Aged Care Award
Aged Care Award 2010
Ask FairWork Mate AI about the Aged Care Award
Plain-English answers grounded on the full MA000018 document — every clause, variation, and classification. From $499/mo (50% off first month).
Who does this award cover?
The Aged Care Award covers employees working in aged care, including the following common roles:
Pay rates by classification
| Classification | Base (per hour) | Casual (+25%) | Weekly (38h) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aged Care Employee Level 1 | $26.51 | $33.14 | $1007.38 |
| Aged Care Employee Level 2 | $27.56 | $34.45 | $1047.28 |
| Aged Care Employee Level 3 | $28.62 | $35.78 | $1087.56 |
| Aged Care Employee Level 4 | $28.96 | $36.20 | $1100.48 |
| Aged Care Employee Level 5 | $29.94 | $37.43 | $1137.72 |
| Aged Care Employee Level 6 | $31.55 | $39.44 | $1198.90 |
| Aged Care Employee Level 7 | $32.12 | $40.15 | $1220.56 |
Rates shown are hourly permanent (base) and casual (base + 25% loading). Always verify with the official FWC document — rates change annually on 1 July following the Fair Work Commission's Annual Wage Review.
Penalty rates
How casual overtime is calculated
One of the most common payroll questions under the Aged Care Award: when a casual works overtime or weekend hours, does the 1.5× or 2× multiplier apply to the base rate, or to the 25%-loaded casual rate? The answer depends on how the award is drafted.
Method for the Aged Care Award
Compounded — overtime multiplier applied to the 25%-loaded casual rate
Source: Clause 10.4 / Clause 25.1(c) · Verified against the award text
Following the FWC 4-yearly review variation effective 1 March 2021, overtime for casuals is calculated on the casual rate inclusive of the 25% loading. Shift penalties, however, are calculated on the base rate (loading excluded). Pre-1 March 2021, many employers calculated additively — relevant for back-pay lookups.
| Method | Calculation | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Additive | $28.96 × 175% | $50.68 |
| Compounded (used by this award) | $36.20 × 150% | $54.30 |
| Separate | $28.96 × 150% | $43.44 |
Worked example: casual Level 4 (base $28.96/hr), first block of overtime at 150%. Different awards produce different hourly rates from the same base because the 25% loading is applied differently.
Calculate casual overtime for any scenario →Break entitlements
| Shift length | Meal break | Rest break | Paid? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up to 5 hours | — | — | No |
| 5–7.6 hours | 30 min | — | No |
| 7.6–10 hours | 30 min | 10 min | Yes |
| 10+ hours | 60 min | 20 min | Yes |
Aged Care Award enforcement cases
Real Fair Work Commission, Federal Court, and FWO outcomes citing this award.
Want the full MA000018 document?
This page covers the headline rates, penalties, and break rules. The full award has dozens more clauses: allowances, overtime formulas, rostering rules, dispute procedures, and classification descriptors. FairWork Mate AI answers plain-English questions grounded on every clause. The Business API returns structured data for payroll and HR systems.
Question about the Aged Care Award?
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