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Workers Compensation Act 1951
10Casuals not employed for trade or business
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10 Casuals not employed for trade or business
(1) In this Act, worker does not include an individual (the casual
employee) employed by someone (the principal) on a casual basis to
perform work for the principal other than work that is for (or
incidental to) the principal’s trade or business unless the casual
employee is taken to be a worker under any of the following
provisions:
(a) subsection (2) (which deals with casual employment found
through employment agencies);
(b) section 11 (Regular contractors and casuals);
(c) section 17 (Religious workers).
(2) If the casual employee’s employment was found for the employee by
a person who carries on the business of an employment agent, for this
Act the casual employee is taken to be a worker employed by the
employment agent.
Examples of casual employees who are not workers
1 A gardener irregularly employed by the occupier of residential premises to
work in the garden of the premises (unless engaged through an employment
agent—see example 4).
2 A babysitter irregularly employed by the parents of young children (unless
engaged through an employment agent—see example 4).
Examples of casual employees who are workers
3 A gardener regularly employed by the owner of a business to work on the
grounds of the premises where the employer’s business is carried on. The
gardener is taken to be a worker employed to perform work incidental to the
principal’s business (see s (1)).
4 A babysitter irregularly employed by the parents of young children who is
engaged through an employment agent. The babysitter is taken to be a worker
employed by the agent rather than the parents (see s (1) (a) and
s (2)).
5 A babysitter regularly and systematically employed (for example, once a week
over a 6 month period) by the parents of young children. The babysitter is
taken to be a worker employed by the parents under s 11 (Regular contractors
and casuals)—see s (1) (b).