Make workplaces safer for young Victorians this Child Protection Week

As Australia marks National Child Protection Week (7 – 13 September 2025), Wage Inspectorate Victoria (WIV) is encouraging Victorians to embrace this year’s theme, ‘Every conversation matters: Shifting Conversation to Action’.

WIV proactively monitors compliance with Victoria’s child employment laws and has often been able to intervene early and prevent children from:

• working with dangerous animals
• using dangerous machinery like welders and grinders
• operating heavy machinery such as forklifts
• handling hazardous chemicals in industrial settings

WIV officers also conduct inspections of businesses across the state—from regional towns to metropolitan centres.

In the last financial year, WIV undertook hundreds of compliance activities relating to child employment and issued 556 new licences which covered over 5000 children in Victorian workplaces.

However, protecting children in the workplace is a shared responsibility.

Employers must know their obligations—complying with child employment laws and the Child Safe Standards, securing the appropriate licences, and ensuring every workplace is safe, and duties are appropriate, for young workers.

Parents and carers are urged to do their due diligence before providing consent: check the WIV licence register, ask questions, and confirm that employers are meeting child safety requirements.

And for the broader community, vigilance matters—if you witness or suspect unsafe practices involving children, speak up and report it. Every action taken helps prevent harm and builds a safer future for young Victorians.

Quotes attributable to Robert Hortle PSM, Commissioner of Wage Inspectorate Victoria

“Working can provide valuable experience for kids, but they’re still developing mentally and physically and require extra protections in the workplace.”

“Before giving consent for their child to start work, it is important for parents to talk to the business owner or manager to understand what work their child will be doing, who will be supervising them and if the business has a child employment licence.”

“Licensing isn’t just paperwork—it’s protection. When businesses follow the rules, children are safer. It’s that simple.”

Case study: Community action identifies underage workers at Victorian pub

WIV received an anonymous tip-off about an alleged underage worker in a pub located in north-east Victoria. Following an investigation, WIV officers uncovered several children under the age of 15 employed without the required licence— in clear breach of child employment laws.

This case illustrates the importance of community reporting and the critical role WIV plays in enforcing protections for young workers. It also serves as a reminder to employers that ignorance of the law is no excuse when it comes to safeguarding children in the workplace.

“This wasn’t just a paperwork issue—it was a serious failure to protect vulnerable young workers,” said Robert Hortle PSM, Commissioner of Wage Inspectorate Victoria.

“Thanks to the tip-off, we were able to intervene and prevent further harm.”

Background

Victoria’s child employment laws require employers of children under 15 to have a child employment licence before any work takes place, and to comply with Child Safe Standards.

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:

• during a school term, children can be employed for a maximum of 3 hours a day and 12 hours per week and cannot work during school hours
• during school holidays, children can be employed up to 6 hours a day and 30 hours a week
• children can only work between 6am and 9pm.

Children must also receive a 30-minute rest break after every 3 hours work and have at least 12 hours break between shifts.

For more information Victoria’s child employment laws visit the Wage Inspectorate’s website at wageinspectorate.vic.gov.au or call 1800 287 287.