Private sector employers and employees
Telephone: 1300 655 266
Mailing address
Locked Bag 100
East Perth WA 6892
If you run or manage a business that is a horse riding or equestrian centre you need to know:
There are exclusions if the child is working in a family business owned by a relative such as a parent, aunt, uncle or grandparent, or the organisation is a charity or not-for-profit organisation.
More information about employment of children in the equestrian industry is available on the Wageline website or via wageline@dmirs.wa.gov.au or 1300 655 266.
Wageline provides information about pay rates, leave entitlements and other employment arrangements for state system employers (unincorporated businesses such as sole traders and partnerships) and assists all employers and employees in Western Australia with queries about long service leave and employment of children.
Workplace safety is also a critical issue for all workers in the equestrian industry - find out more about your safety obligations from WorkSafe on 1300 307 877 or www.dmirs.wa.gov.au/worksafe.
Laws prohibit children under 15 years of age working in a horse riding school or equestrian centre unless the business is owned by a close relative, or the organisation is a charity or not-for-profit organisation.
The owner of a horse riding school in Perth learnt this the hard way when the business was prosecuted for breaching the Children and Community Services Act 2004 and fined for employing three children under the age of 15.
The children were employed by the horse riding school to perform stable hand duties, which included mucking and raking horse stalls, feeding and watering horses and general cleaning duties.
More information is available on the Wageline website or contact Wageline via wageline@dmirs.wa.gov.au or 1300 655 266.
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