Casual Conversion
Decisions on the right of casual employees to convert to permanent employment.
63 casual conversion decisions on file. Plain-English summaries with links to the original judgment. Ask the AI advisor about your situation — Plus members get full case-law citations in answers.
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2026-04-16-luck-bird-eu-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
The Fair Work Ombudsman has entered into an Enforceable Undertaking with The Luck Bird Pty Ltd, trading as Carlucci’s Restaurant in Templestowe, Melbourne. The restaurant underpaid 38 employees, including visa holders an…
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2026-02-26-sadamatsu-litigation-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
The Fair Work Ombudsman has commenced legal action against Katsuyoshi ‘Ken’ Sadamatsu, a former part-owner and manager of the ‘Miso World Square’ Japanese restaurant in Sydney. It is alleged that between June 2020 and Se…
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2026-01-14-unsw-penalty-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
The Fair Work Ombudsman secured a penalty against the University of New South Wales (UNSW) for record-keeping failures. Between 2017 and 2022, UNSW failed to keep records for 63 casual academic employees, including hours…
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2025-12-18-fajloun-motor-group-penalties-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
Fajloun Motor Group Pty Ltd, which previously operated an Ultra Tune franchise in Yagoona, New South Wales, has been penalised by the Federal Circuit and Family Court. The company employed a worker in an automotive admin…
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2025-12-17-bulmer-farms-litigation-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
The Fair Work Ombudsman has commenced legal action against Bulmer Farms Pty Ltd, a vegetable farm in Lindenow, Victoria. The farm allegedly underpaid 28 migrant workers from Kiribati, Timor Leste, and the Solomon Islands…
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2025-12-12-utas-eu-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
The University of Tasmania signed an Enforceable Undertaking with the Fair Work Ombudsman after identifying more than $21.4 million in underpayments to over 10,000 staff across an 11-year period. Most of the affected sta…
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2025-12-11-gami-chicken-cn-penalty-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
The Fair Work Ombudsman secured penalties and back-pay orders against Vanna Taing, Brandon Bui, and Gary Lai, former operators and a human resources employee of a Gami Chicken & Beer franchise outlet ('Gami-Southland') i…
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2025-11-25-queensland-university-of-technology-eu-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
Queensland University of Technology (QUT) has paid over $1.9 million to 433 staff members who were underpaid. The underpayments occurred at campuses in Gardens Point and Kelvin Grove, Brisbane, across five faculties. Aff…
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2025-09-25-the-university-of-wollongong-eu-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
The University of Wollongong signed an Enforceable Undertaking with the Fair Work Ombudsman and will complete more than $6.6 million in payments, including interest and superannuation, to 5,340 underpaid staff. Most affe…
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2025-09-19-mccrystal-agricultural-penalty-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
McCrystal Agricultural Services Pty Ltd, a Queensland labour hire business and sweet potato farm, and its sole director Russell McCrystal, have been penalised for unlawfully deducting pay from migrant employees. The Fair…
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2025-06-19-sunshine-coast-frac-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
The Fair Work Ombudsman is conducting inspections of 34 fast food outlets, restaurants, and cafés in Noosa Heads, Noosaville, and Tewantin, Sunshine Coast. The inspections began on June 18, 2025. They aim to check for un…
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2025-05-12-veens-ligitation-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
The Fair Work Ombudsman has commenced legal action against Veens Group Pty Ltd, a housing construction company based in Harrington Park, Sydney, and its sole director, Dasi Shi. A Fair Work Inspector issued a Compliance …
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2025-02-17-klm-gupta-penalty-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
KLM Foods Pty Ltd and Loveleen Gupta were penalized for underpaying four migrant workers at two United Petroleum-branded outlets in Sandy Bay and Kingston, Tasmania, between December 2020 and February 2021. The workers, …
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2025-01-23-rj-cornish-eu-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
R J Cornish & Co. Pty Ltd, a fruit grower in Cobram and Muckatah, Victoria, made unlawful wage deductions totaling $126,859 from the wages of 112 employees between July 2017 and June 2024. The deductions were for power l…
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2025-01-16-navasardyan-litigation-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
The Fair Work Ombudsman has commenced legal action against Sergey Stanislavovich Navasardyan, the former operator of Griffon Alpha Group Pty Ltd, a now deregistered security company in Perth. It is alleged that Mr. Navas…
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2024-12-06-melotte-penalty-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
