State Wage Case Variation Schedule for ABO005
Document Type: Direction
Matter Number: A 1/2011
Matter Description: Aboriginal Communities and Organisations (Western Australia) Interim Award 2011
Industry: Community Services
Jurisdiction: Single Commissioner
Member/Magistrate name:
Delivery Date: 5 Aug 2025
Result:
Citation: 2025 WAIRC 00465
WAIG Reference: 105 WAIG 1287
2025 WAIRC 00465
Aboriginal Communities and Organisations Western Australian Interim Award 2011
6B MINIMUM ADULT AWARD WAGE
6.1 No employee aged 21 or more shall be paid less than the minimum adult award wage unless otherwise provided by this clause.
6.2 The minimum adult award wage for full-time employees aged 21 or more working under an award that provides for a 38-hour week is $953.00 per week.
The minimum adult award wage for full-time employees aged 21 or more working under awards that provide for other than a 38-hour week is calculated as follows: divide $953.00 by 38 and multiply by the number of ordinary hours prescribed for a full-time employee under the award.
The minimum adult award wage is payable from the beginning of the first pay period commencing on or after 1 July 2025.
6.3 The minimum adult award wage is deemed to include all State Wage order adjustments from State Wage Case decisions.
6.4 Unless otherwise provided in this clause adults aged 21 or more employed as casuals, part-time employees or piece workers or employees who are remunerated wholly on the basis of payment by results, shall not be paid less than pro rata the minimum adult award wage according to the hours worked.
6.5 Employees under the age of 21 shall be paid no less than the wage determined by applying the percentage prescribed in the junior rates provision in this award (if applicable) to the minimum adult award wage, provided that no employee shall be paid less than any applicable minimum rate of pay prescribed by the Minimum Conditions of Employment Act 1993.
6.6 The minimum adult award wage shall not apply to apprentices, employees engaged on traineeships or government approved work placement programs or employed under the Commonwealth Government Supported Wage System or to other categories of employees who by prescription are paid less than the minimum award rate, provided that no employee shall be paid less than any applicable minimum rate of pay prescribed by the Minimum Conditions of Employment Act 1993.
6.7 Liberty to apply is reserved in relation to any special category of employees not included here or otherwise in relation to the application of the minimum adult award wage.
6.8 Subject to this clause the minimum adult award wage shall –
6.8.1 Apply to all work in ordinary hours.
6.8.2 Apply to the calculation of overtime and all other penalty rates, superannuation, payments during any period of paid leave and for all purposes of this award.
6.9 Minimum Adult Award Wage
The rates of pay in this award include the minimum weekly wage for employees aged 21 or more payable under the 2025 State Wage order. Any increase arising from the insertion of the minimum wage will be offset against any equivalent amount in rates of pay received by employees whose wages and conditions of employment are regulated by this award which are above the wage rates prescribed in the award. Such above award payments include wages payable pursuant to enterprise agreements, consent awards or award variations to give effect to enterprise agreements and over award arrangements. Absorption which is contrary to the terms of an agreement is not required.
Increases under previous State Wage Case Principles or under the current Statement of Principles, excepting those resulting from enterprise agreements, are not to be used to offset the minimum wage.
6.10 Adult Apprentices
6.10.1 Notwithstanding the provisions of this clause, the minimum adult apprentice wage for a full-time apprentice aged 21 years or more working under an award that provides for a 38-hour week is $791.30 per week.
6.10.2 The minimum adult apprentice wage for a full-time apprentice aged 21 years or more working under an award that provides for other than a 38-hour week is calculated as follows: divide $791.30 by 38 and multiply by the number of ordinary hours prescribed for a full-time apprentice under the award.
6.10.3 The minimum adult apprentice wage is payable from the beginning of the first pay period commencing on or after 1 July 2025.
6.10.4 Adult apprentices aged 21 years or more employed on a part-time basis shall not be paid less than pro rata the minimum adult apprentice wage according to the hours worked.
6.10.5 The rates paid in the paragraphs above to an apprentice 21 years of age or more are payable on superannuation and during any period of paid leave prescribed by this award.
6.10.6 Where in this award an additional rate is expressed as a percentage, fraction or multiple of the ordinary rate of pay, it shall be calculated upon the rate prescribed in this award for the actual year of apprenticeship.
18 SUPPORTED WAGE SYSTEM FOR EMPLOYEES WITH DISABILITIES
18.1 Supported Wage System Definitions
18.1.1 Accredited assessor means a person who is accredited by the managing unit established by the Commonwealth under the supported wage system to perform assessments of an individual’s productive capacity within the supported wage system.
18.1.2 Assessment instrument means the form provided for under the supported wage system that records the assessment of the productive capacity of the person to be employed under the supported wage system.
