Young workers and apprentices often do not have the experience to effectively stand up for their rights in the workplace. A new partnership between the Fair Work Ombudsman and the Foundation for Young Australians aims to change this.

The Fair Work Ombudsman’s YouTube channel has published six new videos to address issues commonly experienced by young workers and provide tips for dealing with workplace concerns.

The Fair Work Ombudsman and the Foundation worked together to explore current issues facing young people in the workplace. These findings were the basis for the videos available online. Topics include “Busting workplace myths”, “Warning signs for young people in the workplace” and “How to address being treated unfairly at work”.

Acting Fair Work Ombudsman Kristen Hannah said young workers continued to be an area of concern for the agency. "Young workers make up only 16 per cent of the Australian workforce however they account for a quarter of all the requests for assistance we receive. This is disproportionately high," Ms Hannah said.

"We also know that young workers can be more vulnerable as their limited workplace experience can result in a lack of awareness of their rights.

"This is why our agency is focussed on equipping young workers with the knowledge and confidence they need to better understand their entitlements and provide them with information on how to resolve workplace issues.

"We are pleased to partner with the Foundation for Young Australians on this initiative," Ms Hannah said.

The Fair Work Ombudsman website has a range of specialised resources for young workers. The ombudsman’s Pay and Conditions Tool (PACT) can also be used by employers and employees for advice about pay, shift, leave and redundancy entitlements.

Employees and employers who have questions or concerns about their workplace rights and obligations can seek assistance through the My Account portal or by calling the Fair Work Infoline on 13 13 94.