This page provides an overview of the laws for parents of children working in entertainment. The Guide to the Employment of Children in the Victorian Entertainment Industry provides more detailed information.
Child employment licensing system
There is no minimum age of employment in entertainment, but if your child is under 15, the employer needs a child employment licence to employ them.
There are also conditions that apply depending on your child’s age:
- Your child may not be employed during school hours on any school day unless they have been granted an exemption from attending school through the Department of Education.
- There are requirements for employing a baby less than 12 weeks old, which the employer must meet.
As well as holding a child employment licence, the employer needs your permission before your child can start work.
If you have any concerns during the employment, you can speak with the employer, their representative or contact the Wage Inspectorate.
Supervision
Your child must be supervised by someone who is at least 18 years old and holds a Victorian Working with Children Clearance, however, you do not need a Working with Children Clearance if you are supervising your child.
There are also specific supervision requirements for children working in entertainment:
- Children aged between 12 weeks and 6 years old must be supervised by either a:
- parent or guardian of the child
- person nominated by the employer and authorised by the parent or guardian
- person who holds an approved early childhood teaching qualification
- person who holds a diploma level education and care qualification
- registered nurse or midwife
- Children aged 6 years or older must be supervised by either:
- their parent or guardian
- a person nominated by the employer and authorised by the parent or guardian
- an adult with training or experience in the care of children of the age of the child to be supervised
- Children less than 12 weeks old must be supervised by the parent or guardian of the child.
The supervisor’s focus must be the child, not other jobs, and they must be trained to look out for health and safety hazards, including bullying, teasing and harassment.
Education
If your child attends school in Victoria and the proposed employment is during school hours, you must apply to the school principal for an exemption to cover your child’s absence.
If the employment means your child missing 9 days of school in a term, the employer must engage a tutor to provide at least 10 hours of tutoring per week, unless a different amount is stipulated as a condition of the exemption by the school principal.
Workplace conditions
Your child must be provided with:
- water and other suitable drinks
- access to substantial, nutritious, child-friendly food
- rest and recreation facilities
- private dressing facilities
- clean and accessible toilets and hand washing facilities
- protection from sun, wind, rain and dust.
Hours of work
The Mandatory Code of Practice for the Employment of Children in Entertainment outlines the maximum:
- days of employment in any week
- employment hours per day
- consecutive days of employment
- spread of hours.
Film, television, radio, advertising, photography and modelling
| Age | Maximum number of days of employment in any week | Spread of hours | Maximum employment hours per day | Maximum number of consecutive days of employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 3 years | 3 | 6am-6pm | 4 hours | 3 |
| 3 years and under 8 years | 4 | 6am-11pm* | 6 hours** | 4 |
| 8 years and under 15 years | 5 | 6am-11pm* | 8 hours** | 5 |
* A child cannot work beyond 9pm if they are required to attend school on the morning of the following day.
** A child cannot work for more than 4 hours on any day on which they attend school for 3 hours or more.
Live entertainment, including musical theatre, plays, operas and circuses
| Age | Maximum number of days of employment in any week | Spread of hours | Maximum employment hours per day | Maximum number of consecutive days of employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 2 years | 1 | 9am-6pm | 4 hours | 1 |
| 2 years and under 6 years | 3 | 9am-6pm | 4 hours | 3 |
| 6 years and under 10 years | 4 | 9am-10pm* | 4 hours | 4 |
| 10 years and under 12 years | 4 | 9am-11pm* | 6 hours** | 4 |
| 12 years and under 15 years | 4 | 9am-11pm* | 8 hours** | 4 |
* A child cannot work beyond 9pm if they are required to attend school on the morning of the following day.
** A child cannot work for more than 4 hours on any day on which they attend school for 3 hours or more.
You can apply for a variation to requirements under the Mandatory Code.
You can also apply for an exemption for a child to work during school hours through the Department of Education.
Duties
The employer must tell you about your child’s role, including what they will do, see and hear.
Your child must not be:
- cast in a role that is inappropriate to their age and maturity
- exposed to adult themes and situations likely to cause distress or embarrassment
- socially isolated or caused to feel intimidated, threatened, frightened or humiliated.
- The employer must not deliberately distress your child to capture a particular emotional response.
You should be provided with a script (where relevant) and with time to consider it.
If you have any concerns during the employment, speak with the employer, their nominated representative or contact the Wage Inspectorate.
About Wage Inspectorate Victoria
At the Wage Inspectorate we:
- provide information about child employment laws
- administer the child employment licensing system
- monitor and enforce compliance with the laws
- respond to complaints and tip-offs about non-compliance
- promote child safety outcomes in Victorian workplaces
- monitor and enforce compliance with Child Safe Standards in Victorian workplaces.
If you have questions about child employment, email us or call 1800 287 287.
Report an employer
Report an employer you suspect is breaking child employment rules using our online form or by calling 1800 287 287.
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