MA000132

Victorian Local Government Award 2015

 

This Fair Work Commission consolidated modern award incorporates all amendments up to and including 27 August 2024 (PR777368 and PR778116).

Clause(s) affected by the most recent variation(s):

3Definitions and interpretation

9Dispute resolution

10Employment categories

19A—Employee right to disconnect

 

Table of Contents

[Varied by PR732911, PR774861, PR778116]

Part 1— Application and Operation. 3

1. Title. 3

2. Commencement 3

3. Definitions and interpretation. 3

4. Coverage. 5

5. Access to the award and the National Employment Standards. 6

6. The National Employment Standards and this award. 6

7. Award flexibility. 6

Part 2— Workplace Delegates, Consultation and Dispute Resolution. 8

7A. Workplace delegates’ rights. 8

8. Consultation. 11

9. Dispute resolution. 12

Part 3— Types of Employment and Termination of Employment 14

10. Employment categories. 14

11. Termination of employment 17

12. Redundancy. 18

Part 4— Minimum Wages and Related Matters. 18

13. Classifications. 18

14. Minimum wages. 19

15. Allowances. 24

16. Higher duties. 30

17. Payment of wages. 30

18. Superannuation. 30

Part 5— Hours of Work and Related Matters. 32

19. Ordinary hours of work and rostering. 32

19A. Employee right to disconnect 34

20. Meal breaks. 35

21. Penalty rates. 35

22. Overtime. 36

22A. Requests for flexible working arrangements. 41

Part 6— Leave and Public Holidays. 41

23. Annual leave. 41

24. Personal/carer’s leave and compassionate leave. 42

25. Community service leave. 42

26. Parental leave. 43

27. Public holidays. 43

Schedule A —Classifications. 44

Schedule B —Supported Wage System.. 52

Schedule C —School-based Apprentices. 55

Schedule D —National Training Wage. 56

Schedule E —Part-day public holidays. 69

Schedule F —Agreement for time off instead of payment for overtime. 70

Schedule G —Agreement to Take Annual Leave in Advance. 71


Part 1—Application and Operation

1.                      Title

This award is the Victorian Local Government Award 2015.

2.                      Commencement

2.1                   This award commences on 20 July 2015.

2.2                   The monetary obligations imposed on employers by this award may be absorbed into overaward payments. Nothing in this award requires an employer to maintain or increase any overaward payment.

2.3                   The making of this award is not intended to result in a reduction in the take-home pay of employees covered by the award. On application by or on behalf of an employee who suffers a reduction in take-home pay as a result of the making of this award, the Fair Work Commission may make any order it considers appropriate to remedy the situation.

3.                      Definitions and interpretation

[Varied by PR733972, PR774861, PR777368]

3.1                   In this award, unless the contrary intention appears:

Act means the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth)

adult apprentice means an apprentice who is 21 years of age or over at the commencement of their apprenticeship

[Definition of casual employee inserted by PR733972 from 27Sep21; varied by PR777368 from 27Aug24]

casual employee has the meaning given by section 15A of the Act

NOTE: Section 15A of the Act was amended with effect from 26 August 2024. Under clause 102(3) of Schedule 1 to the Act, an existing employee who was a casual employee of an employer under section 15A as it was immediately before that date is taken to be a casual employee of the employer for the purposes of section 15A after that date.

community services means those employees whose role is to encourage, promote or conduct community pursuits or community development programs for the maintenance or improvement of general social and living standards with regard to family support, services related to income, welfare, employment, education, health, housing, youth, the aged, domiciliary, arts and/or culture including arts programs, exhibitions, museums, art galleries, events, entertainment and theatres

default fund employee means an employee who has no chosen fund within the meaning of the Superannuation Guarantee (Administration) Act 1992 (Cth)

defined benefit member has the meaning given by the Superannuation Guarantee (Administration) Act 1992 (Cth)

employee means national system employee within the meaning of the Act

[Definition of employee organisation inserted by PR774861 from 01Jul24]

employee organisation has the meaning given by section 12 of Act.

employer means national system employer within the meaning of the Act

[Definition of enterprise inserted by PR774861 from 01Jul24]

enterprise has the meaning given by section 12 of the Act.

exempt public sector superannuation scheme has the meaning given by the Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993 (Cth)

full rate of pay has the meaning in the NES

garbage, sanitary and sullage services means services in the following work functions: recycling, street sweeping, waste collection, waste disposal including at tips, landfills and waste transfer stations including mechanical services in connection with these work functions

hourly ordinary time rate of an employee is 1/38th of the minimum weekly rate of pay specified in clause 14Minimum wages for the employee’s classification

local government entity means a council, shire council or other local government body created under or regulated by Victorian local government legislation

local law enforcement and community safety services means those services undertaken to enforce one or more of the local government entity’s by-laws or any legislative requirements which the local government entity is empowered to enforce or to ensure community safety or security including rangers, security, parking inspectors, watchpersons or night patrol

minimum weekly rate of an employee is the minimum weekly rate of pay specified in clause 14Minimum wages, for the employee’s classification

MySuper product has the meaning given by the Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993 (Cth)

NES means the National Employment Standards as contained in sections 59 to 131 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth)

on-hire means the on-hire of an employee by their employer to a client, where such employee works under the general guidance and instruction of the client or a representative of the client

recreation centres means a recreation centre, leisure centre, swimming pool, aquatic centre or sports centre or any other municipal centre that provides physical, recreational and/or cultural/historical activities or such other similar activities provided in the public interest

[Definition of regular casual employee inserted by PR733972 from 27Sep21]

regular casual employee has the meaning given by section 12 of the Act

[Definition of small business employer inserted by PR774861 from 01Jul24]

small business employer has the meaning given by section 23 of the Act.

standard rate means the minimum hourly rate for a Level 4 employee in clause 14Minimum wages being the minimum weekly rate divided by 38

tourism services means the following services: visitor and regional information centres; exhibition, convention and amusement complexes; heritage, tourism and cultural centres; animal parks and aquariums; guided tours and other educational services operated by local government for the benefit of tourists, visitors and the local community

[Definition of workplace delegate inserted by PR774861 from 01Jul24]

workplace delegate has the meaning given by section 350C(1) of the Act.

3.2                   Where this award refers to a condition of employment provided for in the NES, the NES definition applies.

4.                      Coverage

4.1                   This State reference public sector modern award covers employers throughout Victoria in the local government industry and their employees in the classifications listed in Schedule A—Classifications to the exclusion of any other modern award.

4.2                   In this award local government industry means all activities undertaken by local government entities, including activities undertaken by corporations controlled by one or more local government entities. In this subclause a corporation is controlled by one or more local government entities if one or more local government entities have the capacity to determine the outcome of decisions about the corporation’s financial and operating policies.

4.3                   This award does not cover:

(a)          the chief executive officer of a local government entity, however described;

(b)         nurses engaged in accordance with a modern Nurses award;

(c)          early childhood teachers (university qualified) engaged in accordance with a modern Teachers award;

(d)         early childhood assistants engaged in accordance with a modern Children’s Services award; or

(e)          local government associations and their employees.

4.4                   The award does not cover an employee excluded from award coverage by the Act.

4.5                   The award does not cover employees who are covered by a modern enterprise award, or employers in relation to those employees.

4.6                   Where an employer is covered by more than one award, an employee of that employer is covered by the award classification which is most appropriate to the work performed by the employee and to the environment in which the employee normally performs the work.

NOTE: Where there is no classification for a particular employee in this award it is possible that the employer and that employee are covered by an award with occupational coverage.

5.                      Access to the award and the National Employment Standards

The employer must ensure that copies of this award and the NES are available to all employees to whom they apply either on a noticeboard which is conveniently located at or near the workplace or through electronic means, whichever makes them more accessible.

6.                      The National Employment Standards and this award

The NES and this award contain the minimum conditions of employment for employees covered by this award.

7.                      Award flexibility

7.1                   Notwithstanding any other provision of this award, an employer and an individual employee may agree to vary the application of certain terms of this award to meet the genuine individual needs of the employer and the individual employee. The terms the employer and the individual employee may agree to vary the application of are those concerning:

(a)          arrangements for when work is performed;

(b)         overtime rates;

(c)          penalty rates;

(d)         allowances; and

(e)          leave loading.

7.2                   The employer and the individual employee must have genuinely made the agreement without coercion or duress. An agreement under this clause can only be entered into after the individual employee has commenced employment with the employer.

7.3                   The agreement between the employer and the individual employee must:

(a)          be confined to a variation in the application of one or more of the terms listed in clause 7.1; and

(b)         result in the employee being better off overall at the time the agreement is made than the employee would have been if no individual flexibility agreement had been agreed to.

7.4                   The agreement between the employer and the individual employee must also:

(a)          be in writing, name the parties to the agreement and be signed by the employer and the individual employee and, if the employee is under 18 years of age, the employee’s parent or guardian;

(b)         state each term of this award that the employer and the individual employee have agreed to vary;

(c)          detail how the application of each term has been varied by agreement between the employer and the individual employee;

(d)         detail how the agreement results in the individual employee being better off overall in relation to the individual employee’s terms and conditions of employment; and

(e)          state the date the agreement commences to operate.

7.5                   The employer must give the individual employee a copy of the agreement and keep the agreement as a time and wages record.

7.6                   Except as provided in subclause 7.4(a) the agreement must not require the approval or consent of a person other than the employer and the individual employee.

7.7                   An employer seeking to enter into an agreement must provide a written proposal to the employee. Where the employee’s understanding of written English is limited the employer must take measures, including translation into an appropriate language, to ensure the employee understands the proposal.

7.8                   The agreement may be terminated:

(a)          by the employer or the individual employee giving 13 weeks’ notice of termination, in writing, to the other party and the agreement ceasing to operate at the end of the notice period; or

(b)         at any time, by written agreement between the employer and the individual employee.

Note: If any of the requirements of s.144(4), which are reflected in the requirements of this clause, are not met then the agreement may be terminated by either the employee or the employer, giving written notice of not more than 28 days (see s.145 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth)).

7.9                   The notice provisions in clause 7.8(a) only apply to an agreement entered into from the first full pay period commencing on or after 4 December 2013. An agreement entered into before that date may be terminated in accordance with clause 7.8(a), subject to four weeks’ notice of termination.

7.10               The right to make an agreement pursuant to this clause is in addition to, and is not intended to otherwise affect, any provision for an agreement between an employer and an individual employee contained in any other term of this award.

Part 2—Workplace Delegates, Consultation and Dispute Resolution

[Part 2—Consultation and Dispute Resolution renamed by PR774861 from 01Jul24]

7A. Workplace delegates’ rights

[7A inserted by PR774861 from 01Jul24]

7A.1 Clause 7A provides for the exercise of the rights of workplace delegates set out in section 350C of the Act.

NOTE: Under section 350C(4) of the Act, the employer is taken to have afforded a workplace delegate the rights mentioned in section 350C(3) if the employer has complied with clause 7A.

7A.2 In clause 7A:

(a)          employer means the employer of the workplace delegate;

(b)         delegate’s organisation means the employee organisation in accordance with the rules of which the workplace delegate was appointed or elected; and

(c)          eligible employees means members and persons eligible to be members of the delegate’s organisation who are employed by the employer in the enterprise.

7A.3 Before exercising entitlements under clause 7A, a workplace delegate must give the employer written notice of their appointment or election as a workplace delegate. If requested, the workplace delegate must provide the employer with evidence that would satisfy a reasonable person of their appointment or election.

7A.4 An employee who ceases to be a workplace delegate must give written notice to the employer within 14 days.

7A.5 Right of representation

A workplace delegate may represent the industrial interests of eligible employees who wish to be represented by the workplace delegate in matters including:

(a)          consultation about major workplace change;

(b)         consultation about changes to rosters or hours of work;

(c)          resolution of disputes;

(d)         disciplinary processes;

(e)          enterprise bargaining where the workplace delegate has been appointed as a bargaining representative under section 176 of the Act or is assisting the delegate’s organisation with enterprise bargaining; and

(f)           any process or procedure within an award, enterprise agreement or policy of the employer under which eligible employees are entitled to be represented and which concerns their industrial interests.

7A.6 Entitlement to reasonable communication

(a)          A workplace delegate may communicate with eligible employees for the purpose of representing their industrial interests under clause 7A.5. This includes discussing membership of the delegate’s organisation and representation with eligible employees.

(b)         A workplace delegate may communicate with eligible employees during working hours or work breaks, or before or after work.

7A.7 Entitlement to reasonable access to the workplace and workplace facilities

(a) The employer must provide a workplace delegate with access to or use of the following workplace facilities:

(i)           a room or area to hold discussions that is fit for purpose, private and accessible by the workplace delegate and eligible employees;

(ii)         a physical or electronic noticeboard;

(iii)       electronic means of communication ordinarily used in the workplace by the employer to communicate with eligible employees and by eligible employees to communicate with each other, including access to Wi-Fi;

(iv)       a lockable filing cabinet or other secure document storage area; and

(v)         office facilities and equipment including printers, scanners and photocopiers.

(b) The employer is not required to provide access to or use of a workplace facility under clause 7A.7(a) if:

(i)           the workplace does not have the facility;

(ii)         due to operational requirements, it is impractical to provide access to or use of the facility at the time or in the manner it is sought; or

(iii)       the employer does not have access to the facility at the enterprise and is unable to obtain access after taking reasonable steps.

7A.8 Entitlement to reasonable access to training

Unless the employer is a small business employer, the employer must provide a workplace delegate with access to up to 5 days of paid time during normal working hours for initial training and at least one day each subsequent year, to attend training related to representation of the industrial interests of eligible employees, subject to the following conditions:

(a)          In each year commencing 1 July, the employer is not required to provide access to paid time for training to more than one workplace delegate per 50 eligible employees.

(b)         The number of eligible employees will be determined on the day a delegate requests paid time to attend training, as the number of eligible employees who are:

(i)           full-time or part-time employees; or

(ii)         regular casual employees.

