New Classification levels + Wage increases for Dental Assistants from April 2026
On Christmas Eve, the Fair Work Commission issued a determination to vary the Health Professionals & Support Services Award 2020 (HPSS Award), resulting from the Gender-based Undervaluation – Priority Awards Review process which has been running for more than 18 months.
The review, commenced on the Commission’s own motion, set out to consider variations to classifications and minimum wage rates on work value grounds within six Modern Awards applicable in highly feminised industries, “to remedy potential gender undervaluation”. The HPSS Award was identified as a priority award, particularly as it applies to employees classified as Dental Assistants. Refresh with our earlier news post here.
The determination issued on 24 December 2025, will realign classification levels for Dental Assistants and flow on wage increases for these workers over the course of the next 12 months from the first pay period commencing (ppc) on or after 1 April 2026, but does NOT impact rates of pay or conditions for any other employees covered by the HPSS Award (other than Pathology Collectors). This news post only considers the changes as they apply to Dental Assistants.
From April 2026, Dental Assistants will re-align with the following classification levels of the HPSS Award:
| Support Services classification | Criteria (i.e. Definition) |
| Level 3 | Unqualified employee with less than 12 months’ industry experience as a dental assistant |
| Level 5 | Unqualified employee with 12 months’ to up to 4 years’ industry experience as a dental assistant |
| Level 6 | Employee with Certificate III or equivalent qualification or Unqualified employee with 4 years’ or more industry experience as a dental assistant or Unqualified employee with equivalent experience to a Certificate III qualification as assessed by the employer |
| Level 7 | Employee with Certificate IV or equivalent qualification or Unqualified employee with equivalent experience to a Certificate IV qualification as assessed by the employer |
Designated special/lower rates of pay will be applicable to select classification translations between 1 April 2026 to 31 December 2026. The full rate for the applicable classification level will be payable from 1 January 2027 and will conclude the wage increases determined by the Full Bench to be necessary to remedy gender-based undervaluation for Dental Assistants. The Full Bench detailed its reasoning in this respect at paragraph 44 of its 24 December 2025 decision, as follows:
“[44] In order to give an appropriate balance to the competing relevant considerations, we consider that the increases should be implemented in two stages. The first stage would involve an initial increase from 1 April 2026. In the initial stage, dental assistants will translate from their current levels to new levels in the new classification structure. The rates of pay at the higher levels will, however, be phased in such that in the first stage, increases will be around 4 per cent. Higher percentage increases will apply for employees translating from Level 1 to Level 3 (7.95 per cent) and from Level 2 to Level 6 (9.26 per cent). However, Level 1 is the current entry level and it applies for three months only, meaning the increase for employees at that level will only be transitory. The higher increase from Level 2 to Level 6 will only apply to dental assistants with more than four years’ experience. The evidence indicates that dental assistants with four years’ experience tend to be paid above-award rates for attraction and retention reasons, which will mitigate the practical effect of the increases for such employees. The transitional rates will be reflected in amendments to clause 16.2 of the HPSS Award by adding a table of rates that will apply to dental assistants from 1 April 2026. The table will operate until 1 January 2027 when the full translation will take effect. The phase-in of the minimum wage rates associated with the translation, the bulk of which will involve an approximate 4 per cent increase, will allow dental practices a sufficient period to make the administrative arrangements to implement the new classification arrangements and to make other necessary business adjustments, noting that they have effectively been on notice since the April decision that changes of this nature will be forthcoming. The second stage will involve payment of the remaining amount of the total increases and will take effect from 1 January 2027.”
Employers may elect to pay higher rates (i.e. above-award) even where they may be eligible to apply a special/lower rate as permitted by the award (once varied). Increases awarded as part of the gender-based undervaluation review decision can also be absorbed within existing above-award payments.
Trainee rates of pay will not be impacted by this decision, but junior rates of pay will increase from ppc 1 April 2026, for juniors classified as Dental Assistants. Junior percentages will be able to be applied to the special/lower rates of pay for the relevant new classification level through to 31 December 2026, where one applies.
ES Subscribers employing Dental Assistants should refer to our comprehensive bulletin of 6 January 2026 and contact our advice line on (07) 3220 3500 for guidance with reclassification of your employees prior to April.