Productive unpaid internship: AIMG BQ court penalties

Reported facts

AIMG BQ required a student to perform 180 hours of productive work as an unpaid intern, outside a formal study placement, before paying an unlawfully low daily rate.

Published outcome

The company admitted $18,767 underpayments to two workers and later repaid them. The court imposed $272,850 on the company and $8,160 on its director for the document-notice breach.

Limits when comparing your own situation

Court penalties are not wages paid to the worker. Genuine vocational placements and short supervised demonstrations require a different analysis. Historical pay rates are not current minimums.

Questions to prepare for your own situation

• Was this part of an approved course or ordinary business work?
• How long did it last and what useful output did I produce?
• What payment and supervision were agreed?

These preparation questions are our editorial guidance, not findings in the original case.