News

‘Adult’ juniors to receive full adult rate under Retail, Fast Food awards

On 31 March, a Full Bench of the Fair Work Commission handed down its decision in the junior rates case, which was first initiated by application of the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association (SDA) in June 2024 and sought an increase to minimum rates applicable to juniors employed under the General Retail Industry Award 2020, the Fast Food Industry Award 2020 and the Pharmacy Industry Award 2020.

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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.

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REMINDER: New Classifications + Wage Increases for Educators & Dental Assistants

In the lead up to Christmas, the Fair Work Commission (FWC) issued determinations to vary the Children’s Services Award 2010 and the Health Professionals & Support Services Award 2020, to usher in revised classifications and wage increases for Children’s Services Employees and Dental Assistants, with the first increases taking effect from 1 March and 1 April respectively.

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Employee agreement essential to vary part-time hours: FWC

An early childhood employer has been reprimanded by the Fair Work Commission (FWC), after falling victim to the widely held and long-standing misconception that part-time employment is configured by stipulating a range of hours, with a guaranteed weekly minimum of 15, and that rosters may be changed at the employer’s discretion by giving a week’s notice.

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Report highlights proposed alternative classification structure for SCHADS Award arising from Gender-based Undervaluation Review

The Gender-based Undervaluation – Priority Awards Review process, which has been running for more than 18 months, commenced on the Commission’s own motion and 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 Social, Community, Home Care & Disability Services Industry Award 2010 (the SCHADS Award) was one of the priority awards identified.

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