business.gov.au

Child Employment Permit - Victoria

Description

You must obtain a licence before employing any children under the age of fifteen. Most types of employment - whether paid or unpaid - will need a permit.

Employing a child without a licence is a crime and may be penalised. 

Where a licence is granted, a business can employ multiple children under one licence. 

Note that there are different rules for children employed in the entertainment and advertising industries, and those employed in industries other than entertainment and advertising.

There are restrictions on when you can employ children and how many hours they work, start and finish times, and rest breaks. There are also exemptions for parents or guardians who employ their child in a family business.

The application must be submitted online by the employer, and include written consent of the child's parent or guardian.

Service type

Licence

A licence defines the need to obtain recognition / certification and registration to undertake a certain business activity.

Eligibility requirements

The application must be made by the potential employer. Please submit your completed application on the approved form, and attach all associated documentation, including:

  • potential employer's details
  • child or children's personal and school details
  • the informed consent of the child or children's parent(s) or guardian(s)
  • details of the proposed work activities and intended hours and dates of employment
  • any other information required by the Agency.

Ongoing eligibility requirements

Ongoing expectations are attached to the approval of this licence, including the obligation on the potential employer to ensure that all legislative requirements are met.

There may be licence conditions that place ongoing operating limitations on children's employment relating to a particular locality, time limits, activity or event, or prohibiting the use of particular equipment so that children do not face hazards in the workplace.

You will be required to keep records detailing the dates, times, and hours worked by any children employed, and this record must be kept for at least 12 months.

Duration

Up to 24 months

Fees

Fees Details for this service in table format.

Task Type Business Structure Description
Apply Application All

There is no application fee

Forms

Act(s) name

Child Employment Act 2003 Victoria

Regulation(s) name

Child Employment Regulations 2014 Victoria

Lodgement process

Apply

Please lodge all applications through the online Child Employment Portal.

Approval time

Child employment licence applications and support documents must be lodged a minimum of 5 business days prior to a child commencing work. Applications received outside of this time frame will be refused.

Additional information

The minimum age of employment of a child is thirteen years, however a minimum age of eleven years applies to certain delivery work. There is no minimum age for children working in the entertainment industry. Different areas of industry require abiding by specific industry codes of practices in relation to working with children.

A child must be supervised by someone who holds a current and valid working with children check.

Administering agency

Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions

Child Employment

Contact details

Contact Email, Phone and Address Details for this service in simple two column table format, header then data.