18.1.3 Disability support pension means the Commonwealth pension scheme to provide income security for persons with a disability as provided under the Social Security Act 1991 as amended from time to time, or any successor to that scheme.
18.1.4 Supported wage system means the Commonwealth government system to promote employment for people who cannot work at full award wages because of a disability, as documented in Supported Wage System: Guidelines and Assessment Process.
18.2 Eligibility Criteria
18.2.1 This clause applies to employees who:
(1) are unable to perform the range of duties to the level of competence required within the class of work for which the employee is engaged under this award because of the effects of a disability on their productive capacity; and
(2) meet the impairment criteria for receipt of a disability support pension.
18.2.2 This clause does not apply to existing employees who have a claim against their employer which is subject to the provisions of workers’ compensation legislation or any provision of this award which relates to the rehabilitation of employees who are injured in the course of their employment with the employer.
18.3 Supported Wage Rates
18.3.1 Employees covered by this clause are entitled to payment at a percentage of the minimum rate of pay prescribed by this award for the class of work which the employee is performing, as follows:
Employee’s Assessed Capacity
(see sub clause 18.4)
Percentage of Award rate
10%
10%
20%
20%
30%
30%
40%
40%
50%
50%
60%
60%
70%
70%
80%
80%
90%
90%
18.3.2 An employer must pay each employee a minimum of $109.00 per week.
18.3.3 If an employee’s assessed capacity is 10%, the employer must provide him or her with a high degree of assistance and support.
18.4 Assessment of Capacity
18.4.1 In order to determine the percentage of the award rate to be paid to an employee under this clause, the productive capacity of the employee must be assessed in accordance with the supported wage system. This must be done by either:
(1) the employer and the union, in consultation with the employee; or
(2) if it is desired by the employer, the union or the employee, it must be done by the employer and an accredited assessor from a panel which is agreed to by the employer, the union and the employee.
18.4.2 The outcome of the assessment must be documented in an assessment instrument.
18.5 Lodgement of Assessment Instrument
18.5.1 The parties to an assessment instrument must sign the assessment instrument.
18.5.2 An assessment instrument must stipulate the percentage of the award rate which will be payable to the employee.
18.5.3 An employer must lodge assessment instruments with the Registrar of the Commission.
18.5.4 If the union is not a party to the assessment instrument, the employer must send the union a copy of the assessment instrument by certified mail at the same time the employer lodges the assessment instrument with the Registrar of the Commission. If the union objects to the assessment instrument, it must notify the Registrar of that objection within 10 working days.
18.6 Review of Assessment
18.6.1 The parties to an assessment instrument should review the percentage of the award rate payable to the employee annually. If a party to an assessment instrument makes a reasonable request for an earlier review, the parties should comply with that request.
18.6.2 The parties must undertake the review process in accordance with the procedures for assessing capacity under the supported wage system.
18.7 Other Terms and Conditions of Employment
The percentage of the award rate stipulated in an assessment instrument only applies to the award rate. Employees covered by this clause are entitled to the same terms and conditions of employment as all other employees covered by this award, but on a proportionate basis according to the actual hours that they work.
18.8 Workplace Adjustment
18.8.1 An employer who wishes to employ a person under the provisions of this clause must make changes in the workplace to enhance the employee’s capacity to do the job. These changes may involve the re-design of job duties, working time arrangements and work organisation.
18.8.2 Employers must consult other employees who work in the area about these changes.
18.9 Trial Period
18.9.1 An employer may employ a person under the provisions of this clause for a trial period. The following conditions apply:
(1) The trial period must be necessary to make an adequate assessment of the employee’s capacity.
(2) The trial period must not be more than 12 weeks. An exception is that in some cases additional work adjustment time may be needed. Additional work adjustment time must not be more than four weeks.
(3) During the trial period the employer must assess the employee’s capacity in accordance with subclause 18.4 of this award. The parties must also determine the proposed rate of pay for a continuing employment relationship.
(4) An employer must pay an employee a minimum of $109.00 per week during the trial period.
(5) During the trial period an employer should provide induction or training which is appropriate to the job being trialled.
18.9.2 If the employer and the employee wish to establish a continuing employment relationship following completion of the trial period, the parties must make a new contract of employment based on the outcome of the assessment conducted in accordance with subclause 18.4 of this award.
