Short Texts from Oz © copyright Thorold May 1998 All Rights Reserved; published by The Plain & Fancy Language Company
go to end; go to Table of Contents / 57. Accident & Injury Compensation / 58. Work Cover Authority (1): Accident & Injury Compensation / 59. Work Cover Authority (2): Claims / 60. First Aid (1) / 61. First Aid (2) / 62. Buying Property (1): Advantages & Disadvantages / 63. Buying Property (2): The Real Estate Agent / 64. Buying Property (3): Finance
57. Accident & Injury Compensation
pattern:
text:
[1] Compensation for accident or injury is covered by a general area of the law called the Law of Torts. [2] For example, a visitor to your house may sue you for negligence if they trip over a loose carpet. [3] You may sue the local council for negligence if you fall down a hole in the footpath, and so on. [4] In Victoria there are also special laws for certain injuries. [5] The Work Cover Authority covers accidents at work, the Transport Accident Commission covers road accidents, and the Crimes Compensation Tribunal covers victims of crime up to $50,000. [6] You can take out Public Risk Insurance to protect yourself from claims by visitors to your home. [7] For example, children can hurt themselves in home swimming pools or other places. [8] If you hire domestic help, such as a baby sitter, it is important to get insurance cover. [9] General claims for negligence or intentional injury can be very expensive in legal fees and take a long time. [10] The Crimes, TAC and Work Cover organizations are designed to make payments as quickly and inexpensively as possible.
response:
1. What area of the law does the Law of Torts cover?
2. When could you be sued for negligence in your home?
3. Why might you sue a municipal council for negligence?
4. Make a sentence using these words: there / special laws / injuries
5. Explain the job of these organisations: a) the Work Cover Authority; b) the Transport Accident Commission; c) the Crimes Compensation Tribunal.
6. How can you protect yourself financially against claims for negligence?
7. What is your responsibility if a neighbour's child drowns in a plastic swimming pool in your backyard?
8. What is your responsibility if a baby sitter slips and breaks her ankle in your house?
9. Why are people often reluctant to take cases to court?
10. Why do you think the government started the Work Cover Authority, the Transport Accident Commission and the Crimes Compensation Tribunal?
keywords
[1] Torts; [2] sue; [3] council; [4] special; [5] TAC; [6] public risk; [7] children; [8] baby sitter; [9] long time; [10] quickly.
58. Work Cover Authority (1): Accident & Injury Compensation
pattern:
text:
[1] The Work Cover Authority in Victoria provides compensation for employees injured at work. [2] It no longer protects you travelling to and from work. [3] You do not have to prove that an accident at work was the fault of an employer. [4] Compensation may be payable even if it was the fault of the worker. [5] Employers have to pay expensive Work Cover premiums, which go up when claims are made. [6] This encourages employers to keep the workplace safe. [7] When there is an accident the employer might want to pay you directly, rather than make a Work Cover claim. [8] Get legal advice before you agree to let the employer pay. [9] Work Cover can provide payments for time off work, medical expenses, and sometimes a lump sum payment. [10] Lump sum payments are limited by certain legal conditions, but you can still sue your employer separately for negligence.
response:
1. What is the function of the Work Cover Authority?
2. Are you protected by Work Cover while traveling to work?
3. Finish this sentence: You do not have to prove that ..
4. Will you get compensation if a work accident was your fault?
5. Who pays for Work Cover insurance?
6. Why is it in the interest of employers to keep their workplaces safe?
7. Why might an employer want to pay your medical expenses directly, instead of letting you make a Work Cover claim?
8. Why might you be wise to make a Work Cover claim, even if your employer wants to pay medical expenses?
9. What are the three kinds of compensation you can get from Work Cover?
10. Make a question using these words: when / sue / employer / negligence.
keywords
[1] work; [2] traveling; [3] fault; [4] worker; [5] premiums; [6] safe; [7] directly; [8] legal advice; [9] provide; [10] negligence.
59. Work Cover Authority (2): Claims
pattern:
text:
[1] Act promptly on legal claims: passing time makes action more difficult. [2] Tell your employer about any injury, even if it is small. [3] Ask to record an injury in the employer's Injury Register. [4] Ask for a Work Cover claim form, fill it in, and return it with any medical certificates. [5] See a doctor immediately to check the nature of injury or illness. [6] Get a medical certificate to cover time off work. [7] See your own doctor even if the company has a doctor, because there may be arguments later. [8] Double check that the employer or insurance company has actually received the Work Cover claim. [9] Find out how long the claim will take to process. [10] The Accident Compensation Tribunal must begin payments no longer than twenty-one days after a claim is made. [11] Keep photocopies of every document involved in the claim, and a written diary record of all spoken exchanges.
