Private sector employers and employees
Telephone: 1300 655 266
Mailing address
Locked Bag 100
East Perth WA 6892
There are laws which restrict the types of jobs and work children can be employed to do, and the hours they can work. These laws apply to Western Australian businesses in both the state and national industrial relations systems.
Children are considered to be employed if they perform work regardless of whether there is any form of payment (monetary or otherwise).
As long as the work does not prevent school attendance, children of any age can:
Children aged 10, 11 or 12 are allowed to deliver newspapers, pamphlets or advertising material, but they:
Children aged 13 and 14 are allowed to:
as long as:
Children aged 15 or older (of compulsory school age)
Penalties can be imposed on both the employer and parent if they allow a child to:
Under the School Education Act 1999 a person must not employ a child of compulsory school age during the hours when the child is required to attend school or otherwise participate in an educational program of a school.
There are certain exceptions where a child can be working, or working and studying, if the child has been exempted from attending school. The school the child attends or the relevant regional education office can be contacted for more information.
Visit the Employment of children laws - shop, restaurant, fast food or takeaway food business page for specific information for employers and store managers operating a shop, restaurant, fast food or takeaway food business.
Specific information for employers in the horse riding school and equestrian centre industry is available - visit the Employment of children laws in WA - horse riding schools and equestrian centres page.
There are restrictions on the serving of alcohol by people under 18 years of age. Go to the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries website for more information.
Information on writtten parental permission along with a template is available in PDF and word.
Visit the written parental permission information and template page
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