Are any of your employees covered by the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Award 2010? Although it’s seven years on from the commencement of the Modern Award system, certain sectors in certain industries continue to have transitional remuneration orders apply if they were previously covered by certain state and territory-based Awards.
Pay rates for some employees are gradually increasing each under the Equal Remuneration Order made by the Fair Work Commission for that Award. The increase will apply in full by 2020.
Equal Remuneration Order – 1 December 2018
Employers and employees whose businesses are in the “social and community services stream” and or the “crisis accommodation stream”,andwhose terms of employment are currently covered by the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Award 2010 may need to apply adjusted minimum wage rates effective from 1 December this year.
What is required?
1. Check if any of the pre-modern state or territory Awards at the bottom of this page were applicable to your business and your employees before 1 January 2010.
2. If any of the listed pre-modern Awards are applicable, it is likely there will be adjusted minimum pay rate contained within the relevant pay guide on that page.
3. Review the relevant pay guide for application from 1 December 2017 to confirm if there is any necessary adjustment to your employees’ minimum rate of pay.
4. Any increase can be absorbed into over-award rates of pay and there will be no need for adjustment.
If the above points apply to your business, there will be adjustment to the minimum rates of pay twice a year i.e. both the 1 December 2018 increase as well as the Annual Wage Case decision (usually applicable from 1 July each year).
This transitional process will continue to affect the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Award 2010 each year until 2020.
Pay Guides
The Fair Work Ombudsman has provided the summary of amended rates, penalties and allowances transitioning from the pre-modern awards. Please check the rates in the pay guides below as they may have changed:
For employees transitioning from a pre-modern award, use the guides below:
Charitable, Aged and Disability Care Services (State) Award [AN120118] Pay Guide – New South Wales
Social and Community Services Employees (State) Award [AN120505] Pay Guide – New South Wales
Disability Support Workers Award – State [AN140093] Pay Guide – Queensland
Disabilities Services Award [AN150046] Pay Guide – South Australia
Social and Community Services Award [AN150140] Pay Guide – South Australia
Aged and Disabled Persons Hostels Award [AN160007] Pay Guide – Western Australia
Community Services Award [AN170020] Pay Guide – Tasmania
Crisis Assistance Supported Housing (Queensland) Award 1999 [AP777903] Pay Guide
Residential and Support Services (Victoria) Award 1999 [AP795711] Pay Guide
Social and Community Services Victoria – Award 2000 [AP796561] Pay Guide
Social and Community Services (ACT) Award 2001 [AP808334] Pay Guide
Social and Community Services (Queensland) Award 2001 [AP808848] Pay Guide
Social and Community Services Western Australia Award 2002 [AP815319] Pay Guide
Community and Aged Care Services (ACT) Award 2002 [AP817098] Pay Guide