Resources on the Web
Australian Commonwealth & NSW Government Sites
These links are useful if you are looking for information about employment-related matters and OHS. They will also lead to other sites on a large range of topics which might be of interest.
Industrial Relations & Employment
- Australian Workplace [ www.workplace.gov.au ] This is the Australian Commonwealth Government site for information relating to employment. It leads you to: Federal Awards; wages, entitlements and conditions under them; relevant Commonwealth legislation; work-related benefits and programmes; job search and job placement programmes and so on.
- Department of Employment and Workplace Relations [ www.dewrsb.gov.au ] This is the home page for the Australian Commonwealth Government department responsible for employment programmes and workplace relations.
- Office of the Employment Advocate home-page [ www.oea.gov.au ] The Employment Advocate is the Australian Commonwealth Government office which administers Australian Workplace Agreements (AWAs), agreements between an employer and individual employees which over-ride the industrial awards which would otherwise apply. It also deals with Freedom of Association issues (such as pressure to join or not join a union or employer association, victimisation in employment on grounds of union membership, coercion in making industrial agreements).
- ATO Assist [ www.ato.gov.au ] Hi, we're the Tax office and we're here to help. Sure!! Actually a really useful web-site for anything you need to know about tax, including GST. It includes tax-rate tables and calculators for all sorts of taxes.
- NSW Office of Industrial Relations, Department of Commerce [ www.industrialrelations.nsw.gov.au ] The home page for the NSW Government's industrial relations and employment regulator. This very useful site has information about NSW State awards; wage rates, entitlements and conditions; relevant NSW legislation (such as the Annual Holidays and Long Service Leave Acts); employer responsibilities; innovation and best practice in employment; and useful NSW Government publications. It also has lots of useful links.
Occupational Health & Safety
- Workcover NSW home-page [ www.workcover.nsw.gov.au ] This is the website of the NSW Government Occupational Health & Safety authority (which is also responsible for administering the Workers' Compensation legislation and overseeing the operation of the Workers Comp system). The site provides lots of good information about OHS and useful links. Workcover also has very helpful publications about managing OHS in your business.
- National Occupational Health & Safety Commission (NOHSC) home-page [ www.nohsc.gov.au ] This is the website for the Australian Commonwealth Government's Occupational Health & Safety organisation. NOHSC is responsible for leading and co-ordinating national OHS issues. It develops national OHS standards and leads national responses to a broad range of OHS issues (e.g., avian flu, asbestos).
Discrimination & Human Rights
- NSW Anti-Discrimination Board home-page [ www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/adb.nsf ] The Anti-Discrimination Board (ADB) is the NSW Government agency responsible for developing and implementing policies aimed at avoiding and eliminating discrimination in various areas of life, including employment. It is also responsible for investigating and trying to resolve complaints of discrimination. The web-site provides information about the Board's activities and powers and about NSW laws regarding discrimination.
- Human Rights & Equal Opportunity Commission home-page [ www.hreoc.gov.au ] HREOC is the Australian Commonwealth Government agency responsible under federal law for developing and implementing policies aimed at avoiding and eliminating discrimination on the grounds of sex, race and disability, including in employment. It is also responsible for investigating and trying to resolve complaints of discrimination. The web-site provides information about the Commission's activities and powers and about Commonwealth laws regarding discrimination.
Industrial Relations Tribunals & Courts
- Australian Industrial Relations Commission home-page [ www.airc.gov.au ] This is the website of the Federal industrial relations tribunal. The Commission deals with all matters arising under Federal Awards Agreements and the Commonwealth Workplace Relations Act. The site provides information about the Commission, including hearing lists, forms, judgements and decisions.
- Industrial relations Commission of NSW home-page [ www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/irc ] This is the website of the NSW State industrial relations tribunal. The Commission's jurisdiction covers most employment in NSW. The Commission deals with all matters arising under the NSW Industrial Relations Act and all State Awards and Agreements. It also deals with prosecutions for more breach of NSW awards and more serious offences under the NSW Occupational Health & Safety Act. The site provides information about the Commission, including hearing lists, forms, judgements and decisions.
- NSW Local Courts [ www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/lc.nsf ] Local Courts, which also includes the Chief Industrial Magistrate's Court, have jurisdiction to deal with most claims (up to $40,000) for recovery of unpaid wages and entitlements, whether owing under NSW or Federal awards or agreements or at common law. The Chief Industrial Magistrate also deals with prosecutions for breaches of NSW awards and for less serious offences under the NSW Occupational Health & Safety Act. Claims over $40,000 for wages and entitlements under an award can also be dealt with by the Chief Industrial Magistrate (otherwise claims over $40,000 must be brought in the appropriate NSW superior courts).