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Peter Tatham -
submitted 21/08/2009
Instead of setting up one more web site why not use existing sites such as myfuture (myfuture.edu.au). It has over 20 million hits a month and could easily accommodate a young workers tool kit.
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joanne -
submitted 4/08/2009
Young workers are in the high risk group for workplace injury. Due to their lack of workplace experience, young peoples' first job usually involves unskilled or semi-skilled work, increasing their risk of injury. Young workers cannot successfully manage workplace hazards and assess risk without adequate OHS orientation, training and supervision. Knowing their OHS rights and responsibilities as well as tips on the types of OHS questions to ask supervisors will help keep young workers safe.
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Mary -
submitted 20/07/2009
A Toolkit of some description is an excellent idea, however, like most of these ideas, it's bound to fail if it's not readily available. I think one of the most important things is for it to be accessible to the people it's aimed at. A website for instance, is a good idea, however when there's a large majority of young people out there who don't have access to the internet, then it's a little pointless. Not to mention, sometimes it's nice to have a hard copy of something. Then you can flick throughm make notes, fill things out and take it with you when you need it.
I also think, in terms of how things are set out and such that everything needs to be clear and straightforward. Graphics are important, but so, for that matter are things like the font and headings and such. Everything needs to be set out clearly and well organised so you can get to exactly what you need when you need it and not have to sort through a whole heap of stuff you don't need. The language needs to be pretty basic aswell. You can say something clearly and concisely without having to use words that are all over 4 syllables in length. Technical language and terms are good - when necessary. But if you don't have to use them, don't. It's not helping anyone if they need to find and understand information quickly.
In regards to what it should contain, well, Tax has always been a big issue for me. I think all that sort of stuff really needs to be broken down.
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Monique -
submitted 13/07/2009
I think the ‘Young Workers Tool Kit’ needs to give information that is relevant to each State/Territory. When Government information tells the reader to refer to specific State /Territory rules not provided in the information, the help given seems minimal.
Considering the tool kit will provide information for youth starting a job why not include some basic information such as:
Possible ways of finding employment
Benefits of casual, part-time employment
General approaches to etiquette including standards e.g. dress
How to obtain a tax file number and why it is needed
Discuss the yearly tax process including what the employee needs to do
I think information on superannuation needs to be included too.
Also, provide graphics of interest in the material and use a variety of pictures of young people in workplace from different ethnic backgrounds and locations including remote. Don’t use loads of text or complex language because it gets boring. Engage youth to design the material. Graphic design students often produce some great media.
I think it is important that the community values different jobs and encourages youth to seek employment in often perceived ‘mediocre’ jobs. This builds experience and often hard working ethics.
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mandy -
submitted 6/07/2009
the kit should explain that you have rights, and how you can find out about them, but it should also be realistic - most young people have no real bargaining power in their first job, and without help from someone like a union, cant exercise their rights.
- it should explain what a union is and how you can join one/get involved with one/get help from one , and that you cant just wait until you have trouble and then try and join.
- it should explain the role of others in the workplace, and in the Industrial Relations system, and who
- the government should also sponsor talks in schools from unions so that students start to learn something about their rights, and how to protect themselves, and work with colleagues, before they get their first job.
- this basic stuff should go back into the school curriculum as well - school prepares you for so many things, but not such an important thing as employment and employment rights.
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Daniela -
submitted 29/06/2009
I was treated unfairly for ages in my first and current job.
Us as workers did not know what to do.
We did not know what union we were under, if any.
The family business was a franchise, and is now independent.
How do you stand up against them in that case?
Without jeopardising your job?
Eventually we made anonymous complaints to the government about no pay slips etc. standard rights.
I went over a whole year without knowing what i was being paid.
We still often get sorts of 'threats' about asking for days off during holidays for family commitments, once again, jeopardising our jobs.
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Ross -
submitted 28/06/2009
Why not encourage the unions to provide employment services. With the baby boomers retiring in the next 10 years, we need gen y to have a positive work experience as they will be supporting all these retirees.
If the unions run training days, host the recruit into the job, negotiating and monitoring "first job users" (like first home buyers), the employer registers the job with the union, the union finds candidates from those who register and we get our first job under the umbrella of the union, with the union ending up with a new member. After all, unions were started to protect us from employers.
A pack from government doesn't make sense - a website maybe but a friendly unionist sponsor helping new starters settle into a job, that could be of use.
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Anonymous -
submitted 25/06/2009
I can remember several jobs when i was a teenager where they asked me to come in for a "trial day".
I never got paid, or got a call to come back. One place even paid me in tacos!!!
They totally took adavntage of me as i did not have the skills at the time to be assertive with them and demand payment even if i didn't get the job.
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Ashley -
submitted 25/06/2009
I think the "toolkit" is a fantastic idea!
Some things to include:
- Pay scales (I have had many friends who were underpaid in their first job)
- An explanation of superannuation and tax terms in employment contracts (things like tax free thresholds etc, when I started my first job I had no idea what they are.... and still don't really)
- A go to guide if you have problems. I had an instance where I was working full time for the four months over Christmas, and my employer said that I was not entitled to break pay, my parents said I should be being paid but I wasn't sure who I go to ask
- An example / scenario of a successful way of an employee being assertive to their boss about when they can work. I and many of friends have felt somewhat pressured into working when they don't want to, and we don't really know how to be assertive to employers.
That is all of my top of mind thoughts.
Great work on the AYF and great topic!
Keep it up :)
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Tiara -
submitted 24/06/2009
Extend the section for international students to also include those on other temporary visas, such as the Bridging Visa (while waiting for PR) or Graduate Temporary Visa. There are quite a few young people like myself under those visas who could use some help in knowing our rights and responsibilities.