2025 WAIRC 00493
Children's Services (Government) Award 1989

1B. - MINIMUM ADULT AWARD WAGE

(1) No employee aged 21 or more shall be paid less than the minimum adult award wage unless otherwise provided by this clause.

(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.

(3) The minimum adult award wage is deemed to include all State Wage order adjustments from State Wage Case decisions.

(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.

(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) 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.

(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.

(8) Subject to this clause the minimum adult award wage shall –

(a) Apply to all work in ordinary hours.

(b) 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.

(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.

(10) Adult Apprentices

(a) 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.

(b) 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.

(c) The minimum adult apprentice wage is payable from the beginning of the first pay period commencing on or after 1 July 2025.

(d) 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.

(e) 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.

(f) 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.




16. - SALARIES AND WAGES

(1) Column B will apply to employees of a College who are not ordinarily required to work during term or semester vacations. Such employees will be eligible for payment pursuant to Clause 17. - College Vacations Periods of this Award. Column A will apply to all other employees.

(2) The weekly rate of wage payable to persons employed pursuant to this award, shall be:

(a) Qualified Child Care Giver


Column A$(Per Week)
Column B$(Per Week)
Step IA
1086.70
1047.60
Step IB
1111.40
1073.90
Step II
1128.30
1090.20
Step III
1147.60
1108.60
Step IV
1168.00
1127.70




(b) Senior Qualified Child Care Giver

Column A*

Base Rate$
Arbitrated Safety Net Adjustments$
Total Rate$
545.50
683.50
1229.00




* (Interim adjustment pending further hearings and adjustments)

(c) Senior Qualified Child Care Giver

Column B*

Base Rate$
Arbitrated Safety Net Adjustments$
Total Rate$
519.26
667.04
1186.30




* (Interim adjustment pending further hearings and adjustments)

(d) Child Care Giver


Column A
Column B

$
$
Step I
997.30
967.50
Step II
1007.70
977.20
Step III
1017.30
986.60
Step IV
1031.00
999.60




(f) Child Care Support Employee


Column A
Column B

$
$
1st year of experience
1001.60
971.60
2nd year of experience
1011.70
981.20
3rd year of experience
1021.40
990.50
4th year of experience
1034.70
1003.00




(g) The minimum weekly rate of wage shown in paragraphs (a), (d) and (f) of this subclause are inclusive of a base rate and supplementary payment reflecting relativities established as a result of a Minimum Rates Adjustment (76 WAIG 159).

(3) Except as provided hereunder, progression from step to step for Qualified Child Care Giver and Child Care Giver will be contingent upon:

(a) 12 months’ service at each step; and

(b) satisfactory performance at each step.`

(4) An employee may be employed as a casual if that employment is for a period of less than four weeks, in which case the employee shall be paid a loading of 20 percent in addition to his/her base rate in lieu of the provisions of Clauses 11. - Public Holidays, 12. - Annual Leave and 13. - Sick Leave of this award.

(5) (a) An employee at Step IA Qualified Child Care Giver shall be a person with no previous experience in the industry. At the completion of twelve months satisfactory performance that person shall be paid the Step II rate.

(b) An employee at Step IB Qualified Child Care Giver shall be a person in their first year of experience as a Qualified Child Care Giver, who has previous experience in the industry. At the completion of 12 months’ satisfactory performance that person shall be paid at the Step II rate.

(6) On ceasing employment with an employer, the employee shall be given a written statement of the current Level and Step if appropriate and the date of commencement at that Level and Step to be passed on to the next employer.

(7) On commencing employment with an employer a Qualified Child Care Giver, Child Care Aide, Cook or Senior Qualified Child Care Giver shall, within the appropriate classification be paid at the step or year of experience within the appropriate classification whichever is relevant, recognising their previous experience in the children’s services industry.

(8) The weekly salary shall be divided by 38 per week for Child Care Givers and Child Care Support Employees and for other employees by 37.5 for the purposes of adjustment of payment of an hourly rate. For the purposes of adjustment to an annual salary the weekly rate shall be multiplied by 52.167.