Louise Maree Melotte and her husband, Travis Francis Melotte, operated Hotel Frangos and Café Koukla in Daylesford, Victoria. They deliberately underpaid 97 staff a total of $321,202 between May 2017 and July 2019. The u…
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2024-11-26-chatime-franchisor-penalty-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
The Fair Work Ombudsman investigated Chatime Australia Pty Ltd, a franchisor of Chatime bubble tea stores, and its managing director, Chen 'Charlley' Zhao. Between August and December 2016, employees at 19 Chatime stores…
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2024-09-18-om-shiva-penalty-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
Om Shiva Foods Pty Ltd, trading as Wulagi Supermarket in Darwin, and its sole director Vinay Madasu, have been penalized by the Federal Circuit and Family Court. This followed a Fair Work Ombudsman investigation into und…
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2024-09-17-lamattina-penalty-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
A & G Lamattina & Sons Pty Ltd, a celery producer based in Boneo, Victoria, has been penalized by the Federal Circuit and Family Court for underpaying three migrant employees. The employees, who held bridging visas and s…
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2024-08-09-ella-group-litigation-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
The Fair Work Ombudsman has commenced legal action against The Ella Group (NSW) Pty Ltd, which operates Funtime Childcare in Greenacre, and its sole director, Louise Ramona Yaacoubian. The action follows a request for as…
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2024-08-01-south-east-melbourne-food-outlets-wages-recoveries-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
The Fair Work Ombudsman investigated 32 food businesses in south-east Melbourne, including venues in Bentleigh, Carnegie, and Clayton. These inspections followed intelligence from various sources, including anonymous rep…
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2024-07-09-cfmeu-yatala-prison-penalty-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
The Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union (CFMEU) and three officials, Wyatt Raymount, Travis Brook, and Desmond Savage, have been penalised for unlawful conduct at a construction site in Adelaide. The site…
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2024-07-04-sunshine-coast-frac-recoveries-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
The Fair Work Ombudsman investigated 21 food outlets in the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, including restaurants and cafes in Noosa Shire. Inspections were prompted by reports. Investigations found 13 businesses (68%) breac…
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2024-06-26-acug-eu-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
A.C.U.G. (NSW) Pty Ltd and A.C.U.G. (SA) Pty Ltd, part of the Australian Container Unloading Group (ACUG), have signed an Enforceable Undertaking (EU) with the Fair Work Ombudsman. They failed to pay minimum hourly rates…
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2024-06-13-newcastle-frac-recoveries-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
The Fair Work Ombudsman investigated 43 food outlets in Newcastle, New South Wales, following anonymous reports. The inspections focused on fast food, restaurant, and café businesses. Investigations found breaches of wor…
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2024-06-05-85-degrees-franchisor-penalty-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
The Fair Work Ombudsman took legal action against 85 Degrees Coffee Australia Pty Ltd, the franchisor of the '85 Degrees' brand in Australia. The case involved nine workers employed at eight franchisee-operated outlets i…
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2024-05-15-open-minds-australia-eu-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
Open Minds Australia Limited, a disability support charity, has back-paid approximately $4.2 million to around 1,507 current and former employees for underpayments. The underpayments occurred between July 2015 and July 2…
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2024-04-10-dtf-world-square-penalty-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
DTF World Square Pty Ltd and Selden Farlane Lachlan Investments Pty Ltd, former operators of Din Tai Fung restaurants in Sydney and Melbourne, have been penalized for underpaying vulnerable migrant workers. The Fair Work…
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2024-04-05-university-of-melbourne-adverse-actions-penalties-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
The Fair Work Ombudsman took legal action against the University of Melbourne for adverse action against two casual academics. The academics complained about being required to work more hours than stated in their contrac…
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2024-02-02-mr-viet-litigation-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
The Fair Work Ombudsman has commenced legal action against Mr Viet Quoc Mai and his wife, Huong Le, who operate two Vietnamese eateries in Adelaide. They are accused of allegedly underpaying 36 workers, primarily Vietnam…
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2023-10-16-winit-penalty-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
Winit (AU) Trade Pty Ltd, a Sydney-based company providing warehousing and distribution services, underpaid nearly 400 employees, primarily migrant workers, between 2014 and 2019. The Fair Work Ombudsman investigated aft…
