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Young people & work – frequently asked questions
How old do I have to be to work?
What kinds of work can I do?
Is there a limit to the number of hours I can work?
Are there any restrictions about doing work experience?
Do I need a tax file number?
Do I have to put in a tax return?
How old do I have to be to work?
Generally you can’t work if you are under 13. However, if you are 11 or older you can deliver newspapers or advertising material, and make deliveries for a pharmacy.
You can work in a family business or in the entertainment industry at any age. If you work in a family business your parents must supervise you and make sure you only do light work that will not interfere with your schoolwork.
A new code of practice is being developed for young people who work in the entertainment industry. Contact the Industrial Relations Commission for more information.
Related websites
Australian Industrial Relations Commission (new window)
What kinds of work can I do?
Wherever you work, you are only allowed to do light work. This means work that will not hurt you in any way or stop you from going to school. Examples of light work include:
- going on errands
- casual work in or around a house
- golf-caddying
- office work, such as photocopying
- gardening
- street trading
- delivering newspapers, pamphlets or other advertising material and making deliveries for a registered pharmacist
- entertainment
- farm work
- working as a sales assistant in a shop.
You can’t work in door-to-door sales, in the building and construction industry or in deep-sea fishing. You can’t sell alcohol in a bottle shop, hotel or restaurant until you are 18, unless you are on an approved training program.
Is there a limit to the number of hours I can work?
If you are under 15 you can only work for a maximum of three hours a day and 12 hours a week during school term. During the holidays you can work for a maximum of six hours a day and 30 hours a week. These hours include rest breaks.
You can only work between 6 am and 9 pm. If you work in street trading, like at a fruit stall or mobile food van, you can’t work between 6 pm and 6 am.
You must be allowed to rest for 30 minutes after every three hours worked and have at least 12 hours’ break between finishing one shift and starting the next.
Are there any restrictions about doing work experience?
If you are over 13 or in Year 8 or above you can do work experience for up to 10 days a term, but no more than 40 days a year. You can’t work for more than 10 days in one work experience placement.
You don’t need a Child Employment Permit for work experience or a work placement arrangement. There are guidelines for selecting work experience placements. Speak to your work experience co-ordinator for more information.
Do I need a tax file number?
A tax file number is issued by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) and is yours for life, even if you move states, change your name, live overseas for a while or get a new job.
You need a tax file number when you:
- become a tertiary student on HECS (Higher Education Contribution Scheme)
- open a bank account
- get a Centrelink payment
- join a superannuation fund
- lodge a tax return.
It’s a good idea to get a tax file number if you are working. If you do not, your employer has to take almost 50 per cent of your wages in tax.
You can apply for a tax file number on the ATO website. If you are under 16 you need two forms of ID, such as your birth certificate or citizenship papers with proof of residence and a recent school report.
If you are over 16 you need three forms of ID. If you are still at school you can apply through your school to get a tax file number.
Related websites
Australian Taxation Office – youth (new window)
Do I have to put in a tax return?
If you work and earn more than $6000 in one year then you must put in a tax return. If you are under 18 and earn more than $1,333 from investments in one year you must put in a tax return.
The first $6000 you earn is tax-free. This is called the ‘tax-free threshold’. This applies to only one income, so if you work part time and get Youth Allowance, you can only claim the tax-free threshold for either your part-time income or your Youth Allowance income.
Your employer will send you a payment summary after the end of the financial year (30 June). A payment summary used to be called a ‘group certificate’. This summary shows how much you earned in that year and how much tax you paid.
If you earned less than $6000 and tax was taken from your pay, you can put in a tax return to get that money back. This is called a ‘tax refund’.
The Australian Taxation Office website has information about completing a tax return.