response:
1. Why should you be prompt about Work Cover claims?
2. When should you tell your employer about an injury?
3. Where should the first notice of an injury be recorded in writing?
4. Make a question using these words: what / ask for / and / what / do
5. When should you see a doctor about workplace injuries?
6. Make a sentence using these words: get / certificate / time off
7. Why should you see your own doctor?
8. What should you double-check?
9. What is an important enquiry you can make about your claim?
10. How long does the Work Cover Authority have to start making payments after a claim is made?
11. Why should you keep photocopies and diary records of everything to do with a Work Cover claim?
keywords
[1] promptly; [2] tell; [3] Injury Register; [4] claim form; [5] doctor; [6] medical certificate; [7] arguments; [8] double check; [9] how long; [10] twenty-one; [11] photocopies.
pattern:
text:
[1] The idea of first aid is to give quick assistance before a qualified medical person has time to fix a problem.[2] Check what is available in the first aid kit at your job before any accident occurs. [3] Find out who has first aid training at your job before any accident occurs; (you may need to find them quickly later!). [4] Be sure that the phone numbers of a doctor, ambulance, hospital, police and fire brigade are always easy to find near a telephone. [5] Here are some first aid hints. [6] For a deep cut, firmly apply a thick, sterile pad or clean towel. [7] Raise the limb to help stop bleeding. [8] For a broken bone, try not to move the limb, and call an ambulance. [9] Anyone who has an accident, or even witnesses an accident, may go into shock. [10] Take a person in shock to a quiet, warm place until medical help arrives.
response:
1. Why is first aid called "FIRST aid" ?
2. What do you need to find out before any accident occurs?
3. How many of your classmates have some first aid training?
4. What are some phone numbers which you might need quickly?
5. Make a question from these words: what / hint / first aid.
6. Finish this sentence: For a deep cut, ....
7. Why should you raise a cut limb?
8. What should you NOT do when someone breaks a bone?
9. Who might go into shock at the scene of an accident?
10. How can you best help a person in shock?
keywords
[1] first aid; [2] kit; [3] training; [4] phone numbers; [5] hints; [6] cuts; [7] raise; [8] broken bone; [9] shock; [10] warm.
pattern:
text:
[1] In 1994 about 2500 people were killed in workplace accidents in Australia. [2] About a quarter of a million people were injured. [3] The cost was several billion dollars in lost production and other expenses. [4] Therefore you need to work safely and understand some first aid. [5] One common workshop accident is electrical shock. [6] Turn off the power source before you touch an electrocuted person! [7] If you can't turn off the power source, mover them away from the electrical wire with a piece of dry wood or other insulator. [8] Treat the patient for shock, or if necessary, give artificial respiration. [9] Eye injuries are also common. [10] Don't rub an injured eye, and tell the patient to hold the eye still. [11] Loosely bandage both eyes and take the person to a doctor for checking.
response:
1. How many people were killed in 1994 in Australian workplace accidents?
2. Make a question using these words: how / injured
3. What is the cost of workplace accidents?
4. Finish this sentence: At work, you need to ....
5. What is one common workplace accident?
6. Before you touch an electrocuted person, what should you do?
7. How can you help an electrocuted person if you can t turn off the power source?
8. What are two ways you may have to treat someone who is electrocuted?
9. Describe one workplace accident that you experienced or witnessed.
10. What advice can you give someone with an injured eye?
11. How should you bandage an injured eye?
keywords
[1] killed; [2] injured; [3] cost; [4] understand; [5] electrical; [6] power source; [7] wood; [8] artificial respiration; [9] eye; [10] rub; [11] bandage.
62. Buying Property (1): Advantages & Disadvantages
pattern:
text:
[1] About 70% of adults in Australia are buying or own their own property. [2] There are advantages and disadvantages in buying property. [3] People who own a house can do what they like with it [4] They usually take care of it, and feel more secure. [5] Most people say that a house is an investment for themselves and their children. [6] They have to accept long term responsibility to pay off the mortgage. [7] They work hard to keep their jobs, which employers like, and are politically cautious, which the government likes. [8] On the other hand, a mortgage is a major worry if someone loses their job. [9] Home owners find it difficult to move to areas where there is more employment. [10] It also takes time, effort and money to keep a house in good condition. [11] Finally, houses are only sometimes a good financial investment, and the share market can often give better returns to an informed investor.
response:
1. How many Australians own property?
2. Make a sentence using these words: advantages / disadvantages / property
3. How would you like to change the place you live in, and what can you actually do?
4. An Australian politician, John Hewson, once said he could always tell the rented houses in a street, because they didn't have their lawns mowed. What do you think he meant?
