Unpaid Worker

Vocational training or unpaid worker? The uncertain future of unpaid internships

Vocational training or unpaid worker? The uncertain future of unpaid internships

Nick: “You got us a job at Google?” Billy: “Well, not a job job. It’s an interview for an internship that could lead to a job. Nick, this might be the last chance that we’ve got.”

The recently released Hollywood flick, The Internship, portrays a playful spin on life as an intern at Google, with its characters competing for a permanent role at the dreamy tech-giant.  However, the unpaid – learn on the job – internship (better known as ‘work experience’ in Australia) is facing increasing scrutiny from government and has also provoked popular media commentary on the lack of worker rights in these roles.