It is important to understand the difference between trial work (which must be paid) and unpaid work experience.

How is work experience different from work trials and probation periods?

Work experience for no pay is only legal if it is organised through a school, TAFE college, university or other registered training organisation as part of the curriculum or assessment.

Undertaking volunteer work for a charity is different again and can be unpaid.

Work trials and probation periods are used by employers to check whether their workers are suitable for the job they want them to do.

This is a perfectly legal arrangement but all workers must be paid for any trial work or work they do within a set probation period.  It is illegal for their employer not to pay them.