Resource directory
A guide for migrants in Australia: work, visas, housing, food, health, study, relationships, safety, money, discrimination and emotional support. Always double-check details on the official site before acting.
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Services in your state
Workers compensation in Australia is state-based: who runs it, how you claim and the time limits all change depending on where you work. Pick your state and we'll show you who to call.
New South Wales (NSW)
Discrimination and harassment
Anti-Discrimination NSW
Go to the official Anti-Discrimination NSW site →Victoria (VIC)
Discrimination and harassment
Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission
Go to the official Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission site →Migrant worker support
Migrant Workers Centre (Victoria)
A centre specifically for migrant workers. Free and confidential support.
Go to the official Migrant Workers Centre (Victoria) site →Queensland (QLD)
Discrimination and harassment
Queensland Human Rights Commission
Go to the official Queensland Human Rights Commission site →Western Australia (WA)
Discrimination and harassment
Equal Opportunity Commission WA
Go to the official Equal Opportunity Commission WA site →South Australia (SA)
Tasmania (TAS)
Free legal aid
Legal Aid Commission of Tasmania
Go to the official Legal Aid Commission of Tasmania site →Discrimination and harassment
Anti-Discrimination Commissioner Tasmania
Go to the official Anti-Discrimination Commissioner Tasmania site →Australian Capital Territory (ACT)
Discrimination and harassment
ACT Human Rights Commission
Go to the official ACT Human Rights Commission site →Northern Territory (NT)
Free legal aid
Northern Territory Legal Aid Commission
Go to the official Northern Territory Legal Aid Commission site →Discrimination and harassment
NT Anti-Discrimination Commission
Go to the official NT Anti-Discrimination Commission site →If you work for the federal government or certain national employers, your workers compensation goes through here rather than your state regulator. Comcare (federal scheme)
Workplace rights / Wages
Fair Work Ombudsman
Free information on minimum pay, unfair dismissal, pay issues, and how to lodge a complaint. Interpreters available.
Go to the official Fair Work Ombudsman site →Fair Work Pay Calculator (PACT)
What you should be paid per hour for your job, free and with no sign-up. It finds your award and gives you the rates, weekends and public holidays included.
Go to the official Fair Work Pay Calculator (PACT) site →To be confirmed against the official source.
TIS National - interpreter for Fair Work
Call, name your language and ask to be connected to Fair Work on 13 13 94.
Go to the official TIS National - interpreter for Fair Work site →Fair Work Commission
Tribunal that resolves unfair dismissal disputes (usual 21-day deadline to lodge).
Go to the official Fair Work Commission site →To be confirmed against the official source.
Unions Australia - find your union
Unions can advise and represent you in workplace disputes.
Go to the official Unions Australia - find your union site →To be confirmed against the official source.
ATO - unpaid superannuation
Primary pathway for reporting unpaid superannuation. You can check in myGov whether your employer actually paid your super.
Go to the official ATO - unpaid superannuation site →myGov - check your superannuation
Log in and look at your super fund: it shows what your employer paid in and when.
Go to the official myGov - check your superannuation site →To be confirmed against the official source.
Workplace injury / Compensation
SafeWork Australia (national guide)
Explains the workers compensation system and points you to your state regulator.
Go to the official SafeWork Australia (national guide) site →To be confirmed against the official source.
icare (NSW)
Workers compensation claims in New South Wales.
Go to the official icare (NSW) site →To be confirmed against the official source.
WorkSafe Victoria
Workers compensation claims in Victoria.
Go to the official WorkSafe Victoria site →To be confirmed against the official source.
WorkCover Queensland
Workers compensation claims in Queensland.
Go to the official WorkCover Queensland site →To be confirmed against the official source.
WorkSafe WA / SIRA NSW / ReturnToWorkSA / WorkCover other states
Official comparison of state regulators if yours isn't listed above.
Go to the official WorkSafe WA / SIRA NSW / ReturnToWorkSA / WorkCover other states site →To be confirmed against the official source.
Free legal help
National Association of Community Legal Centres
Find a free community legal centre near you, many with employment and migration lawyers.
Go to the official National Association of Community Legal Centres site →To be confirmed against the official source.
Legal Aid (by state)
Free or low-cost legal help based on income; search 'Legal Aid' + your state.
Go to the official Legal Aid (by state) site →To be confirmed against the official source.
JobWatch (Melbourne metro)
Community employment-law service for VIC, QLD and TAS. In regional VIC, QLD or TAS call 1800 331 617.
Go to the official JobWatch (Melbourne metro) site →Migrant Workers Centre (Victoria)
Organisation dedicated specifically to migrant workers: advice, individual support, and education on workplace rights and visa protections.
Go to the official Migrant Workers Centre (Victoria) site →Migration / Visas
OMARA - registered migration agents register
Look up a registered migration agent and verify they're legitimate before paying for advice.
Go to the official OMARA - registered migration agents register site →To be confirmed against the official source.
Department of Home Affairs
Official Australian government visa information.
Go to the official Department of Home Affairs site →To be confirmed against the official source.
Fair Work Ombudsman - visa protections
Official Workplace Justice Visa page: current eligibility, evidence requirements and how to apply.
