THE Australian Workers Union has slammed Tennis Australia for refusing to pay ball kids at this month's Australian Open.   

AWU Victorian secretary Cesar Melhem said it was shameful that players would be paid millions of dollars and ball kids wouldn't receive any compensation for their work.   

"They clothe them, they feed them, but what they do is a meaningful job," he said. "It's a form of exploitation, and it's taking advantage of them."

Tennis Australia spokeswoman Brooke Boger declined to explain why ball kids were no longer paid. Instead, a factsheet emailed to BNW stated that ball kids were considered volunteers and instead of being paid, they would receive a gift pack after the tournament. They also receive a uniform and food voucher on work days.

Until 2009, ball kids were paid $42 per match. The juniors, aged between 12 and 15, work in one-hour rotations on court, collecting balls, towels and drinks for players. They generally work eight-hour shifts, but working stints can be longer.

This month's Open will include 367 ball kids, including 20 from overseas.

According to the program, the youngsters take part in a vigorous selection process, with successful candidates performing a "demanding schedule of training and preparation" starting in August, culminating in the two-week January tournament.

The AWU has spoken to Tennis Australia about the situation and plans to make further efforts to have the ball kids' pay reinstated.

"What they're doing is no different to people who are umpiring the game. It's about setting the right example: that when you go to work, you get paid," Mr Melhem said.

The winners of this year's men's and women's final will each get $2.2 million.   

This situation sux - it is not only stingy but exploitative and it should have been stomped-on when it started last year!

The fact that Tennis Australia previously paid these kids for their services has set a precedent that they were employing them to do a job.

The fixed match fee payment was bizarre - but it would have gone some way towards covering the parents' costs of getting their kids to the tournament venue (noting that the time and costs associated with the extensive pre-tournament training was donated by the children and their families gratis).

It would seem that their parents were expected to pay for their own match tickets (and parking) if they wished to hang around while their kids are working!?

It must be about the $42 a day, and not being up and close with the worlds gratest players with the best seat in the house.

Hell, I know parents that would pay to have their kids do it.

All the parents getting into this know exactly what the conditions are.  I love how the union thinks this is about them.

Gee, I wish I was 15 again, I would love to do it.  I think you will find all these kids are aspiring tennis players, and the experience of meeting the worlds best is something money cant buy.

while your at it why not have aspiring mine workers and send  kids down mine shafts for no pay 


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dear oh dear..what an attitude..

let it be up to the kids.. a gift pack or cash.. simple really.

the kids I would think are in heaven they would I am sure have to apply to become ball kids... not all those who play tennis can ever aspire to be on centre court....do water boys at the foot get paid??..

I am not in favour of kids being PAID for everything they do...but 8 hours is a long time so I am not sure about this one.. what about line keepers are they paid.. for just standing?.

Tournament organisers are nothing more than exploitive cheap skates who use the generosity of volunteers in favour of paying $millions as first prize to the finalists.

In the case of the Australian Tennis, these cretins are exploiting the stupidity of the parents of these poor kids in the hope their kids will receive a worthless autograph from a tennis player.  These kids do a fantastic job in extremely harsh environments, and I see no reason why they shouldn’t be financially rewarded for their efforts.

Anything besides financial compensation should be considered an insult considering the $million the players get for competing.

Ah, good old sport, and keeping the commoners happy dates back to the gladiatorial events of Rome. Event organisers pray on exploiting the common man and woman weakness on being involved in something from a distance that they can cheer.  Not to mention relying on the stupidity of some that pay $100’s on tickets.


Some might call watching 2 over-rated & over-paid people with sticks hitting a ball across a net a chance in a lifetime experience, and encourage their children to participate in such endeavours for free, but I think there is more worthwhile pursuits that warrant better experiences.

I certainly wouldn’t be encouraging my children to consider a sportsperson as a role model or someone to admire and look up too.

That’s of course if you didn’t want them to be psychos, drug addicts, or under the surgeons knife by the time they are 30.