(c)          Payment for a day of paid time during normal working hours is payment of the amount the workplace delegate would have been paid for the hours the workplace delegate would have been rostered or required to work on that day if the delegate had not been absent from work to attend the training.

(d)         The workplace delegate must give the employer not less than 5 weeks’ notice (unless the employer and delegate agree to a shorter period of notice) of the dates, subject matter, the daily start and finish times of the training, and the name of the training provider.

(e)          If requested by the employer, the workplace delegate must provide the employer with an outline of the training content.

(f)           The employer must advise the workplace delegate not less than 2 weeks from the day on which the training is scheduled to commence, whether the workplace delegate’s access to paid time during normal working hours to attend the training has been approved. Such approval must not be unreasonably withheld.

(g)          The workplace delegate must, within 7 days after the day on which the training ends, provide the employer with evidence that would satisfy a reasonable person of their attendance at the training.

7A.9 Exercise of entitlements under clause 7A

(a)          A workplace delegate’s entitlements under clause 7A are subject to the conditions that the workplace delegate must, when exercising those entitlements:

(i)           comply with their duties and obligations as an employee;

(ii)         comply with the reasonable policies and procedures of the employer, including reasonable codes of conduct and requirements in relation to occupational health and safety and acceptable use of ICT resources;

(iii)       not hinder, obstruct or prevent the normal performance of work; and

(iv)       not hinder, obstruct or prevent eligible employees exercising their rights to freedom of association.

(b)         Clause 7A does not require the employer to provide a workplace delegate with access to electronic means of communication in a way that provides individual contact details for eligible employees.

(c)          Clause 7A does not require an eligible employee to be represented by a workplace delegate without the employee’s agreement.

NOTE: Under section 350A of the Act, the employer must not:

(a) unreasonably fail or refuse to deal with a workplace delegate; or

(b) knowingly or recklessly make a false or misleading representation to a workplace delegate; or

(c) unreasonably hinder, obstruct or prevent the exercise of the rights of a workplace delegate under the Act or clause 7A.

7A.10 Interaction with other clauses of this award

Other clauses of this award may give additional or more favourable entitlements to workplace delegates (however described). If an entitlement of a workplace delegate under another clause of this award is more favourable to the delegate than an entitlement under clause 7A, the entitlement under the other clause applies instead of the entitlement under clause 7A.

8.                      Consultation

8.1                   Consultation regarding major workplace change

(a)          Employer to notify

(i)           Where an employer has made a definite decision to introduce major changes in production, program, organisation, structure or technology that are likely to have significant effects on employees, the employer must notify the employees who may be affected by the proposed changes and their representatives, if any.

(ii)         Significant effects include termination of employment; major changes in the composition, operation or size of the employer’s workforce or in the skills required; the elimination or diminution of job opportunities, promotion opportunities or job tenure; the alteration of hours of work; the need for retraining or transfer of employees to other work or locations; and the restructuring of jobs. Provided that where this award makes provision for alteration of any of these matters an alteration is deemed not to have significant effect.

(b)         Employer to discuss change

(i)           The employer must discuss with the employees affected and their representatives, if any, the introduction of the changes referred to in clause 8.1(a), the effects the changes are likely to have on employees and measures to avert or mitigate the adverse effects of such changes on employees and must give prompt consideration to matters raised by the employees and/or their representatives in relation to the changes.

(ii)         The discussions must commence as early as practicable after a definite decision has been made by the employer to make the changes referred to in clause 8.1(a).

(iii)       For the purposes of such discussion, the employer must provide in writing to the employees concerned and their representatives, if any, all relevant information about the changes including the nature of the changes proposed, the expected effects of the changes on employees and any other matters likely to affect employees provided that no employer is required to disclose confidential information the disclosure of which would be contrary to the employer’s interests.

8.2                   Consultation about changes to rosters or hours of work

(a)          Where an employer proposes to change an employee’s regular roster or ordinary hours of work, the employer must consult with the employee or employees affected and their representatives, if any, about the proposed change.

(b)         The employer must:

(i)           provide to the employee or employees affected and their representatives, if any, information about the proposed change (for example, information about the nature of the change to the employee’s regular roster or ordinary hours of work and when that change is proposed to commence);

(ii)         invite the employee or employees affected and their representatives, if any, to give their views about the impact of the proposed change (including any impact in relation to their family or caring responsibilities); and

(iii)       give consideration to any views about the impact of the proposed change that are given by the employee or employees concerned and/or their representatives.

(c)          The requirement to consult under this clause does not apply where an employee has irregular, sporadic or unpredictable working hours.

(d)         These provisions are to be read in conjunction with other award provisions concerning the scheduling of work and notice requirements.

9.                      Dispute resolution

[Varied by PR732911, PR763330, PR777368, PR778116]

9.1                   In the event of a dispute about a matter under this award, or a dispute in relation to the NES, in the first instance the parties must attempt to resolve the matter at the workplace by discussions between the employee or employees concerned and the relevant supervisor. If such discussions do not resolve the dispute, the parties will endeavour to resolve the dispute in a timely manner by discussions between the employee or employees concerned and more senior levels of management as appropriate.

9.2                   If a dispute about a matter arising under this award or a dispute in relation to the NES is unable to be resolved at the workplace, and all appropriate steps under clause 9.1 have been taken, a party to the dispute may refer the dispute to the Fair Work Commission.

9.3                   The parties may agree on the process to be utilised by the Fair Work Commission including mediation, conciliation and consent arbitration.

9.4                   Where the matter in dispute remains unresolved, the Fair Work Commission may exercise any method of dispute resolution permitted by the Act that it considers appropriate to ensure the settlement of the dispute.

9.5                   An employer or employee may appoint another person, organisation or association to accompany and/or represent them for the purposes of this clause.

9.6                   While the dispute resolution procedure is being conducted, work must continue in accordance with this award and the Act. Subject to applicable occupational health and safety legislation, an employee must not unreasonably fail to comply with a direction by the employer to perform work, whether at the same or another workplace, that is safe and appropriate for the employee to perform.

9.7                   Dispute Resolution Training Leave

[9.7 inserted by PR732911 ppc 23Aug21]

(a)          An eligible employee shall be entitled to a maximum of 5 days paid leave to attend courses which are specifically directed towards effective resolution of disputes regarding industrial matters under this award and /or industrial issues which arise at the workplace.

(b)         Eligible employees are only entitled to leave in accordance with this clause for accredited courses.

(c)          Such leave will be available to an individual eligible employee once only during their employment. The employer and eligible employee may reach an agreement on any requests for refresher training.

(d)         For the purpose of this clause an accredited course means Dispute Resolution Training Course conducted by or on behalf of a registered training organisation whose scope of registration includes industrial relations training.

(e)          Nothing in this clause will prevent the employer and the eligible employee from reaching agreement that such training can be provided by a union or other accredited training provider(s).

(f)           An eligible employee is defined as a full-time or part-time employee:

(i)           who is a union delegate, who has been duly appointed by a union and the employer has been formally notified of that appointment; and

(ii)         who has completed 12 months continuous service with the current employer.

(g)          An eligible employee must comply with the following notice requirements:

(i)           provide the employer with at least 5 weeks prior notice in writing of their request to attend a dispute resolution training course;

(ii)         outline details of the type, content, venue and duration of the course to be attended in the written notice provided in accordance with clause 9.7(g)(i).

(h)         The employer will consider a request for leave in accordance with this clause having regard to:

(i)           the operational requirements of the employer; and

(ii)         the capacity of the employer to make adequate staffing arrangements among current employees during the proposed period of leave.

(i)            An employer must not unreasonably refuse to agree to a request by the employee to take dispute resolution training leave.

(j)           An employer will not be liable for any additional expenses associated with an employee's attendance at a course other than the payment of ordinary hourly ordinary time rate for such absence.

(k)         An eligible employee will be required to provide the employer with proof of attendance at, and satisfactory completion of, the course to qualify for payment of leave.

(l)            Leave granted pursuant to this clause counts as service for all purposes of this award.

[Note 1 and Note 2 inserted by PR763330; deleted by PR778116 from 26Aug24]

[Note inserted by PR778116 from 26Aug24; varied by PR777368 from 27Aug24]

NOTE: In addition to clause 9, the Act contains dispute resolution procedures as follows:

For a dispute about rights under the Act to

Section

Request flexible working arrangements

65B

Change casual employment status

66M

Request an extension to unpaid parental leave

76B

Exercise an employee’s right to disconnect

333N

   

Part 3—Types of Employment and Termination of Employment

10.                 Employment categories

[Varied by PR733972, PR747467, PR777368]

10.1               Employees will be employed in one of the following categories:

(a)          full-time;

(b)         part-time; or

(c)          casual.

10.2               At the time of engagement, an employer will inform each employee of the terms of their engagement and in particular whether they are to be full-time, part-time or casual. Such decision will then be recorded in the time and wages record.

10.3               Full-time employees

A full-time employee is an employee engaged to work an average of 38 ordinary hours per week.

10.4               Part-time employees

(a)          An employer may employ part-time employees in any classification in this award.

(b)         A part-time employee is an employee who:

(i)           works less than the full-time hours of 38 per week;

(ii)         has reasonably predictable hours of work; and

(iii)       receives, on a pro rata basis, equivalent pay and conditions to those of full-time employees who do the same kind of work.

(c)          At the time of engagement the employer and the part-time employee will agree in writing on a regular pattern of work, specifying at least the hours worked each day, which days of the week the employee will work and where practicable the actual starting and finishing times each day.

(d)         Any agreed variation to the hours of work will be recorded in writing.

(e)          An employer is required to roster a part-time employee for a minimum of one hour on any shift.

(f)           Agreed additional hours

A part-time employee may agree to work up to an average of 38 ordinary hours per week at the hourly ordinary time rate provided the agreement is entered into without duress, in writing and stipulates that hours are to be paid at hourly ordinary time rates.

(g)          Additional hours by direction

Where a part-time employee is directed to work hours in excess of the hours agreed under clause 10.4(c) or as varied under clause 10.4(d), such hours will be overtime and paid for at the rates prescribed in clause 22.2.

(h)         A part-time employee employed under the provisions of this clause must be paid for ordinary hours worked at the rate of 1/38th of the minimum weekly rate prescribed in clause 14Minimum wages for the work performed.

10.5               Casual employees

[10.5(a) deleted by PR733972 from 27Sep21]

(a)          Casual loading

[10.5(b) renumbered as 10.5(a) by PR733972 from 27Sep21]

Casual employees will be paid, in addition to the hourly ordinary time rate and rates payable for shift and weekend work on the same basis as a weekly employee, an additional loading of 25% of the hourly ordinary time rate for the classification in which they are employed as compensation instead of paid leave under this award and the NES.

(b)         Penalties and overtime

[10.5(c) renumbered as 10.5(b) by PR733972 from 27Sep21]

Penalties, including public holiday penalties and overtime, for casual employees will be calculated on the hourly ordinary time rate for the classification in which they are employed exclusive of the casual loading.

(c)          Minimum engagement

[New 10.5(c) inserted by PR733972 ppc 01Feb23]

(i)           Subject to clause 10.5(c)(ii), a casual employee must be engaged and paid for at least 2 consecutive hours of work on each occasion they are required to attend work.

(ii)         A casual employee engaged as a swimming instructor, fitness instructor, personal trainer, school crossing supervisor or cleaner engaged at a small stand-alone location with a total cleaning area of not more than 300 square metres must be engaged and paid for at least one hour of work on each occasion they are required to attend work.

(d)         Changes to casual employment status

[New 10.5(c) inserted by PR733972 ppc 27Sep21; 10.5(c) renumbered as 10.5(d) by PR747467 ppc 01Feb23; renamed and substituted by PR777368 from 27Aug24]

A pathway for employees to change from casual employment to full-time or part-time employment is provided for in the NES. See sections 66A to 66MA of the Act.

NOTE: Disputes about changes to casual employment status may be dealt with under sections 66M and 66MA of the Act and/or under clause 9Dispute resolution.

11.                 Termination of employment

[11 substituted by PR732911 ppc 23Aug21]

NOTE: The NES sets out requirements for notice of termination by an employer. See sections 117 and 123 of the Act.

11.1               Notice of termination by an employee

(a)          This clause applies to all employees except those identified in sections 123(1) and 123(3) of the Act.

(b)         An employee must give the employer notice of termination in accordance with Table 1—Period of notice of at least the period specified in column 2 according to the period of continuous service of the employee specified in column 1.

Table 1—Period of notice

Column 1

 

Employee’s period of continuous service with the employer at the end of the day the notice is given

Column 2

 

Period of notice

Not more than 1 year

1 week

More than 1 year but not more than 3 years

2 weeks

More than 3 years but not more than 5 years

3 weeks

More than 5 years

4 weeks

Note: The notice of termination required to be given by an employee is the same as that required of an employer except that the employee does not have to give additional notice based on the age of the employee.

(c)          In clause 11.1(b) continuous service has the same meaning as in section 117 of the Act.

(d)         If an employee who is at least 18 years old does not give the period of notice required under clause 11.1(b), then the employer may deduct from wages due to the employee under this award an amount that is no more than one week’s wages for the employee.

(e)          If the employer has agreed to a shorter period of notice than that required under clause 11.1(b), then no deduction can be made under clause 11.1(d).

(f)           Any deduction made under clause 11.1(d) must not be unreasonable in the circumstances.

11.2               Job search entitlement

(a)          Where an employer has given notice of termination to an employee, the employee must be allowed time off without loss of pay of up to one day for the purpose of seeking other employment.

(b)         The time off under clause 11.2(a) is to be taken at times that are convenient to the employee after consultation with the employer.

12.                 Redundancy

12.1               Redundancy pay is provided for in the NES.

12.2               Transfer to lower paid duties

Where an employee is transferred to lower paid duties by reason of redundancy, the same period of notice must be given as the employee would have been entitled to if the employment had been terminated and the employer may, at the employer’s option, make payment instead of an amount equal to the difference between the former ordinary time rate of pay and the ordinary time rate of pay for the number of weeks of notice still owing.

