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HR Glossary

Fair Work
Information Statement

Australia · Fair Work and entitlements
What is the Fair Work Information Statement?

The Fair Work Information Statement (FWIS) is a document published by Australia's Fair Work Ombudsman that every employer must give each new employee before, or as soon as practicable after, they start work. Casual employees must also receive the Casual Employment Information Statement.

What is in it, and why it exists

The FWIS summarises the safety net in plain language: the NES, modern awards, agreement-making, individual flexibility arrangements, union membership rights, termination and the roles of the Fair Work Ombudsman and Commission. The obligation exists so every employee starts work knowing where the floor is and who to call if it is breached.

Who must receive which statement, and when

Every new employee gets the FWIS at or around commencement. Casuals additionally get the Casual Employment Information Statement (CEIS), which since the Closing Loopholes changes must be re-issued at points during casual employment (at 6 and 12 months, and annually after that for larger employers). Fixed-term employees must also receive the Fixed Term Contract Information Statement. Giving it once, on time, by any reasonable means (printed, emailed, or a link the employee can actually access) discharges the duty.

The cheap compliance win

This is the easiest onboarding obligation in the system to automate and the most embarrassing one to miss, because non-compliance is visible from the personnel file alone. Bake the current versions into the onboarding pack, date-stamp the delivery, and refresh the documents each July when the Ombudsman updates them.

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National Employment Standards (NES)

The National Employment Standards (NES) are the minimum employment entitlements in the Fair Work Act that apply to all national system employees in Australia, covering hours, leave, notice, redundancy and superannuation.

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Casual conversion

Casual conversion is the pathway that lets an eligible casual employee change to permanent (full-time or part-time) employment.

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Probation period

A probation period is a contractual trial period at the start of employment, commonly three to six months, used to assess whether a new hire suits the role.

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All terms

Every definition, with the local rules, rates and thresholds attached.

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Where
Compono Hire fits.

Compono Hire is an applicant tracking system (ATS) that measures fit before you make the offer, alongside the process every ATS runs.

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Common questions

Does the FWIS need to be given for every new job?

Yes, at the start of each new employment relationship. An employer does not need to re-issue it to the same continuing employee, but casuals have their own CEIS re-issue schedule.

Where does the current version come from?

The Fair Work Ombudsman publishes and updates the statements; always distribute the current version rather than a saved copy from years past.

This page is general information, not legal advice. We check figures annually and update them on a best-efforts basis, but employment rules change and we cannot promise everything here is current or complete. Before you act on it, confirm the detail with the Fair Work Ombudsman (fairwork.gov.au) or your own adviser. Last reviewed July 2026.