.
Dangerous practices in claims management led to significant life threatening health consequences for Kathie. Some health professionals have described Kathie's mistreatment as 'unorthodox,' 'untherapeutic' 'immoral and unethical'.
Fundamentally this is a finance system pretending to be health.
Kathie’s story is a stark lesson in poor claims management. Her battle included privacy breaches, sexist treatment, case management by a critical incident worker who it turned out was on workers' compensation himself, and a return to work program 'from hell'.
It demonstrates catastrophic failures in claims management, medical management, rehabilitation management, return to work, complaints management, business ethics, legislation deficiencies and is a case study in structural violence. This type of violence is a form of violence where social structures or a social institution may harm people by preventing them from meeting their basic needs or rights. Some examples of structural violence include institutionalized racism, sexism and classism among others. Structural violence and direct violence are said to be highly interdependent, including family violence, gender violence, hate crimes, racial violence, state violence, terrorism and war. It is very closely linked to social injustice insofar as it affects people differently in various structures.
Workers' Compensation has been built on colonialism, misogyny and entrenched bias that 'others' people and these all play into the dysfunctional state of the system. It continues to limp along today with injured people within it.
Shattered Talks To Structural Violence
The "Shattered" documentary series, uncovers the ongoing abuses in the Workers' Compensation system. It calls for urgent action to protect injured workers and ensure their rights and well-being.
Kathie’s journey underscores the critical need for systemic reform of the legislation. Action is required, not talk fests. This is a vulnerable population and needs to be to be treated with care and respect. Kathie's own story is a powerful reminder of the resilience needed to challenge and change oppressive systems.
Remarkably to write this bio Kathie had to be encouraged by Ballina to do so. They have known each other professionally for years.
She says,'This is not about me, or what happened to me, nor is this backstory really in the documentary. This is about the people within this system now, a system that is malfunctioning for them and it is unsafe. I was simply able to unravel the lived experiences and show the devastation. There is a pattern and that is the value of lived experience if we are willing to actively listen. You cannot set out to destroy people's names and careers like this and then walk away thinking a sorry letter is adequate."
"There needs to be serious consequences for anyone who condones this sort of behavior to 'protect their turf' or, turns away from this sort of unethical behaviour that harms people. Why are critical health services for injured people being administered by Government through Finance Agencies?"
Four Generations of Kathie’s Family Impacted By Cruel Workers’ Compensation Scheme
Kathie’s grandfather, Jacob Patrick, was tragically killed in 1939, just days after the
Second World War was declared. He and another man were buried by a massive
granite fall in a quarry cave-in in South Bowenfels. Desperate to rescue them, their
workmates clawed at the stone with their hands for half an hour, unable to use shovels for fear of causing further injury. Sadly, both men were dead when they were finally recovered.
Jacob was buried three days later, honored with the playing of the Last
Post in recognition of his prior military service during WW1.
Jacob Patrick, aged 48, left behind a young widow and four children. His widow, who
had immigrated with him to Australia, was unable to return to the UK for family support
due to the war.
Living in Lithgow, a significant mining town severely affected by the Great Depression, Jacob had been unemployed for many years. His recent job with the Government of NSW had been a crucial financial lifeline for the family. His death, however, plunged them back into poverty. Kathie’s father was only six years old at the time, and it took years for the family to receive any compensation. They endured incredibly difficult circumstances in the meantime.
Misogyny & Unethical Claims Management In Systems Detailed
At a time when Julia Gillard was delivering her misogyny speech in Parliament in 2012, thousands of women at work were also being subjected to similar abuses by misogynistic workplaces.
Kathie Melocco was among them. So too were some of the women you will meet in the documentary Shattered.
Despite her professional successes, Kathie suffered a severe injury at work. She says "I meet women everyday who all tell the very same story so mine is not unique. Just imagine a world where women are safe, at work, at home and at play. We have a long way to go."
