Are you thinking of getting a job while studying in Australia? It’s important you understand your rights and obligations before you start working to ensure you are being treated fairly at work.
The Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) is Australia’s workplace regulator. It has free tools and resources to help you understand what you should know, how much you should get paid, and what to expect when starting a new job.
Guide to starting a new job
The guide to starting a new job provides you with an overview of the National Employment Standards (NES), what to expect on your first day, and how to resolve workplace issues. The guide also contains a helpful checklist to make sure you have all the necessary information about your new job before you start.
Short online courses
The FWO has free interactive online courses for employees. For example, the Starting a new job course takes about 30 minutes to complete and provides new employees with general guidance on workplace rights and the types of behaviour expected in the workplace.
Should workplace issues arise, another short course for having difficult conversations in the workplace can help you address issues with your employer.
Find help in your language
The FWO provides resources including videos and fact sheets in over 30 different languages at the Language Help section of the FWO’s website. The FWO’s website can also be translated into different languages using the Microsoft translator.
COVID-19 and workplaces
The FWO understands that many people are feeling the impacts of COVID-19. It has a range of tools and resources to support employees and employers at coronavirus.fairwork.gov.au. Please check the website regularly for the latest news and updates.
The FWO encourages employees and employers to work together to find solutions that suit their individual workplaces and circumstances.
For more information, contact the FWO
To contact the FWO or to get important news about pay rates and conditions you can:
- Subscribe to get email updates from the FWO
- Register with My account to get updates that are tailored to you or to contact the FWO online
- Follow the FWO on Twitter or Facebook
- Check the FWO’s website regularly
- Call the Fair Work Infoline on 13 13 94 or the free translating and interpreting service on 131 450.