12.3               Employee leaving during notice period

An employee given notice of termination in circumstances of redundancy may terminate their employment during the period of notice. The employee is entitled to receive the benefits and payments they would have received under this clause had they remained in employment until the expiry of the notice, but is not entitled to payment instead of notice.

12.4               Job search entitlement

(a)          An employee given notice of termination in circumstances of redundancy must be allowed up to one day’s time off without loss of pay during each week of notice for the purpose of seeking other employment.

(b)         If the employee has been allowed paid leave for more than one day during the notice period for the purpose of seeking other employment, the employee must, at the request of the employer, produce proof of attendance at an interview or they will not be entitled to payment for the time absent. For this purpose a statutory declaration is sufficient.

(c)          This entitlement applies instead of clause 11.2.

Part 4—Minimum Wages and Related Matters

13.                 Classifications

13.1               All employees covered by this award will be classified according to the structure set out in Schedule A—Classifications.

13.2               Employers must advise employees in writing of their level on commencement of employment and of any subsequent changes to their level. The level will be determined by the employer according to the skill level or levels required to be exercised by the employee in order to carry out the principal functions of their employment.

14.                 Minimum wages

[Varied by PR579952, PR592235, PR606458, PR707572, PR718950, PR729397, PR732911, PR733972, PR740821, PR762241, PR774023]

[14.1 varied by PR579952, PR592235, PR606458, PR707572, PR718950, PR729397, PR740821, PR762241, PR774023 ppc 01Jul24]

14.1               A full-time adult employee will be paid not less than the minimum weekly rate of pay applicable to the employee’s classification for their 38 ordinary weekly hours as follows:

Classification

Minimum weekly rate

 

$

Level 1

950.10

Level 2

980.40

Level 3

1017.40

Level 4

1032.30

Level 5

1097.10

Level 6

1187.20

Level 7

1207.80

Level 8

1305.10

Level 9

1396.20

Level 10

1526.00

Level 11

1720.80

14.2               Junior rates

14.3                                           Junior employees will be paid the following percentage of the appropriate wage rate set out in clause 14.1 as follows:

Age

% of minimum weekly rate

Under 17 years

55

17 years

65

18 years

75

19 years

85

20 years

95

14.4               Apprentices

(a)          The terms of this award apply to apprentices, except where otherwise provided.

(b)         The weekly minimum wage rates for apprentices who commenced before 1 January 2014 are as follows:

(i)           Four year apprenticeship

Year

% of Level 4

1st year

45

2nd year

60

3rd year

75

4th year

90

(ii)         Three year apprenticeship

Year

% of Level 4

1st year

45

2nd year

70

3rd year

90

(c)          The weekly minimum wage rates for apprentices who commenced a four year apprenticeship on or after 1 January 2014 are as follows:

Year of apprenticeship

% of Level 4 for apprentices who have not completed year 12

% of Level 4 for apprentices who have completed year 12

1st year

50

55

2nd year

60

65

3rd year

75

75

4th year

90

90

(d)         The weekly minimum wage rates for apprentices who commenced a three year apprenticeship on or after 1 January 2014 are as follows:

Year of apprenticeship

% of Level 4 for apprentices who have not completed year 12

% of Level 4 rate for apprentices who have completed year 12

1st year

50

55

2nd year

70

70

3rd year

90

90

(e)          An adult apprentice will be paid no less than the minimum weekly rate for Level 2 in clause 14.1.

[14.3(f) varied by PR733972 from 27Sep21]

(f)           A person employed by an employer under this award immediately prior to entering into a training agreement as an adult apprentice with that employer must not suffer a reduction in their minimum wage by virtue of entering into the training agreement, provided that the person has been an employee in that enterprise for at least six months as a full-time employee or twelve months as a part-time or regular casual employee immediately prior to commencing the apprenticeship. For the purpose only of fixing a minimum wage, the adult apprentice must continue to receive the minimum wage that applies to the classification specified in clause 14.1 in which the adult apprentice was engaged immediately prior to entering into the training agreement.

[14.3(g) inserted by PR732911 ppc 23Aug21]

(g)          Where an apprentice is required to attend block release training for training identified in or associated with their training contract, and such training requires an overnight stay, the employer must pay for the excess reasonable travel costs incurred by the apprentice in the course of travelling to and from such training. Provided that this clause will not apply where the apprentice could attend an alternative Registered Training Organisation (RTO) and the use of the more distant RTO is not agreed between the employer and the apprentice.

[14.3(h) inserted by PR732911 ppc 23Aug21]

(h)         For the purposes of 14.4(g) above, excess reasonable travel costs include the total costs of reasonable transportation (including transportation of tools where required), accommodation costs incurred while travelling (where necessary) and reasonable expenses incurred while travelling, including meals, which exceed those incurred in travelling to and from work. For the purposes of this subclause, excess travel costs do not include payment for travelling time or expenses incurred while not travelling to and from block release training.

[14.3(i) inserted by PR732911 ppc 23Aug21]

(i)            The amount payable by an employer under 14.4(g) may be reduced by an amount the apprentice is eligible to receive for travel costs to attend block release training under a Government apprentice assistance scheme. This will only apply if an apprentice has either received such assistance or their employer has advised them in writing of the availability of such assistance.

[14.3(j) inserted by PR732911 ppc 23Aug21]

(j)           All training fees charged by an RTO for prescribed courses and the cost of all prescribed textbooks (excluding those textbooks which are available in the employer’s technical library) for the apprenticeship , which are paid by an apprentice, shall be reimbursed by the employer within six months of the commencement of the apprenticeship or the relevant stage of the apprenticeship, or within three months of the commencement of the training provided by the RTO, whichever is the later, unless there is unsatisfactory progress.

[14.3(k) inserted by PR732911 ppc 23Aug21]

(k)         An employer may meet its obligations under 14.4(j) by paying any fees and/or cost of textbooks directly to the RTO.

[14.3(l) inserted by PR732911 ppc 23Aug21]

(l)            An apprentice is entitled to be released from work without loss of continuity of employment and to payment of the appropriate wages to attend any training and assessment specified in, or associated with, the training contract.

[14.3(m) inserted by PR732911 ppc 23Aug21]

(m)       Time spent by an apprentice in attending any training and/or assessment specified in, or associated with, the training contract is to be regarded as time worked for the employer for the purposes of calculating the apprentice’s wages and determining the apprentice’s employment conditions. This subclause operates subject to the provisions of Schedule C—School-based Apprentices.

[14.3(n) inserted by PR732911 ppc 23Aug21]

(n)         No apprentice will, except in an emergency, work or be required to work overtime or shiftwork at times which would prevent their attendance at training consistent with their training contract.

14.5               Supported wage system

See Schedule B

14.6               School-based apprentices

See Schedule C

14.7               National training wage

See Schedule D

14.8               Annualised salaries

(a)          Annual salary instead of award provisions

Notwithstanding any other provision of this award, an employer and an employee may agree that the employer may pay the employee an annual salary in satisfaction of any or all of the following provisions of the award:

(i)           Minimum wages – clause 14;

(ii)         Allowances – clause 15;

(iii)       Higher duties – clause 16;

(iv)       Penalty rates – clause 21;

(v)         Overtime – clause 22; and

(vi)       Annual leave loading – clause 23.4.

(b)         Annual salary not to disadvantage employees

(i)           The annual salary must be no less than the amount the employee would have received under this award for the work performed over the year for which the salary is paid (or if the employment ceases earlier, over such lesser period as has been worked).

(ii)         The annual salary of the employee must be reviewed by the employer at least annually to ensure that the compensation is appropriate having regard to the award provisions which are satisfied by the payment of the annual salary.

(c)          For the purposes of the NES, the base rate of pay of an employee receiving an annual salary under this clause comprises the portion of annual salary equivalent to the relevant rate of pay in clause 14 and excludes any incentive-based payments, bonuses, loadings, monetary allowances, overtime and penalties.

(d)         An annual salary agreement must:

(i)           be in writing and signed by both parties;

(ii)         state the date on which the arrangement commences;

(iii)       be provided to the employee;

(iv)       contain a provision that the employee will receive no less under the arrangement than the employee would have been entitled to if all award obligations had been met, taking account of the value of the provision of matters not comprehended by the award such as private use of an employer provided motor vehicle;

(v)         be subject to an annual review;

(vi)       contain details of any salary package arrangements, including the annual salary that is payable;

(vii)     contain details of any other non-salary benefits provided to the employee such as an employer provided motor vehicle;

(viii)   contain details of any performance pay arrangements and performance measurement indicators;

(ix)       contain the award level classification for the role.

(e)          An annual salary agreement may be terminated:

(i)           by the employer or the employee giving four weeks’ notice of termination, in writing, to the other party and the agreement ceasing to operate at the end of the notice period; or

(ii)         at any time, by written agreement between the employer and the employee.

(f)           On termination of an annual salary agreement, the employee will revert to the award entitlements unless a new annual salary agreement is reached.

15.                 Allowances

[Varied by PR592386, PR606608, PR704226, PR707782, PR719103, PR729577, PR740981, PR750883, PR762281, PR774191]

15.1               Meal allowance in relation to overtime

[15.1(a) varied by PR592386, PR606608, PR704226, PR707782, PR719103, PR729577, PR740981, PR762281, PR774191 ppc 01Jul24]

(a)          Employees who work more than two hours’ overtime in a minimum of 10 hours on duty will be paid a meal allowance of $19.43.

[15.1(b) varied by PR592386, PR606608, PR704226, PR707782, PR719103, PR729577, PR740981, PR762281, PR774191 ppc 01Jul24]

(b)         Where the employer requires the employee to continue working for a further four hours of continuous overtime work, the employee will be paid an additional meal allowance of $19.43.

(c)          A meal allowance is not payable:

(i)           where the employee has been notified at least 24 hours in advance of the requirement to work overtime; or

(ii)         where the employee is only required to work less than the time prescribed; or

(iii)       where a meal is provided by the employer.

15.2               Vehicle allowance

(a)          Where an employer requires an employee to use their own vehicle in or in connection with the performance of their duties, such employee will be paid an allowance for each kilometre of authorised travel as follows:

[15.2(a)(i) varied by PR729577, PR740981, PR762281, PR774191 ppc 01Jul24]

(i)           motor vehicle—$0.98 per kilometre; and

[15.2(a)(ii) varied by PR729577, PR740981, PR762281, PR774191 ppc 01Jul24]

(ii)         motorcycle—$0.33 per kilometre.

(b)         An employer may require an employee to record full details of all such official travel requirements in a log book.

15.3               Tool allowance—tradespersons and apprentices

[15.3(a) varied by PR592386, PR719103, PR729577, PR740981, PR762281, PR774191 ppc 01Jul24]

(a)          Where the employer requires a tradesperson or an apprentice tradesperson to supply and maintain tools ordinarily required by the employee in the performance of their duties as a tradesperson, the employee will be paid an additional weekly amount of $22.79.

(b)         This provision will not apply where the employer provides the tradesperson or apprentice with the required tools or while employees are absent from work.

15.4               Transfers, travelling and working away from normal starting point

(a)          Normal starting point

(i)           All employees upon engagement will be given a starting point which will be, subject to clause 15.4(a)(v), the commencement point of their daily work activities.

(ii)         For the purposes of this clause, normal starting point means a workshop, depot, office or facility to which the employee is usually assigned or any other designated starting and/or finishing point.

(iii)       Unless otherwise provided, each employee will be attached to one normal starting point only.

(iv)       An employee may be attached to more than one normal starting point where multiple starting points form part of the nature of the work being performed.

(v)         An employee may be transferred to a different normal starting point within the employer’s local government area at any time by the giving of reasonable notice provided that the relocation is reasonable in the circumstances and does not unreasonably disadvantage the employee.

(b)         Excess travelling time and fares

(i)           Where an employer requires an employee, other than a casual, to start work at a place away from the employee’s normal starting point, the employer will pay the employee:

·   excess travelling time—at the employee’s ordinary rate for all time reasonably spent reaching and/or returning from the job which is in excess of the time normally spent in travelling between the employee’s usual residence and their normal starting point; and

·   excess fares—any fares reasonably incurred by the employee that are in excess of the fares normally incurred in travelling between the employee’s usual residence and the employee’s normal starting point. The excess fares allowance will not be paid where the employee is provided with a vehicle by the employer or is paid the allowance as provided in clause 15.2 or has an arrangement with the employer for a regular vehicle allowance in excess of the allowance provided in clause 15.2.

(ii)         Where a community services employee providing home care is required by the employer to travel between two or more work locations in any one day the employee will be reimbursed for travel expenses incurred for travel between the first and successive service points and will be paid at the appropriate rate of pay during travel time between the first and successive service points.

15.5               Camping allowance

(a)          An employee required to camp at the site of any work by direction of the employer or because no reasonable transport facilities are available to enable the employee to proceed to and from home each day will be paid a camping allowance of 115% of the standard rate per night as a camping allowance.

(b)         At the end of each working week the employee shall be allowed to return to the employee’s home and in such cases all the time reasonably required for travelling to and from the employee’s home shall be treated as time of duty in addition to the time of actual working.

15.6               Reimbursement of expenses

(a)          All reasonable expenses incurred by the employee at the direction of the employer, including out-of-pocket expenses, course fees and materials, telephones, accommodation, travelling expenses and the cost of special protective clothing, incurred in connection with the employee’s duties will be paid by the employer and, where practicable will be included in the next pay period.

(b)         The method and mode of travelling or the vehicle to be supplied or to be used will be arranged mutually between the employer and the employee. Travelling arrangements will be agreed between the employer and the employee in advance.

(c)          The employer will reimburse an employee, other than a tradesperson or apprentice, for the cost of any tools, instruments or special equipment purchased and supplied by the employee at the direction of the employer. However, reimbursement need not be made if the employer supplies the tools, instruments or equipment.

