Application by Saint Stephen's College Limited Trading AS Saint Stephen's College
Citation: [2026] FWCA 1895
What happened
Saint Stephen's College Limited, trading as Saint Stephen’s College, applied for approval of the Saint Stephen’s College Enterprise Agreement 2026 under section 185 of the Fair Work Act 2009. A minor discrepancy existed between the agreement title in the Notice of Employee Representational Rights and the actual agreement. The Independent Education Union of Australia (IEUA) and the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) indicated they wanted the agreement to cover them.
What was decided
The Fair Work Commission approved the Saint Stephen’s College Enterprise Agreement 2026. the Commissioner noted a minor technical error in the agreement title but deemed it insignificant. The commission was satisfied that employee representational rights were covered and that the National Employment Standards (NES) would prevail where there was inconsistency with the agreement. The agreement will operate from July 28, 2026, and expire on December 31, 2029.
What it means for employers
Employers seeking to implement enterprise agreements should ensure consistency between documents like Notices of Employee Representational Rights and the final agreement. Written undertakings can be used to address concerns and ensure employee benefits are maintained.
What it means for employees
Employees covered by this agreement will benefit from the terms outlined in the Saint Stephen’s College Enterprise Agreement 2026, with the National Employment Standards providing a safety net where entitlements conflict.
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This summary was drafted 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 →