A fishing co-operative on the Great Ocean Road has been fined $15,000 after pleading guilty to offences under the Child Employment Act 2003.
Workforce Inspectorate Victoria began investigating the Apollo Bay Fishermen’s Co-Operative Society Ltd in April 2025.
The investigation found the Co-Op had breached the Child Employment Act in relation to the employment of three children under the age of 15.
Charges were filed in October 2025 and on 16 March 2026 the Co-Op plead guilty in the Magistrates’ Court of Victoria to 13 offences including;
- employing a child without a licence
- failing to ensure a child was supervised by an adult with a working with children clearance
- exceeding maximum allowable work hours
- failing to keep proper records
Workforce Inspectorate Victoria submitted to the court that it’s incumbent on business owners be they corporate entities or sole proprietors to inform themselves, to be aware of and comply with the law as it relates to the employment of children.
Magistrate Bakos imposed fines totalling $15,000 for the breaches and would have imposed a $22,000 fine without the guilty plea.
Quotes attributable to Robert Hortle, Commissioner of Workforce Inspectorate Victoria
“It’s great for kids to get work experience and earn some money as they do but maximum allowable work hours ensure they are not too tired to engage at school.”
“Requiring working with children clearances to be in place ensures anyone working with children has been subject to a screening process, which helps protect kids from harm.”
“Employers in Victoria have a legal obligation to maintain accurate and detailed records. Record keeping isn’t just the bedrock of compliance - it’s the law.”
“There is no cost to businesses to apply for a child employment licence and through the process businesses are informed of their obligations to keep the kids they employ safe.”
Background
Victorian legislation requires a valid child employment licence — in addition to parental consent—for any child under the age of 15 engaged in work.
Minimum age requirements vary in Victoria depending on the type of work and industry.
In Victoria, a child must be:
- 11 to deliver newspapers and advertising material
- 13 to deliver pharmaceutical products or do other types of work, such as retail or hospitality.
There is no age limit for working in entertainment, but there are industry-specific requirements.
Previous successful prosecutions for child employment law breaches have included Donut King and Kanteen Krew.
For more information about Victoria Child Employment laws please visit Workforce Inspectorate Victoria.