AWARD ROUND-UP: Changes for Health Professionals, SCHADS + ‘Adult’ juniors in Retail

Employers applying the Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020, the Social, Community, Home Care & Disability Services Industry Award 2010, the General Retail Industry Award 2020 or the Fast Food Industry Award 2020 are reminded that significant changes to these instruments are either already in force as of 1 October, or on the horizon from 1 December 2026.

A new classification structure applies to Health Professional employees as of 1 October 2026, while a 15% wage increase is on the way for Home Care – Disability Care employees from 1 December, which is also when select juniors aged 18 or over who are employed in the retail sector will benefit from an increase to their minimum award wages.

New classification structure in force for Health Professionals

From the first pay period commencing (ppc) on or after 1 October 2026, Health Professional employees engaged under the Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020 (HPSS Award) are subject to a brand-new classification structure and updated rates of pay. Subsequent wage increases will also apply from 30 June in 2027, 2028, 2029 and 2030.

Comprehensive translation arrangements (to assist reclassification) have been inserted into Schedule J of the HPSS Award, where new clause J.4 contains extensive “examples” of likely classification translations (i.e. existing classification aligning with incoming classification/pay point).

No employee can experience a reduction in pay because of reclassification under the new structure from ppc 1 October. Where an employee’s rate of pay for their existing classification as of 30 September 2026 is higher than the rate applicable to their translated classification as from ppc 1 October, the employee must continue to be paid at their preserved (retained) minimum rate until the rate applicable to their translated classification level is higher.

Subscribers employing Health Professional employees under the HPSS Award can refer to our comprehensive email bulletin of 7 September 2026 which explores the changes in detail. These changes do not impact employees classified as ‘Support Services’ employees (e.g. dental assistants, medical receptionists, etc) or Health Professionals engaged as contractors.

15% increase for Home Care – Disability Care employees; new SCHADS classifications settled

In September, a Full Bench of the Fair Work Commission settled two significant matters in relation to the Social, Community, Home Care & Disability Services Industry Award 2010 (the SCHADS Award).

From the first pay period commencing (ppc) on or after 1 December 2026, employees engaged under Schedule E of the SCHADS Award (being Home Care – Disability Care employees) will receive an interim 15% wage increase designed to better align these workers with the higher rates awarded in recent years to Aged Care employees, and to reduce the size of increase that will need to be flowed on to these workers when all employees are translated to the new classification structure which is slated to take effect from 1 October 2027. The new minimum rates that will apply to these employees from ppc 1 December 2026 can be viewed in our email bulletin to Subscribers of 14 September.

At the same time the Full Bench confirmed the application of the 15% interim wage increase from ppc 1 December, the FWC also published its decision settling the revamped classification structure which will come into force for all employees covered by the SCHADS Award (except for Family Day Care employees) from ppc 1 October 2027. Subscribers can refer to our special bulletin of 12 October 2026, which provides a simplified introduction to the new classification structure and connects to the draft (final) award variation.

Elsewhere, the ASU continues to pursue further refinement of the classification structure along with 35% wage increases for the sector. In mid-October, the Government announced a $630 million funding package to assist charities and not-for-profit organisations to meet increased wage costs resulting from implementation of award-related wage increases (see our related article).

Increases for ‘Adult’ juniors under Retail, Fast Food awards

Also coming into force from 1 December 2026 will be the first incremental increase to minimum wages for select ‘adult’ juniors employed under the General Retail Industry Award 2020 (Retail Award) and the Fast Food Industry Award 2020 (Fast Food Award).

Ultimately, juniors aged 18 or over – i.e. adults – who have completed six months or more service with their employer, will be entitled to be paid the full adult award rate for their relevant classification, rather than a lesser percentage based on their age. The first incremental increase of 5% is set to occur from the first full pay period commencing (ppc) on or after 1 December 2026, with subsequent 5% increases to apply each 1 July and 1 December until the 100% adult rate is achieved.

Subscribers applying the Retail or Fast Food awards can refer to our dedicated email bulletins of 21 September for further detail, which include the updated wage rates set to take effect for these workers from ppc 1 December 2026.

The Pharmacy Industry Award 2020 is similarly impacted by these changes for ‘adult’ juniors.