Kathie's 'healing' journey was marked by mistreatment, abuse and 'unorthodox' health practices within the dysfunctional Workers Compensation claims management 'process' and this is what happened: One that she and indeed others deemed as life threatening to her. She demanded to exit the unsafe scheme, marked by health deterioration, missing documents that the scheme themselves acknowledge, dangerous rehabilitation practices that compromised her own body agency, multiple treating professionals for the same thing, sexist messages from claims people and numerous privacy breaches. And zero complaints management within the system to actually stop the abuse. Kathie also describes the return to work process she encountered as one of 'sheer terror.'
"No one should have to go through that, it is unsafe and it is still happening. How this government operated finance system known as Workers' Compensation has operated for years dispensing health to 'patients' without intense scrutiny is beyond me. It has to stop. For the record I was a patient and entitled to medical care not quackery.'
"The thing that perturbs me most as part of claims assessment I was sent to an Independent Medical Examination with an insurance doctor and had to retell my story. Upon hearing it, the doctor put down his pen, looked me in the eye and said alarmed 'there was no where to get help'. He didn't write that in his report. The system knows exactly what is occurring and have been complicit in the harm caused to tens of thousands of people. Fear of retribution is a very powerful deterrent."
The same doctor was found to be guilty of unsatisfactory professional conduct by the HCCC for not keeping proper records (not related to Workers Compensation). The doctor is common to three of the stories you will hear in Shattered and it is important to note that none of these women knew of this until recently.
Since Kathie's experience she has been a strong advocate for both employers and injured workers working together to heal and to encourage return to work. "Employers are the key to stop the harm because they pay for this scheme through their premiums. They need to be a lot more active in how their money is being spent."
Kathie eventually retrained as a workplace chaplain, and led WOW Chaplaincy in Barangaroo.
In mid 2019, Kathie wrote to the former Premier of NSW, Gladys Berejiklian, to warn her of the dangerous state of the NSW Workers' Compensation Scheme and of the harm being caused to the injured. Some had died by suicide. (See https://www.smh.com.au/business/workplace/six-deaths-since-more-than-3000-lost-workers-compensation-benefits-20180903-p501fx.html )
In late 2019 and early 2020, Kathie was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent a grueling treatment plan during COVID 19.. The diagnosis was devastating for Kathie as the system had taken away her own body agency and the ability to self check each month for changes to her breasts and early detection. During this time, iCare monitored her social media activity following the Four Corners exposé on their mismanagement. even though she had no involvement in the Four Corners story. They labelled her a known detractor.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/icare-insights-from-the-room-where-it-happened-20200820-p55nss.html#
What followed the Four Corners expose was media front page headline after headline for months talking to the dire state of the NSW State system, and its wastage of billions. Resignations ensued and, subsequent inquiry after inquiry threw the spotlight on poor governance and under payment of wages to injured workers.
Whilst battling breast cancer in a chemotherapy ward, Kathie Melocco found herself sought out by iCare staff for emotional support due to the growing media attention on the mismanagement of the system. Unable to help or stop it she sort help from sector leadership who trivialised her concerns. Kathie courageously fought back, ultimately compelling icare to implement proper mental health support for their employees through EAP, a role she was never meant to bear. " It was a bizarre situation and very distressing," she says.
It's time for the brutality of government policy to stop and urgent action taken.
Other Further Reading: Reframing Trauma Through Social Justice - Resisting the politics of mainstream trauma discourse. Edited by Catrina Brown (A cross disciplinary volume that examines and reframes trauma as a social and political issue in the context of wider society, critiquing the widely accepted pathologising of trauma and violence in current discourse). https://www.routledge.com/Reframing-Trauma-Through-Social-Justice-Resisting-the-Politics-of-Mainstream-Trauma-Discourse/Brown/p/book/9781032459899
Note: We wanted you the viewer to understand how important it is to hear lived experience of a system that has failed for decades. I hope this back story is of assistance. These 5 women who feature in Shattered all tell of similar abuse. We acknowledge their on-going trauma, bravery and pain in so doing this. These are not unfortunate incidents. The system is completely destroying women's lives and the abuse is widespread and at scale.
