Explanatory and privacy statement
The Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO), in conjunction with Monash University’s BehaviourWorks Australia (BWA), are undertaking a research project to assist international students to understand and improve their knowledge of workplace rights.
On this page:
- International Students - Work Rights Research
- Privacy Statement
- Tools and resources
- Related information
International Students - Work Rights Research
If you are an international student who is working or has recently worked in Australia, it is important to have good workplace practices and knowledge of where to go for help if there are any issues in relation to your work rights.
Take this quiz 
to find out whether you have good workplace practices and knowledge of where to get help if you need it. You’ll also have the opportunity to sign up for some of the Fair Work Ombudsman’s free online education tools and resources to help you understand your workplace rights which are the same rights as all workers in Australia.
We will also ask you how your work opportunities and/or arrangements may have been affected by the coronavirus pandemic so that we can better tailor materials for international students, just like yourself in the future.
What does the research involve?
This project aims to encourage good employee practices relating to work rights. If you agree to participate, you will be asked to complete:
- A short 10-15 minute online quiz
- Sign up for free online education tools and resources
- A follow-up 5-10 minute quiz.
Who is eligible for this research?
You are eligible to participate in this research if you are over 18 years old and are an international student who is currently working in Australia or has worked in Australia in the past two years.
Consenting to participate in the project and withdrawing from the research
Your participation is completely voluntary. If you would like to participate, you can indicate your consent by completing the quiz and signing up for the free follow-up education tools and resources.
Privacy Statement
The FWO is committed to protecting your privacy. The Privacy Act 1988 provides that any collection of personal information must be reasonably necessary.
The purpose of the project is to inform the development of and improve future targeted education and resources for migrant workers, particularly international students by gathering and analysing de-identified data acquired from the responses.
The legal authority for the project is the Fair Work Act 2009 and in particular, the following function assigned to FWO under that Act:
- Provide education, assistance, advice and guidance to employers, employees, outworkers, outworker entities and organisations.
Collection of personal information by the FWO will be via Qualtrics, a survey platform.
What information will be collected?
The types of personal information that is collected and stored in the Qualtrics databases for the purposes of the research project include:
- email address
- preferred name
- age
- gender
- country of origin
- year of arrival in Australia.
How your information is used
The personal information collected (described above), will be used for the purpose of facilitating your participation in the research program and to help the FWO to contact you with follow up free education if you opt in.
Confidentiality, access and disclosure
Quiz responses will be kept separate from any identification data. Identification information is only used to send you the free education tools and resources and follow-up quiz if you elect to receive it. Any subsequent reporting of the data (e.g. in reports, journal publications, conference presentations) will focus on aggregate themes and will be de-identified.
Your email address will be used to contact you via a Fair Work Ombudsman email address for this study only.
The results of this research project will be shared with BWA and will be used to inform future education initiatives. Any information that is provided to BWA, will be de-identified. Raw, de-identified responses may be uploaded into a scientific data repository and used by BWA to analyse the effectiveness of the project and create a findings report with recommendations. BWA may also use this de-identified data as part of future research projects.
Storage of data
Data will be collected using Qualtrics. For further information you can view the Qualtrics data security policy .
Quiz responses will be stored electronically on FWO’s computing systems and only accessible to the FWO’s research team for a period that aligns with our obligations under the Archives Act 1983. All data collected that contains personal information will be securely stored only shared with members of the relevant FWO research team. This data will be destroyed seven years after publication of results. All electronic files will be maintained in accordance with our obligations under the Archives Act 1983.
Ethics
This project has received ethics approval from the Monash University Human Research Ethics Committee (Project ID: 23356). Chief investigator: Dr Kun Zhao, Monash University (email: kun.zhao@monash.edu).
Further Information
If you would like to update your personal information to receive a report of the results from this project, please contact education@fwo.gov.au.
FWO Privacy Policy provides general information in relation to the collection, use, storage and disclosure of personal information. If you have further questions or concerns relating to your privacy, please contact a member of the FWO’s Privacy team at privacy@FWO.gov.au.
Should you have any concerns or complaints about the project please contact education@fwo.gov.au.
Contact information for the Monash University Human Research Ethics Committee (MUHREC):
Executive Officer
Monash University Human Research Ethics Committee (MUHREC)
Room 111, Chancellery Building D,
26 Sports Walk, Clayton Campus
Research Office
Monash University VIC 3800
Tel: +61 3 9905 2052
Email: muhrec@monash.edu
Fax: +61 3 9905 3831
