About this page

• This page is for young workers aged 15-21
• It gives you some tips of things to do and questions to ask when you start a new job.

  Tip 1 - Ask questions at your job interview, or when you first start work

This will help you get the facts about your new job and your employment arrangements. 

Questions you may wish to ask are:

• What rate of pay will I be paid?
• Is there a higher rate of pay for weekend or public holiday work?
• Is the job covered by an award? Which one?
• When will I be paid, how will I be paid, and how often?
• Is the job full time, part time or casual?
• What will my hours of work be?
• How do I find out about my roster?
• Will there be a probationary period at the start of the job?

Tip 2 - Keep records

While employers must legally keep employment records, it is also a good idea for you to keep information about your job. These records will be very helpful if you believe you are not being paid correctly and wish to make a complaint about underpayment.

• If you are given a written offer of employment, and/or an employment contract when you start work, keep a copy
• Keep a record of all of the hours you work, especially times when you work outside your normal rostered hours.
• Keep copies of any payslips you receive, and your ATO payment summaries at the end of each financial year.

 Tip 3 - Check the rules about when and where you can work, if you are still at school

• School aged children generally cannot work within school hours unless it is part of a school program.
• If you are under 15, there are lots of restrictions on the types of work you can do and the hours you can work. The When children can work in Western Australia page has details.

Tip 4 - Check your pay rate, if you are not sure if you are being paid right

The Checking your pay and getting help with underpayments page tells you:

• how to work out the minimum pay rate you should be paid for the work that you are doing
• how to seek help if you think that you have not been paid correctly.

In many jobs, junior pay rates apply to workers under 21.