New Classifications + Wage Increases for Health Professionals foreshadowed from 30 June 2026
At the beginning of March, the Fair Work Commission (FWC) published a draft 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, and the FWC has already approved changes which will amend the classifications for Support Services employees engaged as Dental Assistants (and Pathology Collectors) and flow on wage increases for these workers from 1 April 2026. Catch-up with our related news post, here.
Drafted in the same fashion as the impending changes for Dental Assistants, the most recent round of proposed changes stand to impact all employees classified as Health Professionals by replacing the existing classification structure in full and flowing on wage increases, which are to be “phased in over a maximum of five approximately equal stages, 12 months apart”. Although the draft determination is yet to be finalised, the FWC desires the new classification structure and first wage increase (of 5%) to come into force from the first full pay period commencing (ppc) on or after 30 June 2026.
Once complete, wage increases totalling up to 17% will be flowed on to Health Professionals classifications, implemented as an increase of 5% in the first instalment (ppc 30 June 2026), 3% over the next three instalments, and a final increase, which may be less than 3% in some instances, in the final instalment.
Implementation of the proposed classification structure requires translating 19 existing classifications and rates of pay for Health Professionals to 24 new classifications and rates of pay. The proposed classification structure and definitions can be viewed at Item 3 (clause A.2) of the draft determination (link below).
Level 1 still constitutes an entry level Health Professional, with the pay rate to be determined with reference to the employee’s AQF qualification (i.e. AQF Level 5 – 9) and “the employee’s years of experience at Level 1”. Revised descriptors will apply to Health Professionals Levels 2 – 4.
No reduction in pay
Importantly, to ensure no employee suffers a reduction in pay because of realignment with the proposed new classification structure, a small number of existing classifications will be subject to a retained (preserved) minimum rate of pay. In such instances, pay rates applicable to the identified classifications as at 29 June 2026 will continue to apply to those workers until the rate applicable to the new classification level is higher, at which time the employee will transition to the new classification and higher pay rate. The select existing classifications which will be subject to a retained (preserved) minimum rate of pay can be viewed in clause J.3.3 towards the end of the draft determination.
Next steps
The FWC is taking submissions on the draft determination through to 23 March, though any refinements are likely to be minor. The final determination is likely to be published shortly after Easter, if not before. In the meantime, employers engaging Health Professionals are encouraged to take some time to peruse the draft determination – accessible on the FWC’s website, here – and familiarise themselves with the proposed changes. Employers who engage both Dental Assistants and Health Professionals should prioritise implementation of the new classifications and wage increases for Dental Assistants, which are already confirmed and take effect ppc 1 April 2026.