Private investigators serving Maitland and the Hunter Valley

Maitland and the Hunter Valley, from the river to the Upper Hunter.

Factual investigations, surveillance, incident investigations and aerial scene capture across Maitland, Cessnock, Singleton, Muswellbrook, the Upper Hunter and Dungog.

Maitland is about 35 kilometres north-west of Newcastle, roughly 40 minutes by road. Beyond it the Hunter Valley takes in the Cessnock, Singleton, Muswellbrook, Upper Hunter and Dungog local government areas: Cessnock is about 52 kilometres from Newcastle, Singleton about 70, Muswellbrook about 127 and Scone about 153. Travel times are approximate driving times from Newcastle.

Coal mining is a major source of employment in Maitland, Cessnock, Singleton, Muswellbrook and the Upper Hunter (2021 Census), alongside hospitals and social assistance in Maitland, the Pokolbin vineyards in Australia's oldest wine region, Defence at Lone Pine Barracks near Singleton, and horse farming, beef cattle and meat processing around Scone. Coal industry workers compensation is written by a specialised insurer rather than the Nominal Insurer; we take referrals from both.

Newcastle coastline from above

Services in Maitland and the Hunter Valley

Four services, Maitland to Scone.

Factual Investigations

Interviews from Maitland to Scone at a place the worker nominates; witnesses usually at the workplace.

Factual investigations

Surveillance

Only in or from public places, only of the worker named in the referral, with scope and duration agreed in writing first.

Surveillance

Incident & Workplace Investigations

ICAM-structured investigations of mining, plant, agricultural and labour hire incidents.

Incident & workplace

Aerial Scene Capture

Farms, yards and open sites documented from the air, with the owner's consent.

Aerial scene capture

How we work here

Valley work, planned as a trip.

On the ground

  • Worker interviews are held at a place the worker nominates, with a support person or interpreter where requested. Employer and witness interviews are usually at the workplace.
  • Site inspections are arranged with the employer or occupier and recorded with measurements, photographs and video.
  • Reports record what was said, what was inspected and what the documents show, written knowing the worker may read them.
  • Access to mine sites and farms is arranged with the operator or owner before we attend, and several interviews in the valley are grouped into one trip.

The limits we keep

  • Surveillance is conducted only in or from public places, only of the worker named in the referral, and without inducement, entrapment or trespass.
  • Aerial capture documents sites and scenes with the occupier's consent and is not used to watch or follow people.
  • We offer no opinions on medical questions, capacity, liability or recovery. Those are matters for the insurer.

Main centres served

Private investigators from Maitland to the Upper Hunter.

Maitland, East Maitland, Morpeth, Rutherford, Thornton, Metford and Lochinvar; Cessnock, Kurri Kurri, Branxton, Greta and Pokolbin; Singleton; Muswellbrook and Denman; Scone, Aberdeen, Murrurundi and Merriwa; and Dungog.

Common questions

The Hunter Valley, answered plainly.

How far up the valley do you travel?
As far as the work requires. Maitland is about 40 minutes from Newcastle; Singleton, Muswellbrook and Scone are further, and travel to the Upper Hunter is agreed at referral.
Can you attend a mine site or a farm?
Yes, by arrangement with the operator or owner. Witness interviews are usually at the workplace, worker interviews at a place the worker nominates. Where a regulator is attending after an incident, we work around it and do not disturb a preserved site.
Do you take coal industry claims?
Yes. We work for insurers, claims agents, self-insurers, employers and solicitors, and we do not name clients. Coal industry claims are insured through a specialised insurer rather than the Nominal Insurer and are taken on the same terms.

Ready to start

Tell us what you need established, and we'll tell you what's possible.