NEW data from Victoria’s child employment regulator shows kids in regional Victoria are more likely to join the workforce before the age of 15 than those in metropolitan Melbourne.

Victoria’s child employment laws require businesses to hold a child employment licence before they employ anyone under 15 and to notify Wage Inspectorate Victoria of any children they employ.

In Victoria, children can work in retail and hospitality from the age of 13. 

Workers under 15 must be supervised by someone who holds a valid Victorian Working with Children Clearance (unless exempt).

Child employment laws restrict when businesses can employ children and how long they can work, as children can only work between 6am and 9pm.

During a school term, children can be employed for a maximum of three hours a day and 12 hours per week.

During school holidays, children can be employed up to six hours a day and 30 hours a week

Children must also receive a 30-minute rest break after every three hours work and have at least 12 hours break between shifts.

Licence data shows 52 per cent of licences are issued to regional businesses and 49 per cent of kids in the workforce are in regional Victoria – that’s despite census data suggesting there are three times as many kids living in metropolitan Melbourne.

Of regional areas, Barwon South West has the greatest number of kids under 15 working at 216, which represents 18 per cent of the state’s total.

Hume is next with 173 (14 per cent), followed by Gippsland at 111 (nine per cent).

This data does not include children working in the entertainment industry, which has an industry specific licence.

With data suggesting kids in regional areas are more likely to be looking for work over the summer holidays, the Wage Inspectorate is encouraging regional businesses to make sure they understand the state’s child employment licensing system, and rules around supervision, rest breaks and working hours.

Child employment licences are free, and businesses can employ multiple children under the one licence. Employing a child without a licence is a crime and may be penalised.

Commissioner of Wage Inspectorate Victoria, Robert Hortle said as a country kid himself, he was not surprised to see so many country businesses giving local kids the opportunity to enter the workforce and earn their first paycheck.

“If regional kids are more likely to work, regional businesses have an even greater incentive to learn about child employment laws,” he said.

“You don’t want your well-intentioned decision to give a kid their first job to put you on the wrong side of the law.

“Kids working in regional areas can be a great help to businesses and the experience can be invaluable for the kids.

“It’s win-win, as long as it is done safely and legally.” 

Further information can be found at wageinspectorate.vic.gov.au