Join Us Contact Us
YWC in the media
×

YWC in the media

Want to interview one of our staff members? Or have a burning question about young workers in Australia?

For all media enquiries please contact our Media and Communications Lead Edwina Byrne at [email protected]

Here’s where you can see some of the latest coverage on our work:

2021

December

Why petrol is so expensive, Triple J Hack, 7th December 2021

Toxic Apprenticeships, Triple J Hack, 1st December 2021

November

Is the ATO resourced with unpaid super complaints, Money Management, 26th November 2021

Understanding Wage Theft with Mairead and Liam, Done by Law 3CR, 16th November 2021

October

Young Workers becoming 'Vax police', Triple J Hack, 11th October 2021

There's definitely going to be issues": Young hospo workers in NSW worry about checking vaccination statuses, Triple J Hack, 11th October 2021

September

Covid-19 disaster payments to stop at 80% vaccination rate, (from 29:00) Triple J Hack, 29 September 2021

August 

Gig Workers in the Pandemic, (from 20:30) Triple J Hack, 30 August 2021

Vaccine Support for Young workers, Triple J Hack, 24 August 2021

July

Wage Theft, Breakfasters - RRR, 5 July 2021

Wage Theft, (from 7:23) ABC News VIC, 1 July 2021 

Wage Theft, (from 1:45:51) ABC Radio Melbourne Drive, 1 July 2021 

June 

Emergency Covid Payment, Triple J Hack, 3 June 2021

May

Apprentices claim extreme workplace abuse, Triple J Hack, 13 May 2021

Apprenticeship Campaign, 3CR Stick Together, 12 May 2021

Federal Budget 2021, Channel 7 Sunrise, 12 May 2021

Licensing system needed to protect apprentices from rampant underpayment, injury, abuse, union says. ABC Radio Melbourne, 10 May 2021

March

Apprenticeships - They aren't what they used to be, 3CR Stick Together, 24 March 2021

January

Superannuation for low-paid workers, The Age, 25 January 2021

Ways to make your work life better, ABC Everyday, 12 January 2021

Apprentices, Breakfasters - RRR, 4 January 2021

2020

December

The Federal Government's latest industrial relations bill, On the Job Podcast, 15 December 2020

November

The cost of insecure work for young people, Triple J Hack, 24 November 2020

Victorian women took a big hit from the pandemic. Here are five Budget ideas that could help them bounce back, ABC News, 21 November 2020

October

Next steps for women being paid less than their male colleagues, ABC Life, 20 October 2020

September

JobKeeper Changes and Food Delivery Workers in the Pandemic, Backchat, 26 September 2020

Work and Young People, OK Zoomer Radio, 17 September 2020

August

Is this the end?: Newspapers and Apprenticeships During the Pandemic (from 18:58), 3CR Stick Together, 12 August 2020

Young workers worse off than ever, Independent Australia, 11 August 2020

Stage Four lockdown, Triple J Hack, 3 August 2020

The right time to talk about pay when going for a job, ABC Life, 3 August 2020

July

Victoria shows coronavirus is a pandemic of casual, insecure work, Triple J Hack, 27 July 2020

JobKeeper Anger, A Current Affair, 25 July 2020

Intensive care nurse's blunt warning over coronavirus risk to younger adults, ABC News, 24 July 2020

What is and isn't workplace bullying, ABC Life, 23 July 2020

It's intimidating for us to tell adults how to behave: what some young workers are facing during the pandemic, ABC RN Drive, 22 July 2020

Long-awaited inquiry report into the gig economy has been released, ABC RN Drive, 15 July 2020

Workers pay price as gig economy avoids regulations, inquiry finds, The Age, 15 July 2020

Coronavirus pandemic may 'scar' Generation COVID for the rest of their lives, ABC News, 7 July 2020

Alanna, Decjuba worker (from 54:00), ABC Mornings, 2 July 2020

June

Wage theft to become illegal in Victoria as Victoria's Parliament passes new laws, The Age, 17 June 2020

Australia's first wage theft laws set to pass in Victoria, The Age, 15 June 2020

Closing gender and racial pay gaps means talking openly about pay, ABC Life, 12 June 2020

Big retails accused of unfairly excluding workers from JobKeeper scheme, ABC 7.30 Report, 4 June 2020

David Jones, General Pants Co excludes casual workers from coronavirus' JobKeeper scheme for taking holidays, ABC News, 4 June 2020

Workers Survive Covid Together, 3CR Stick Together, 3 June 2020

May

Your JobKeeper leave questions, answered, ABC Life, 22 May 2020

Casual workers' rights, Triple J Hack, 21 May 2020

JobScammer (from 04:40), ABC Mornings, 19 May 2020

Coronavirus: 'Dodgy bosses' warned over JobKeeper, The Australian, 8 May 2020

More Cotton On Casual Staff To Get JobKeeper Payment, 10Daily, 8 May 2020

April

Am I being treated fairly?, Mirage News, 23 April 2020

Am I being treated fairly?, MyGain Podcast, 20 April 2020

Jobseekers facing coronavirus cash crisis as savings dry up weeks before support will arrive, ABC News, 9 April 2020

