Injured at Work?
Your Next Step Could Protect Your Family’s Future.
Free Compensation Guide for Injured Coal Miners in NSW
Do it for them – our step by step guide to understand your rights and protect your family’s future whilst you recover.
This Handbook is for Coal Miners & Their Families Who Need Straight Answers
If you or someone you love works in or about a mine and has been injured on the job, the impact reaches far beyond the injury itself.
You might be:
Struggling with pain that affects your everyday life
Worrying how you’ll pay the bills if you can’t work
Feeling anxious about the future and whether you’ll ever return to the job you knew
Tired of chasing insurers, forms, and medical appointments with no end in sight
Ashamed or frustrated by the stigma of being “on compo”
This guide is here to ease that burden.
This guide is for:
Coal miners with physical or psychological injuries
Family members supporting a loved one through the workers comp maze
Mates trying to help but
unsure what to say or do
Anyone who feels lost, stuck, or unheard in the process
You don’t have to go through this alone - and you don’t have to keep guessing what your rights are. This handbook gives you the clarity and support to take the next step with confidence.
The Cost of Not Knowing Your Rights
If you're navigating a work injury without the right information, you could be missing out on:
Weekly compensation payments you’re legally entitled to
Coverage for vital medical treatment and rehab
Support services that can help you recover and return to work
Lump sum payments for permanent injuries or dust disease
And the longer you wait, the more likely you are to:
Make mistakes that delay or reduce your claim
Accept less than you’re entitled to
Feel stuck, unsupported, or taken advantage of by insurers
Knowledge is power - and peace of mind.
This handbook gives you both.
The Coal Miner’s Workers Compensation Handbook
INTRODUCING
A free, plain-English guide to navigating NSW’s workers compensation system.
Created by Shaw & Bunner Legal, the specialist personal injury law firm for coal miners.
This guide simplifies the claims process and shows you what steps to take next - even if you’re already deep in the system.
What You’ll Learn Inside the Handbook
This isn’t full of legal jargon or fluff — just practical, plain-English guidance tailored to coal miners and their families. Inside, you’ll find clear, step-by-step guidance on:
Your Entitlements Under NSW Workers Compensation Laws
Understand exactly what you're legally entitled to if you’ve been injured working in or around a mine. We break down the rights coal miners have under the NSW system — including less commonly known entitlements — so you can stop second-guessing and start taking action.
How Weekly Payments, Medical Benefits & Lump Sums Actually Work
We explain how compensation is calculated, how long payments can last, and what to do if payments are delayed, reduced, or denied. You’ll also learn what medical expenses, rehab and travel, can be covered — and how to claim them. If your injury is permanent or serious, we explain how lump sum compensation works and how to know if you’re eligible.
What to Expect From Insurers – and How to Protect Your Rights
Insurers are focused on their bottom line — not your recovery. We show you what to expect when dealing with insurers, how to respond to common roadblocks, and what red flags to look for. You’ll learn how to stay one step ahead so your rights don’t get trampled in the process.
When Legal Help Is Needed — and How It’s Often Free
Many injured miners wait too long to get legal advice, fearing it’s expensive. But in most cases, it costs nothing upfront — and could mean the difference between missing out and getting everything you're entitled to. We explain when you should talk to a lawyer, what they can do for you, and how the “no win, no fee” system actually works.
This handbook gives you more than just information - it gives you confidence. Move forward knowing where you stand, what to do next, and how to protect your future.
Shaw & Bunner Legal helps injured coal miners and regional workers understand their rights, secure compensation, and rebuild their future with clarity, compassion and confidence.
As a dedicated personal injury law firm based in regional NSW, we combine expert legal skills with deep roots in mining communities. We know what you’re facing—because we live and work where you do.
Our mission is simple: to help you move forward without fear, confusion, or financial stress.
We’re Not Just Lawyers - We’re Part of the Mining Community Too
Meet Your Legal Team
GEMMA BUNNER
Co-Founder I Accredited Specialist in Personal Injury Law
Gemma is one of the founding principals of Shaw & Bunner Legal and a nationally recognised expert in personal injury law. With deep family roots in the mining industry, she brings not only legal expertise but a real understanding of what injured workers - especially coal miners - and their families go through.
Before launching Shaw & Bunner, Gemma worked in a large national law firm, where she gained extensive experience representing injured clients across a wide range of complex personal injury matters. That big-firm training now fuels her highly personalised approach - combining top-tier legal knowledge with local insight and genuine care.
Gemma holds a dual degree in Bachelor of Laws / Bachelor of Arts (Honours), and since 2012 has been an Accredited Specialist in Personal Injury Law with the NSW Law Society — an honour held by only 6% of solicitors in the state.
She is known for her calm, compassionate presence and unwavering commitment to helping clients move forward after life-changing injuries. Gemma regularly acts for injured coal miners and regional workers, and also supports clients in other personal injury matters, especially when the incident causes catastrophic and serious injuries.
Above all, she believes every client deserves to feel seen, heard, and fully informed — without the legal jargon or overwhelm.
KERRI SHAW
Co-Founder I Personal Injury Law
Kerri is a co-founder of Shaw & Bunner Legal and a trusted advocate for injured workers across regional NSW. Born and raised in the Hunter Valley, with strong family ties to the coal mining industry, Kerri brings a local’s insight and a deep sense of care to every matter she takes on.
She holds a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Business (Honours) from the University of Newcastle, and began her legal career at a prominent national firm, where she built a strong foundation in personal injury and insurance law - including significant time spent advocating in courtrooms and representing clients in complex personal injury matters. That experience now fuels her strategic, solutions-focused approach to achieving the best outcomes for her clients.
Kerri is known for her approachable style and her ability to make even the most complex legal processes feel simple and manageable. She prides herself on building genuine relationships with her clients. She takes the time to listen, explain things in plain English, and advocate fiercely — whether through negotiation, mediation or in court.
She regularly represents injured coal miners and regional workers, and also acts in complex personal injury claim – whether through the insurance systems or common law negligence claims.
For Kerri, it’s not just about compensation — it’s about helping people feel supported, heard and back in control of their future.
