With summer and holidays around the corner, there’s an increasing number of young workers and students in the workforce, often for the first time.
If you’re a young worker or student, you may be wondering how old you have to be to start work, how to prepare for your first day or what your pay and entitlements should be. Are unpaid trials okay? Are you covered by an award? Does your employer have to give you a pay slip?
We have tools and information to help you.
Resources for young workers and students
Our Young workers and students section has everything you need to know. It covers:
- minimum working age
- how to get ready for your first day at work
- your pay, entitlements and working conditions
- how you can resolve workplace issues and where to get help.
In this section you’ll find:
- links to our tools where you can check your pay rates and allowances and keep track of your shifts
- checklists to help you get ready for work
- answers to commonly asked questions about pay
- how you can resolve workplace issues and where to get help.
- videos that bust workplace myths and show you how to look out for warning signs
- links to our free interactive online courses that will help you start a new job or have a difficult conversation
- step-by-step guides to raising a problem in the workplace.
Employing young workers and students
If you’re a manager or employer, read our Employing young workers best practice guide.
The guide covers the workplace laws that apply to young workers. Topics include minimum working age, junior pay rates, apprenticeships and traineeships, plus the rules for unpaid work, work experience and internships.
More information
The holiday season includes several public holidays. Rules and dates can differ depending on where you are. For a list of the public holidays in your state or territory, see Public holidays.
For information on working over the holiday season, see Rules and entitlements during the end-of-year holiday season.
