Employment rights and conditions in Australia
Employment rights and conditions in Australia
Getting a job in Australia can be exciting – it’s a great way to learn about Australia, meet people and make some money while you study. While every workplace is different, remember, international students have the same workplace rights as all other workers in Australia.
In an open letter, the Fair Work Ombudsman Natalie James urges international students to be aware of their workplace rights and reminds them that the Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) is here to help. Importantly, international students can seek the FWO’s assistance without fear of their visa being cancelled. The open letter is also available in Chinese and Vietnamese.
For more information about workplace rights and conditions in Australia, please visit www.fairwork.gov.au/internationalstudents. This information is also available in 30 languages other than English and in videos at www.fairwork.gov.au/languages.
How to resolve workplace issues
When you start a new job, you might get told things, or asked to do things that don’t seem quite right. You can seek free help from the FWO if you experience issues while working in Australia. The FWO can help with matters like pay, deductions, leave, hours of work, uniforms and breaks.
The FWO has a range of free tools and resources to help you resolve issues in your workplace. These help international students to:
- receive assistance by registering for MyAccount,
- report a workplace issue anonymously in English or 16 other languages,
- keep a record of the hours they work downloading the free “Record my hours” app,
- learn what to expect when making a request for assistance through the FWO, and
- find out how the FWO helps international students by reading Jessica’s story .
International students can also contact the Fair Work Infoline for advice and assistance on 13 13 94, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. To speak to the FWO in a different language, first contact the Translating and Interpreting Service on 13 14 50 and set up a time to talk to the FWO.
