key progress

The new McKell Institute Report, Safety Not Guaranteed found:

There are over 500,000 kids aged 17 or under working in Australia and many of them work in retail or fast food.

These young workers are exposed to unnecessary risks at work such as:

Long hours at work alongside adult co-workers

Vulnerable late night settings – especially in retail & fast food

But these adults are not generally required to have a working with children check.

Working with children checks requirements are inconsistent

Working with children checks are an important protection in many industries where the job requires services or care to children but are not required for jobs where adult employees work alongside children.

For example: a 15 year old supermarket worker may be stacking shelves late at night alongside only older adult co-workers who do not have a working with children check.

Bail laws do not specify that offenders cannot work in settings where children also work

There are gaps in state and territory bail laws where people formally charged with sex crimes, even against children, are not specifically prohibited from employment in settings such as retail or fast food.

This loophole was closed in South Australia and should be closed in other jurisdictions.

Sex offender registry legislation across Australian does not restrict convicted offenders working alongside children

A sex offender on a registry may be prohibited from working in ‘child-related employment’ but in most states ‘child-related employment’ does not include work where the co-workers are children.

Employers who have a suspicion of child abuse need clear reporting obligations

There is a lack of clarity, consistency and enforceable laws in many jurisdictions about reporting suspicions of child abuse where it occurs in the workplace.

For example, in schools, it is a requirement for a school employee to report abuse of a child if they believe it is occurring – this is not the case in other industries where the child is a worker.

Reporting and legal requirements can also vary by state or territory legislation.

If you’re a young worker and feel vulnerable or uncomfortable at work – please know you are not alone. You should never be or feel unsafe at work.

The SDA can help and support you. You can also use professional resources such as lifeline (call 13 11 14 or text 0477 13 11 14) kids helpline (call 1800 55 1800) or 1800 RESPECT ( call 1800 737 732 )