Important information for members

When an employer makes a contribution for a worker, the money becomes part of the Fund and is managed according to the relevant Trust Deed. For full details about how contributions are used, please refer to the Trust Deeds available on our website.

In simple terms, contributions may be used to:

• Pay workers their entitlements, including redundancy payments and other benefits.
• Invest the Fund’s money to help support future payments to workers, our services and administrative expenses to run the Fund.
• Reimburse employers if they have already paid a worker an entitlement that the Fund covers.
• Return contributions to employers in certain situations.
• Transfer payments to a worker’s superannuation or retirement account, where required.
• Transfer contributions to another approved worker entitlement fund, if requested.
• Pay the reasonable costs of running the Fund, such as administration expenses.
• Repay loans or interest, if the Fund has borrowed money.

All contributions are used only for purposes allowed under the Trust Deed and relevant laws.

The Fund may earn income from contributions or from investing its assets. This income is managed according to the Trust Deed. For full details, please refer to the Trust Deeds available on our website.

In simple terms, income earned by the Fund may be used to:

• Support the payment of worker entitlements, such as redundancy payments and other benefits.
• Pay dividends to eligible workers, when financially able to.
• Cover the reasonable costs of running the Fund, including administration expenses.
• Invest or manage the Fund’s assets, to help maintain the Fund and support future payments to workers.
• Make payments to contributing employers, where allowed under the Trust Deed.
• Make certain payments required or permitted under relevant laws.
• Support projects or activities that benefit the building and construction industry and workers, where this is allowed under the Trust Deed and considered to be in the best interests of the industry.

All income earned by the Fund is used only for purposes allowed under the Trust Deed and relevant laws.

Worker members have the right to claim payments from the Fund when certain employment events occur, such as redundancy, termination of employment, or other employment-related entitlements. These rights are set out in the Trust Deed. For full details, please refer to the Trust Deeds available on our website.

In simple terms:

• Genuine redundancy or termination payments
  • If a worker member’s employment ends due to genuine redundancy or termination, they have the right to claim a payment from the Fund based on the amount credited to their account.

• Payment after employment ends
  • After employment ends, the worker member must submit a claim and provide evidence (such as a termination certificate from their employer). The Fund will arrange payment as soon as reasonably possible once the claim is approved.

• Amount paid
  • The payment is generally based on the balance credited to the worker member’s account at the time their employment ends. The Trustee determines how and when the payment is made. ·

• If a worker member passes away
  • Any amount payable may be paid to the worker member’s legal representative or dependants, as determined by the Trustee. All payments are made in accordance with the Trust Deed and relevant laws governing the Fund.

Like any employee entitlement scheme, there are some risks that may affect the scheme and its operations. For full details about how the scheme operates, please refer to the Trust Deeds available on our website.

Some key risks include:

• Changes to laws or regulations
  • Government or regulatory changes relating to financial services, taxation or worker entitlement funds may affect how the scheme operates.

• Economic and market conditions
  • The Fund invests its money to help support member benefits. Changes in the economy or financial markets may affect investment returns and the value of the Fund’s assets. Future investment returns can be different to past investment returns. ·

• Third-party agreements
  • The scheme may enter into agreements with external providers or partners to help deliver services. There is a risk that these parties may not fully meet their obligations.

• Cyber Risk
  • There is a risk of fraud, data loss, business disruption or damage to the information of the Fund or to members’ personal information as a result of a threat or failure to protect such information or data.
  • Cyber risk is an increasing threat to members’ personal information stored on our systems, and on our supplier systems, and technologies we use to process and report on the Fund’s performance. A single successful cyber attack may involve data theft which disrupts the technologies and systems or ransom for the return of critical information. Incolink, as part of its risk management framework, continues to develop systems, technologies, processes, and controls that are designed to protect systems, networks and data from any possible cyber threats.

• Disputes or legal matters
  • From time to time the scheme may be involved in disputes or legal proceedings. In some cases, these could affect the Fund’s costs, assets or income.

Incolink works to manage these risks and operate the Fund in the best interests of its members.

Like all employee entitlement schemes, Incolink may be paid reasonable fees and expenses from the Fund for managing and operating the scheme.

The Trust Deeds also allow the Trustee and its officers to receive certain payments from the Fund when carrying out their responsibilities in administering the scheme.

In some circumstances, the Trustee may also apply or distribute part of the Fund’s distributable capital to industry parties, where this is considered appropriate and permitted under the Trust Deed.

All payments must be allowed under the Trust Deed and applicable laws.

For more information, please refer to the Trust Deeds and Annual Reports available on our website

Annual financial reports and auditor's reports for the Fund are prepared each financial year and are made publicly available on our website. You can access the most recent and past reports here. These reports provide detailed information about the Fund's financial position and performance.

We strive to provide great service. If you’re dissatisfied with any aspect of the Fund:

• Submit your complaint online here.
• Call 1800 337 789 9am to 5pm (Melbourne time) Monday to Friday. Closed on national public holidays. ·
• Write to the Complaints Officer via [email protected] ·
• Submit a complaint via the Incolink App.

To learn more about how your complaint will be handled, click here.