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2023-09-28-brownport-eu-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
Brownport Almonds Pty Ltd, trading as Bright Light, a large almond grower and processor in Hattah, Victoria, has back-paid over $500,000 to 197 current and former employees. The Fair Work Ombudsman investigated after rec…
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2023-09-26-unsw-litigation-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
The Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) has commenced legal action against the University of New South Wales (UNSW). The FWO alleges UNSW breached workplace laws between 2017 and 2022. These breaches include failing to keep proper…
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2023-08-31-agile-litigation-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
The Fair Work Ombudsman has commenced legal action against Adelaide-based security company Agile Group (Global) Pty Ltd and its head of group operations, Justin Benjamin James Brinkies. An investigation began in January …
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2023-08-30-lamattina-litigation-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
The Fair Work Ombudsman has commenced legal action against A & G Lamattina & Sons Pty Ltd, a celery producer based in Boneo, Victoria. Three farmhands who held bridging visas and spoke Indonesian and Malay, alleged they …
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2023-08-15-polytrade-penalty-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
The Fair Work Ombudsman secured $375,515 in penalties against Polytrade (now PT 349 Pty Ltd), PTES 928 Pty Ltd, and company owners Man Sang Chen and Pui Shan Ho. Five migrant workers employed at waste management faciliti…
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2023-08-07-stadium-cleaners-penalty-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
The Fair Work Ombudsman investigated underpayments to 25 stadium cleaners at Marvel Stadium (formerly Etihad Stadium) in Melbourne. The cleaners were paid unlawfully low flat rates between February and June 2017, resulti…
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2023-07-19-apollo-eu-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
Apollo Health Limited, a healthcare provider owned by St John Ambulance Western Australia Limited, has back-paid over $4.86 million to 438 current and former employees. The company self-reported underpayments discovered …
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2023-07-05-nq-powertrain-penalty-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
NQ Powertrain Pty Ltd, a labour-hire company based in Far North Queensland, has been penalised by the Federal Circuit and Family Court. The company admitted to breaching workplace laws by underpaying 87 visa holders a to…
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2023-06-22-crown-eu-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
Crown Melbourne and Crown Perth, casino and resort operators, have back-paid over $1.2 million to approximately 200 current and former employees. This followed self-reported underpayments to the Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO)…
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2023-06-08-sharetea-audits-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
The Fair Work Ombudsman investigated 14 Sharetea franchise outlets after receiving reports of potential underpayments. The investigation, which began in April 2022, involved stores in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Can…
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2023-05-26-cfmmeu-boggo-road-appeal-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
The Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union (CFMMEU) and two of its organisers, Andrew Blakeley and Luke Gibson, were taken to court by the Australian Building and Construction Commissioner (ABCC) in 20…
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2023-05-11-uts-eu-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
The University of Technology Sydney (UTS) has agreed to back-pay over 2,700 current and former casual professional staff more than $4.4 million in underpayments, plus over $1.3 million in superannuation and interest. The…
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2023-05-05-ag-omnibus-may-2023-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
The Fair Work Ombudsman is focusing on compliance within the agriculture sector. Since December 2021, inspectors have investigated 330 businesses in regional areas, including the Whitsunday Coast, Adelaide and Adelaide H…
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2023-04-28-melotte-litigation-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
The Fair Work Ombudsman has commenced legal action against Louise Maree Melotte and Travis Francis Melotte, a married couple who operated Hotel Frangos and Café Koukla in Daylesford, Victoria. They are accused of alleged…
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2023-04-17-green-clean-penalty-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
The Fair Work Ombudsman secured penalties against Green Clean (Aust) Pty Ltd and a former manager after they underpaid two international students from Nepal. The students worked as casual cleaners between March and June …
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2023-03-24-kumar-penalty-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
Sushil Kumar, a former restaurant operator in Leederville, Western Australia, exploited a Bangladeshi cook who was working in Australia on a subclass 457 visa. The cook was recruited in 2015 and worked at the Bricklane B…