Inspiration Behind Episode 1 :
Insurance Systems Abuse Stops With Me
It Stops With Us
Background
Kathie Melocco: A Resilient Advocate for Change
Kathie Melocco, an award-winning international communications expert, has led groundbreaking health campaigns in Australia and internationally. Notably, her MBF Breast Health Campaign was instrumental in the creation of the National Breast Screening Program, winning numerous awards, including a United Nations Award. She has calmly issued managed stakeholder communication in multiple high stakes situations for corporate entities and has worked on significant child protection and social justice campaigns lobbying for change. Kathie has also managed International Media Centres for large scale events.
In recent years she retrained as a Workplace Chaplain, bringing her skills for advocacy and healing to ignite a new understanding on the value of building cultures of care to drive performance.
SafeWork NSW had issued Improvement Notices to the employer for non-compliance and lack of policies, but the system's disjointed nature and ineffective complaints process failed to prevent Kathie's suffering. The SafeWork Inspector was unaware of Kathie's active workers' compensation claim, missing a critical opportunity to intervene.
The insurer compounded Kathie's ordeal by failing to notify the employer of their acceptance of liability for five years, citing legislative silence. This was occurring all whilst the system was sending Kathie communication with the employers name on it. A senior government official also dismissed Kathie's concerns about the escalating issues, stating that the employer's obligations were inconsequential.
"As a general principle no undertakings that require a person to breach the law can be valid. In this case that is not the situation..."
Kathie felt trapped, as her collapse at the AHRC meeting was witnessed by all, yet no support was offered. Government agencies administering Workers' Compensation also failed to support her, filing all her complaints.
Kathie was even prepared to go back to her job, which she loved, to feed her family and to try to mitigate the economic abuse, if safe measures were put in place. Noteworthy: This was all occurring at the time of the #MeToo emergence.
After a debilitating work injury and exacerbation of the injury, Kathie took her employer to the Australian Human Rights Commission for discrimination.
During a conciliation meeting, when it was suggested that the alleged perpetrator might be consulted by phone to discuss settlement, Kathie collapsed. Despite this, none of the three men present (her employer colleague, employer lawyer, and her own lawyer) or the female Human Rights Commission Conciliator offered assistance. This incident led the Commission to adopt trauma-informed conciliations after Kathie accessed FOI documents and complained. (See recent story on complaints process https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/three-quarters-of-discrimination-complaints-declined-or-discontinued-20240724-p5jw75.html )
The employer again failed to report Kathie's workplace injury, instead sent her an email offering to settle Workers' Compensation avoiding the need for medical care and treatment. They later disputed her Workers' Compensation claim.
Instead, they sued her for defamation without issuing a concerns notice, imposed restrictive undertakings, and focused on commercial interests. They escalated matters every time Kathie sought assistance, including delaying necessary paperwork for her superannuation fund to access income protection.
Despite multiple warnings from health professionals about the risk to Kathie's life, no help was provided. One health professional repeatedly wrote to the insurer, even using the term "life-threatening," but received no response. He also insisted Kathie's lawyer inform the judge, which didn't happen .
Years later, the superannuation fund and their insurer, Comminsure apologized for their role in the ordeal by 'taking her to 'breakfast.' They also changed their trust deed no longer requiring victims of harassment to obtain an employee statement to comply with the necessary paperwork for income protection.
As a former chair of a Domestic and Family Violence NGO, Kathie has consistently championed women's rights. She hosted the CX Banks online gathering, addressing financial abuse and attended by thousands of women, particularly from regional Australia.
