Jobs for 14- and 15-Year-Olds in Perth: Rules and Realistic Options
A first job can build confidence and references, but WA law sets specific limits for children under 15. Search jobs in Perth only after checking whether the industry, shift time and school-hour arrangement are permitted for the young person's exact age.
Last fact-checked: 29 August 2026. Employment, visa, pay and professional-program rules can change; verify the linked primary source before acting.
| Factor | What it means |
|---|---|
| Age 13–14 permitted examples | Newspaper or advertising delivery; work in a shop, fast-food outlet, cafe or restaurant; and trolley collection. |
| Permission | A 13- or 14-year-old needs written permission from a parent. |
| Shift limits for 13–14 | Work must be outside school hours and cannot start before 6am or finish after 10pm. |
| Age 15 and compulsory school age | No parental permission is required under this rule, but the person cannot work during required school hours without appropriate approval. |
Realistic first-job options
For a 14-year-old, the legal industry list is narrow. Supermarkets and retailers, fast-food outlets, cafes, restaurants, trolley collection and permitted delivery work are the clearest starting points. A family business, approved performance work or charity work follows separate rules described by the WA Government.
At 15, the under-15 industry restriction no longer applies, but school attendance, safety and role-specific restrictions still matter. Weekend and part-time listings can help identify employers, yet the family should confirm age eligibility before an interview.
Junior pay is not one universal rate
Awards and enterprise agreements can contain age-based percentages and classifications. The Fair Work Ombudsman says junior rates depend on the applicable award or agreement. Award-free junior minimums also vary by age.
Use the Pay and Conditions Tool with the industry, classification, age and employment type. Do not copy an adult minimum or a rate from a different award. Ask for the classification and whether the role is casual or part-time in writing.
A safe application process
A short resume can include school year, availability, volunteering, sport, responsibility and a referee who is not a family member where possible. The goal is evidence of reliability, not invented experience.
A parent should know where the interview is, verify the business and help the teenager recognise requests for money, bank logins or identity documents sent through unofficial channels as warning signs.
Create a first resume without padding
A teenager's resume can be one page. Include school year, suburb, safe contact details, lawful availability, relevant activities and one or two referees. Sport can demonstrate attendance and teamwork; volunteering can show responsibility; caring for siblings may show organisation. Describe what happened rather than filling the page with untested adjectives such as hardworking or passionate.
Availability must respect school and WA age restrictions. Instead of writing 'any time', list the afternoons and weekend windows that are genuinely possible, including transport. The employer can quickly decide whether those hours match the roster, and the teenager avoids agreeing to a late finish they cannot safely reach or legally work.
Prepare for an interview and first shift
Practise a short introduction, why the business interests them, an example of following instructions and what they would do if unsure. The answer need not sound corporate. Employers mainly need evidence that the young person will arrive, listen, ask questions, treat customers respectfully and tell a supervisor when a problem is beyond them.
Before the first shift, confirm start and finish time, uniform, supervisor, break arrangements and how hours will be recorded. A parent should retain the business contact and permission record. The employee should receive a payslip and check that hours, employment type and rate match what was agreed.
Balance income, school and safety
The maximum legally permitted shift is not automatically the right shift for every teenager. Homework, sleep, sport, travel and recovery matter. Start with a manageable pattern and review it after several weeks. A first job should add experience without creating chronic lateness, missed schooling or unsafe travel home.
Young workers have the same right to a safe workplace. They should receive instruction and supervision appropriate to inexperience and must not be asked to perform prohibited or unsafe tasks. A teenager can say they have not been trained and contact a parent, manager or regulator if a concern is not resolved.
A useful first-job outcome
Success is not only keeping the role indefinitely. A lawful short job can still teach punctuality, communication, payslip checking and how to ask for help. Keep the supervisor's permission before using them as a referee and update the resume with real duties once the teenager can describe them accurately.
A practical action plan
- Check the WA age, industry and shift rules.
- Choose employers reachable safely outside school hours.
- Prepare a one-page resume and clear weekly availability.
- Apply through the employer's official site or in person where invited.
- Check the award classification and payslip after the first shift.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Assuming unpaid or 'volunteer' work at a commercial business is exempt.
- Applying for a 14-year-old to work in an industry outside the permitted list.
- Quoting one junior hourly rate without checking the award.
- Letting work interfere with compulsory school attendance.
Continue this topic
- Recruitment Agencies in Perth: Which Ones Cover Your Industry?
- Perth Job Market Report: Employment, Hiring Industries and Vacancies
Frequently asked questions
Can a 14-year-old work in a Perth cafe?
Yes, WA allows 13- and 14-year-olds to work in a cafe subject to written parental permission, outside school hours, between 6am and 10pm.
Can a 14-year-old volunteer at a business?
Calling commercial work unpaid or voluntary does not automatically make it lawful; the WA rules treat work as employment regardless of payment in relevant circumstances.
Do 15-year-olds need parental permission?
The specific under-15 parental-permission requirement no longer applies, but school-hour and safety rules still do.