March

One third of casuals unprotected by JobKeepers scheme, says Young Workers Centre, ABC Radio National, 31 March 2020

February

Addressing the widespread problem of wage theft, ABC Radio National, 26 February 2020

Understanding Your Payslip, ABC Life, 20 February 2020

Wage Theft Crackdown: Bosses Caught Underpaying Workers Could Be Jailed, 10 Daily, 19 February 2020

Administrators selling Calombaris venues, News.com.au, 11 February 2020

Recovering stolen wages for Calombaris' workers (from 1:22:40), ABC Mornings, 11 February 2020

Workers employed by failed restaurant mogul George Calombaris may not receive their entitlements, 10 News First Melbourne, 11 February 2020

George Calombaris' restaurants are up for grabs tonight, 7NEWS Melbourne, 11 February 2020

January

The 'zombie agreement' loophole leaving Subway workers trapped, Nine News, 30 January 2020

 

2019

December

Subway employees stuck in 'outdated' zombie agreements, ABC Radio National, 12 December 2019

Grill'd (from 24:30), ABC Mornings, 9 December 2019

Grill'd customers left with a sour taste after low-wage revelations, The Age, 7 December 2019

Burger chain Grill'd underpays staff, Nine News Australia, 7 December 2019

November

At least 27 current and former Mecca employees have now made written complaints, Pedestrian, 27 November 2019

Mecca launches investigation into its own culture of bullying, discrimination, Yahoo Finance, 20 November 2019

Food delivery workers demand better conditions, 7 News Melbourne, 20 November 2019

Food delivery bike couriers in Australia being underpaid by up to $322 a week, The Guardian, 20 November 2019

Wage Theft: Bike Couriers in Australia Paid Under Minimum Wage, Junkee, 20 November 2019

Mecca is investigating claims of widespread internal bullying made by ex-employees, Pedestrian, 19 November 2019

Mecca hires adviser to investigate complaints of staff mistreatment, Herald Sun, 18 November 2019

'It's all fake': Beauty giant Mecca facing bullying claims, The Age, 17 November 2019

Lawyers explain when you can be fired at work and when you can't, ABC Life, 15 November 2019

Felicity Sowerbutts on wage theft, Channel 7 Sunrise, 2 November 2019

October

Felicity Sowerbutts on wage theft, ABC Radio Sydney, 31 October 2019

How to know if you're being ripped off at work - and what you can do about it, ABC Life, 31 October 2019

Felicity Sowerbutts on wage theft, JOY FM, 5 October 2019

August

Geelong riders demand increase in pay rate, Geelong Advertiser, 30 August 2019

Subway scandal, A Current Affair, 27 August 2019

Wage theft, Triple J Hack, 19 August 2019

Subway under investigation by Fair Work over staff underpayment, The Age, 12 August 2019

July

Calombaris wage theft is only the tip of the iceberg, The Wire, 24 July 2019

Oanh Tran on Calombaris wage theft, Jon Faine - ABC Radio, 18 July 2019 (audio expired)

May

Uber Drivers' Day of Strikes Circles the Globe Before the Company's I.P.O., New York Times, 8 May 2019

March

'We always had to chase': Pressed Juices staff owed wages as stores closeThe Sydney Morning Herald, 7 March 2019

February

Focus interviewed Oanh Tran about Wage Theft, ABC Radio Sydney, 12 February 2019 (Audio expired)

January

How to make sure you're not being ripped off at work, Triple J Hack, 3 January 2019

 

2018

November

Young Workers Say they Feel unsafe working alone at franchise stores, Here’s Why, Junkee, 15 November 2018, 

Young Workers Say Pressed Juices Owes Them Thousands In Unpaid Wages And Superannuation, Junkee, 12 November 2018

October

Melanie says she earned $2 an hour and every step was tracked on an app, Sydney Morning Herald, 7 October 2018 

Nice work if you can get it, Frankie Magazine (Issue 86), October 2018

McDonald's accused of exploiting young workers with 'learn and churn' practice on ABC Drive with Raf, 8 October 2018

August

These young workers say they’re owed thousands in unpaid wages from a Melbourne store, Junkee, 1 August 2018

Melbourne's Barry cafe settles wrongful termination claim with underpaid worker , ABC News, 29 August 2018

Barry Cafe Has Finally Apologised To The Worker Who Called Them Out For Wage Theft, Junkee, 29 August 2018

July

George Calombaris’ Hellenic Republic restaurant hit by underpayment claims, ABC News Vic TV Bulletin, 13 July 2018

June

Owed $20K: Fair Work Ombusdman failing underpaid workers victims say, Triple J Hack, 27 June 2018

The Owner Of Melbourne's "Best Cocktail Bar" Told A Future Employee That Penalty Rates Don't Exist In Victoria, Buzzfeed, 4 June 2018

May

Unemployed, underemployed, or underpaid: The reality for young workers, ABC News, 2 May 2018

Youth worker Keelia Fitzpatrick’s top tips for young people starting their first job, ABC News: 7:30, 2 May 2018 (video expired)