(d)         The employer may require the employee to present proof of payment prior to the reimbursement.

15.7               Leading hand allowance

An employee at Level 3, 4 or 5 who is required by the employer to supervise other employees will be paid an allowance in addition to their classification rate of pay as follows:

Supervisor’s classification level

Number of employees supervised

% of the standard rate per week

3 or 4

1 to 5

110

3 or 4

6 to 15

150

3, 4 or 5

Over 15

190

NOTE: The Level 1 and Level 2 classifications do not involve the supervision of other employees.

15.8               First aid allowance

(a)          Where an employee who holds an appropriate first aid qualification is appointed by the employer to perform first aid duty, such an employee will be paid an additional weekly allowance of 70% of the standard rate.

(b)         Clause 15.8(a) will not apply where the requirement to hold a first aid certificate is a requirement of the position.

(c)          First aid allowance is payable during periods of paid leave.

15.9               Adverse working conditions

(a)          Operational and trade employees engaged in Levels 1 to 5 of this award will be paid an additional hourly allowance at the rate specified in clause 15.9(b) for all time worked by direction under adverse working conditions as defined in clause 15.9(c) provided that in all cases, in addition to the payment of this allowance, the employer will supply all appropriate protective clothing and equipment for working in the particular adverse conditions.

(b)         An employee will be paid an additional hourly allowance for each hour in which work under adverse working conditions is performed as follows:

(i)           Level 1 working conditions—3.5% of the standard rate; or

(ii)         Level 2 working conditions—5% of the standard rate; or

(iii)       Level 3 working conditions—50% of the standard rate.

(c)          Definition of adverse working conditions definition

(i)           Level 1 working conditions

The Level 1 working conditions allowance compensates for all adverse conditions associated with working outdoors and/or for moderately obnoxious, offensive or dirty working conditions, including:

·   working in confined or cramped spaces;

·   working in wet places;

·   working in hot places where temperatures are artificially raised above 45 degrees Celsius;

·   working at heights above 5 metres from the ground or other stable surface, including on temporary structures;

·   working in dusty, muddy or dirty conditions;

·   cleaning of public toilets and animal shelters;

·   operating mechanical and pneumatic equipment;

·   removing or destroying dead animals;

·   handling or use of herbicides, insecticides and/or other poisonous or toxic substances;

·   working with dirty materials such as asphalt, concrete, epoxy compounds, green or second-hand timber, insulation materials, grease, oil and other dirty building and construction materials;

·   collection, removal and/or disposal of non-putrescible waste;

·   collection, removal and/or disposal of non-putrescible waste by mechanical means; and

·   fighting fires.

(ii)         Level 2 working conditions

The Level 2 working conditions allowance compensates for the nature of highly obnoxious, offensive or dirty working conditions, which typically includes:

·   clearing of sewer chokes;

·   maintenance, connections to and/or repair of sewerage equipment;

·   cleaning septic tanks, septic closets and/or chemical closets by mechanical means;

·   reopening or exhumation of graves; digging graves in wet ground or where there is seepage from adjacent graves;

·   handling infected materials;

·   collection, removal and/or disposal of putrescible waste other than by mechanical means;

·   working at waste depots, waste collection and/or waste transfer stations (other than employees engaged in gardening and/or lawn maintenance and employees engaged to work in enclosed weighbridges); and

·   engaged in the collection, removal and/or disposal of, sludge from cess pits and/or grease traps.

(iii)       Level 3 working conditions

The Level 3 working conditions allowance compensates for the nature of extremely obnoxious, offensive or dirty work in septic and sewerage treatment services, which typically includes:

·   working in digestion tanks at sewerage treatment works;

·   entering and cleaning aeration ponds or wet wells at sewer pump stations;

·   working in live sewers; and

·   cleaning septic tanks, septic closets and/or chemical closets by other than mechanical means.

(d)         An employer may make an average payment equivalent to an agreed number of hours per week where the employee is regularly required to work under adverse working conditions as defined in clause 15.9(c).

(e)          Adverse working conditions allowances are not payable during periods of leave.

15.10           Automatic adjustment of wage-related allowances

[New 15.10 inserted by PR750883 ppc 15Mar23]

The amount of each wage-related allowance is the percentage of the standard rate specified for the allowance and will automatically adjust to reflect the specified percentage when the standard rate is varied.

15.11           Adjustment of expense related allowances

[15.10 renumbered as 15.11 by PR750883 ppc 15Mar23]

(a)          At the time of any adjustment to the standard rate, each expense related allowance will be increased by the relevant adjustment factor. The relevant adjustment factor for this purpose is the percentage movement in the applicable index figure most recently published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics since the allowance was last adjusted.

(b)         The applicable index figure is the index figure published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics for the Eight Capitals Consumer Price Index (Cat No. 6401.0), as follows:

Allowance

Applicable Consumer Price Index figure

Meal allowance

Take away and fast foods sub-group

Vehicle allowance

Private motoring sub-group

Tool allowance

Tools and equipment for house and garden component of the household appliances, utensils and tools sub-group

   

16.                 Higher duties

16.1               An employee directed or appointed to relieve in a higher level position where the employee is required to perform the substantive functions of the role for more than one day will be paid at the higher hourly ordinary award rate pursuant to clause 14.1.

16.2               Subject to clause 16.3, higher duties will not be paid when the relieving employee is absent on leave or on a public holiday.

16.3               Where an employee performs higher duties and is in receipt of a higher hourly ordinary time rate of pay for three (3) continuous months or more immediately prior to commencing a period of paid annual leave or paid personal/carer’s leave the leave shall be paid at the higher hourly ordinary time rate of pay.

16.4               The amount of annual leave or personal/carer’s leave that is paid at the higher hourly ordinary time rate of pay shall be proportional to the amount of annual leave or personal/carer’s leave accrued whilst performing the higher duties work.

17.                 Payment of wages

At the employer’s discretion, employees will be paid weekly, fortnightly or as otherwise agreed by the employer and employee, by electronic funds transfer into the employee’s nominated account or other agreed method.

18.                 Superannuation

[Varied by PR771408]

18.1               Superannuation legislation

[18.1 substituted by PR771408 ppc 09Apr24]

(a)          The NES and Superannuation legislation, including the Superannuation Guarantee (Administration) Act 1992 (Cth), the Superannuation Guarantee Charge Act 1992 (Cth), the Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993 (Cth) and the Superannuation (Resolution of Complaints) Act 1993 (Cth), deal with the superannuation rights and obligations of employers and employees.

(b)         The rights and obligations in clause 18 supplement those in superannuation legislation and the NES.

NOTE: Under superannuation legislation:

(a) Individual employees generally have the opportunity to choose their own superannuation fund.

(b) If a new employee does not choose a superannuation fund, the employer must ask the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) whether the employee is an existing member of a stapled superannuation fund and, if stapled fund details are provided by the ATO, make contributions to the stapled fund.

(c) If an employee does not choose a superannuation fund and does not have a stapled fund, the choice of superannuation fund requirements will be satisfied by contributions made to a superannuation fund nominated in the award covering the employee, provided the fund is able to accept contributions for the benefit of the employee.

(d) A fund may not be able to accept contributions for the benefit of an employee if the employee would be a new member of the fund’s MySuper product and the MySuper product is closed to new members because it has failed the performance tests of Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) for 2 consecutive years.

18.2               Employer contributions

An employer must make such superannuation contributions to a superannuation fund for the benefit of an employee as will avoid the employer being required to pay the superannuation guarantee charge under superannuation legislation with respect to that employee.

18.3               Voluntary employee contributions

(a)          Subject to the governing rules of the relevant superannuation fund, an employee may, in writing, authorise their employer to pay on behalf of the employee a specified amount from the post-taxation wages of the employee into the same superannuation fund as the employer makes the superannuation contributions provided for in clause 18.2.

(b)         An employee may adjust the amount the employee has authorised their employer to pay from the wages of the employee from the first of the month following the giving of three months’ written notice to their employer.

(c)          The employer must pay the amount authorised under subclauses 18.3(a) or (b) no later than 28 days after the end of the month in which the deduction authorised under clauses 18.3(a) or (b) was made.

18.4               Superannuation fund

[18.4 varied by PR771408 ppc 09Apr24]

Unless, to comply with superannuation legislation, the employer is required to make the superannuation contributions provided for in clause 18.2 to another superannuation fund, the employer must make the superannuation contributions provided for in clause 18.2 and pay any amount authorised under clauses 18.3(a) or 18.3(b) to one of the following superannuation funds or its successor, provided that, in respect of new employees, the fund is able to accept new beneficiaries:

(a)          Vision Super; or

(b)         any superannuation fund to which the employer was making superannuation contributions for the benefit of its employees before 12 September 2008, provided the superannuation fund is an eligible choice fund and is a fund that offers a MySuper product or is an exempt public sector superannuation scheme; or

(c)          a superannuation fund or scheme which the employee is a defined benefit member of.

18.5               Absence from work

Subject to the governing rules of the relevant superannuation fund, the employer must also make the superannuation contributions provided for in clause 18.2 and pay the amount authorised under clauses 18.3(a) or (b):

(a)          Paid leave—while the employee is on any paid leave;

(b)         Work-related injury or illness—for the period of absence from work (subject to a maximum of 52 weeks) of the employee due to work-related injury or work-related illness provided that:

(i)           the employee is receiving workers compensation payments or is receiving regular payments directly from the employer in accordance with the statutory requirements; and

(ii)         the employee remains employed by the employer.

Part 5—Hours of Work and Related Matters

19.                 Ordinary hours of work and rostering

19.1               For the purpose of the NES, ordinary hours of work under this award are 38 per week.

19.2               Days on which ordinary hours can be worked

(a)          Except as otherwise provided, days on which an employee’s ordinary hours can be worked are Monday to Friday.

(b)         Days on which ordinary hours for employees in the following roles or work areas can be worked are Monday to Sunday:

(i)           aerodromes/airports;

(ii)         caretakers/hall keepers/caravan park employees;

(iii)       catering/hospitality;

(iv)       cleaners;

(v)         community services;

(vi)       customer service centres;

(vii)     garbage, sanitary and sullage services;

(viii)   local law enforcement and community safety services;

(ix)       libraries;

(x)         livestock and saleyards;

(xi)       parking station attendants;

(xii)     recreation centres/golf courses; and

(xiii)   tourism services.

(c)          Except as otherwise provided, an employee who works ordinary hours on a Saturday or Sunday in a role/work area as prescribed in clause 19.2(b) will be entitled to weekend penalty rates in accordance with clause 21.2.

19.3               Span of ordinary hours

(a)          The span of ordinary hours of work on a day on which ordinary hours can be worked will be between 6.00 am and 6.00 pm, except for employees engaged in the following roles/work areas:

(i)           childcare services—the span of hours will be 6.00 am to 7.00 pm;

(ii)         libraries—the span of hours will be 8.00 am to 9.00 pm; and

(iii)       aerodromes, airports, caretakers, catering, cleaners, community services, garbage, sanitary and sullage services, hall keepers, hospitality, livestock and saleyards, local law enforcement and community safety services, parking station attendants, recreation centres and tourism services—the span of hours will be 5.00 am to 10.00 pm.

(b)         An employee may work ordinary hours outside of the span provided in this clause, provided the employee is paid a weekday penalty in accordance with clause 21.1 for hours actually worked.

19.4               Arrangements of hours

(a)          The ordinary hours of work for a full-time employee are an average of 38 hours per week (not including unpaid meal breaks) over a period of 28 days worked.

(b)         If an accrued rostered day off falls on a public holiday as prescribed in the NES, the next working day, or another day by written agreement, will be substituted.

19.5               Maximum ordinary hours in a day

An employee may work up to a maximum of 10 ordinary hours on any day/shift (excluding unpaid meal breaks) or, by agreement between the employer and employee, up to a maximum of 12 ordinary hours on any day/shift.

19.6               Rosters and changes to rosters

(a)          A roster for full-time and part-time employees showing normal starting and finishing times and the surname and initials of each employee will be prepared by the employer and will be made available to employee/s at their request.

(b)         A roster can be altered by mutual consent at any time and may be altered by the employer on seven days’ notice. Where practicable, two weeks’ notice of rostered day or days off should be given provided that the days off may be changed by mutual consent or through illness or other cause over which the employer has no control.

19.7               Flexible working arrangements

An employer and employee may agree to flexible working arrangements which include flexitime, banked hours, make-up time, accrued and rostered days off, and/or seasonal working arrangements.

19A. Employee right to disconnect

[19A inserted by PR778116 from 26Aug24]

19A.1 Clause 19A provides for the exercise of an employee’s right to disconnect under section 333M of the Act.

NOTE:

(a) Section 333M provides that, unless it is unreasonable to do so, an employee may refuse to monitor, read or respond to contact, or attempted contact, from:

(1) their employer outside of the employee’s working hours,

(2) a third party if the contact or attempted contact relates to, their work and is outside of the employee's working hours.

(b) Section 333M(3) lists matters that must be taken into account in determining whether an employee’s refusal is unreasonable.

(c) Section 333M(5) provides that an employee’s refusal will be unreasonable if the contact or attempted contact is required under a law of the Commonwealth, a State or a Territory.

(d) Section 333N provides for the resolution of disputes about whether an employee’s refusal is unreasonable and about the operation of section 333M.

(e) The general protections in Part 3–1 of the Act prohibit an employer taking adverse action against an employee because of the employee’s right to disconnect under section 333M of the Act.

19A.2 Clause 19A applies from the following dates:

(a)          26 August 2024—for employers that are not small business employers on this date and their employees.

(b)         26 August 2025—for employers that are small business employers on 26 August 2024 and their employees.

19A.3 An employer must not directly or indirectly prevent an employee from exercising their right to disconnect under the Act.

19A.4 Clause 19A.3 does not prevent an employer from requiring an employee to monitor, read or respond to contact, or attempted contact, from the employer outside of the employee’s working hours where:

(a)          the employee is being paid the on call allowance under clause 22.6(b); and

(b)         the employer’s contact is to notify the employee that they are required to attend or perform work or give other notice about the on call.

