About
Established in 2021, IWST supports injured workers and advocates for a fair, safe and trauma-informed compensation system in Victoria.
Behind every systemic policy shift is a real worker who stood up for their rights. At IWST, we don’t just point out problems—we fight for solutions. Through direct advocacy at conciliations, representation at Independent Medical Examinations (IMEs), and legislative campaigns, our volunteer-led team delivers tangible victories for injured workers every day.
Real stories from Victorian workers who navigated the system, fought for dignity, and found support.
John holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Melbourne and has chiefly worked in accounting, for a public practice as a principal and founder for last 39 years. A fellow member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Australia and New Zealand John is currently working as a part-time consultant in business advisory and strategies.
He has been involved in a number of community and environmental boards and committees and hopes to bring his vast experience and knowledge in the community volunteering to IWST as one of it’s three directors.
In addition to his passion for working with communities to better their situations he also enjoys making organic food products such as salami and home-made wine.
For the past five years Dushyanthy has been an enthusiastic participant in the community volunteering sector. She has previously served a two-year term on The Ethnic Communities Council ( ECCV’s ) Intercultural Young Advocacy Leaders (IYAL) Program as well as working with grassroots organisations. She served as the primary regional contact during Tamil Refugee Council’s (TRC ) Refugee WAVE Campaign and as a board member of Community Coalition Victoria (CCVIC) which delivers leadership training and workshops to community organisers. Dushyanthy is also the current chair of the Mitchell Multicultural Community Organisation (MMCAI ) an organisation in Victoria’s Northern Suburbs that supports and advocates on behalf of Migrant, Refugee and First Nations communities. As IWST Secretary Dushyanthy hopes to offer operational support to the team of Directors and to the Injured Workers they represent.
Paul has built a diverse and impactful career working across international development, community support, and commercial business sectors, with a consistent focus on creating sustainable outcomes and supporting disadvantaged communities. In the early 1990s, Paul coordinated educational exchange programmes involving participants from Northern Ireland and The Former East Germany, delivered between the United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany and Denmark under the European Union’s Human Resources Task Force. This work required close collaboration with government ministries, educational psychologists and key institutional stakeholders to design and implement
programmes that delivered meaningful, life-changing outcomes for participants navigating significant social and political transition.
Following a nine-year residency in Europe, Paul returned to Australia and developed an innovative sustainable economic model focused on communities across equatorial regions, including Sri Lanka, Vietnam, India, The Philippines, and Indonesia. The initiative centred on transforming coconut husk waste into value-added horticultural products, with the objective of reducing reliance on peat and promoting environmentally sustainable alternatives. A core principle of the model was to establish viable international markets and ultimately transition ownership and economic benefit back to local communities.
Paul successfully developed export markets for these products across Australia, New Zealand, Europe and the United States, demonstrating strong capabilities in international trade, product development and market expansion. Many of these products are available to professional horticulturalists and on retail shelves today. Paul has worked extensively as a business consultant specialising in business analysis
and development. He has held senior management and governance roles, including board-level involvement with organisations. His experience spans commercial operations, strategic planning, regulatory environments, and stakeholder engagement. He has also previously contributed to the non-profit sector, further strengthening his understanding of governance and community-focused service delivery.
Paul’s commitment to establishing the Injured Workers Support Team (IWST) is grounded in personal experience. Having witnessed the profound impact of a failed workers’ compensation process on a close family member. Resulting in increased physical injury, psychological harm and loss of confidence. He developed a clear understanding of the systemic shortcomings within the current framework. This experience highlighted the gap between the intended purpose of such systems and the reality faced by many individuals navigating them.
Paul brings a well-developed understanding of both cultural diversity and shared human values, gained through extensive work across international and community settings. He recognises the importance of respecting cultural and religious differences while also appreciating the common need for dignity, inclusion and mutual respect. This perspective underpins his approach to engagement, fostering environments that support confidence,
trust and personal growth.
As a result, Paul views IWST as a necessary and purposeful initiative. Designed to restore balance, provide independent support and advocate for injured workers who often find themselves navigating complex, adversarial systems
Eureka Australia Medal presentation — client supplied image.
An injured-worker advocacy organisation calling for a fair, safe and trauma-informed workers’ compensation system in Victoria.
Our Work
