1800 331 617 (Country VIC, QLD, TAS)
(03) 9662 1933 (Melbourne Metro)
Office Hours: - Victorian Time
9.00am - 5.00pm, Mon - Fri
9.00am - 8.30pm, Wed
Stage 4 Restrictions and Employment Rights Q&A
The following Q&A is for employees whose employment is affected by Stage 4 COVID-19 government restrictions. This information is accurate as at 7 August 2020. Updates will be provided as further information becomes available.
COVID-19 and Returning to Work Q&A
The following Q&A is for employees returning to work. This information is accurate as at 22 May 2020. Updates will be provided as further information becomes available.
JobKeeper Payment Scheme Q&A
On 9 April 2020, the Australian Government passed legislation to provide for JobKeeper payments as a way of dealing with the economic impact of the coronavirus.
The following questions & answers are for eligible employees. This information is accurate as at 16 April 2020. Updates will be provided as further information becomes available.
COVID-19 Employment Rights Q&A
In response to the unprecedented demand on the JobWatch Telephone Information Service following the COVID–19 pandemic, JobWatch has released a ‘COVID–19: Employment Rights Q&A.’ This information is accurate as at 23 March 2020. Updates will be provided as further information becomes available.
JobWatch acknowledges and is grateful for the financial support of Victoria Law Foundation in supporting this Q&A.
COVID-19 & What this Means for Employees
On 20 May 2020, as part of Law Week, JobWatch in collaboration with the Law Institute of Victoria presented ‘COVID-19 & What this Means for Employees’.
You can watch the recorded webinar by clicking here
You can view the presentation slides by clicking here
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On 1 May 2020, JobWatch presented a free webinar titled ‘What you need to know about the JobKeeper Scheme’
You can watch the recorded webinar by clicking here
You can view the webinar Q&A by clicking here
You can view the presentation slides by clicking here
JobWatch now provides a free and confidential Telephone Information Service for workers in Victoria, Queensland and Tasmania.
A recent victory for an international student against his employer in the Federal Circuit Court of Australia demonstrates the value of enabling international students to access free and confidential legal ...
JobWatch’s Executive Director, Zana Bytheway, was interviewed by Victoria Legal Aid (VLA) and Fildena.net, discussing the impact of COVID-19 on Australian workers and how JobWatch has responded in collaboration with ...
On 22 June 2020, JobWatch participated in ABC Radio National’s program ‘This Working Life’ and discussed workplace rights under the JobKeeper legislation and returning to work. You can listen to ...
JobWatch contributed to an ABC article about whether employees need to ‘earn’ the JobKeeper payments. To view the article, please click here
As part of Law Week 2020, JobWatch participated in The Law and You interview conducted by Victoria Law Foundation. You can view this video by clicking here.
JobWatch contributed to an ABC article titled ‘What you can do if your employer is ripping you off with the JobKeeper subsidy’ To view the article, please click here.
JobWatch contributed to an ABC article highlighting the difficulties encountered by temporary visa workers during the COVID pandemic. You can view the article by clicking here.
On 14 May 2020, JobWatch contributed to a Channel 7 News story about how employers are abusing the JobKeeper scheme. To watch this interview, please click here
JobWatch is deeply concerned about the workplace rights and needs of women affected by domestic and family violence. 68% of Australians subjected to domestic and family violence are employed and ...
An employment rights legal centre which operates out of Victoria and provides assistance to Victorian, Queensland and Tasmanian workers about their rights at work.
Some of our functions include:
JobWatch is an independent, not-for-profit Employment Rights Community Legal Centre. JobWatch acknowledges and is grateful for the financial and other support it has received from both the Commonwealth of Australia Attorney-General’s Department, the Victorian State Government and Victoria Legal Aid. We are also grateful for the financial assistance of the Collier Charitable Fund and Victoria Law Foundation.
JobWatch Is – Victoria
JobWatch Is – Queensland
JobWatch Is – Tasmania
JobWatch acknowledges the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples of this nation. We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the lands on which we are located and where we conduct our business. We pay our respects to ancestors, and Elders, past, present and emerging.
Zana Bytheway
Executive Director
JobWatch Inc
The Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) has produced the following resources to assist international students:
Top 4 resources – Download
Agreement with Department of Immigration and Border Protection – Download
FWO’s In-language resource – Download
Jessica’s story – Download
About the FWO and handy tips- Download
Workplace rights and entitlements – Download
Social Media Posts – Download
Sandeep’s Story – Download
JobWatch is committed to protecting the privacy and confidentiality of information it collects from callers to its Telephone Information Service (TIS).
This policy applies to all records, whether hard copy or electronic, containing personal information about individuals, and to all TIS discussions.
In the conduct of its operations, JobWatch intends to comply with the Information Privacy Act 2000 (Vic) and the 10 Information Privacy Principles which govern the collection, use, handling and disclosure of personal and sensitive information.
JobWatch endeavours to ensure that any concerns about privacy and confidentiality are dealt with speedily and effectively in the interests of the affected person.
If you have a concern regarding the privacy and confidentiality of your personal information, you can email your concern to jobwatch@jobwatch.org.au. You will receive a response as soon as possible.
If you would like further information regarding privacy and confidentiality you can refer to the Office of the Victorian Privacy Commissioner or the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner.