19A.5 Clause 19A.3 does not prevent an employer from contacting, or attempting to contact, an employee outside of the employee’s working hours in circumstances including to notify them of:

(a)          an emergency roster change under clause 19.6(b); or

(b)         a recall to work under clause 22.5.

20.                 Meal breaks

20.1               An employee will not be required to work more than five hours without receiving an unpaid meal break of at least 30 minutes.

20.2               In the case of unforeseen circumstances, the meal break may be delayed and will be taken as soon as practicable, subject to the observance of appropriate health and safety standards.

20.3               An employer may require an employee in the following roles or work areas to remain at their place of work during the meal break if a replacement employee is not reasonably available:

(a)          Childcare services;

(b)         Recreation centres;

(c)          Tourism services;

(d)         Community services.

Provided that where the employee is required to perform work during their meal break the employee shall have their meal break extended so that they receive an unpaid meal break of at least 30 minutes in the aggregate.

21.                 Penalty rates

21.1               Weekday penalty rates

(a)          An employee required to work ordinary hours on a Monday to Friday outside the span of hours provided in clause 19.3 will be paid a penalty of 20% in addition to the hourly ordinary time rate for hours worked outside of such span.

21.2               Weekend penalty rates

(a)          An employee who works on a Saturday or Sunday in a role/work area specified in clause 19.2(b) will be entitled to the following penalties for all ordinary hours worked:

(b)         all ordinary hours worked on a Saturday will be paid at the rate of time and a half. Saturday is taken to commence at midnight on Friday and finish at midnight on Saturday;

(c)          all ordinary hours worked on a Sunday will be paid at the rate of time and three quarters. Sunday is taken to commence at midnight on Saturday and finish at midnight on Sunday; and

(d)         weekend penalty rates for ordinary hours worked in accordance with clauses 21.2(b) and (c) will be paid for the actual time worked on Saturday and/or Sunday.

21.3               Weekend penalties for recreation centres and community services

Employees engaged in recreation centres or community services will not be entitled to weekend penalty rates for ordinary hours worked on Saturday or Sunday between the hours of 5.00 am and 10.00 pm. All other weekend hours for such employees will be paid according to clause 21.2.

22.                 Overtime

[Varied by PR732911, PR763330]

22.1               Overtime

Unless otherwise provided, overtime means all work performed at the direction of the employer:

(a)          in excess of the employee’s ordinary weekly hours as specified in clause 19.1;

(b)         on days other than ordinary working days as specified in clause 19.2; or

(c)          in excess of the maximum ordinary hours on any day provided by clause 19.5.

22.2               Payment for overtime

(a)          Except as otherwise provided, overtime will be paid at the rate of time and a half for the first two hours and double time thereafter.

(b)         Overtime worked on a Sunday will be paid at the rate of double time.

(c)          The payment for overtime rates is calculated on the employee’s hourly ordinary time rate.

(d)         In computing overtime, each day’s work stands alone.

22.3               Time off instead of payment for overtime

[22.3 substituted by PR732911 ppc 23Aug21]

(a)          An employee and employer may agree in writing to the employee taking time off instead of being paid for a particular amount of overtime that has been worked by the employee.

(b)         Any amount of overtime that has been worked by an employee in a particular pay period and that is to be taken as time off instead of the employee being paid for it must be the subject of a separate agreement under clause 22.3.

(c)          An agreement must state each of the following:

(i)           the number of overtime hours to which it applies and when those hours were worked;

(ii)         that the employer and employee agree that the employee may take time off instead of being paid for the overtime;

(iii)       that, if the employee requests at any time, the employer must pay the employee, for overtime covered by the agreement but not taken as time off, at the overtime rate applicable to the overtime when worked;

(iv)       that any payment mentioned in clause 22.3(c)(iii) must be made in the next pay period following the request.

NOTE: An example of the type of agreement required by this clause is set out at Schedule F—Agreement for time off instead of payment for overtime. There is no requirement to use the form of agreement set out at Schedule F—Agreement for time off instead of payment for overtime. An agreement under clause 22.3 can also be made by an exchange of emails between the employee and employer, or by other electronic means.

(d)         The period of time off that an employee is entitled to take is the same as the number of overtime hours worked.

EXAMPLE: By making an agreement under clause 22.3 an employee who worked 2 overtime hours is entitled to 2 hours’ time off.

(e)          Time off must be taken:

(i)           within the period of 6 months after the overtime is worked; and

(ii)         at a time or times within that period of 6 months agreed by the employee and employer.

(f)           If the employee requests at any time, to be paid for overtime covered by an agreement under clause 22.3 but not taken as time off, the employer must pay the employee for the overtime, in the next pay period following the request, at the overtime rate applicable to the overtime when worked.

(g)          If time off for overtime that has been worked is not taken within the period of 6 months mentioned in clause 22.3(e), the employer must pay the employee for the overtime, in the next pay period following those 6 months, at the overtime rate applicable to the overtime when worked.

(h)         The employer must keep a copy of any agreement under clause 22.3 as an employee record.

(i)            An employer must not exert undue influence or undue pressure on an employee in relation to a decision by the employee to make, or not make, an agreement to take time off instead of payment for overtime.

(j)           An employee may, under section 65 of the Act, request to take time off, at a time or times specified in the request or to be subsequently agreed by the employer and the employee, instead of being paid for overtime worked by the employee. If the employer agrees to the request then clause 22.3 will apply, including the requirement for separate written agreements under clause 22.3(b) for overtime that has been worked.

[Note varied by PR763330 ppc 01Aug23]

NOTE: If an employee makes a request under section 65 of the Act for a change in working arrangements, the employer may only refuse that request on reasonable business grounds (see section 65A(3) of the Act).

(k)         If, on the termination of the employee’s employment, time off for overtime worked by the employee to which clause 22.3 applies has not been taken, the employer must pay the employee for the overtime at the overtime rate applicable to the overtime when worked.

NOTE: Under section 345(1) of the Act a person must not knowingly or recklessly make a false or misleading representation about the workplace rights of another person under clause 22.3.

22.4               Rest period after overtime

(a)          Wherever reasonably practicable, working hours should be arranged so that an employee has at least 10 consecutive hours off duty between the work on successive days or shifts.

(b)         An employee, other than a casual employee, who works so much overtime between the termination of their ordinary hours on one day and the commencement of their ordinary hours on the next day that the employee has not had at least 10 consecutive hours off duty between those times must, subject to the other provisions of this clause, be released until the employee has had 10 consecutive hours off duty without loss of pay of ordinary hours occurring during such absence.

(c)          If on the instructions of the employer, an employee resumes or continues work without having had the 10 consecutive hours off the employee must be paid at the rate of double time until the employee is released from duty for such period. The employee is then entitled to be absent until the employee has had 10 consecutive hours off duty without loss of pay for ordinary hours occurring during the absence.

(d)         On call, call-back and remote response

Notwithstanding clauses 22.4(a) to (c), this clause will not apply where an employee works for less than three hours on call, call-back or remote response on any one day in accordance with clauses 22.5 or 22.6.

22.5               Call-back

(a)          For the purposes of this award, an employee will be deemed to be on a call‑back if the employee is recalled to work overtime after leaving the employer’s premises or worksite and without receiving prior notice of the requirement to work overtime before ceasing work. Provided that employees will not be deemed to be on call-back where the employee works such overtime continuous with the employee’s ordinary hours.

(b)         Any employee who is called back to work will be paid for a minimum of three hours’ work at the appropriate overtime rate for each time so recalled. Provided that any subsequent call-backs occurring within three hours of a call‑back will not attract any additional payment. An employee working on a call‑back will be paid the appropriate overtime rate from the time that such employee departs for work.

(c)          Except in the case of unforeseen circumstances arising, the employee will not be required to work the full three hours if the job that the employee was recalled to perform is completed within a shorter period. This clause will not apply in cases where the call-back is continuous subject to a reasonable meal break with the commencement of ordinary hours.

22.6               On call

(a)          An employee directed by the employer to be available for duty outside of the employee’s ordinary working hours will be on call. An employee on call must be able to be contacted and immediately respond to a request to attend work.

(b)         On call allowance

Where the employee is on call, the employee will be paid an on call allowance each day equivalent to:

(i)           one hour at the standard rate for an employee on call, Monday to Friday inclusive;

(ii)         one and a half hours at the standard rate if required to be on call on a Saturday; or

(iii)       two hours at the standard rate if required to be on call on a Sunday or a public holiday.

(c)          Call out

An employee who is on call and in receipt of an on call allowance will be paid at the appropriate overtime rate for time required to attend work. Actual time worked will be deemed to apply from the time the employee leaves home.

(d)         Remote response

An employee who is in receipt of an on call allowance and available to immediately:

(i)           respond to phone calls or messages;

(ii)         provide advice (‘phone fixes’);

(iii)       arrange call out/rosters of other employees; and

(iv)       remotely monitor and/or address issues by remote telephone and/or computer access,

will be paid the applicable overtime rate for the time actually taken in dealing with each particular matter.

(e)          An employee remotely responding will be required to maintain and provide to the employer a time sheet of the length of time taken in dealing with each matter remotely for each day commencing from the first remote response. The total overtime paid to an employee for all time remotely responding in any day commencing from the first response will be rounded up to the nearest 15 minutes.

22.7               Sleepover allowance

(a)          A community service employee who is required to be present at the workplace for any period while on a sleepover shift will be paid 50% of the standard rate for each hour plus the on call allowance provided for in clause 22.6(b).

(b)         Time spent while on a sleepover shift will not be regarded as ordinary hours or as time worked for any purpose whatsoever.

(c)          Payment of the on call allowance referred to in clause 22.7(a) will be payment for work undertaken by the employee during any continuous period of a sleepover shift unless the work is in excess of either:

·   one hour; or

·   two call outs.

(d)         Subject to clause 22.7(c), an employee called out to work will be paid at overtime rates for the period of the call out with a minimum payment of 30 minutes.

(e)          A sleepover shift will not exceed 12 hours unless the premises at which the employee is required to remain is the employee’s principal place of residence, in which case the employee may be on a sleepover shift for up to 14 hours.

(f)           An employee will not be entitled to the sleepover shift allowance prescribed by this clause for any hour in respect of which they are entitled to payment for ordinary hours or overtime.

22A. Requests for flexible working arrangements

[22A inserted by PR732911 ppc 23Aug21; substituted by PR763330 ppc 01Aug23]

Requests for flexible working arrangements are provided for in the NES.

NOTE: Disputes about requests for flexible working arrangements may be dealt with under clause 9Dispute resolution and/or under section 65B of the Act.

Part 6—Leave and Public Holidays

23.                 Annual leave

[Varied by PR732911]

23.1               Annual leave is provided for in the NES. This clause supplements or deals with matters incidental to the NES provisions.

23.2               Shiftworkers for the purposes of the NES

(a)          For the purpose of s.87(1)(b) of the Act, a shiftworker is an employee:

(i)           who works a roster and who, over the roster cycle, may be rostered to work ordinary shifts on any of the seven days of the week; and

(ii)         who is regularly rostered to work on Sundays and public holidays.

(b)         Where an employee with 12 months’ continuous service is engaged for part of the 12 monthly period as a shiftworker, that employee must have their annual leave increased by half a day for each month the employee is continuously engaged as a shiftworker.

23.3               Payment for annual leave

Employees will be paid their hourly ordinary time rate of pay during periods of annual leave for the hours so taken.

23.4               Annual leave loading

(a)          The employee will be paid an annual leave loading of 17.5% calculated on the employee’s minimum weekly rate of pay in addition to payment for annual leave provided.

(b)         Annual leave loading will, at the discretion of the employer, be paid in any of the following ways:

(i)           on the anniversary date of employment;

(ii)         on the same date each year as determined by the employer; or

(iii)       when taking annual leave.

(c)          The maximum amount of annual leave loading that an employer may be required to pay in any year of service will not exceed 70% of the minimum weekly rate for Level 11.

23.5               Requirement to take annual leave—excessive accrual and annual close-down

An employer may require an employee to take annual leave by giving at least four weeks’ notice in the following circumstances:

(a)          as part of a close-down of its operations; or

(b)        where more than eight weeks’ leave is accrued, provided that the employee retains a balance of at least eight weeks.

23.6               Annual leave in advance

[23.6 substituted and renamed by PR732911 ppc 23Aug21]

(a)          An employer and employee may agree in writing to the employee taking a period of paid annual leave before the employee has accrued an entitlement to the leave.

(b)         An agreement must:

(i)           state the amount of leave to be taken in advance and the date on which the leave is to commence; and

(ii)         be signed by the employer and employee and, if the employee is under 18 years of age, by the employee’s parent or guardian.

NOTE: An example of the type of agreement required by clause 23.6 is set out at Schedule G—Agreement to Take Annual Leave in Advance. There is no requirement to use the form of agreement set out at Schedule G—Agreement to Take Annual Leave in Advance.

(c)          The employer must keep a copy of any agreement under clause 23.6 as an employee record.

(d)         If, on the termination of the employee’s employment, the employee has not accrued an entitlement to all of a period of paid annual leave already taken in accordance with an agreement under clause 23.6, the employer may deduct from any money due to the employee on termination an amount equal to the amount that was paid to the employee in respect of any part of the period of annual leave taken in advance to which an entitlement has not been accrued.

24.                 Personal/carer’s leave and compassionate leave

Personal/carer’s leave and compassionate leave are provided for in the NES.

25.                 Community service leave

Community service leave is provided for in the NES.

26.                 Parental leave

[26 varied by PR763330 ppc 01Aug23]

Parental leave is provided for in the NES.

NOTE: Disputes about requests for extensions to unpaid parental leave may be dealt with under clause 9Dispute resolution and/or under section 76B of the Act.

27.                 Public holidays

27.1               Public holidays are provided for in the NES.

27.2               Where an employee is required to work on a public holiday they will be paid at the rate of double time and a half for the actual hours worked.

