Where To Get Help

The Victoria Law Foundation’s Everyday-Law website provides information and referrals on a range of common legal issues, including employment. Click on this link to be directed to the Everyday-Law website.

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Federal Organisations & Contacts

ACTU ‘Union Australia’ Information Line

1300 486 466
actu.org.au

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Australian Competition & Consumer Commission

1300 302 502
accc.gov.au

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Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)

1300 369 711
humanrights.gov.au

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Australian Securities & Investments Commission (ASIC)
1300 300 630
asic.gov.au

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Australian Taxation Office (ATO)
13 28 65
ato.gov.au

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Centrelink (Newstart Allowance)
13 28 50
centrelink.gov.au

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Fair Work Commission Helpline (Fair Work Commission)
1300 799 675
fwc.gov.au

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Fair Work Infoline (Office of the Fair Work Ombudsman)
13 13 94
fairwork.gov.au

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FEG Scheme
1300 135 040
employment.gov.au/fair-entitlements-guarantee-feg

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JobWatch
(03) 9662 1933 – Melbourne Metro
1800 331 617 – Country Victoria, Queensland & Tasmania
jobwatch.org.au

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Lifeline
13 11 14
lifeline.org.au

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MensLine
1300 789 978
mensline.org.au

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National Association of Community Legal Centres
(02) 9264 9595
naclc.org.au

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National Children’s and Youth Law Centre
(02) 9385 9588
ncylc.org.au

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National Apprentice Employment Network
(02) 9299 6099
grouptraining.com.au

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Office of the Australian Information Commissioner

1300 363 992
oaic.gov.au

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Superannuation Infoline
13 10 20
ato.gov.au/Super

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Superannuation Complaints Tribunal
1300 884 114
sct.gov.au

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WIRE
1300 134 130
wire.org.au

Victorian Organisations & Contacts

SkillsVictoria Apprenticeship Administration Info Line
1300 722 603
education.vic.gov.au/training

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Business Victoria
13 22 15
business.vic.gov.au

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Career Information Centre Geelong
(03) 5228 6323 – Geelong
(03) 9299 1038 – Melbourne
http://www.casa.org.au

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Centre Against Sexual Assault
(03) 9344 2210 (Referral to closest CASA)
(03) 9635 3600 (Casa House)
1800 806 292 (Sexual Assault Crisis Line)
nizagara-online.net

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Classified Advertising Managers
13 11 13 – Herald Sun
13 22 43 – The Age
(03) 9875 8000 – Leader Suburban Newspapers
(02) 9282 2833 – Fairfax Suburban Newspapers
Regional Newspapers
See Yellow Pages

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Community Policing Squad
Victoria Police Location Search

http://www.police.vic.gov.au/content.asp?Document_ID=7

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Consumer Affairs Victoria
1300 361 673
http://www.consumer.vic.gov.au

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Dispute Settlement Centre
1300 372 888
disputes.vic.gov.au

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Employee Assistance Program
eapaa.org.au

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Federal Court Registry
(03) 8600 3333
http://www.fedcourt.gov.au

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Federal Circuit Court Registry
(03) 8600 3333
federalcircuitcourt.gov.au

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Federation of Community Legal Centres
(03) 9652 1500
communitylaw.org.au

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Justice Connect
(03) 8636 4400
justiceconnect.org.au

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Law Institute of Victoria Legal Referral Service 
Referral to a solicitor
(03) 9607 9550
liv.asn.au/Referral

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Local Learning and Employment Network 
(03) 9637 2000 (Department of Education and Training)
education.vic.gov.au/llens

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Melbourne Magistrates Court Registry
(03) 9628 7728 (Civil Registry)
magistratescourt.vic.gov.au

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SDA
(Union for retail, fast food, warehouse, hair & beauty and modelling workers)
(03) 9698 1400
1800 133 048
sda.org.au

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Office of the Victorian Commissioner for Privacy and Data Protection
1300 666 444
cpdp.vic.gov.au

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Office of Training and Tertiary Education
(03) 9637 2000
 education.vic.gov.au/training

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Small Business Victoria
13 22 15
business.vic.gov.au

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TAFE and Training Line
13 18 23
education.vic.gov.au/training/learners/courses

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Tenants Union of Victoria
(03) 9416 2577
tuv.org.au

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Victims of Crime Helpline
1800 819 817
victimsofcrime.vic.gov.au

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Victims of Crime Assistance Tribunal
1800 822 752
vocat.vic.gov.au

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Victoria Legal Aid
1300 792 387 (Legal Help Line)
(03) 9269 0234 (Business Enquiries)
legalaid.vic.gov.au

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Victorian Equal Opportunity & Human Rights Commission
1300 292 153  (Advice Line)
1300 289 621  (TTY)
humanrightscommission.vic.gov.au

