“Our profession may not be perfect, but it has a long history of solidarity.” Richard Glover shares a reminder of the assistance available from the NSW Journalists’ Benevolent Fund.
Life as a journalist often involves a rollercoaster ride. One minute you’ve created a piece of work which is a certainty for a Walkley award – at least in your own considered opinion. The next minute, you find yourself with a problem. Sometimes that problem involves the challenges of our profession – stress, overwork, falling rates of pay and so on. At other times, it’s the sort of problem anyone could face.
Portrait of Jules Francois Archibald circa 1910. (Source)
At such moments, it’s important to know that your colleagues are keen to help. Our profession may not be perfect, but it has a long history of solidarity – of standing up for each other when times are tough. The NSW Journalists’ Benevolent Fund has been around since the 1920s, funded originally by a bequest from that famous editor of The Bulletin Jules Archibald. Affiliated with the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance, the fund offers help to NSW journalists, artists and photographers and their families. Some benefits are available to MEAA members only, but non-members are not excluded from assistance.
Over the years, help has been offered to those who are sick, or who have had a child or partner diagnosed with a serious illness, requiring time off work. There has been help for journalists and photographers who have been made redundant and need to buy the tools of trade to pursue freelance work. And help, also, for people recovering from addiction, or who have simply fallen behind in their rent.
Aside from this sort of general assistance, the fund also offers help in particular circumstances.
There’s a new annual scheme to help young journalists who are MEAA members – and have at least five years’ experience – pay off some of their student debt. It’s designed to help those who want to stay in our profession, despite the financial pressures they face.
Small Christmas gifts are arranged for members who are facing difficulties, and there’s also a funeral benefit, designed to help a late member’s family pay for the cost of their service.
An education grant is available to help with a child’s educational expenses when there’s been a bereavement in the family, with consequent financial problems.
The assistance given is confidential, with matters considered by the six trustees. You can find their names on the benevolent fund’s website, with details of how to apply for help.
You can find the address for the NSW fund at: https://www.nswjbf.org/
For details of the assistance available in other states, check the information on MEAA’s website: https://www.meaa.org/Public/Contents/ALL_RESOURCES/Funds/Benevolent_Support_Funds.aspx
Please don’t be shy about asking for help if you need it. Or about telling a colleague about the fund. In this profession, please know that your colleagues are standing beside you.
By Richard Glover
Secretary, NSW Journalists’ Benevolent Fund