Young Workers Centre

26/08/2026

Happy National Skills Week! The Young Workers Centre is proud to recognise and highlight the hard workers in vocational education with this year's theme of “life-changing”.

Apprentices are out future, and we're proud to support them.

This week, show an apprentice some love; they deserve it, today and every day! ❤️

25/08/2026

Unpaid trial shifts are unlawful! We have been lied to💩

According to Fair Work ‘an unpaid work trial is a demonstration by someone working under supervision to show they have the skills for the job.’

This doesn’t mean multiple hours or multiple shifts. A work trial is used to show your skills to the employer, NOT to do work for free!

Unpaid work trials may be unlawful where:

-it isn’t necessary to demonstrate the skills required for the job, or has continued for longer than is actually needed
-it involves more than only a demonstration of the person’s skills, where they are directly relevant to a vacant position, or
-the person is not under direct supervision for the trial

Any period beyond what is reasonably required to demonstrate the skills required for the job must be paid at the appropriate minimum rate of pay. If an employer wants to further assess a candidates suitability, they could employ the person as a casual employee and/or for a probationary period and pay them accordingly for ALL hours worked.

Again, it’s up to us as young workers to let these bosses know what we deserve and how the law actually works.

Next time an employer says trial shifts are unpaid, tell them only if it’s to demonstrate a skill, not work a full shift at your pizzeria!

21/08/2026

Apprentices WILL be safe at work if the YWC have anything to do with it!

In the past 3 years 1/3rd of all young workers contacting our legal team were apprentices with the same issues coming up.

Wage theft, apprenticeships not being properly registered, not being supervised properly or at all, not being released to go to training, and being subject to relentless bullying and harassment.

The Young Workers Centre have been campaigning to better conditions for apprentices for a long time and the government is now taking action. Introducing a new regulatory scheme that will provide clear standards for employers, an employer licensing scheme to stop repeat offenders from exploiting apprentices and trainees, and a new independent regulator to enforce these changes.

Apprentices are the future and they deserve better than the rath of a bad boss.

Stand strong, stand together 💛

17/08/2026

Six years ago, Victorian apprentices and trainees decided that they'd had enough of having their careers ruined by bad bosses.

So they started speaking out - and more than 10,000 Victorians stood with them.

Last year, in response to our campaign, the Victorian Apprenticeships Taskforce delivered its recommendations.

And this week, those recommendations were introduced by Minister for Skills and Training Gabrielle Williams MP as legislation in Parliament

We've won:
✅ A new regulatory scheme to provide clear standards for employers
✅ An employer licensing scheme, to stop repeat offenders from exploiting apprentices and trainees
✅ A new independent regulator, Workforce Inspectorate Victoria, to enforce these changes

Congratulations to all the apprentices, trainees, and workers who forced the Government to act on this issue.

13/08/2026

Solidarity is a verb.
Young photographers have documented where solidarity shows up in our lives. Siblings, Friends, Protesters. Bees.
We stand together.
Showing soon as part of Victorian Youth Fest

Join us for opening night Monday September 7 - Paddy's Gallery, Vic Trades Hall, Carlton
Catering and non-alcoholic drinks provided

Image credit - Skye Lunghusen
RSVP link in our bio 🔗

This event is supported by the Victorian Government

12/08/2026

NEW BILL ALERT! 🔔

All workers have a right to a safe workplace and that includes apprentices and trainees!

A new Bill has just been introduced to parliament to protect and enforce safety for apprentices and trainees.

This comes after years of work from the Young Workers Centre and supporting unions, because we see first hand the impact that unsafe working conditions have on young workers.

In October 2024, a Worksafe inspector spotted a first year apprentice working 2.7 metres off the ground, on a roof with no fall protection.

The boss had told the apprentice to work on the roof knowing that there was no fall protection in place.

This was dangerous, negligent and unlawful. This employer was fined $40k for failing to uphold the safety laws for workers working at heights.

Luckily no one was hurt this time but we hear too many stories like this, where apprentices are put at risk by bad bosses.

This Bill is a huge win for young workers and will help to make apprenticeships and traineeships in Victoria safer.

05/08/2026

What is Solidarity? Alongside the collective care and power - It's our upcoming photography exhibition!!!

If you're a photographer aged 25 and under comment PHOTOGRAPH for more info on how to submit your work completely for free as part of September's Youth Fest.

This event is supported by the Victorian Government

03/08/2026

You asked - We listened !!
Submissions have been extended for our upcoming (free to enter) photography exhibition
Must close August 16th!!

'Solidarity' represents mutual care, collective resilience and everyday acts of support that bind communities together. If you are a young person with a camera show us any moment of solidarity you've captured and have it on display in September in Carlton and Bendigo.
Comment SOLIDARITY to learn more 📸📷

This event is supported by the Victorian Government

The Young Workers Centre is a one-stop-shop for young workers who want to learn more about their rights at work or who need assistance in resolving workplace issues.

31/07/2026

Congratulations to our graduating class of Union Winter comrades for 2026! 🥳🥳

These talented, staunch, inspiring young activists are the up and coming next wave of proud unionists. After spending two weeks at their home union, these grads shared their ideas on how to reach young union members and provided practical solutions for the issues that are affecting members.

Thank you to ASU Victorian Private Sector Union CPSU Victoria Australian Nursing & Midwifery Federation (Vic Branch) HACSU Victoria AEU Victoria NTEU Victoria partnering with us and being incredible mentors across this program.

Interested in interning at a union? Follow us for info on our next intake for Summer 2027 ☀️