Work Rights Volunteers: Combatting Wage Theft through Peer-to Peer Education

Ms Kathryn Williams¹, Mr Daniel Laurence¹, Mr Peter Freeman¹

¹Australian Catholic University, Sydney, Australia

Numerous studies have shown that international students in Australia are regularly underpaid and often experience breaches of their workplace rights. Many are reluctant to complain for fear of negative employment or immigration consequences. Knowledge of workplace rights has never been more important than in a pandemic and improving awareness amongst international students of their workplace rights, is a key goal of the Fair Work Ombudsman.
In 2019 the Australian Catholic University launched the innovative Work Rights Volunteer program (WRV), which is also part of ACU’s Leading with Impact leadership initiative. WRV, which is run by the ACU Career Development Service and ACU International office, involves selecting student volunteers as peer-to-peer promoters of workplace rights. After receiving intensive training from the Fair Work Ombudsman, volunteers (assisted by Careers Advisors and International Advisors) provide their international and domestic student peers with information about services and support they can access to find out more about their employment rights and conditions, and how to get help to resolve workplace issues through the Fair Work Ombudsman.
At each step of the self-paced program, volunteers reflect on the employability skills they are developing and how these might enhance their future career and employment opportunities, and are encouraged to brainstorm creative ways to promote work rights.
Attendees at this presentation will learn about innovative approaches to a common institutional challenge and come away with a toolkit and ‘how to’ manual for implementing a peer-to-peer training model in their own institutions.

Biography:

Peter Freeman has had extensive experience in ELICOS, international recruitment, student support and compliance. For over twenty years, Peter held various portfolios and positions across TAFE NSW.

In mid-2017, Peter joined the Australian Catholic University as the Senior International Student Adviser leading a team of International Student Advisers who provide social and support services to international students across six campuses.

Peter has always been a strong advocate for international students and his passion lies with ensuring they have the best possible experience during their time in Australia.