Decision [2025] FWCFB 74
Citation: [2025] FWCFB 74
At a glance
- Awards cited
- MA000012, MA000027, MA000100, MA000115, MA000120, MA000018, MA000034, MA000077, MA000010, MA000065, MA000031
What happened
The Fair Work Commission's Expert Panel, constituted under s 620(1D) of the Fair Work Act 2009, conducted a self-initiated review into gender-based undervaluation of work across five modern awards. The review was triggered by findings in the Annual Wage Review 2023–24 identifying priority occupational groups in female-dominated industries whose minimum award wage rates had never been properly assessed on a gender-neutral basis. The awards examined were the Pharmacy Industry Award 2020, the Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020, the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award 2010, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Practitioners and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services Award 2020, and the Children's Services Award 2010. Separate union applications to vary the SCHADS Award were joined to the proceedings. Hearings were conducted in Sydney and Melbourne in December 2024.
What was decided
The Full Bench found that workers in all five awards had been subject to gender-based undervaluation and that this constituted work value reasons justifying variation of minimum wage rates under s 157(2) of the Fair Work Act. For the Pharmacy Award, a final decision was made: pharmacist rates will increase by 14.1 per cent in three equal phases from 30 June 2025, 2026 and 2027, anchored to the C1(a) benchmark rate of $1525.90 per week. For the remaining four awards, provisional views were expressed proposing new simplified classification structures. Key proposals include: aligning health professionals in the HPSS Award with the C1(a) benchmark rate; restructuring the SCHADS Award into a single classification stream based on the Caring Skills benchmark rate of $1269.80 per week and revoking the Equal Remuneration Order; increasing children's services employees under the CS Award by 23 per cent phased over five years with a first instalment of 5 per cent from 1 August 2025; and reclassifying dental assistants and therapists under the ATSIHW Award into the Health Worker stream. The two SCHADS Award variation applications were dismissed.
What it means for employers
Employers in community pharmacy must increase minimum wages for pharmacists and interns in three steps starting 30 June 2025. Employers covered by the HPSS Award, SCHADS Award, ATSIHW Award and CS Award should review current classification and pay structures in light of the provisional views expressed, and engage in upcoming consultations. Employers in government-funded sectors such as disability services and early childhood education should seek clarity on Commonwealth funding commitments before finalising workforce budgets. Phasing-in arrangements will be available but the direction of travel toward significantly higher minimum rates is clear.
What it means for employees
Pharmacists and pharmacy interns will receive minimum wage increases of up to 14.1 per cent phased in from mid-2025. Workers in health professions, disability support, social and community services, children's services and Aboriginal health settings covered by the four other awards can expect substantial increases to minimum rates once the provisional views are finalised. Employees in the SCHADS Award disability care stream who have been paid under the lower home care classification may gain parity with SACS employees. Children's services employees will receive at least a 5 per cent increase from 1 August 2025, with further increases proposed over five years.
Every statement above is drawn from the published decision. Read the original here:
https://www.fwc.gov.au/documents/sites/am2024-19/2025fwcfb74.pdfWant more cases like this?
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This summary was drafted by AI from the published decision and reviewed before publishing. It is general information, not legal advice. For your specific situation, speak to the Fair Work Ombudsman (13 13 94) or a qualified lawyer. About these summaries & corrections →