27.3               Where an employee is required to work on the observed public holiday they will be paid at the rate of double time and a half for the actual hours worked. An employee who works on an observed and actual public holiday will be paid the penalty rate for working on the observed public holiday, but not both.

27.4               An employer and employee may agree to substitute a public holiday as provided by the NES with an alternative day.

27.5               When a public holiday occurs on a day on which an employee is rostered off while employed on a seven day a week rotating roster system, the employee will be paid a day’s pay at ordinary rates in addition to the ordinary week’s pay. The employer may instead of making such additional payment, grant a day’s leave for each such public holiday which may be taken at such time as is mutually agreed to between the employer and the employee.


Schedule AClassifications

This award structure consists of skill-based classifications defined according to the following skill descriptors. Various positions may also require employees to hold and maintain appropriate licences, certificates and/or tickets for the operation of machinery, plant and/or tools.

A.1               Level 1

Level 1 covers entry level for operational employees with minimal experience and qualifications.

A.1.1           Authority and accountability: Completion of generic and basic tasks involving the utilisation of basic skills under established practices and procedures. Individual or team work is closely monitored under direct supervision.

A.1.2           Judgment and problem solving: Judgment is minimal and work activities include routine and clearly defined work which is co-ordinated by other employees. The tasks to be performed may involve the use of a basic range of tools, techniques and methods within a limited range of work.

A.1.3           Specialist knowledge and skills: Job specific knowledge and skill are obtained through on-the-job training and workplace-based induction training.

A.1.4           Management skills: Not required at this level.

A.1.5           Interpersonal skills: Limited to basic communications with other staff and possibly with the public.

A.1.6           Qualifications and experience: An employee in this level will have commenced on‑the-job training, which may include an induction course.

A.2               Level 2

Level 2 covers operational employees undertaking duties and responsibilities in excess of Level 1 with relevant local government industry or equivalent experience.

A.2.1           Authority and accountability: Completion of basic tasks involving the utilisation of a range of basic skills under established practices and procedures. Work is monitored under supervision either individually or in a team environment.

A.2.2           Judgment and problem solving: Judgment is limited to the tasks to be performed and may involve the use of a limited range of tools, techniques and methods within a specified range of work. An employee may resolve minor problems that relate to immediate work tasks.

A.2.3           Specialist knowledge and skills: Obtained through on-the-job training and workplace induction training. May include off-the-job training through accredited short courses.

A.2.4           Management skills: Not required at this level.

A.2.5           Interpersonal skills: Limited to basic communications with other staff and possibly with the public.

A.2.6           Qualifications and experience: Completion of Year 10 and/or an appropriate labour market program or similar work/skills.

A.3               Level 3

Level 3 covers operational employees undertaking duties and responsibilities in excess of Level 2 and entry level administrative employees.

A.3.1           Authority and accountability: Responsible for completion of regularly occurring tasks with general guidance on a daily basis. May supervise work or provide on‑the‑job training, based on their skills and/or experience, to employees of the same or lower levels.

A.3.2           Judgment and problem solving: Personal judgment is required to follow predetermined procedures where a choice between more than two options is present. Work performed falls within general guidelines but with scope to exercise discretion in the application of established practices and procedures.

A.3.3           Specialist knowledge and skills: Application of developed skills acquired through on-the-job training or accredited external training over a number of months. Positions may require demonstrated competence in administrative areas.

A.3.4           Management skills: Not required at this level.

A.3.5           Interpersonal skills: Employees at this level require communication skills to enable them to effectively communicate with clients, other employees and members of the public and in the resolution of minor matters.

A.3.6           Qualifications and experience: Qualifications or relevant experience in accordance with the requirements of work in this level, which may be acquired through a Certificate II or a non-trades Certificate III, however described.

A.4               Level 4

Level 4 covers operational and administrative employees undertaking duties and responsibilities in excess of Level 3 and is the entry level for technical and trades employees.

A.4.1           Authority and accountability: Work performed is within general guidelines. May supervise work or provide on-the-job training, based on their skills and/or experience, to employees of the same or lower levels. Responsible for leading employees in operational duties or the application of trades, administrative or technical skills.

A.4.2           Judgment and problem solving: The nature of the work is clearly defined with procedures well understood. Tasks performed may involve selection from a range of existing techniques, systems, equipment, methods or processes. Guidance is available from more senior staff.

A.4.3           Specialist knowledge and skills: Requires demonstrated competence in a number of key skill areas related to major elements of the job. Proficiency in the application of standardised procedures and practices. May also include the operation of tools, plant, machinery and/or equipment, in accordance with the requirements of the position. Performance of trades and non-trade tasks incidental to the work.

A.4.4           Management skills: Provide employees with on-the-job training, guidance and basic knowledge of workplace policies and procedures. Employees may lead small groups of employees at the ‘work face’.

A.4.5           Interpersonal skills: Employees at this level require effective communication skills to enable them to communicate with clients, other employees and members of the public and in the resolution of routine and usual matters.

A.4.6           Qualifications and experience: Qualifications or relevant experience in accordance with the requirements of work in this level which may be acquired through:

(a)          a trade certificate or equivalent;

(b)         completion of accredited/industry-based training courses equivalent to a Certificate IV (non-trade); and/or

(c)          knowledge and skills gained through on-the-job training.

A.5               Level 5

Level 5 covers technical, administrative and trades employees undertaking duties and responsibilities in excess of Level 4.

A.5.1           Authority and accountability: The exercise of discretion within standard practices and processes and may involve the exercise of high precision occupational skills using various specialised techniques, systems, equipment, methods or processes. Positions provide local decisions, direction, leadership and on-the-job training to supervised employees or groups of employees.

A.5.2           Judgment and problem solving: Skills to solve problems which require assessment of a range of options having elements of complexity in reaching decisions and making recommendations. For supervisors, the work processes often requires the quantification of the amount of resources needed to meet those objectives. Assistance may be readily available from other staff in the work area in solving problems.

A.5.3           Specialist knowledge and skills: Specialist knowledge in a number of advanced skill areas relating to the more complex elements of post-trades or specialist disciplines either through formal training programs or on-the-job training.

A.5.4           Management skills: May require skills in co-ordinating a team of employees, to motivate and monitor performance against work outcomes. Positions may lead large groups of employees at the ‘work face’.

A.5.5           Interpersonal skills: Persuasive communication skills are required to participate in specialised discussions to resolve issues, including explaining policy to the public and/or others and reconciling different points of view.

A.5.6           Qualifications and experience: Positions require thorough working knowledge and experience of all work procedures for the application of technical, trades or administrative skills, based upon suitable certificate or post-certificate level qualifications which may include:

(a)          post-trade certificate and/or other post-secondary qualification below diploma or degree; or

(b)         extensive knowledge and skill gained through on-the-job training in accordance with the requirements of the work in this level.

A.6               Level 6

Level 6 covers administrative, technical or trades employees undertaking duties and responsibilities in excess of Level 5.

A.6.1           Authority and accountability: May be responsible for providing a specialised/technical service and for completing work with elements of complexity. May make internal and external recommendations which represent the employer to the public and/or other organisations. Employees are accountable for the quality, effectiveness, cost and timeliness of the programs, projects or work plans under their control and for safety and security of the assets being managed.

A.6.2           Judgment and problem solving: Judgment and problem solving skills are required where there is a lack of definition requiring analysis of a number of options. Typical judgments may require variation of work priorities and approaches; some creativity and originality may be required. Guidance and counsel may be available within the time available to make a choice.

A.6.3           Specialist knowledge and skills: Employees have advanced knowledge and skills in a number of areas where analysis of complex options is involved.

A.6.4           Management skills: May provide higher level supervision of groups of operational, administrative, trades or technical employees. Employees supervised may be in a number of different work areas, requiring motivation, monitoring, managing and co‑ordination to achieve specific outputs. Positions may require an understanding and implementation of relevant employment policies and practices.

A.6.5           Interpersonal skills: Skills to communicate with employees in lower levels and the public. Employees in this level are expected to write detailed and non-standard reports and correspondences in their field of expertise.

A.6.6           Qualifications and experience: Positions require working knowledge and experience of all work procedures for the application of technical, trades or administrative skills in the most complex areas of the job and suitable qualifications, which may include:

(a)          diploma or advanced diploma; or

(b)         appropriate in-house training or equivalent.

A.7               Level 7

Level 7 covers specialist technical employees undertaking duties in excess of Level 6 and is the entry level for graduate professional employees.

A.7.1           Authority and accountability: Provides professional and/or specialist technical services to complete assignments or projects in consultation with other employees. May work with a team of employees requiring the review and approval of more complex elements of the work.

A.7.2           Judgment and problem solving: Problems require assessment of a range of options having elements of complexity in reaching decisions and making recommendations. Precedent is available from the employer’s internal sources, and assistance is usually available from other professional and/or specialist technical employees in the work area.

A.7.3           Specialist knowledge and skills: Positions require considerable knowledge and a level of skill in a specific area to resolve issues having elements of complexity which may not be clearly defined.

A.7.4           Management skills: Technical and administrative employees at this level may manage minor projects involving employees in lower levels and other resources. Graduate professional employees at this level are not expected to perform such management functions.

A.7.5           Interpersonal skills: Persuasive skills are required to participate in technical discussions to resolve problems, explain policy and reconcile viewpoints. Employees may write reports in the field of their expertise and/or prepare external correspondence.

A.7.6           Qualifications and experience: Skills and knowledge needed are beyond those normally acquired through the completion of secondary education alone and normally acquired through completion of a degree with little or no relevant work experience, or a diploma with considerable work experience.

A.8               Level 8

Level 8 covers professionals/specialists positions that provide both advisory and project management responsibilities in excess of Level 7. The positions in Level 8 generally have a major impact upon the day-to-day operations of a function, department or work area of the employer.

A.8.1           Authority and accountability: Provides a specialist service in the completion of work and/or projects which have elements of complexity (composed of many parts that may be more conceptual than definite).

A.8.2           Judgment and problem solving: Positions require the interpretation of information and development of suitable procedures to achieve satisfactory outcomes. The nature of the work is usually specialised with methods, procedures and processes developed from theory or precedent. Decision making requires analysis of data to reach decisions and/or determine progress.

A.8.3           Specialist knowledge and skills: Positions require the application of extensive knowledge and a high level of skill in a specific area to resolve issues having elements of complexity.

A.8.4           Management skills: Technical employees at this level may manage more complex projects involving people and other resources. Professional employees at this level may manage minor projects involving employees in lower levels and other resources.

A.8.5           Interpersonal skills: Interpersonal skills in leading and motivating employees in different teams/locations may be required, as well as persuasive skills to resolve problems or provide specialised advice.

A.8.6           Qualifications and experience: Employees at this level supplement base level professional qualifications with additional skills training. Considerable practical experience or skills training is required to effectively control key elements of the job.

A.9               Level 9

Level 9 involves duties and responsibilities in excess of Level 8 and typically involves key specialists in a specific field and the undertaking of a management function. Level 9 also covers experienced professionals.

A.9.1           Authority and accountability: Accountable for the effective management of major sections or projects within their area of expertise. Provides a professional advisory role to people within or outside the employer on major areas of policy or on key issues of significance to the organisation. Such advice may commit the employer and have significant impact upon external parties dealing with the employer. The position’s influence would have an important role in the overall performance of the function.

A.9.2           Judgment and problem solving: Employees have a high level of independence and determine and/or oversee the framework for problem solving or set strategic plans. At this level, the position may represent management or the employer in the resolution of problems.

A.9.3           Specialist knowledge and skills: Positions require knowledge and skills for the direction and control of a key function of the employer or major functions within a department. Positions require expert knowledge and skills involving elements of creativity and innovation in addressing and resolving major issues.

A.9.4           Management skills: Employees may direct professional or other staff in the planning, implementation and review of major programs, as well as participating as a key member of a functional team. Positions at this level may also be required to manage staff, resolve operational problems and participate in a discrete management team to resolve key problems.

A.9.5           Interpersonal skills: Interpersonal skills in leading and motivating staff will be required at this level. Positions require the ability to persuade, convince or negotiate with staff, clients, members of the public, tribunals and persons in other organisations in the pursuit and achievement of specific and set objectives. Communication skills may be required to enable provision of key advice both within and outside the employer and to liaise with external bodies.

A.9.6           Qualifications and experience: Employees will have a relevant degree or equivalent with extensive practical experience.

A.10          Level 10

Level 10 positions can be described as those which have a management focus upon the attainment of operational and strategic objectives. This level includes senior managers who report to senior executive officers.

A.10.1       Authority and accountability: Makes determinative decisions and is accountable under delegated authority. Influences day-to-day and/or strategic direction of a department. May lead development and/or implementation of policy.

A.10.2       Judgment and problem solving: Resolution of problems which require analytic reasoning and integration of wide-ranging and complex information. High level of independence in determining direction and approach to issues.

A.10.3       Specialist knowledge and skills: Positions require the application of a range of specialist knowledge and skills, including relevant legislation, policies and other areas of precedent.

A.10.4       Management skills: Application of developed management skills to establish and/or monitor goals and objectives. Manage employees, budgets, work programs or major projects of the employer or a department utilising leadership, evaluation and monitoring skills to facilitate achievement of objectives. Ability to generate innovative approaches to more effectively deploy resources, meet changing circumstances and improve services.

A.10.5       Interpersonal skills: Employees at this level are required to use highly developed interpersonal skills to influence, persuade and/or motivate others to achieve objectives critical to the employer and to resolve conflict.

A.10.6       Qualifications and experience: Employees require a relevant degree or equivalent and management experience.

A.11          Level 11

Level 11 positions can be described as those which have a management focus upon the attainment of operational and strategic objectives undertaking duties and responsibilities at a higher level than Level 10 and includes senior executive officers (but not the chief executive officer, however described) who have overall responsibility and accountability for a number of significant functions.

