New Minimum Pay Rates for Health Professionals and Support Services award employees

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Following on from the 2017 Minimum Wage Decision, the Fair Work Commission (FWC) has released the new pay rates in respect of the HEALTH PROFESSIONALS AND SUPPORT SERVICES AWARD 2010.

The new pay rates come into force from 1 July 2017.
You should ensure that your payments are consistent with the new rates from this date and that any penalties or entitlements paid reflect these changes.

You can freely download a copy of the latest Award (MA000027) from:
https://www.fwc.gov.au/documents/documents/modern_awards/pdf/ma000027.pdf

and a copy of the pay rates schedule from:
https://www.google.com.au/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=r...

Some important details to note when applying these rates:

This award applies to most dental assistants employed in private dental practice. It does not apply to public health employees or those covered by an enterprise agreement. Some states also have individual transitional arrangements - you should check with your employer as to your appropriate award. This award should be read in conjunction with the National Employment Standards (NES) - these are 10 minimum employment entitlements that have to be provided to all employees.
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.

Under this Award, Dental Assistants are classified as Support Services (not health professionals)

Level 1 are new entrants to dental assisting with less than 3 months work experience
Level 2 - work with limited supervision but expected to complete the basic tasks required of a dental assistant
Level 3 - works with minimal supervision - unqualified
Level 4 - requires specific work skills and qualification or skills and knowledge at Cert III level.

Junior rates of pay apply to employees under 21 years of age - these rates are shown as a percentage of the adult rate.

Traineeship wage rates apply ONLY to those students undertaking a vocational training course at Cert III or Cert IV. Rates are found in
http://awardviewer.fwo.gov.au/award/show/MA000104#P740_68437 under Wage level B.
Trainee wages are not payable to new entrants who are not enrolled in any vocational qualification course.

Have more questions about your wages?
DAPA offer a Platinum level membership with direct access to advisors and lawyers who specialise in employment law.
Check out our membership page and follow the prompts for Platinum Membership.

The Dental Assistants Professional Association is an approved NSW Smart and Skilled* provider, and more information on this can be found at the smart and skilled website https://education.nsw.gov.au/skills-nsw
*'This training is subsidised by the NSW Government.'