Your Teen's First Summer Job in WA: A Parent's Guide

With the summer holidays coming, many Perth teenagers are keen to earn their own money. As a parent, it can be hard to know the rules and how to help without taking over.

• Check the age rules. Work by children under 15 is regulated in WA. Teens aged 13 and 14 can work in a shop, café, restaurant or fast food outlet, but only with written parental permission, outside school hours and between 6am and 10pm. The WA Government's guide to when children can work has the details.

• Know what fair pay looks like. Workers under 21 may be paid a junior rate set by their award, and casual employees get a higher rate known as casual loading. An unpaid trial should only last as long as needed to show the skills the job requires. The Fair Work Ombudsman explains pay slips and trials for young workers.

• Let them do the applying. Help proofread a simple one-page resume, then step back while they make the calls. That is where confidence grows.

• Talk about what they notice. Ask what they enjoyed, what drained them and what they were good at. These are early career clues.

A first job is rarely a career decision, but it is a great conversation starter. If your teen would like help exploring their subjects and career choices, I would love to work with them in a Gold or Platinum session. Book a session or get in touch.