Department of Education and Children's Services

Employers must note these reforms and what they mean in relation to the employment of young people.

Penalties under the Education Act may apply for failure to comply with these requirements and parents, guardians, employers and young people must therefore ensure that they are aware of and comply with these requirements.

For example, employers must not employ a young person until they have completed year 10. There is an exception for part time or casual work while a young person is still enrolled at school, provided (i) the employment is not at a time when the young person is required to attend school or (ii) does not render the young person unfit to attend school or to receive and understand instruction at school.

Employing a young person under 17 years of age

1. A young person cannot be engaged in full-time paid employment until they are 15 years of age, even if they have completed Year 10 of secondary education. Until the age of 15 a young person must continue in approved education or training.
2. A young person under the age of 17 years who has not completed Year 10 of secondary education may be employed on a part-time or casual basis provided:
   • the employment is not during the hours when the young person is required to attend school, and
   • the employment is not at such time of the night or day as to be likely to render the young person:
     • unfit or unable to attend during the hours they are required to attend school, or
     • unfit or unable to receive and understand instruction provided when the young person is at school.
3. A young person who has completed Year 10 of secondary education AND is of or above the age of 15 years may undertake full time employment or a combination of training and employment as an eligible option. However the changes to the legislation means new rules are applied.

The young person is required to complete a Notification of Arrangements Form (word 77 kb). The parent/guardian or young person will provide this form to you.

The Notification of Arrangements form requires you to:

1. Complete the name and contact details of the employer and the nature of the employment the young person is undertaking.
2. Indicate the number of hours each week that you will be employing the young person. Full time employment means an average of 25 hours per week or more.
3. Sign the form and return it to the young person.

Once you have filled in your details and signed the form, the parent/guardian or young person will take the Notification of Arrangements form to the school who forwards it to the Participation and Pathways Division, Department of Education and Training. A Participation Officer will send you a letter confirming the arrangements of the young person.

Changing circumstances

If a young person, under the age of 17 years that you employ leaves your employment or changes his/her status with you e.g. from full-time to part-time employment you are required to provide written or verbal advice to:

Participation and Pathways Division
Department of Education and Training
GPO PO Box 4821, Darwin, NT 0801
t: (08) 8944 9363
f: (08) 8999 4399
e: learnorearn.det@nt.gov.au

Checklist for employers

If the answers are Yes to all of the following questions, you can employ the young person full time or part time in combination with training, as an eligible option. If any of the answers is No, you cannot employ the young person as an eligible option.

• Has the young person completed Year 10 of secondary education?
• Is the young person at least 15 years of age?
• If the young person is working full time with you, and not undertaking training in combination with the employment, are they doing an average of 25 hours or more per week?
• Have you completed and signed the Notification of Arrangements form and returned it to the young person?