The nature and legal risks of virtual international WIL: Examining remote overseas internships for Australian university students

Anne Hewitt; Craig Cameron; Deanna Grant-Smith

doi:10.1177/1037969X261478161

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The nature and legal risks of virtual international WIL: Examining remote overseas internships for Australian university students

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

The nature and legal risks of virtual international WIL: Examining remote overseas internships for Australian university students

Anne Hewitt, Craig Cameron and Deanna Grant-Smith

Alternative Law Journal, Vol.Advanced access

24-Aug-2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1037969X261478161

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Abstract

Work integrated learning (incl. internships)

Labour law

work-integrated learning (WIL)

virtual WIL

international WIL

virtual international WIL

internships

overseas internship

remote internship

regulation of WIL

Many Australian universities have embraced virtual international work-integrated learning (WIL) experiences for students including remote placements and projects overseas involving a partner organisation. These pedagogies may help students develop their employability and cross-cultural skills, but they also expose students to potential legal ambiguities and lacunae. This article explores the nature of virtual international WIL opportunities available to Australian university students. It then identifies the key associated legal risks and regulatory issues, with the intention of raising awareness of these in order to facilitate the design and delivery of virtual international WIL placements and projects that protect student participants, universities, and partner organisations.

Details

Title: The nature and legal risks of virtual international WIL: Examining remote overseas internships for Australian university students
Authors: Anne Hewitt (Corresponding Author) - Adelaide University
Craig Cameron (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast
Deanna Grant-Smith (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast
Publication details: Alternative Law Journal, Vol.Advanced access
Publisher: Sage Publications Ltd.
DOI: 10.1177/1037969X261478161
ISSN: 2398-9084
Copyright note: © The Author(s) 2026. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) which permits any use, reproduction and distribution of the work without further permission provided the original work is attributed as specified on the SAGE and Open Access page (https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/open-access-at-sage).
Grants: A best practice framework for virtual international WIL placements, 0980028802, World Association for Cooperative Education (Canada)
Organisation Unit: School of Business and Creative Industries
Language: English
Record Identifier: 991251597602621
Output Type: Journal article

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