If your visa is about to expire, you may be able to get a new visa to extend your stay in Australia so you can take legal action against an employer.  For example, if you’re nearing the end of your visa but have been underpaid, you can apply for a visa that allows you to stay in Australia while your underpayment claim is being actioned.   

Find out more about this visa here: Workplace Justice Visa - Temporary Activity Visa (subclass 408).

If you have breached your visa conditions (for example, you worked too many hours on your student visa), you may be able to get a guarantee from Home Affairs that your visa won’t be cancelled if you take legal action against your employer (so this will protect you in the event your employer threatens to report you into the immigration authorities).

Find out more about the protections against visa cancellation for exploited workers who have breached their visa here:  Visa Protections.

If you are in danger or there is an emergency, call 000.

Legal and migration advice

• Anti-Slavery Australia: 02 9514 8115 

Other support

The Support for Trafficked People Program supports victims of trafficking, slavery and slavery-like practices, and is delivered nationally by the Australian Red Cross. If you or someone you know is being exploited, you can contact the Red Cross for information and confidential advice below:

• Support for Trafficked People Program: 1800 113 015 or email national_stpp@redcross.org.au

Alternatively, you can contact:

• Salvation Army Trafficking and Slavery Safe House for Women: 1300 473 560

• Office of the Anti-Slavery Commissioner (NSW): 1800 373 3366

Reporting to the police

The Australian Federal Police can protect people who are experiencing trafficking, forced labour or forced marriage. If you suspect that you or another person is experiencing, or at risk of, modern slavery or human trafficking, you can make a report online or call 131 237. Your report can be anonymous.

If you are not comfortable contacting the AFP, you can contact Red Cross for confidential advice.

Community legal services provide free legal help for your problem at work, including underpayment, losing your job, or discrimination.

National Directories

• National Association of Community Legal Centres: 02 9160 9500

• Red Cross Work Right Hub

New South Wales

• Employment Rights Legal Service: 02 8004 3270

• International Students Legal Service: 02 9698 7645

Victoria

• Migrant Workers’ Centre: 03 7009 6710

• South-East Monash Legal Service: 03 9545 7400

• Westjustice: 03 9749 7720

• International Students Employment and Accommodation Legal Service: 1800 056 449

• Young Workers Centre: 1800 714 754

Queensland

• JobWatch: 1800 331 617

• Working Women’s Centre QLD: 1800 358 511

Western Australia

• Circle Green: 08 6148 3636

South Australia

• Find a community legal centre here.

• Working Women’s Centre SA: 08 8410 6499

Tasmania

• Launceston Community Legal Centre: 1800 066 019

• JobWatch: 1800 331 617

Northern Territory

• Darwin Community Legal Service: 1800 812 953

• Working Women’s Centre NT: 1800 817 055 

Australian Capital Territory

• Canberra Community Law: 02 6218 7900

University student legal services

If you’re an international student, don’t forget to ask your education provider if a student legal service can help you for free!

Unions

Unions can represent you in the workplace and help you resolve an issue with your employer. You may need to pay a fee to join a union.

You can find the union for your industry here or by calling 1300 486 466.

Fair Work Ombudsman

The Fair Work Ombudsman is an independent government agency that helps people understand Australian workplace laws and can take action against employers that do not follow the law.

You can contact the Fair Work Ombudsman here or by calling 13 13 94.

Contact the workers compensation regulator in your state and territory - find the one for you here.

A union can help you with your workplace injury or workers’ compensation claim. You may need to pay a fee to join a union. You can find the union for your industry here or by calling 1300 486 466.  

If you work on an ABN for a food delivery, rideshare or services platform (e.g. Uber, DiDi, AirTasker), you are probably an independent contractor when you are doing that work. Independent contractors have different rights and responsibilities to employees.

If you have a problem or dispute, you can seek help from:

• JobWatch (VIC, QLD, TAS): 1800 331 617 

• Migrant Workers’ Centre (VIC): 03 7009 6710 

• A community legal centre. You can find a community legal centre here or by calling 02 9160 9500

• The Transport Workers’ Union, which represents food delivery and rideshare drivers in the gig economy: 02 8114 6500

There are specific advice services for refugees and asylum seekers – you can find one here.

New South Wales

• Immigration Advice and Rights Centre: 02 8234 0700

• Union members in NSW are able to access free migration advice through the Visa Assist program.

Victoria

• Migrant Workers’ Centre: 03 7009 6710 

Queensland

• Refugee and Immigration Legal Service: 07 3846 9300 

Western Australia

• Circle Green: 08 6148 3636 

South Australia

• Legal Services Commission (excluding student or skilled visas): 08 8111 5539  

• JusticeNet may be able to connect you with a free lawyer: 08 8410 2280 

Tasmania

• A community legal centre may be able to help you – search here.

Northern Territory

• Multicultural Council of the Northern Territory: 09 8945 9122 

Australian Capital Territory

• Legal Aid ACT - Migration Clinic: 1300 654 314

• Union members in the ACT are able to access free migration advice through the Visa Assist program 

For assistance with tax or superannuation, visit:

• Australian Taxation Office: 13 28 61

For mental health assistance, visit:

• Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636

• Lifeline: 13 11 14

• Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 476

• Headspace: 1800 650 890

You can find support services in your specific state or territory here.

For more support, visit:

• Red Cross Support for people on temporary visas experiencing family and domestic violence.

• 1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732

• Women’s Legal Service: 02 8745 6999 (Rural: 1800 810 784)

• Immigrant Women’s Speak Out Association (NSW): 02 9635 8022

• Men’s Referral Service: 1300 766 491

For financial assistance, visit:

• Red Cross

• Salvation Army: 1800 007 007

• St Vincent de Paul Society: 13 18 12

• National Debt Helpline: 1800 007 007

• Emergency Hardship Assistance (QLD): 1800 173 349

For help with electricity and gas bills:

• Energy Accounts Payment Assistance Scheme (NSW)

For food assistance, contact:

• St Vincent de Paul Society: 13 18 12

• Ask Izzy

• OzHarvest: 02 9516 3877

• Anglicare Food Assistance: 1300 111 278

• Foodbank (NSW & ACT): 02 9756 3099

For housing assistance, contact:

• Salvation Army: 03 8878 4500

• St Vincent de Paul Society: 13 18 12

• Tenants Advice and Advocacy Services (NSW)