SCHEDULE B – ANNUAL SALARIES
Year of Service
Rate Per Year ($)
Level 1
First year
49717
Second year
49717
Third year
49717
Fourth year
49717
Fifth year
49717
Level 2 (100% Base Rate)
55293
Level 3
59642
Level 4
64886
Level 5
First year
69238
Second year
69238
Third year
69238
Fourth year
70008
Level 6
75082
Level 7 Management Band A
81072
Level 8 Management Band B
86613
Level 9 Executive Band A
93052
Level 10 Executive Band B
First year
102339
Second year
104949
Third year
112513
Aboriginal Communities and Organisations Western Australian Interim Award 2011
6B MINIMUM ADULT AWARD WAGE
6.1 No employee aged 21 or more shall be paid less than the minimum adult award wage unless otherwise provided by this clause.
6.2 The minimum adult award wage for full-time employees aged 21 or more working under an award that provides for a 38-hour week is $953.00 per week.
The minimum adult award wage for full-time employees aged 21 or more working under awards that provide for other than a 38-hour week is calculated as follows: divide $953.00 by 38 and multiply by the number of ordinary hours prescribed for a full-time employee under the award.
The minimum adult award wage is payable from the beginning of the first pay period commencing on or after 1 July 2025.
6.3 The minimum adult award wage is deemed to include all State Wage order adjustments from State Wage Case decisions.
6.4 Unless otherwise provided in this clause adults aged 21 or more employed as casuals, part-time employees or piece workers or employees who are remunerated wholly on the basis of payment by results, shall not be paid less than pro rata the minimum adult award wage according to the hours worked.
6.5 Employees under the age of 21 shall be paid no less than the wage determined by applying the percentage prescribed in the junior rates provision in this award (if applicable) to the minimum adult award wage, provided that no employee shall be paid less than any applicable minimum rate of pay prescribed by the Minimum Conditions of Employment Act 1993.
6.6 The minimum adult award wage shall not apply to apprentices, employees engaged on traineeships or government approved work placement programs or employed under the Commonwealth Government Supported Wage System or to other categories of employees who by prescription are paid less than the minimum award rate, provided that no employee shall be paid less than any applicable minimum rate of pay prescribed by the Minimum Conditions of Employment Act 1993.
6.7 Liberty to apply is reserved in relation to any special category of employees not included here or otherwise in relation to the application of the minimum adult award wage.
6.8 Subject to this clause the minimum adult award wage shall –
6.8.1 Apply to all work in ordinary hours.
6.8.2 Apply to the calculation of overtime and all other penalty rates, superannuation, payments during any period of paid leave and for all purposes of this award.
6.9 Minimum Adult Award Wage
The rates of pay in this award include the minimum weekly wage for employees aged 21 or more payable under the 2025 State Wage order. Any increase arising from the insertion of the minimum wage will be offset against any equivalent amount in rates of pay received by employees whose wages and conditions of employment are regulated by this award which are above the wage rates prescribed in the award. Such above award payments include wages payable pursuant to enterprise agreements, consent awards or award variations to give effect to enterprise agreements and over award arrangements. Absorption which is contrary to the terms of an agreement is not required.
Increases under previous State Wage Case Principles or under the current Statement of Principles, excepting those resulting from enterprise agreements, are not to be used to offset the minimum wage.
6.10 Adult Apprentices
6.10.1 Notwithstanding the provisions of this clause, the minimum adult apprentice wage for a full-time apprentice aged 21 years or more working under an award that provides for a 38-hour week is $791.30 per week.
6.10.2 The minimum adult apprentice wage for a full-time apprentice aged 21 years or more working under an award that provides for other than a 38-hour week is calculated as follows: divide $791.30 by 38 and multiply by the number of ordinary hours prescribed for a full-time apprentice under the award.
6.10.3 The minimum adult apprentice wage is payable from the beginning of the first pay period commencing on or after 1 July 2025.
6.10.4 Adult apprentices aged 21 years or more employed on a part-time basis shall not be paid less than pro rata the minimum adult apprentice wage according to the hours worked.
6.10.5 The rates paid in the paragraphs above to an apprentice 21 years of age or more are payable on superannuation and during any period of paid leave prescribed by this award.
6.10.6 Where in this award an additional rate is expressed as a percentage, fraction or multiple of the ordinary rate of pay, it shall be calculated upon the rate prescribed in this award for the actual year of apprenticeship.
18 SUPPORTED WAGE SYSTEM FOR EMPLOYEES WITH DISABILITIES
18.1 Supported Wage System Definitions
18.1.1 Accredited assessor means a person who is accredited by the managing unit established by the Commonwealth under the supported wage system to perform assessments of an individual’s productive capacity within the supported wage system.
18.1.2 Assessment instrument means the form provided for under the supported wage system that records the assessment of the productive capacity of the person to be employed under the supported wage system.
18.1.3 Disability support pension means the Commonwealth pension scheme to provide income security for persons with a disability as provided under the Social Security Act 1991 as amended from time to time, or any successor to that scheme.
