When Shan Windscript started teaching history at Melbourne University five years ago, she didn’t imagine she would be paid "starvation wages".

Ms Windscript, a PhD student, said she cleared just over $300 a week for about 20 hours' work at the prestigious university.

"I have to support myself living on starvation wages," she said.

"I have to work seven days a week just to simply earn a living wage and that ultimately and inevitably affects my PhD research. So I feel that if I keep doing this I’m trapped in this casual teaching, tutoring trap."