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2023-02-10-university-of-melbourne-second-litigation-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
The Fair Work Ombudsman has commenced legal action against The University of Melbourne. The University is alleged to have underpaid 14 casual academics in the Faculty of Arts between February 2017 and December 2019. The …
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2023-02-07-wis-eu-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
Seven subsidiaries of Wesfarmers Industrial and Safety Pty Ltd (WIS), including J. Blackwood & Son Pty Ltd, Protector Alsafe Pty Ltd, Bullivants Pty Limited, The Workwear Group Pty Ltd, Coregas Pty Ltd, Blacksmith Jacks …
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2023-01-27-specialised-linen-services-penalty-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
The Fair Work Ombudsman secured $90,000 in penalties against four companies operating commercial laundry businesses under the name ‘South Pacific Laundry’. These companies are Specialised Linen Services (Sydney), Special…
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2022-11-04-nq-powertrain-litigation-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
The Fair Work Ombudsman has commenced legal action against NQ Powertrain Pty Ltd, a labour-hire company based in Far North Queensland. The company allegedly underpaid 87 visa holders employed under the Pacific Labour Sch…
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2022-11-03-avant-garde-penalty-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
Avant-Garde Logistics Solutions Pty Ltd, trading as Apex Logistics, and its former director Yaping Li have been penalized by the Federal Circuit and Family Court. This followed a Fair Work Ombudsman investigation into un…
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2022-11-02-brisbane-food-precincts-report-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
The Fair Work Ombudsman investigated 77 businesses in Brisbane food precincts, including Brisbane CBD, South Brisbane, Fortitude Valley, and Sunnybank. The investigation found 75% of businesses breached workplace laws. A…
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2022-10-13-launceston-food-precincts-report-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
The Fair Work Ombudsman investigated 31 businesses in and around Launceston, Tasmania, focusing on food precincts. The investigation found 24 businesses breached workplace laws, resulting in $121,574 in unpaid wages for …
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2022-09-15-inner-west-melbourne-food-precincts-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
The Fair Work Ombudsman is conducting surprise inspections of approximately 30 restaurants, cafes, and fast food outlets in Melbourne's inner west, including Footscray, West Footscray, Seddon, Yarraville, Newport, and Wi…
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2022-09-12-darwin-food-precincts-report-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
The Fair Work Ombudsman investigated 48 businesses in Darwin food precincts, including Darwin City, Casuarina, and Palmerston City. The investigation found 76% of businesses were non-compliant with workplace laws. Many b…
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2022-08-30-newcastle-university-and-charles-sturt-university-eu-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
The University of Newcastle (UON) and Charles Sturt University (CSU) have agreed to back-pay staff a total of approximately $9.4 million due to underpayments. UON admitted to underpaying 7,595 employees between 2014 and …
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2022-08-11-uni-of-melb-litigation-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
The Fair Work Ombudsman has commenced legal action against The University of Melbourne. The University allegedly coerced and took adverse action against two casual academics to prevent them from claiming payment for work…
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2022-07-06-delishesco-penalty-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
Delishesco Pty Ltd, which operates 'Moga Izakaya & Sushi' in Paddington, Brisbane, and its sole director Yinan Yang, deliberately underpaid 34 employees between December 2018 and March 2019. The employees, many of whom w…
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2022-06-24-jenny-global-penalty-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
Jenny Global Pty Ltd, formerly operating the Dae Bark Mart grocery store in Melbourne, has been penalized by the Federal Circuit and Family Court. A South Korean worker on a working holiday visa was employed as a retail …
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2022-05-11-corinthian-capital-penalty-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
Corinthian Capital Pty Ltd, formerly operating 'Galangal Award Winning Thai Cuisine' in Mount Hawthorn, Perth, and its sole director, Richard James Trainer, have been penalised by the Federal Circuit and Family Court. Th…
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2022-04-01-lilyvale-eu-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
Lilyvale Hotel Pty Ltd, operating the Shangri-La hotel in Sydney, underpaid employees between 2013 and 2019. The Fair Work Ombudsman investigated and found the company failed to ensure annualised salaries covered minimum…
Fair Work Ombudsman
FWO-2022-03-22-little-india-penalty-media-release · Fair Work Ombudsman
The Fair Work Ombudsman investigated Satchithanantha N Chelliah and Mahesvery Toolseram, trustees of The Chelliah Family Trust, who operate the 'Little India' takeaway food business in Hobart. They paid 17 casual fast fo…