Go to the official Fair Work Ombudsman - visa protections site →To be confirmed against the official source.
Migrant Workers Centre - Workplace Justice Visa
Plain-language explanation of the Workplace Justice Visa and how to check if you qualify.
Go to the official Migrant Workers Centre - Workplace Justice Visa site →To be confirmed against the official source.
Discrimination / Harassment
Australian Human Rights Commission
Information and complaints about discrimination or harassment based on race, sex, disability and other grounds, at work or elsewhere.
Go to the official Australian Human Rights Commission site →Mental health / Emotional support
Beyond Blue
Support for anxiety, depression and stress, with information in multiple languages.
Go to the official Beyond Blue site →MensLine Australia
Free 24/7 phone and online counselling for men. You can call about loneliness, stress, relationships, work or simply not feeling okay; you do not have to wait for a crisis.
Go to the official MensLine Australia site →MATES - construction, mining, energy and manufacturing
An industry-led suicide prevention helpline and network. It offers peer support, training and case management for workers and concerned workmates.
Go to the official MATES - construction, mining, energy and manufacturing site →FriendLine - for loneliness
A free, anonymous conversation with a volunteer if you feel lonely, isolated or simply need to talk. It is not a crisis service.
Go to the official FriendLine - for loneliness site →Medicare Mental Health
Free guidance for anyone in Australia and connection to free or low-cost local support, weekdays 8:30am–5pm. No diagnosis or referral is required; it is not a crisis line.
Go to the official Medicare Mental Health site →eheadspace - young people aged 12 to 25
Free, confidential phone or webchat support with clinicians, every day from 3pm to 10pm in your own local time. Useful for international students aged up to 25; it is not an emergency line.
Go to the official eheadspace - young people aged 12 to 25 site →Transcultural Mental Health Centre
Culturally responsive mental health information and services for migrant communities in New South Wales.
Go to the official Transcultural Mental Health Centre site →To be confirmed against the official source.
Suicide Call Back Service
Phone and online support if you're having suicidal thoughts.
Go to the official Suicide Call Back Service site →Interpreters / Language
TIS National (interpreter service)
Free phone interpreter to speak with legal, medical or government services.
Go to the official TIS National (interpreter service) site →Money, debt and financial support
National Debt Helpline
Free, independent and confidential financial counselling for debt, bills and financial hardship.
Go to the official National Debt Helpline site →Services Australia - emergency payments
Some emergency payments depend on your visa type; check your eligibility.
Go to the official Services Australia - emergency payments site →To be confirmed against the official source.
Red Cross Australia - emergency help
Emergency relief and referrals to local services, including migrants without access to Centrelink.
Go to the official Red Cross Australia - emergency help site →To be confirmed against the official source.
Housing, food and settlement support
Ask Izzy - help near you
A free, anonymous directory for nearby housing, food, money help, counselling and other services.
Go to the official Ask Izzy - help near you site →To be confirmed against the official source.
SETS services for migrants
Official list of funded providers helping eligible migrants with wellbeing, independence and community connection.
Go to the official SETS services for migrants site →To be confirmed against the official source.
Home Affairs - settling in Australia
Official information on settlement services and support for migrant youth, refugees and new arrivals.
Go to the official Home Affairs - settling in Australia site →To be confirmed against the official source.
Safety at home, with a partner or family
1800RESPECT
Confidential 24/7 counselling, information and referrals for domestic, family or sexual violence. If danger is immediate, call 000.
Go to the official 1800RESPECT site →Health and medical care
healthdirect - speak with a nurse
24/7 health advice on whether to see a doctor, manage at home or seek emergency care. If urgent, call 000.
Go to the official healthdirect - speak with a nurse site →Home Affairs - health and wellbeing
Information for new arrivals about hospitals, doctors and finding nearby services.
Go to the official Home Affairs - health and wellbeing site →To be confirmed against the official source.
International students
Study Australia - support services
Official guide to health, safety, wellbeing, rights and support for international students.
Go to the official Study Australia - support services site →To be confirmed against the official source.
Commonwealth Ombudsman - student complaints
An independent pathway for certain international student complaints about private education providers.
Go to the official Commonwealth Ombudsman - student complaints site →To be confirmed against the official source.
Relationships, family and separation
Relationships Australia
Connects you with nearby counselling, family support and mediation. Costs can vary by service.
Go to the official Relationships Australia site →Disability and accessibility
Disability Gateway
Information and service connections for people with disability, their families and carers. You can ask for an interpreter.
Go to the official Disability Gateway site →Sexuality, gender and identity
QLife
Free, anonymous peer support to talk about sexuality, gender, identity, feelings or relationships.
Go to the official QLife site →Alcohol and other drugs
National Alcohol and Other Drug Hotline
Free, confidential information and support for you or someone close, connecting you with your state's service.
Go to the official National Alcohol and Other Drug Hotline site →Scams and identity
Scamwatch - what to do and how to report
Official steps to contact your bank, protect your details and report a scam. A Scamwatch report is not a police report.
Go to the official Scamwatch - what to do and how to report site →To be confirmed against the official source.
IDCARE - identity misuse support
Free help to make a recovery plan if your personal information was stolen or misused.
Go to the official IDCARE - identity misuse support site →