Moving to a new country is an exciting time! It’s an opportunity to find yourself, develop new skills and gain invaluable experience through international travel and studies.
However, finding help away from your family and friends, especially legal support, can be worrying if you don’t know where to start.
Let’s outline some of the issues international students might find in Sydney and New South Wales (NSW), and where and how you can seek help.
Free, confidential legal help for all international students in NSW
Redfern Legal Centre’s (RLC) International Student Legal Service NSW (ISLS) gives free, confidential legal advice and help to all international students who are enrolled to study with an education provider based in NSW.
If you need assistance in NSW, contact Redfern Legal Centre by phone on 02 9698 7645 or online.
Redfern Legal Centre can help you with any type of legal issue or problem you have. Their team of experienced lawyers have specialised in helping international students since 2011.
Now, let’s discuss some of the common issues faced by international students.
Workplace issues
All people working in Australia, including international students, have basic rights and protections in the workplace, including minimum pay and conditions. It is important that you understand these rights and protections. You will also need to be aware of the number of hours that you can work as an international student.
While they are rare, you may experience problems in the workplace. These can include:
- Underpayment or non-payment of wages and superannuation (or ‘super’),
- Bullying or discrimination, and
- Wrongful dismissal or termination of a job (also called being dismissed, terminated, fired, sacked, or laid off)
If you have concerns, issues, or problems at work, Redfern Legal Centre’s lawyers can help you with advice, help, and representation.
You can also reach out to the Office of the Fair Work Ombudsman (OFWO). The OFWO regulates Australia’s workplaces. It has free tools and resources to help you when you start a new job, including guidance on how much you should get paid and what to expect when starting a new job as an international student.
Housing and rental issues
Finding the right place to live in Australia is an important decision. High levels of competition among renters have meant increasing rent prices across Australia. While the situation is stabilising, Redfern Legal Centre report an increase in rental scams. As an international student, it’s important to understand the warning signs and what to do if you have been scammed.
Common rental scams can include when a property does not look as advertised, when you’re paying more than your fair share of the rent, or paying up-front costs to a property that doesn’t exist.
If you do fall victim and need support, seek confidential legal advice from the Redfern Legal Centre. Their lawyers can advise you on issues relating to eviction, paying rent, repairs on the property, getting your bond back after moving out, and more.
Sexual assault and sexual harassment
Redfern Legal Centre has written two factsheets that give international students an understanding of their legal rights about sexual assault and sexual harassment. These provide help, understanding and support for people who want to know how to recognise unwanted sexual behaviour, know what actions are considered harassment, how to make a complaint, and how to find support.
These factsheets are available online in 12 languages including English, Arabic, Chinese, Hindi, Indonesian, Korean, Spanish and more, making it an excellent resource for international students.
- Your Body, Your Choice – factsheet about sexual assault
- Speak Up, Speak Out – factsheet about sexual harassment
These factsheets provide step-by-step guides on how to lodge a complaint with Anti-Discrimination NSW and The Australian Human Rights Commission. They also provide contact details if you wish to seek free legal advice, free professional and confidential counselling, as well as how to report sexual assault to the police.
Fines and debts
You may wish to seek support and advice on money-related issues. Redfern Legal Centre can support international students with free advice about money problems including fines and debts.
Whether you need support on credit cards and loans, have difficulty paying a fine, owe money, or more, the Redfern Legal Centre team of lawyers will treat all matters confidentially. Those seeking help also have access to financial counsellors in NSW to support you through this time through the Redfern Legal Centre.
Redfern Legal Centre is here to help international students in NSW. Reach out to them if you have any issues.