The Owner of Melbourne’s ‘Burger Buzz’ Was Just Fined $300,000 For Exploiting Young Workers, Junkee, 10 May 2018

Burch and Purchese staff claim they were underpaid, intimidated by celebrity chef, ABC News, 16 May 2018

Melbourne’s Barry café accused of underpaying staff, ABC News, 21 May 2018

Young and underpaid: Your definitive guide to getting the money your boss owes you, ABC News, 21 May 2018

Labor promises to jail bosses over wage theft, The Sydney Morning Herald, 25 May 2018

April

Melbourne café owner threatens to sue staff, who claimed they were underpaid, for ‘harassment’, ABC News, 27 April 2018

Workers At A Popular Melbourne Café Say They Were Fired After Asking For Legal Pay, Junkee, 23 April 2018

Employees stuck in 'outdated', 'zombie' contracts of Workchoices era, ABC The Signal, 16 April 2018

Working dead - the contracts that refuse to die, ABC The Signal (podcast), 16 April 2018

Wage Theft, ABC Radio Drive (radio broadcast, 1hr 16 minute mark), 13 April 2018

Workers burnt by Melbourne first aid company underpayments, The Age, 11 April 2018

Push to jail employers for up to 10 years for 'wage theft', The Age, 7 April 2018

March

Superannuation Rip-Offs, Hack (radio broadcast, 16 minute mark), 26 March 2018

The Doughnut Time Scandal is Ever Bigger Than We Thought, Junkee, 19 March 2018

 

2017

December

Bartenders claim they were paid less than the cocktails they serve, The Age, 14 December 2017

Have you ever been treated unfairly at work? Allegations of unfair dismissal, Hack (radio broadcast, 22 minute mark), 7 December 2017

November

Young workers at this Melbourne burger joint are protesting against underpayment, Junkee, 29 November 2017

September

Airtasker, Deliveroo slammed for 'exploitation' of workers in Senate reports, Huffington Post, 12 September 2017

George Calombaris' restaurant group moves forward payment of unpaid wages in face of criticism, Broadsheet Melbourne, 12 September 2017

A hipster Melbourne coffee chain has forked out $50k in unpaid wages and super for young workers, Buzzfeed, 12 September 2017

Senate inquiry takes aim at Airtasker and Deliveroo for 'short-changing' workers, safety concerns, News.com.au, 8 September 2017

"Does this guy owe you money?" Union launches campaign offering free legal advice to workers owed money by George Calombaris - as the Masterchef judge faces assault charges in court, Daily Mail Australia, 8 September 2017

The Government is double checking employers aren't exploiting young people, Buzzfeed, 5 September 2017

A coffee chain has been suspended from the Government's internship program after exploiting young people, Buzzfeed, 1 September 2017

Youth internship allegations 'unsurprising': Shorten, The Australian, 1 September 2017

August

This guy says he is owed money after working for the Government's $4-per-hour internship program, Buzzfeed, 30 August 2017

July

Former UniLodge caretakers claim $700,000 in unpaid wages, Sydney Morning Herald, 7 July 2017

May

One in five young workers are getting paid below the minimum wage, Junkee, 5 May 2017

March

Penalty rate cut an attack on young workers, Green Left Weekly, 18 March 2017

Feburary

Paying to work: Australian start up offers 'learning platform of the future', Hack, 20 February 2017

Calls to boycott Honey Birdette lingerie over harassment claims, News.com.au, 15 February 2017

Honey Birdette former staff in new campaign over alleged harassment, exploitation, Sydney Morning Herald, 14 February 2017

Baker's Delight caves to pressure and scraps 'unfair' agreement, The Age, 1 February 2017

January

Thousands stuck on Workchoices deals: The Age, 2 January 2017

 

2016

December

Grill'd on the Griller, A Current Affair 

Staff at famous lingerie store are protesting after sexual harassment and exploitation, Cosmopolitan

Former Honey Birdette workers call out alleged exploitation and harassment, The Age, 9 December 2016

Honey Birdette under fire amid staff claims of inappropriate work conditions and sexual harassment, Smart Company, 9 December 2016

October

Are young people too scared to speak up about workplace safety? Triple J, 7 October 2016

Sexual harassment an 'everyday occurence' for Australia's young workers, The Age, 6 October 2016

July

Delivery services Foodora and Deliveroo face claims of exploitation, underpayment, The Age, 29 July 2016

Deliveroo and Foodora accused of breaching workplace laws, Hospitality Magazine, 29 July 2016

May 

7-Eleven protest hits Melbourne CBD store, The Age, 18 May 2016

March

Students Ctrl+Alt+Del Wikipedia's gender bias with entries for Aussie women, Pedestrian, 9 March 2016

February

Unions launch Young Workers Centre 'to empower' youth against exploitation, The Guardian, 19 February 2016

We Volunteers

Ever wanted to change the world?

We want Victoria to be a state where young people feel safe and respected at work - it's only by standing together that we can make that happen.

Volunteers are a crucial part of the Young Workers community. Sign up below and get involved today!

(Or to find out more about doing a placement as an advocate, click here!)

×