Australia has strict rules on how unpaid internships and unpaid work can be done in a workplace. While we all wish we could get paid for everything we do, it`s important to understand the benefits of an unpaid internship and why it can be so valuable to your studies and future career. Not to mention the fact that studying for your degree can sometimes feel like an endless parade of homework and lectures. Break it up a bit with an internship, sometimes it can be exactly what you need to refocus your goals. Mark is a final-year law student. He agrees to do an unpaid internship at a law firm that promises him a job after graduation. The internship does not need to be a prerequisite for the student`s entire course of study or even be assessable in order to fulfill the internship exemption. Rather, the practicum must simply be an internship that is a requirement of the course, unit or subject. Finally, who benefits more from unpaid work: the intern or the organization? Factors such as the duration of the unpaid internship and whether or not there are rules on rosters and participation must be taken into account. As mentioned above, the main purpose of an internship is for the individual to learn, observe and develop skills. Therefore, the benefits of an unpaid internship should accrue primarily to the individual and not to the productivity of the company. It`s one thing to work on assignments, projects, and case studies in academia, but an unpaid internship will give you hands-on experience in real-life workplace situations. Sure, this is valuable from a learning perspective, but it can also help you make an informed decision about your future career.
Spending time in an organization to see how your skills are put into practice can give you a clear indication of a specific area or company you want to work in. You can also try a job you`ve always dreamed of and find that it`s not quite what you were hoping for. Either way, an unpaid internship can help you make the decisions you make when applying for graduate positions. While each agreement must be considered separately, here is a brief checklist of aspects that are generally considered in determining whether an individual can be hired as an unpaid intern because they are doing an internship or not being employed. This may seem like a less important reason to apply for an unpaid internship, but it`s not. Seeing how a real workplace works in your chosen field can help you get some really important information when it`s time to apply for graduate programs or positions. You may only spend two weeks with an employer during an internship, but you`ll likely see how that workplace works. Are employees happy or stressed all the time? Do senior managers make newcomers feel welcome? These are some of the things that can form the basis of who you want to work on after graduation. Internships are more common in highly competitive fields such as communications, advertising, law and media. In addition, unpaid work can also occur in jobs in commerce, office administration, education, healthcare, retail, etc. The main objective of an internship is for the individual to learn, observe and develop skills.
As Fair Work Ombudsman, Sandra Parker said: “Contractors cannot avoid paying their employees legal fees just by marking them as interns. Australia`s employment laws are clear: if people do productive work for a company, they are legally entitled to minimum bonuses. 1 Hiring an unpaid intern who does not comply with legal requirements (even if innocent) may expose a company (and in some cases individuals) to liability for violations of the Foreign Workers Act (see Part 3 of this series). As noted above, it is not enough to call a person an “intern.” The title “intern” does not legitimize the underpayment of wages and benefits. When you participate in an unpaid internship, you will usually be assigned certain mentors who will guide you through your time in the workplace. Depending on the duration of the internship and the depth of its entry into the company, you may have regular mentoring sessions with management or senior executives. This is the perfect opportunity to make a good impression and get your foot in the door for future job opportunities. Unpaid internships aren`t just a “foot in the door” – they help gain practical knowledge of the industry and can generate useful contacts in your chosen field. The following indicators help determine whether an employment relationship exists.
In these cases, an unpaid internship, placement or internship is likely to be illegal: In this article, part 1 of our series on internships, we look at the relevant law to help you understand the legal requirements for an internship. After completing his graphic design studies, Simon began working as an “unpaid intern” at a local magazine. Unpaid internships can offer individuals without relevant experience the opportunity to get their foot in the door in some of the most competitive industries in the workforce. However, companies should be aware that unpaid internships are only legitimate if they are carried out as part of a study-related internship or if there is no employment relationship. Companies need to understand the difference between legitimate unpaid internships, which provide real work experience, and fake internships, which exploit cheap (or free) labor, to ensure they don`t violate the Fair Work Act (Cth) 2009. Deluxe Entertainment Services Group offers rotational internships with this in mind: “Our internship program is a rotational program with our media and broadcast teams to bring you closer to the different facets of the business so that you can also make an informed decision on areas of specialization.” 1 FWO press release “Fashion start-up punished for unpaid internship”, 1 March 2019. Unpaid work is also classified differently. It`s important to understand the nature of unpaid work, as it ensures you`re not being exploited. After graduating with a degree in marketing, Kate began working as an “unpaid intern” at an online retail company. Kate creates content for the website and associated social media accounts 2 days a week. Any earnings you earn as a result of paid internships, paid work experience or other work attempts are part of your taxable income. If you need further assistance, register your details via etax.com.au and private message or speak directly with our qualified tax advisors.
Under the Fair Work Act 2009, you must not do “productive” work during an internship, which essentially means that the organization must not let you work for them. That doesn`t mean you won`t be involved in real work. You`ll likely learn from employees working on real projects and support them through the process where it suits you. For example, a legal articling student will not present a case to the court, but will help the lawyer where he can and see how the cases are prepared. Working closely with professionals should help you gain a lot of skills and industry knowledge that you may not get in the classroom. Fair Work Australia offers this clarification; Unpaid work experience, internships and internships that are not professional internships are illegal if the person is in an employment relationship with the company or organization for which he or she works. If you`re studying or looking to change careers, you`ve probably encountered the “experiential paradox.” Most job postings prefer that you already have experience in the industry, but you can`t get that experience without a job at all. Participation: unpaid internships. So remember, while the internship is primarily about giving you skills and experience in the workplace, the organization will also keep an eye on you.