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Victorian Magistrates Court (Industrial Division)
(03) 9628 7704
magistratescourt.vic.gov.au

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Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal
(03) 9628 9700
vcat.vic.gov.au

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Victorian Trades Hall Council
(03) 9662 3511
vicunions.org.au

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Victorian Workcover Authority (WorkSafe)
1800 136 089 (Health & Safety and Injury & Compensation Advisory Service)
(03) 9641 1555 (Reception)
worksafe.vic.gov.au

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Workcover Assist
Workcover conciliation assistance for union members
(03) 9941 0537
workcoverassist.vic.gov.au
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Worksite for Schools
worksite.actu.org.au

Queensland Organisations & Contacts

Anti-discrimination Commission Queensland (ADCQ)

1300 130 670
adcq.qld.gov.au
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Apprenticeship/Trainee Matters
1800 210 210
https://www.qld.gov.au/education/apprenticeships
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Community Legal Centres Queensland
(07) 3392 0092
communitylegalqld.org.au

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Industrial Court of Queensland
1300 592 987
qirc.qld.gov.au

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Industrial Relations Infoline
(07) 3406 9999
https://www.business.qld.gov.au/running-business/employing/employee-rights

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Legal Aid Queensland
1300 651 188
legalaid.qld.gov.au

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Magistrates Court of Queensland (Brisbane)
(07) 3247 5598
courts.qld.gov.au

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Office of Information Commissioner Queensland
(07) 3234 7373
oic.qld.gov.au

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Queensland Civil and  Administrative Tribunal (QCAT)
1300 753 228
qcat.qld.gov.au

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Queensland Law Society
1300 367 757
qls.com.au

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LawRight
(07) 3846 6317
http://www.lawright.org.au/

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SDA
(Union for retail, fast food, warehouse, hair & beauty and modelling workers)
(07) 3833 9500
1800 657 141
sda.org.au

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Tenants Queensland
1300 744 263
tenantsqld.org.au

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Victims Assist
1300 546 587
qld.gov.au/support-for-victims-of-crime

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Worksafe Queensland
1300 362 128
worksafe.qld.gov.au

Tasmanian Organisations & Contacts

Community Legal Centres Tasmania

clctas.org.au

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Equal Opportunity Tasmania
1300 130 670
equalopportunity.tas.gov.au

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Federal Circuit Court (Fair Work Division)
(03) 6232 1715
federalcircuitcourt.gov.au

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Law Society Tasmania
(03) 6234 4133
lst.org.au

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Legal Aid Tasmania
1300 366 611
legalaid.tas.gov.au

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Magistrates Court of Tasmania – Hobart
(03) 6165 7136
magistratescourt.tas.gov.au

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SDA
(Union for retail, fast food, warehouse, hair & beauty and modelling workers)
(03) 6331 8166
sda.org.au

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Skills Tasmania
1800 655 846
skills.tas.gov.au

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Tasmanian Industrial Commission
(03) 6165 6771
tic.tas.gov.au

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Tasmanian Ombudsman
1800 001 170
ombudsman.tas.gov.au

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WorkSafe Tasmania
(03) 6166 4600
worksafe.tas.gov.au

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Tenant’s Union of Tasmania
1300 652 641
http://tutas.org.au/

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Victims of Crime Service
1300 300 238
tas.gov.au

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Worker Assist TAS
1300 027 747
workerassist.org.au

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Workers Compensation and Rehabilitation Tribunal
(03) 6166 4750
workerscomp.tas.gov.au

Unions

A union is an organisation that looks after the rights of employees in particular industries or sectors.  If you are a member, a union can advise you about your legal entitlements at work.  In most circumstances, you are charged a fee to be a member.  The level of union fees depends on your gross annual income and the union you join.
Under the Fair Work Act 2009, it is an offence to treat a worker differently on the basis of whether they belong to a union or not.  This is called freedom of association.

Benefits of joining a union

There are many benefits to joining a union.  Recent analysis of figures issued by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) show that union members, on average, receive higher pay and are more likely to receive benefits than their non-union counterparts.  For more information phone ACTU Work Link 1300 362 223.

You may need to arrange to join the union yourself.  You can arrange for your fees to be deducted from your bank account.  The union can send letters to your home address.  You are not required to tell your employer if you join a union.
Ring the ACTU Worklink or the Victorian Trades Hall Council (03) 9662 3511 for more information.  They can connect you to the correct union for your industry.

As well as providing legal advice, some unions provide specialist advice services to apprentices and trainees that are members.  For instance, if you are experiencing problems with your relationships, finances, or drug and alcohol abuse – counsellors can recommend ways to help you deal with the problem.