If you need help understanding your rights or have a legal problem, the Study Melbourne Hub team can advise you on where you can get legal help, which may include online resources or referral for an appointment with International Student Employment and Accommodation Legal Service (ISEALS) or other free community legal services.
Speak to an expert employment or accommodation lawyer
If you are unsure of your employment and accommodation rights, the types of support available, or if you are feeling unsafe, the Study Melbourne can help you to find free, confidential and independent legal advice.
1800 056 449
Here are some of the most frequently asked questions the ISEALS team can help you with:
Free legal advice about working, jobs and employment
View transcript
Speaker, Gabrielle: Working in Victoria as an international student, it's important to know you have rights at work.
[Text on screen: Gabrielle, JobWatch. Gabrielle is at the Study Melbourne Hub, colourful first nations artwork in background]
Gabrielle: You are entitled to fair pay, safe conditions and fair treatment at work, regardless of where you work or how many hours you work.
[Text on screen: what kind of rights do I have? Visuals: International students meeting at the Study Melbourne Hub with laptops, Gabrielle meeting with students]
Gabrielle: Understand your contract. If you're working with an ABN or in gig work, the rules may be different and underpayments are common.
Gabrielle: If you're being underpaid, unfairly dismissed or treated poorly, you don't have to deal with it alone.
[Text on screen: What if I'm being treated unfairly? Visuals: Gabrielle meeting with students at the Study Melbourne Hub, student writing in notebook]
Gabrielle: You can get free legal advice and support at the Study Melbourne hub.
[Visuals: Staff at the Study Melbourne Hub working with students, Gabrielle speaking to camera]
Gabrielle: We're here to help you work safely, confidently, and legally.
[On screen: Study Melbourne logo]
- How many hours can I work?
- My boss has asked me to work with an ABN – is this legal?
- I haven’t been paid – how can I get my unpaid wages?
- What is the minimum wage in Australia?
- I’m not being treated fairly at work – what are my options?
Free legal advice about accommodation and renting
View transcript
Speaker, Caitlin: If you're looking for a place to live in Victoria, it's important to know your rental rights.
[Inspiring music begins. Text on screen: Caitlin, WEstjustice. Visuals: Caitlin is at the Study Melbourne Hub, colourful first nations artwork in the background]
Whether you're in student housing, a private rental, renting from another renter, or in a rooming house, make sure you know what you're signing up for.
[Visuals: International students meeting at the Study Melbourne Hub with laptops, Caitlin meeting with students]
There may be different rules that apply to different types of housing.
Generally, if something breaks or isn't working at the property, the landlord has a responsibility to fix it.
If you're worried about rent increases being evicted or your bond being returned.
[Visuals: Students writing in notebook, meeting with Caitlin, using laptop, scanning QR code]
You can get free and confidential legal advice at the Study Melbourne Hub.
You don't have to deal with it alone.
Knowing your rights, your peace of mind and a better in Victoria.
[Visuals: Staff at the Study Melbourne Hub meeting with students]
[On screen: Study Melbourne logo]
- My landlord won’t return my bond, what can I do?
- My rent has been increased, is this legal?
- There’s a problem with where I am staying – what can I do?
- What are the minimum standards for a rental property?
- My landlord has changed our property arrangement without my consent – what are my rights?
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