About Us

The YWLS provides a confidential and free advice service. Law students and/or volunteers under the supervision of experienced industrial and legal offices from SA Unions staff the service and provide confidential and free advice to young workers on employment related issues including:

• Unfair dismissal
• Workers Compensation
• Underpayment of wages
• Equal Opportunity and discrimination
• Workplace dispute resolution
• Sexual harassment
• Other employment related issues.

We offer face to face appointments with trained staff, who can discuss your issue with you, and provide:

• Legal advice
• Assistance with strategies to deal with the dispute at your workplace
• Assistance with lodging applications with relevant legal bodies
• Information on your legal rights and responsibilities
• Information about your entitlements under your Award or Enterprise Agreement.

The advice is provided without clients having to make any direct payment to us. However, young workers are responsible for their own costs including lodgement fees, obtaining evidence and attending tribunal hearings. The Service only pays some minimal administrative costs associated with lodging or following through with a claim.

The service strongly encourages membership of your trade union. If we represent you in any way, we will require you to join your union. This is to ensure that if an issue arises in the future, you will have access to expert assistance both in and outside of the workplace that will be relevant to your industry. The Young Workers Legal Service will provide the correct union to join and a membership form to you.

All information given is strictly confidential unless specified and consent is given by the young worker.

How to find us