Working on a Student Visa: Your Workplace Rights and the Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO)
As a student working in Australia, it’s important that you are aware of the tools and resources available to you, and your rights in the workplace.
The Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) is an independent Federal Government agency. It helps employers and employees, including international students, understand their rights and responsibilities under Australian workplace laws.
What the FWO can do for you
The FWO is here to listen and to help. It can:
- give you accurate information on your work rights including rates of pay
- offer advice and support on workplace issues
- help you resolve workplace issues.
The FWO helps international students
International students have the same work rights as all workers in Australia. The FWO gives advice and support to all workers in Australia, including international students. It is safe for you to reach out to the FWO if you need help. You can get general advice from the FWO or report issues without giving your name, for example, by using the FWO’s anonymous reporting tool at www.fairwork.gov.au/tipoff.
FWO has a range of tools and resources to help you including:
- FWO website: www.fairwork.gov.au
- Workplace entitlements and obligations during coronavirus: www.coronavirus.fairwork.gov.au
- Fair Work Information Statement: www.fairwork.gov.au/FWIS
- Casual Employment Information Statement: www.fairwork.gov.au/CEIS
- International students page: www.fairwork.gov.au/internationalstudents
- Horticulture Showcase: www.fairwork.gov.au/horticulture
- Record your work hours using the Record My Hours app: www.fairwork.gov.au/app
- Fixing a workplace problem: www.fairwork.gov.au/workplace-problems
- Report a workplace issue anonymously in your language: www.fairwork.gov.au/tipoff
- Language help: www.fairwork.gov.au/languages
- Information about independent contractors: www.fairwork.gov.au/contractors
The FWO regularly delivers webinars tailored for different industries and audiences. Please check the dedicated webinar page here for information about upcoming webinars.
For up-to-date information about your workplace rights and obligations, subscribe to FWO’s email updates here.