18.1.4 Supported wage system means the Commonwealth government system to promote employment for people who cannot work at full award wages because of a disability, as documented in Supported Wage System: Guidelines and Assessment Process.
18.2 Eligibility Criteria
18.2.1 This clause applies to employees who:
(1) are unable to perform the range of duties to the level of competence required within the class of work for which the employee is engaged under this award because of the effects of a disability on their productive capacity; and
(2) meet the impairment criteria for receipt of a disability support pension.
18.2.2 This clause does not apply to existing employees who have a claim against their employer which is subject to the provisions of workers’ compensation legislation or any provision of this award which relates to the rehabilitation of employees who are injured in the course of their employment with the employer.
18.3 Supported Wage Rates
18.3.1 Employees covered by this clause are entitled to payment at a percentage of the minimum rate of pay prescribed by this award for the class of work which the employee is performing, as follows:
Employee’s Assessed Capacity
(see sub clause 18.4)
Percentage of Award rate
10%
10%
20%
20%
30%
30%
40%
40%
50%
50%
60%
60%
70%
70%
80%
80%
90%
90%
18.3.2 An employer must pay each employee a minimum of $109.00 per week.
18.3.3 If an employee’s assessed capacity is 10%, the employer must provide him or her with a high degree of assistance and support.
18.4 Assessment of Capacity
18.4.1 In order to determine the percentage of the award rate to be paid to an employee under this clause, the productive capacity of the employee must be assessed in accordance with the supported wage system. This must be done by either:
(1) the employer and the union, in consultation with the employee; or
(2) if it is desired by the employer, the union or the employee, it must be done by the employer and an accredited assessor from a panel which is agreed to by the employer, the union and the employee.
18.4.2 The outcome of the assessment must be documented in an assessment instrument.
18.5 Lodgement of Assessment Instrument
18.5.1 The parties to an assessment instrument must sign the assessment instrument.
18.5.2 An assessment instrument must stipulate the percentage of the award rate which will be payable to the employee.
18.5.3 An employer must lodge assessment instruments with the Registrar of the Commission.
18.5.4 If the union is not a party to the assessment instrument, the employer must send the union a copy of the assessment instrument by certified mail at the same time the employer lodges the assessment instrument with the Registrar of the Commission. If the union objects to the assessment instrument, it must notify the Registrar of that objection within 10 working days.
18.6 Review of Assessment
18.6.1 The parties to an assessment instrument should review the percentage of the award rate payable to the employee annually. If a party to an assessment instrument makes a reasonable request for an earlier review, the parties should comply with that request.
18.6.2 The parties must undertake the review process in accordance with the procedures for assessing capacity under the supported wage system.
18.7 Other Terms and Conditions of Employment
The percentage of the award rate stipulated in an assessment instrument only applies to the award rate. Employees covered by this clause are entitled to the same terms and conditions of employment as all other employees covered by this award, but on a proportionate basis according to the actual hours that they work.
18.8 Workplace Adjustment
18.8.1 An employer who wishes to employ a person under the provisions of this clause must make changes in the workplace to enhance the employee’s capacity to do the job. These changes may involve the re-design of job duties, working time arrangements and work organisation.
18.8.2 Employers must consult other employees who work in the area about these changes.
18.9 Trial Period
18.9.1 An employer may employ a person under the provisions of this clause for a trial period. The following conditions apply:
(1) The trial period must be necessary to make an adequate assessment of the employee’s capacity.
(2) The trial period must not be more than 12 weeks. An exception is that in some cases additional work adjustment time may be needed. Additional work adjustment time must not be more than four weeks.
(3) During the trial period the employer must assess the employee’s capacity in accordance with subclause 18.4 of this award. The parties must also determine the proposed rate of pay for a continuing employment relationship.
(4) An employer must pay an employee a minimum of $109.00 per week during the trial period.
(5) During the trial period an employer should provide induction or training which is appropriate to the job being trialled.
18.9.2 If the employer and the employee wish to establish a continuing employment relationship following completion of the trial period, the parties must make a new contract of employment based on the outcome of the assessment conducted in accordance with subclause 18.4 of this award.
SCHEDULE B – ANNUAL SALARIES
Year of Service
Rate Per Year ($)
Level 1
First year
49717
Second year
49717
Third year
49717
Fourth year
49717
Fifth year
49717
Level 2 (100% Base Rate)
55293
Level 3
59642
Level 4
64886
Level 5
First year
69238
Second year
69238
Third year
69238
Fourth year
70008
Level 6
75082
Level 7 Management Band A
81072
Level 8 Management Band B
86613
Level 9 Executive Band A
93052
Level 10 Executive Band B
First year
102339
Second year
104949
Third year
112513