A.11.1       Authority and accountability: Makes determinative decisions and is accountable under delegated authority. Influences day-to-day and/or strategic direction of a department. Leads policy development and implementation.

A.11.2       Judgment and problem solving: Resolution of problems which require highly analytic reasoning and integration of wide-ranging and complex information. High level of independence in determining direction and approach to issues.

A.11.3       Specialist knowledge and skills: Positions require the application of a wide range of specialist knowledge and skills, including relevant legislation and policies and other areas of precedent.

A.11.4       Management skills: Application of highly developed management skills to establish and/or monitor goals and objectives. Manage employees, budgets, work programs or major projects of the employer or a department utilising leadership, evaluation and monitoring skills to facilitate achievement of objectives. Ability to generate innovative approaches to more effectively deploy resources, meet changing circumstances and improve services.

A.11.5       Interpersonal skills: Positions at this level are required to use highly developed interpersonal skills to influence, persuade and/or motivate others to achieve objectives critical to the employer and to resolve complex conflict situations.

A.11.6       Qualifications and experience: Positions require a relevant degree or equivalent and significant management experience.


Schedule BSupported Wage System

[Varied by PR581528, PR592689, PR606630, PR709080, PR719661, PR729672, PR742256, PR762969, PR774051]

B.1                 This schedule defines the conditions which will apply to employees who because of the effects of a disability are eligible for a supported wage under the terms of this award.

B.2                 In this schedule:

approved assessor means a person accredited by the management unit established by the Commonwealth under the supported wage system to perform assessments of an individual’s productive capacity within the supported wage system

assessment instrument means the tool provided for under the supported wage system that records the assessment of the productive capacity of the person to be employed under the supported wage system

disability support pension means the Commonwealth pension scheme to provide income security for persons with a disability as provided under the Social Security Act 1991 (Cth), as amended from time to time, or any successor to that scheme

relevant minimum wage means the minimum wage prescribed in this award for the class of work for which an employee is engaged

supported wage system (SWS) means the Commonwealth Government system to promote employment for people who cannot work at full award wages because of a disability, as documented in the Supported Wage System Handbook. The Handbook is available from the following website: www.jobaccess.gov.au

SWS wage assessment agreement means the document in the form required by the Department of Social Services that records the employee’s productive capacity and agreed wage rate

B.3                Eligibility criteria

B.3.1           Employees covered by this schedule will be those who are unable to perform the range of duties to the competence level required within the class of work for which the employee is engaged under this award, because of the effects of a disability on their productive capacity and who meet the impairment criteria for receipt of a disability support pension.

B.3.2           This schedule does not apply to any existing employee who has a claim against the employer which is subject to the provisions of workers compensation legislation or any provision of this award relating to the rehabilitation of employees who are injured in the course of their employment.

B.4                Supported wage rates

B.4.1           Employees to whom this schedule applies will be paid the applicable percentage of the relevant minimum wage according to the following schedule:

Assessed capacity (clause B.5)

%

Relevant minimum wage

%

10

10

20

20

30

30

40

40

50

50

60

60

70

70

80

80

90

90

[B.4.2 varied by PR581528, PR592689, PR606630, PR709080, PR719661, PR729672, PR742256, PR762969, PR774051 ppc 01Jul24]

B.4.2           Provided that the minimum amount payable must be not less than $106 per week.

B.4.3           Where an employee’s assessed capacity is 10%, they must receive a high degree of assistance and support.

B.5                Assessment of capacity

B.5.1           For the purpose of establishing the percentage of the relevant minimum wage, the productive capacity of the employee will be assessed in accordance with the Supported Wage System by an approved assessor, having consulted the employer and employee and, if the employee so desires, a union which the employee is eligible to join.

B.5.2           All assessments made under this schedule must be documented in an SWS wage assessment agreement, and retained by the employer as a time and wages record in accordance with the Act.

B.6                Lodgement of SWS wage assessment agreement

B.6.1           All SWS wage assessment agreements under the conditions of this schedule, including the appropriate percentage of the relevant minimum wage to be paid to the employee, must be lodged by the employer with the Fair Work Commission.

B.6.2           All SWS wage assessment agreements must be agreed and signed by the employee and employer parties to the assessment. Where a union which has an interest in the award is not a party to the assessment, the assessment will be referred by the Fair Work Commission to the union by certified mail and the agreement will take effect unless an objection is notified to the Fair Work Commission within 10 working days.

B.7                Review of assessment

The assessment of the applicable percentage should be subject to annual or more frequent review on the basis of a reasonable request for such a review. The process of review must be in accordance with the procedures for assessing capacity under the supported wage system.

B.8                Other terms and conditions of employment

Where an assessment has been made, the applicable percentage will apply to the relevant minimum wage only. Employees covered by the provisions of this schedule will be entitled to the same terms and conditions of employment as other workers covered by this award on a pro rata basis.

B.9                Workplace adjustment

An employer wishing to employ a person under the provisions of this schedule must take reasonable steps to make changes in the workplace to enhance the employee’s capacity to do the job. Changes may involve re-design of job duties, working time arrangements and work organisation in consultation with other workers in the area.

B.10           Trial period

B.10.1       In order for an adequate assessment of the employee’s capacity to be made, an employer may employ a person under the provisions of this schedule for a trial period not exceeding 12 weeks, except that in some cases additional work adjustment time (not exceeding four weeks) may be needed.

B.10.2       During that trial period the assessment of capacity will be undertaken and the percentage of the relevant minimum wage for a continuing employment relationship will be determined.

[B.10.3 varied by PR581528, PR592689, PR606630, PR709080, PR719661, PR729672, PR742256, PR762969, PR774051 ppc 01Jul24]

B.10.3       The minimum amount payable to the employee during the trial period must be no less than $106 per week.

B.10.4       Work trials should include induction or training as appropriate to the job being trialled.

B.10.5       Where the employer and employee wish to establish a continuing employment relationship following the completion of the trial period, a further contract of employment will be entered into based on the outcome of assessment under clause B.5.


Schedule CSchool-based Apprentices

C.1                 This schedule applies to school-based apprentices. A school-based apprentice is a person who is undertaking an apprenticeship in accordance with this schedule while also undertaking a course of secondary education.

C.2                 A school-based apprenticeship may be undertaken in the trades covered by this award under a training agreement or contract of training for an apprentice declared or recognised by the relevant State or Territory authority.

C.3                 The relevant minimum wages for full-time junior and adult apprentices provided for in this award, calculated hourly, will apply to school-based apprentices for total hours worked including time deemed to be spent in off-the-job training.

C.4                 For the purposes of clause C.3, where an apprentice is a full-time school student, the time spent in off-the-job training for which the apprentice must be paid is 25% of the actual hours worked each week on-the-job. The wages paid for training time may be averaged over the semester or year.

C.5                 A school-based apprentice must be allowed, over the duration of the apprenticeship, the same amount of time to attend off-the-job training as an equivalent full-time apprentice.

C.6                 For the purposes of this schedule, off-the-job training is structured training delivered by a Registered Training Organisation separate from normal work duties or general supervised practice undertaken on the job.

C.7                 The duration of the apprenticeship must be as specified in the training agreement or contract for each apprentice but must not exceed six years.

C.8                 School-based apprentices progress through the relevant wage scale at the rate of 12 months progression for each two years of employment as an apprentice or at the rate of competency-based progression if provided for in this award.

C.9                 The apprentice wage scales are based on a standard full-time apprenticeship of four years (unless the apprenticeship is of three years duration) or stages of competency based progression (if provided for in this award). The rate of progression reflects the average rate of skill acquisition expected from the typical combination of work and training for a school-based apprentice undertaking the applicable apprenticeship.

C.10             If an apprentice converts from school-based to full-time, the successful completion of competencies (if provided for in this award) and all time spent as a full-time apprentice will count for the purposes of progression through the relevant wage scale in addition to the progression achieved as a school-based apprentice.

C.11             School-based apprentices are entitled pro rata to all of the other conditions in this award.


Schedule DNational Training Wage

[Varied by PR579952, PR592235, PR606458, PR707572, PR718950, PR729397, PR740821, PR762241, PR774023]

D.1               Title

This is the National Training Wage Schedule.

D.2               Definitions

In this schedule:

adult trainee is a trainee who would qualify for the highest minimum wage in Wage Level A, B or C if covered by that wage level

approved training means the training specified in the training contract

Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) is a national framework for qualifications in post-compulsory education and training

out of school refers only to periods out of school beyond Year 10 as at the first of January in each year and is deemed to:

(a)          include any period of schooling beyond Year 10 which was not part of or did not contribute to a completed year of schooling;

(b)         include any period during which a trainee repeats in whole or part a year of schooling beyond Year 10; and

(c)          not include any period during a calendar year in which a year of schooling is completed

relevant State or Territory training authority means the bodies in the relevant State or Territory which exercise approval powers in relation to traineeships and register training contracts under the relevant State or Territory vocational education and training legislation

relevant State or Territory vocational education and training legislation means the following or any successor legislation:

Australian Capital Territory: Training and Tertiary Education Act 2003;

New South Wales: Apprenticeship and Traineeship Act 2001;

Northern Territory: Northern Territory Employment and Training Act 1991;

Queensland: Vocational Education, Training and Employment Act 2000;

South Australia: Training and Skills Development Act 2008;

Tasmania: Vocational Education and Training Act 1994;

Victoria: Education and Training Reform Act 2006; or

Western Australia: Vocational Education and Training Act 1996

trainee is an employee undertaking a traineeship under a training contract

traineeship means a system of training which has been approved by the relevant State or Territory training authority, which meets the requirements of a training package developed by the relevant Industry Skills Council and endorsed by the National Quality Council, and which leads to an AQF certificate level qualification

training contract means an agreement for a traineeship made between an employer and an employee which is registered with the relevant State or Territory training authority

training package means the competency standards and associated assessment guidelines for an AQF certificate level qualification which have been endorsed for an industry or enterprise by the National Quality Council and placed on the National Training Information Service with the approval of the Commonwealth, State and Territory Ministers responsible for vocational education and training, and includes any relevant replacement training package

year 10 includes any year before Year 10

D.3               Coverage

D.3.1           Subject to clauses D.3.2 to D.3.6 of this schedule, this schedule applies in respect of an employee covered by this award who is undertaking a traineeship whose training package and AQF certificate level is allocated to a wage level by clause D.7 to this schedule or by clause D.5.4 of this schedule.

D.3.2           This schedule only applies to AQF Certificate Level IV traineeships for which a relevant AQF Certificate Level III traineeship is listed in clause D.7 to this schedule.

D.3.3           This schedule does not apply to the apprenticeship system or to any training program which applies to the same occupation and achieves essentially the same training outcome as an existing apprenticeship in an award as at 25 June 1997.

D.3.4           This schedule does not apply to qualifications not identified in training packages or to qualifications in training packages which are not identified as appropriate for a traineeship.

D.3.5           Where the terms and conditions of this schedule conflict with other terms and conditions of this award dealing with traineeships, the other terms and conditions of this award prevail.

D.3.6           At the conclusion of the traineeship, this schedule ceases to apply to the employee.

D.4               Types of Traineeship

The following types of traineeship are available under this schedule:

D.4.1           a full-time traineeship based on 38 ordinary hours per week, with 20% of ordinary hours being approved training; and

D.4.2           a part-time traineeship based on less than 38 ordinary hours per week, with 20% of ordinary hours being approved training solely on-the-job or partly on-the-job and partly off-the-job, or where training is fully off-the-job.

D.5               Minimum Wages

[D.5 substituted by PR579952, PR592235, PR606458, PR707572, PR718950, PR729397, PR740821, PR762241, PR774023 ppc 01Jul24]

D.5.1           Minimum wages for full-time traineeships

(a)          Wage Level A

Subject to clause D.5.3 of this schedule, the minimum wages for a trainee undertaking a full-time AQF Certificate Level I–III traineeship whose training package and AQF certificate levels are allocated to Wage Level A by clause D.7 are:

 

Highest year of schooling completed

 

Year 10

Year 11

Year 12

 

per week

per week

per week

 

$

$

$

School leaver

398.70

439.00

522.20

Plus 1 year out of school

439.00

522.20

607.70

Plus 2 years out of school

522.20

607.70

707.20

Plus 3 years out of school

607.70

707.20

809.70

Plus 4 years out of school

707.20

809.70

Plus 5 or more years out of school

809.70

(b)         Wage Level B

Subject to clause D.5.3 of this schedule, the minimum wages for a trainee undertaking a full-time AQF Certificate Level I–III traineeship whose training package and AQF certificate levels are allocated to Wage Level B by clause D.7 are:

Highest year of schooling completed

 

Year 10

Year 11

Year 12

 

per week

per week

per week

 

$

$

$

School leaver

398.70

439.00

508.90

Plus 1 year out of school

439.00

508.90

585.40

Plus 2 years out of school

508.90

585.40

686.60

Plus 3 years out of school

585.40

686.60

783.00

Plus 4 years out of school

686.60

783.00

Plus 5 or more years out of school

783.00

(c)          Wage Level C

Subject to clause D.5.3 of this schedule, the minimum wages for a trainee undertaking a full-time AQF Certificate Level I–III traineeship whose training package and AQF certificate levels are allocated to Wage Level C by clause D.7 are:

 

Highest year of schooling completed

 

Year 10

Year 11

Year 12

 

per week

per week

per week

 

$

$

$

School leaver

398.70

439.00

508.90

Plus 1 year out of school

439.00

508.90

575.50

Plus 2 years out of school

508.90

575.50

642.90

Plus 3 years out of school

575.50

642.90

716.10

Plus 4 years out of school

642.90

716.10

Plus 5 or more years out of school

716.10

(d)         AQF Certificate Level IV traineeships

(i)           Subject to clause D.5.3 of this schedule, the minimum wages for a trainee undertaking a full-time AQF Certificate Level IV traineeship are the minimum wages for the relevant full-time AQF Certificate Level III traineeship with the addition of 3.8% to those minimum wages.

