Young person

Rights of the Child

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child is an international human rights treaty about the civil, political, economic, social, health and cultural rights of children. The convention has set has a minimum standard for the protection of the rights of all children.

Australia ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child in December 1990. This means that Australia is legally bound to protect the rights of all children.

For more information about the Convention, see Convention on the Rights of the Child on the OHCHR website.

Emergency contacts

For more information and contact details for emergency services including the police, accommodation, mental health or other supports, see Emergency contacts.

Criminal charges, courts, police and the law

In New South Wales, if you are aged 10 or older you can be charged with a criminal offence. However if you are charged, different rules and procedures will apply to you than for adults. 

Contact with police and courts is stressful and sometimes scary. The resources below can help explain the special rules and procedures for young people and make it less stressful.

Legal Aid NSW has a group of lawyers who work only for young people. For more information, see Children’s Legal Service.

For more information, see:

• AVOs against children
• AVOs to protect children
• Get street smart: Under 18? Know your legal rights.

Health, sex and the law

This topic covers:

• sex and consent
• the age of consent in New South Wales
• sending sexual pictures over the phone or internet
• pornography and the law
• pregnancy.

For more information, see Health, sex and the law.

Driving and the law

In New South Wales the law for young drivers includes laws specific to learner and provisional drivers. These laws restrict how you can use a car. These laws are designed to reduce the risk of crashes involving drivers who are younger and have less experience than other drivers. 

For more information on our website, see My car or a driving offence.

For more information, see:

• Learner driver licence on the NSW government website
• P1 & P2 drivers on the Transport for NSW government website
• Car accidents and crashes on the Youth Law Australia website
• Cars and driving on the Youth Law Australia website.

School and the law

School is an important part in the life of any young person.. There are laws about young people and the formal education system.

Leaving school

After you finish high school, there are many things you can do to prepare for your future.

For example, you can:

• get your own tax file number (TFN) from the Australian Taxation Office, if you don’t have one

• create a myGov account and link to your Centrelink online account

• get your own Medicare card.

For more information, see Leaving secondary school on the Services Australia website. 

In New South Wales, you  have to go to school from when you turn 6 until you finish Year 10 or turn 17.

If you have finished Year 10 but you haven’t turnedare not 17 yet, then you need to do one of the following things:

• do some other form of education or training (like TAFE or an apprenticeship);  

• do full time paid work (at least 25 hours a week); or

• do a combination of work, education and training.

If you want to leave school before you finish Year 10 and do an apprenticeship, you have to get special permission. 

If you don’t go to school between the age of 6 and 17, or don’t complete Year 10, your parents can be fined. 

If you’re meant to be at school, a police officer or education officer with an ID card could approach you in a public place during school time to ask your name and address, the name of the school and take you either home or to school.

Bullying

Bullying is never okay. At school you have the right to feel safe and protected. For more information about bullying, see Bullying at school on the Youth Law Australia website.

Work and the law

Entering the workforce is an exciting time in the life of any young person. Young people are often respected for their enthusiasm, a desire to learn and the fresh ideas they bring into the workforce. 

However the law governing when a young person can enter the workforce and the legal rights of young people at work can be confusing. For information on the law and your legal rights at work can be found below.

There is no minimum age to start casual or part-time work in NSW.  However there are certain limits on the hours you can work until you turn 15.  You can only work full time if you have completed year 10, or turned 17, or have the permission of the Department of Education.

For more information about employment and your legal rights see, Employment on the Youth Law Australia website.

Technology and the law

The internet is a great way to keep in touch with your friends and meet new people. However it is also important to be careful about who you talk to, what information you post and the things you say to other people.

For more information about staying safe online, see Internet, phones and technology on the Youth Law Australia website.

Social media age restrictions

Australian laws require some social media companies to take steps to stop anyone under 16 from having an account on their platform.

For more information about which services are included in the ban for under 16s, see Which platforms are age-restricted? on the eSafety Commissioner website.

It is not a crime for a person under 16 to use one of these social media platforms, but companies that don't take reasonable steps to stop people under 16 from having accounts on their platforms can face large fines.

Social media companies can ask you to provide your government ID to check your age, but they must also offer other options.

For more information about the law on social media age restrictions, see Social media ‘ban’ or delay FAQs on the eSafety Commissioner website.

Fines

If you have a fine and are under 18 years old, or you got your fine when you were under 18, there are different rules that apply to you.

If you receive a fine, you should deal with it as soon as possible. Don’t ignore your fine. Even if you don’t want to challenge your fine, you have options for dealing with your fine.

Your parents aren’t responsible for your fines. 

For more information, see Fines and young people.

Government benefits

As a student, you may be eligible to receive Centrelink payments to help you with the cost of living.

You may be able to apply for:

• Youth Allowance (if you are under 24 years old and a student or apprentice)
• Youth Allowance for job seekers (if you are under 21 years old and looking for work)
• Austudy (if you are over 25 years old and a student or apprentice)
• ABSTUDY (if you are an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander student or apprentice).

To find out what payments you are eligible for, see Payment and Service Finder tool on the Centrelink website. 

When you turn 15 years old, you can apply for your own Medicare card.

For information on visiting doctors, getting your own Medicare card and accessing other health services, see Health services for young people on the NSW Government website. 

Living with family and the law

Living with family and family relationships are often very important in the lives of young people. However living with family can present as challenges for young people. But living with family can sometimes be difficult, including if your parents are going through separation or divorce. Many young people may also have questions about when they can move to an independent living arrangement. 

For information about what the law says about these issues see below. 

For information, see:

• Divorce, separation and who you live with on the Youth Law Australia website
• When can I leave home or move out in New South Wales? on the Youth Law Australia website.

Leaving state or foster care

When you turn 15 years old your caseworker will start making your leaving care plan with you.

If you have left state or foster care, you can apply for:

• Rent Choice Youth
• Independent Living Allowance.

Rent Choice Youth is a program for young people aged between 16 and 24 years to find a place to live, get approved for a lease, pay the rent up to three years. You will be linked to a support worker to help you work towards your goals.

For more information, see Rent Choice Youth on the Communities & Justice website.

From 1 February 2023, young people who have recently left out-of-home care, can access the new Independent Living Allowance. This is a $250 fortnightly payment to help with your accommodation and essential living expenses.

For more information, see Independent Living Allowance on the Department of Communities and Justice website.

For more information about services and support to help you transition to living independently, see Leaving care information for young people on the NSW Government website.

When can I?

All young people have questions about when they will be old enough to be able to choose options for themselves. When can I get a job, get my own Medicare card, drive, vote? For more information, see When can I?

Last updated: May 2026