5. What do people mean when they say that a house is an investment?
6. Make a question using these words: who / pay off / mortgage
7. Why do you think that people buying a house might make good employees?
8. What can happen to the home buyer who loses his job?
9. Finding work in hard times often means moving. Why is this a problem for the home owner?
10. What are some of the costs of keeping a house in good condition?
11. Where can a knowledgeable investor often get better returns than on property?
keywords
[1] 70%; [2] advantages; [3] own; [4] secure; [5] investment; [6] responsibility; [7] work hard; [8] worry; [9] lose job; [10] move; [11] shares
63. Buying Property (2): The Real Estate Agent
pattern:
text:
[1] Most properties are bought or sold through a real estate agent. [2] Agents are usually hired by the seller to get the best price, and are paid a commission. [3] The agent provides knowledge of the market, and knows what to look for in houses. [4] He has a knowledge of legal documents and how to prepare them, and often has access to finance. [5] Sometimes a buyer hires the agent, and sometimes the seller sells privately. [6] Buyers should always remember that agents and sellers do not have to reveal property faults unless they are asked. [7] Therefore buyers should make a careful list of questions to ask the agent. [8] Buyers should especially ask about restrictions and encumbrances on the property. [9] These can include zoning laws, regulations about fences and building codes, rights of access, council easements and so on. [10] Never be stampeded into signing anything: there will always be other houses to buy!
response:
1. Who manages most property sales in Australia?
2. Who usually hires agents, and how are they paid?
3. Why do you think that an agent will understand the value of a house better than you do?
4. What special knowledge can a real estate agent provide?
5. Make a sentence using these words: sometimes / buyer / agent / sometimes / seller / privately
6. Why should buyers ask about faults in buildings?
7. Make a question using these words: what / buyer / make / list
8. Explain what the words restriction and encumbrance mean.
9. Give some examples of zoning laws and building codes.
10. Why should you never rush to sign anything?
keywords
[1] estate agent; [2] commission; [3] knowledge; [4] legal; [5] buyer; [6] faults; [7] list; [8] restrictions; [9] zoning laws; [10] stampeded.
64. Buying Property (3): Finance
pattern:
text:
[1] Cash is by far the cheapest way to buy property, but few people can afford it. [2] You will have to save a deposit, and take out a mortgage. [3] Deposits are usually between 10% and 25% of a property's value: the larger the better. [4] Mortgage interest may be fixed or variable, or a combination of both. [5] Lenders often only lend a percentage (say 80%) of the valuation of a property, which is usually less than the market price. [6] You may also take out a second mortgage, at higher interest, to cover any shortfall. [7] Lenders will check your income, and your monthly expenses, before they decide how much to lend you. [8] You can save thousands of dollars by shopping around for loans. [9] If you want to buy for investment, carefully calculate your rate of return. [10] The rate of return will be the value of any rent you get, plus real increase in the property's value over time, minus costs like maintenance, mortgage interest and principal. [11] Note that inflation decreases the final value of your property, but also decreases the final cost of your mortgage.
response:
1. Why don t most people pay cash for a property?
2. What are the steps to buying a house if you don t have the full price?
3. What is the usual size of house deposits?
4. What are the two different kinds of mortgage interest?
5. Explain what the valuation of a property means.
6. Why might you have to take out a second mortgage?
7. Complete this sentence: Lenders will check ........ before they decide how much to lend you.
8. How can you save money when borrowing for a house?
9. What do you need to calculate if you buy for investment?
10. Do a sample rate of return calculation. Show all the necessary credits and debits.
keywords
[1] cash; [2] mortgage; [3] deposit; [4] interest; [5] valuation; [6] 2nd mortgage; [7] expenses; [8] shopping around; [9] investment; [10] rate of return.
Property rate of return (over a loan period):
The rate of return is a ratio of the credits divided by the debits over the period in question.
e.g. A house bought for $120,000 and sold four years later for $160,000 seems to show a gain of $40,000 or 33%, which comes to a gain of 8.25% a year. Actually the "gain" might be a loss when you count the cost of interest, losses through inflation, and so on.
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|
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| loan principal | purchase value of property |
| loan interest | capital gain |
| legal & transfer costs | tax credits |
| rates & charges | rents |
| maintenance | inflationary credit on outlays |
| agent's sale and letting commissions | |
| deposit | |
| other cash payments by buyer | |
| inflationary debit on capital |
Short Texts from Oz © copyright Thorold May 1998 All Rights Reserved; published by The Plain & Fancy Language Companygo to top;go to Table of Contents