(ii)         Subject to clause D.5.3 of this schedule, the minimum wages for an adult trainee undertaking a full-time AQF Certificate Level IV traineeship are as follows, provided that the relevant wage level is that for the relevant AQF Certificate Level III traineeship:

Wage level

First year of traineeship

Second and subsequent years of traineeship

 

per week

per week

 

$

$

Wage Level A

840.40

872.30

Wage Level B

812.80

843.70

Wage Level C

743.40

771.50

D.5.2           Minimum wages for part-time traineeships

(a)          Wage Level A

Subject to clauses D.5.2(f) and D.5.3 of this schedule, the minimum wages for a trainee undertaking a part-time AQF Certificate Level I–III traineeship whose training package and AQF certificate levels are allocated to Wage Level A by clause D.7 are:

 

Highest year of schooling completed

 

Year 10

Year 11

Year 12

 

per hour

per hour

per hour

 

$

$

$

School leaver

13.11

14.44

17.17

Plus 1 year out of school

14.44

17.17

19.99

Plus 2 years out of school

17.17

19.99

23.26

Plus 3 years out of school

19.99

23.26

26.64

Plus 4 years out of school

23.26

26.64

Plus 5 or more years out of school

26.64

(b)         Wage Level B

Subject to clauses D.5.2(f) and D.5.3 of this schedule, the minimum wages for a trainee undertaking a part-time AQF Certificate Level I–III traineeship whose training package and AQF certificate levels are allocated to Wage Level B by clause D.7 are:

 

Highest year of schooling completed

 

Year 10

Year 11

Year 12

 

per hour

per hour

per hour

 

$

$

$

School leaver

13.11

14.44

16.75

Plus 1 year out of school

14.44

16.75

19.26

Plus 2 years out of school

16.75

19.26

22.59

Plus 3 years out of school

19.26

22.59

25.76

Plus 4 years out of school

22.59

25.76

Plus 5 or more years out of school

25.76

(c)          Wage Level C

Subject to clauses D.5.2(f) and D.5.3 of this schedule, the minimum wages for a trainee undertaking a part-time AQF Certificate Level I–III traineeship whose training package and AQF certificate levels are allocated to Wage Level C by clause D.7 are:

 

Highest year of schooling completed

 

Year 10

Year 11

Year 12

 

per hour

per hour

per hour

 

$

$

$

School leaver

13.11

14.44

16.75

Plus 1 year out of school

14.44

16.75

18.92

Plus 2 years out of school

16.75

18.92

21.15

Plus 3 years out of school

18.92

21.15

23.55

Plus 4 years out of school

21.15

23.55

Plus 5 or more years out of school

23.55

(d)         School-based traineeships

Subject to clauses D.5.2(f) and D.5.3 of this schedule, the minimum wages for a trainee undertaking a school-based AQF Certificate Level I–III traineeship whose training package and AQF certificate levels are allocated to Wage Levels A, B or C by clause D.7 are as follows when the trainee works ordinary hours:

Year of schooling

Year 11 or lower

Year 12

per hour

per hour

$

$

13.11

14.44

(e)          AQF Certificate Level IV traineeships

(i)           Subject to clauses D.5.2(f) and D.5.3 of this schedule, the minimum wages for a trainee undertaking a part-time AQF Certificate Level IV traineeship are the minimum wages for the relevant part-time AQF Certificate Level III traineeship with the addition of 3.8% to those minimum wages.

(ii)         Subject to clauses D.5.2(f) and D.5.3 of this schedule, the minimum wages for an adult trainee undertaking a part-time AQF Certificate Level IV traineeship are as follows, provided that the relevant wage level is that for the relevant AQF Certificate Level III traineeship:

Wage level

First year of traineeship

Second and subsequent years of traineeship

 

per hour

per hour

 

$

$

Wage Level A

27.65

28.69

Wage Level B

26.74

27.75

Wage Level C

24.45

25.38

(f)           Calculating the actual minimum wage

(i)           Where the full-time ordinary hours of work are not 38 or an average of 38 per week, the appropriate hourly minimum wage is obtained by multiplying the relevant minimum wage in clauses D.5.2(a)(e) of this schedule by 38 and then dividing the figure obtained by the full-time ordinary hours of work per week.

(ii)         Where the approved training for a part-time traineeship is provided fully off-the-job by a registered training organisation, for example at school or at TAFE, the relevant minimum wage in clauses D.5.2(a)(e) of this schedule applies to each ordinary hour worked by the trainee.

(iii)       Where the approved training for a part-time traineeship is undertaken solely on-the-job or partly on-the-job and partly off-the-job, the relevant minimum wage in clauses D.5.2(a)(e) of this schedule minus 20% applies to each ordinary hour worked by the trainee.

D.5.3           Other minimum wage provisions

(a)          An employee who was employed by an employer immediately prior to becoming a trainee with that employer must not suffer a reduction in their minimum wage per week or per hour by virtue of becoming a trainee. Casual loadings will be disregarded when determining whether the employee has suffered a reduction in their minimum wage.

(b)         If a qualification is converted from an AQF Certificate Level II to an AQF Certificate Level III traineeship, or from an AQF Certificate Level III to an AQF Certificate Level IV traineeship, then the trainee must be paid the next highest minimum wage provided in this schedule, where a higher minimum wage is provided for the new AQF certificate level.

D.5.4           Default wage rate

The minimum wage for a trainee undertaking an AQF Certificate Level I–III traineeship whose training package and AQF certificate level are not allocated to a wage level by clause D.7 is the relevant minimum wage under this schedule for a trainee undertaking an AQF Certificate to Level I–III traineeship whose training package and AQF certificate level are allocated to Wage Level B.

D.6               Employment conditions

D.6.1           A trainee undertaking a school-based traineeship may, with the agreement of the trainee, be paid an additional loading of 25% on all ordinary hours worked instead of paid annual leave, paid personal/carer’s leave and paid absence on public holidays, provided that where the trainee works on a public holiday then the public holiday provisions of this award apply.

D.6.2           A trainee is entitled to be released from work without loss of continuity of employment and to payment of the appropriate wages to attend any training and assessment specified in, or associated with, the training contract.

D.6.3           Time spent by a trainee, other than a trainee undertaking a school-based traineeship, in attending any training and assessment specified in, or associated with, the training contract is to be regarded as time worked for the employer for the purposes of calculating the trainee’s wages and determining the trainee’s employment conditions.

Note: The time to be included for the purpose of calculating the wages for part‑time trainees whose approved training is fully off‑the‑job is determined by clause D.5.2(f)(ii) and not by this clause.

D.6.4           Subject to clause D.3.5 of this schedule, all other terms and conditions of this award apply to a trainee unless specifically varied by this schedule.

D.7               Allocation of Traineeships to Wage Levels

The wage levels applying to training packages and their AQF certificate levels are:

D.7.1           Wage Level A

Training package

AQF certificate level

Aeroskills

II

Aviation

I
II
III

Beauty

III

Business Services

I
II
III

Chemical, Hydrocarbons and Refining

I
II
III

Civil Construction

III

Coal Training Package

II
III

Community Services

II
III

Construction, Plumbing and Services Integrated Framework

I
II
III

Correctional Services

II
III

Drilling

II
III

Electricity Supply Industry—Generation Sector

II
III (in Western Australia only)

Electricity Supply Industry—Transmission, Distribution and Rail Sector

II

Electrotechnology

I
II
III (in Western Australia only)

Financial Services

I
II
III

Floristry

III

Food Processing Industry

III

Gas Industry

III

Information and Communications Technology

I
II
III

Laboratory Operations

II
III

Local Government (other than Operational Works Cert I and II)

I
II
III

Manufactured Mineral Products

III

Manufacturing

I
II
III

Maritime

I
II
III

Metal and Engineering (Technical)

II
III

Metalliferous Mining

II
III

Museum, Library and Library/Information Services

II
III

Plastics, Rubber and Cablemaking

III

Public Safety

III

Public Sector

II
III

Pulp and Paper Manufacturing Industries

III

Retail Services (including wholesale and Community pharmacy)

III

Telecommunications

II
III

Textiles, Clothing and Footwear

III

Tourism, Hospitality and Events

I
II
III

Training and Assessment

III

Transport and Distribution

III

Water Industry (Utilities)

III

D.7.2           Wage Level B

Training package

AQF certificate level

Animal Care and Management

I
II
III

Asset Maintenance

I
II
III

Australian Meat Industry

I
II
III

Automotive Industry Manufacturing

II
III

Automotive Industry Retail, Service and Repair

I
II
III

Beauty

II

Caravan Industry

II
III

Civil Construction

I

Community Recreation Industry

III

Entertainment

I
II
III

Extractive Industries

II
III

Fitness Industry

III

Floristry

II

Food Processing Industry

I
II

Forest and Forest Products Industry

I
II
III

Furnishing

I
II
III

Gas Industry

I
II

Health

II
III

Local Government (Operational Works)

I
II

Manufactured Mineral Products

I
II

Metal and Engineering (Production)

II
III

Outdoor Recreation Industry

I
II
III

Plastics, Rubber and Cablemaking

II

Printing and Graphic Arts

II
III

Property Services

I
II
III

Public Safety

I
II

Pulp and Paper Manufacturing Industries

I
II

Retail Services

I
II

Screen and Media

I
II
III

Sport Industry

II
III

Sugar Milling

I
II
III

Textiles, Clothing and Footwear

I
II

Transport and Logistics

I
II

Visual Arts, Craft and Design

I
II
III

Water Industry

I
II

D.7.3           Wage Level C

Training package

AQF certificate level

Agri-Food

I

Amenity Horticulture

I
II
III

Conservation and Land Management

I
II
III

Funeral Services

I
II
III

Music

I
II
III

Racing Industry

I
II
III

Rural Production

I
II
III

Seafood Industry

I
II
III

   


Schedule EPart-day public holidays

[Varied by PR580863, PR598110, PR701683 ppc 21Nov18]

This schedule operates where this award otherwise contains provisions dealing with public holidays that supplement the NES.

E.1                 Where a part-day public holiday is declared or prescribed between 7.00 pm and midnight on Christmas Eve (24 December in each year) or New Year’s Eve (31 December in each year) the following will apply on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve and will override any provision in this award relating to public holidays to the extent of the inconsistency:

(a)          All employees will have the right to refuse to work on the part-day public holiday if the request to work is not reasonable or the refusal is reasonable as provided for in the NES.

(b)         Where a part-time or full-time employee is usually rostered to work ordinary hours between 7.00 pm and midnight but as a result of exercising their right under the NES does not work, they will be paid their ordinary rate of pay for such hours not worked.

(c)          Where a part-time or full-time employee is usually rostered to work ordinary hours between 7.00 pm and midnight but as a result of being on annual leave does not work, they will be taken not to be on annual leave between those hours of 7.00 pm and midnight that they would have usually been rostered to work and will be paid their ordinary rate of pay for such hours.

(d)         Where a part-time or full-time employee is usually rostered to work ordinary hours between 7.00 pm and midnight, but as a result of having a rostered day off (RDO) provided under this award, does not work, the employee will be taken to be on a public holiday for such hours and paid their ordinary rate of pay for those hours.

(e)          Excluding annualised salaried employees to whom clause E.1(f) applies, where an employee works any hours between 7.00 pm and midnight they will be entitled to the appropriate public holiday penalty rate (if any) in this award for those hours worked.

(f)           Where an employee is paid an annualised salary under the provisions of this award and is entitled under this award to time off in lieu or additional annual leave for work on a public holiday, they will be entitled to time off in lieu or pro-rata annual leave equivalent to the time worked between 7.00 pm and midnight.

(g)          An employee not rostered to work between 7.00 pm and midnight, other than an employee who has exercised their right in accordance with clause E.1(a), will not be entitled to another day off, another day’s pay or another day of annual leave as a result of the part-day public holiday.

This schedule is not intended to detract from or supplement the NES.


 

Schedule FAgreement for time off instead of payment for overtime

[Sched F inserted by PR732911 ppc 23Aug21]

 

Name of employee: _____________________________________________

Name of employer: _____________________________________________

The employer and employee agree that the employee may take time off instead of being paid for the following amount of overtime that has been worked by the employee:

Date and time overtime started: ___/___/20___ ____ am/pm

Date and time overtime ended: ___/___/20___ ____ am/pm

Amount of overtime worked: _______ hours and ______ minutes

 

The employer and employee further agree that, if requested by the employee at any time, the employer must pay the employee for overtime covered by this agreement but not taken as time off. Payment must be made at the overtime rate applying to the overtime when worked and must be made in the next pay period following the request.

 

Signature of
employee: ________________________________________

Date signed: ___/___/20___

 

Name of employer
representative: ________________________________________

Signature of employer
representative: ________________________________________

Date signed: ___/___/20___


 

Schedule GAgreement to Take Annual Leave in Advance

[Sched G inserted by PR732911 ppc 23Aug21]

 

Name of employee: _____________________________________________

Name of employer: _____________________________________________

The employer and employee agree that the employee will take a period of paid annual leave before the employee has accrued an entitlement to the leave:

The amount of leave to be taken in advance is: ____ hours/days

The leave in advance will commence on: ___/___/20___

 

Signature of employee: ________________________________________

Date signed: ___/___/20___

 

Name of employer
representative: ________________________________________

Signature of employer
representative: ________________________________________

Date signed: ___/___/20___

 

[If the employee is under 18 years of age - include:]

I agree that:

if, on termination of the employee’s employment, the employee has not accrued an entitlement to all of a period of paid annual leave already taken under this agreement, then the employer may deduct from any money due to the employee on termination an amount equal to the amount that was paid to the employee in respect of any part of the period of annual leave taken in advance to which an entitlement has not been accrued.

Name of parent/guardian: ________________________________________

Signature of parent/guardian: ________________________________________

Date signed: ___/___/20___

   

Title: Victorian Local Government Award 2015
Code: MA000132
Effective:
Updated:
Instrument Type: Modern Award

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