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Your life, your rights

You have rights, regardless of your age. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child sets out general principles about the rights of people aged under 18. Australia signed the convention in 1990.

Under the convention, you have:

  • the right to be free from sexual and economic exploitation
  • the right to your own opinion
  • the right to education, health care and economic opportunity.

The convention says that your family is mainly responsible for your care and protection. However, in any legal process affecting you, the convention says that the 'best interests of the child' must be the main consideration, and that your opinion should be heard.

Before you turn 18, the law will sometimes say how old you have to be to do certain things. In other cases it is not so clear. If there is no law setting an age limit, it is up to you to work out with your parents or guardian what you can and can't do.

When you turn 18 you are legally an adult and are covered by the same laws as adults. This means you no longer need your parents’ or guardian’s permission to do things.

More information

Discrimination & sexual harassment

Related publications

Am I old enough?

Related websites

Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission (new window)

youthcentral – know your rights (new window)

How we can help

Call Victoria Legal Aid’s Legal Information Service for free information over the phone about the law and how we can help you with your legal problem. You can speak to a legal information officer in English or ask for an interpreter. Phone (03) 9269 0120 or 1800 677 402 (country callers), Monday to Friday from 8.45 am to 5.15 pm.

To find out more about any of our legal services see What we do.