Fair Work Updates to Awards and Pay Guides

Updates have been made to the pay guide and the Pay and Conditions Tool for this award. These updates include amendments to definitions and the inclusion of workplace delegate rights following legislative changes that took effect on 1 July 2024 . These changes ensure the award reflects current workplace relations legislation. These changes also apply to employees on enterprise agreements who are paid introductory rates under this award.

 

Fair Work has updated how the Director’s allowance is presented in the Pay and Conditions Tool and pay guide. The allowance now appears more clearly to assist employers calculating pay for directors in early childhood education and care settings. The underlying entitlement has not changed; this is a presentational improvement only.

 

Further changes are being introduced as part of the Fair Work Commission’s Gender-based Undervaluation Priority Awards Review. This review examines industries where work has historically been undervalued, ensuring pay rates appropriately reflect required responsibilities and skills.

Current updates affect dental assistants and pathology collectors, with changes to classification definitions and minimum pay rate increases. These changes take effect from 1 April 2026.

Existing employees will transition to new classifications based on their current qualifications and experience. Employers must review all dental assistant and pathology collector classifications before 1 April 2026 to ensure correct payment from that date.

 

If you have any questions related to this news release, or any other HR topic, please contact our  team at info@explorepotential or call  08 70951830