NSW Launches First Dedicated Migrant Workers Centre

The New South Wales Government has established the state’s first Migrant Workers Centre, with $6.5 million committed over four years to support migrant workers who are at risk of exploitation, underpayment, or unsafe working conditions.

The Centre is expected to assist 2,000 at-risk workers per year through culturally sensitive, community-connected support. Operating from a Sydney CBD office, it will also conduct statewide outreach to reach workers in metro, regional, rural, and remote communities.

Services will build on an existing model run by Unions NSW, which has supported over 3,000 temporary migrant workers through its Visa Assist partnership with the Immigration Advice and Rights Centre (IARC) — currently the only program in NSW offering both employment and immigration legal advice under one roof.

Research from federal and state governments and institutions such as the McKell Institute has identified limited English proficiency, low awareness of Australian workplace laws, and inadequate access to support as key risk factors for exploitation among migrant workers.

The Centre aims to address these gaps by helping workers understand their rights and access support when needed.

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