Kathie's advocacy more recently included a seminar in preparation for this documentary at NSW Parliament House with Kenneth Feinberg, the former Special Master for the September 11 Victims Compensation Fund that was established to compensate for physical harm or death caused by the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The VCF was established to provide a no-fault alternative to lawsuits.
Despite her professional success, Kathie faced severe workplace misogyny, paralleling the issues highlighted in Julia Gillard's 2012 misogyny speech.
Apologies Everywhere...
Kathie Melocco's words powerfully highlight the deep flaws and dysfunction within Australia's workers' compensation system that is meant to be about health. Her testimony reflects the immense personal toll the system can take on those it is meant to support, turning what should be a process of healing and recovery into a prolonged and traumatic battle. Kathie's experience, as shared, underscores the lack of human care within the system, describing it as chaotic and unresponsive, especially for individuals who are already vulnerable and unwell.
Kathie's advocacy extends beyond her personal experience, as evidenced by her role during the COVID-19 pandemic, where she campaigned for better protection of aged care residents, leading to significant policy changes.
Both her parents contracted the virus in a NSW aged care home. Her advocacy, along with her parents; poignant love story, helped contribute to the Federal Government’s eventual decision to vaccinate staff in aged care facilities nationwide at a time of confusion.
Three questions have to now be asked:
1. How did this happen and go unaccounted for in a modern civilized society?
2.What are we going to do about it?
3.Can the system reform itself, or is it too late.
Thankfully, there are now many academics doing great research into return to work and other areas and that must be encouraged but the simple fact is this system appears to have operated in isolation of everything for decades. We cannot pretend any longer, 'nothing to see here.'
Further Reading: No Duty of Good Faith Towards Injured Workers At Law For Insurers - see https://researchnow-admin.flinders.edu.au/ws/portalfiles/portal/54827899/The_Garcia_decision_Is_good_faith_in_workers_compensation_claims_management_still_avoidable_2008_19_ILJ_180.pdf
A Story That Must Be Told - Systemic Abuse At Scale
Injured workers have not been counted in our National Census and thereby are not counted as a vulnerable population. We found data discrepancies through a lack of integration in numerous places. Injured workers in NSW cannot even re-organise their finances adequately. We have heard countless stories of people unable to get loans. Much of this occurs because of the definition of 'wages' in the legislation. Women in particular face enormous suffering and many of those women also have carer responsibilities.
The “Shattered” documentary series highlights 5 brave women who have all spoken out to stop the harm highlighting how women’s rights are often stripped away when they are injured and a system that then persecutes them. Together with Kathie they advocate for equity, an end to economic abuse, and a system that truly provides medical care to heal rather than the adversarial process that exists today.
The abuse suffered under Workers' Compensation has persisted for centuries, with women only being considered in the legislation in Australia during the Whitlam era of the 1970s.There was even a bill before Federal Parliament for a National Compensation Scheme in 1974, but the dismissal ended that opportunity for significant reform and a national scheme for everyone, rather then the disjointed dysfunctional State Based Schemes that on the majority have not been able to achieve sustainability.
The Government has not compensated Kathie and her family for this abuse despite repeatedly endeavouring to engage her to participate in investigations.
"My time has a commerical value. Enough is enough. I have already participated in a shambolic pwc investigation as an informant in 2023. Instead of supporting me, I was expected to support the other women during the investigation. It was totally inappropriate and just evidences the depths of incompetence and spite in this scheme."
Presently, there is nothing in the legislation to compensate for the avalanche of damage resultant from poor claims management such as Kathie experienced and the sector remains devoid of accountability for the carnage they continue to inflict on patients who require medical care. Claims Management remains deeply flawed in Workers' Compensation despite multiple recommendations to Parliament that something needs to be done.
The complaints system across the system to stop similar incidences occurring remains dysfunctional.
Producing the documentary serves as a powerful closing chapter for Kathie's advocacy, leaving the responsibility with viewers and society to ensure that the systemic issues she fought against are addressed, and that no one else has to endure what she did.