Internship Program

A unique opportunity for law students to engage with employment law

ISEALS for international students

Supporting students' work rights

Fact Sheets

Fact Sheets about a number of employment law issues

Newsletter signup

For regular employment law updates from JobWatch

Open Menu Close Menu

Models, Actors and Influencers

This Fact Sheet discusses the employment issues that are experienced by models, actors and influencers. Models, actors and influencers have a very glamorous image, but sometimes the experience does not live up to expectations. People wishing to pursue careers in modelling and acting or as an influencer, have to be very careful about who they do business with. Unfortunately there are many operators who will rip you off and many things can go wrong before you start work.

Aspiring models, actors and influencers have contacted JobWatch with a range of complaints including:

  • demands that they pay for expensive and unnecessary portfolios of photographs before work is provided;
  • demands that they pay high registration fees;
  • photographs being used without their consent or payment;
  • agents falsely claiming to have modelling or acting work on their books;
  • being pressured into enrolling in a modelling or acting course with high course fees; or
  • sexual harassment or assault.

Things you should do

  1. Be realistic
  2. Use a reputable agency or agent
  3. Be wary of excessive fees
  4. Be wary of social media scams
  5. Do not sign a contract without reading it and understanding it
  6. Check how much you will be paid for the work you do
  7. Consider joining the relevant union
  8. Always be conscious of your personal safety

For more information about the employment issues that are experienced by models, actors and influencers, we recommend you download the ‘Models, Actors and Influencers’ Fact Sheet.

For further support

Call our Telephone Information Service on Melbourne Metro (03) 9662 1933 or Regional Victoria, Queensland and Tasmania on 1800 331 617.

Sign up for our newsletter

Copyright © 2026 All Rights Reserved

JobWatch acknowledges and is grateful for the financial and other support it has received from our supporters.
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.