Too young to work

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While there's nothing wrong with kids earning pocket money, experts believe that thousands of children are now working to put bread on the family table.

They were the photos that destroyed child slavery at the turn of last century. Poignant pictures by Lewis Hine that highlighted society's hidden shame, child slave labour. But 100 years on are things any better?

The first national survey of child employment by the Australian Bureau of Statistics has found more than 175,000 kids, as young as five, worked last financial year. One in seven kids holds down a job.

For 16-year-old Rebecca, she not only goes to school but also holds down two jobs, and has been working since she was 14.

"At one job I did 10 and a half hours a week and the other job I did 8 hours. Sometimes like $150 a week."

Rebecca says she works so hard for one simple reason: "I'm bored and I don't want to sit at home."

Her mother couldn't be happier with her daughter's attitude.

"She doesn't have to ask me for something all the time. She's got money there. If we're out window shopping and she likes something I say save your pennies, and she'll end up getting it."

Most kids, like Rebecca, work to get some pocket money. The vast majority work during school hoursdoing anything from flipping burgers to paper runs and leaflet drops.

By and large, this is a very positive thing, teaching them discipline, a sense of work ethic and how to be independent.

But there is a disturbing trend emerging, says Adam Blakester from the National Association for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect, as highlighted in the recent ABS survey.

More than 6500 kids worked to keep their families afloat - worked to survive by providing their family’s income.

"For a country like Australia you have to wonder what is going on if we have kids putting bread and butter on the table," said Mr Blakester.

"We know that one in six kids in Australia lives in a house where no-one has a job. So there's obviously financial pressure and stress there. If they're young and forced to work that is a very unhealthy level of responsibility for a young child.”

And that's not the only issue. Kids have also found there is sometimes a tax sting if they invest some of their hard earned money in things like shares. While they fall below the tax-free threshold, they incur capital gains tax on any interest earned.

Catherine Elliott works in her family's bakery and decided to do the right thing with her hard earned money by investing in shares, but that has led to a $360 tax bill for interest earned on her shares.

“To me it's useless. I'm trying to save money for my future and the government is pulling me back."

“It's totally unfair it's like five weeks worth of my wages. Mum thought it was unfair so she paid it for me. I just want my money back."

That makes Catherine one of the youngest tax payers in the country but she won't stop fighting until she gets her money back. Parents are being warned by the experts to make sure their kids are not being abused or ripped off.

"I think it's critical that parents play an active role in kids getting work, said Mr Blakester.

"They've been through the work experience more often than not or they're at least older to be able to look out for the pitfalls or provide guidance on the job."