MYUNION: A Different Kind of Worker Representation

A 1940 High Court Case With a 2026 Workplace Message: Adelaide Chemical & Fertilizer Co Ltd v Carlyle

Negligent Workers Compensation Settlement Advice: What Osei v P K Simpson Pty Ltd Means for Injured Workers When an injured worker is advised to settle a workers compensation dispute, the decision can permanently affect weekly payments, treatment expenses and future financial security. A settlement may appear attractive because it provides certainty and ends a stressful dispute. But certainty is only valuable when the worker understands precisely what is being received, what

Victorian WorkCover After 52 Weeks: What Happens When Your Employer Stops Suitable Duties?

Fair Work Act 2009 – What Has Changed in 2026 and What Is Still to Come?

Losing your job can be one of the most stressful experiences of your life. In the hours and days that follow, it's completely natural to feel angry, shocked, disappointed or even overwhelmed. Unfortunately, this is also the time when many employees unknowingly make mistakes that can seriously weaken an otherwise strong unfair dismissal claim. One of the most valuable pieces of advice I can give anyone who has just been dismissed is simple: get the right advice as early as pos

Dismissed From Your Job? Don't Panic – Here's What You Should Do First

By MYUNION – Employment & Human Rights Advocates One of the most common misconceptions we hear is: “I resigned, so I don’t have any rights anymore.” That simply isn’t true. While resigning voluntarily usually ends the employment relationship, what an employer does after receiving a resignation can still have significant legal consequences under the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth). Recently, we considered a fictional scenario that highlights how quickly an ordinary resignation can ev

Why Union Membership Has Declined and New Advocacy Models Are Emerging

Does Simply Marking a Letter “Without Prejudice” Make It Confidential?

Can You Take a "Senior Gap Year" From Work? Understanding Extended Leave Without Pay in Australia

By Brian AJ Newman Employment and Human Rights Advocate MYUNION Every Worker in Australia Has Workplace Rights Every year, thousands of temporary visa holders, sponsored workers, working holiday makers, international students and seasonal workers come to Australia believing they have little choice but to accept poor treatment from their employer. Many are told: "If you complain, we'll cancel your sponsorship." "There are plenty of people who'll take your job." "Immigration wo

Procedural fairness (also known as natural justice) is the legal principle that decisions affecting a person's rights, reputation or employment should only be made after a fair process. Although procedural fairness obligations differ depending upon the employment relationship, industrial instrument, legislation and the employer involved, the core principles remain remarkably consistent. A procedurally fair investigation seeks to answer one simple question: Has the employee be

By Brian Newman - Employment and Human Rights Advocate The distinction between an employee and an independent contractor continues to be one of the most contested areas of Australian employment law. Businesses often engage workers under agreements describing them as independent contractors, believing that the wording of the contract is enough to determine the legal relationship. However, as the Fair Work Commission Full Bench confirmed in Aspire 2 Life Pty Ltd v Jessica Tidma

Can You Be Fairly Dismissed for Making Workplace Complaints? One of the most frequently asked questions in unfair dismissal matters is whether an employer can lawfully dismiss an employee who repeatedly makes workplace complaints. The short answer is yes—but not simply because the employee exercised a workplace right. The Fair Work Commission recently considered this issue in Li v Commonwealth of Australia as represented by the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing [202

Bullying, Mobbing and Collusion: Understanding the Differences in Australian Workplaces

MUSTERUP!!! - Queensland Corrective Services Seeking Repayment of Alleged Overpayments? Know Your Rights Before You Respond

Working in traffic control is one of the most demanding jobs in Australia. Traffic controllers work long hours, often in extreme heat, rain or cold, while managing the safety of workers, motorists and pedestrians. Despite the critical role they play, many traffic controllers are unaware of their workplace rights or assume they have to "put up with" unsafe or unfair treatment. The reality is that Australian workplace laws provide significant protections for traffic controllers

Why your pleadings matter With more than three decades of Professional Advocacy in Industrial Tribunals and Commissions, this is our observation. A Statement of Claim is the document that tells the Court: who the parties are; what legal rights were breached; what facts establish those breaches; what remedies are sought. It is not evidence. It is not an affidavit. It is not a witness statement. It is simply the framework upon which the entire case is built. Everything that fol

Understanding your rights under the Fair Work Act, Human Rights legislation and Australian privacy laws It is becoming increasingly common for employers to request access to an employee’s medical information during workplace disputes, prolonged absences, workers’ compensation claims or proceedings before the Fair Work Commission. Can Your Employer Demand Unrestricted Access to Your Medical Records? While employers may, in some circumstances, have legitimate reasons to seek me