Niranjala Siriwardena, Cancer Survivor and Former Manager at PwC Australia, shared on LinkedIn:
“Australia’s workplace laws protect too late and cancer survivors pay the price.
The Disability Discrimination Act 1992 and Fair Work Act 2009 provide basic protections.
But here’s the problem — they’re complaint-driven. They only kick in after harm occurs.
For over 1 million Australians living with or beyond cancer, this means:
- No proactive workplace support
- No guaranteed pathway back to work
- No safety net before careers are derailed
We don’t need more survivors forced into legal battles after losing their jobs.
We need proactive policy:
- National workplace cancer survivorship framework
- Graduated return-to-work programs
- Employer education & accountability
- Support before harm occurs
Australia has the resources, expertise, and moral obligation to lead.
The time to act is now.”
More posts featuring Niranjala Siriwardena.