(9) It is a condition that no employee shall suffer a reduction in wages by reasons of the coming into operation of any order of the Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission in the implementation of the Minimum Rates Adjustments.

(10) The rates of pay in this award include arbitrated safety net adjustments available since December 1993, under the Arbitrated Safety Net Adjustment Principle.

These arbitrated safety net adjustments may be offset against any equivalent amount in the rate of pay received by employees since 1 November 1991 above the rate prescribed in the Award, except where such absorption is contrary to the terms of an industrial agreement.

Increases in rates of pay otherwise made under the State Wage Case Principles, excepting those resulting from enterprise agreements, are not to be used to offset arbitrated safety net adjustments.

(11) Deleted

(12) The wage relativities in the Award have been established in accordance with the State Wage Case Decision of 1989 [1989] 69 WAIG 2917).

(13) DEFINITIONS AND SKILL DESCRIPTORS

(a) Child Care Support Employee

Definition: An untrained ancillary employee who is employed to undertake cooking duties.

Skill Descriptor: Such an employee may:

- work under routine supervision either individually or in a team environment;

- be responsible for assuring the quality of the employee’s own working subject to routine supervision;

- be required to exercise discretion during the course of their own work.

(b) Child Care Giver

Definition: An employee at this level shall be an unqualified employee working under routine supervision, engaged to assist in the supervision and care of children and generally to assist in the functioning of the centre.

Skill Descriptor: Responsibilities of a Child Care Giver may include the following:

- Is able to perform routine duties requiring the exercise of knowledge and skills at a primary level.

- Maintain a clean, hygienic environment

- Maintain and attend to personal hygiene of children

- Attend to nutritional needs of children

- Respond to child’s apparent ill -health

- Respond to accident, emergency or threat

- Implement routines which enhance well being

- Interact positively and appropriately with children

- Participate in the planning and preparation of programmes

- Assist to prepare an environment based on programme requirements

- Assist in the implementation of programmes

- Contribute to team approach

- Seek to further professional development

- Liaise appropriately with parents

- Uphold the Centre’s philosophy

- Participate in appropriate administrative process

- Contribute to maintenance and care of buildings and equipment

- Implement Centre policies and procedures.

- Assisting in the facilitation of programmes suited to the needs of individual children and groups

- Provide input to trained staff by observations of individuals children and groups

- Work under direction with individual children with special needs.

(c) Qualified Child Care Giver:

Definition: shall mean an employee who holds the qualification of Associate Diploma Social Science (Child Care) or an approved equivalent qualification which is recognised and approved by the Child Care Services Board authorising the employee to be in charge of children 0-6 years and who is so appointed.

Qualified Child Care Giver shall also include persons who do not hold approved qualifications but who have obtained an exemption from the Child Care Services Board to work at this level and who are so appointed.

Skill Descriptor: The responsibilities of a Qualified Child Care Giver may include the following

- Ensure the Centre or Service’s policies are adhered to

- Ensure the maintenance of a safe working environment

- Display various methods and techniques of child management and where appropriate guide the Child Care Giver in the same

- Direct other staff members as required

- In conjunction with the Coordinator or Senior Qualified Child Care Giver or Medical staff develop, implement, monitor and review developmental programmes

- Display an ability to relate to people from various multicultural backgrounds

- Assist the Coordinator or Senior Qualified Child Care Giver with the assessment of students on placement

- Where appointed work as the person in charge of a group of children in the age range 0-6 years

- Possesses observational skills in excess of an experience Child Care Giver and the ability to programme for a child’s development based on these observations. Where appropriate undertake developmental assessments.

- Participate in a team approach to deliver of the programme and if appropriate advise Child Care Givers on reasons for the programme

- Possesses the ability to formulate and implement a child’s special needs programme

- Liaise with parents

- Initiate changes to the children’s programmes including special needs programmes

- Develop, implement, evaluate and maintain daily routines independently

- Provide advice to Coordinator, Senior Qualified Child Care Giver or Medical staff on the needs of the service.

- Demonstrate the ability to impart knowledge and skills where appropriate to parents, students, and/or other members of the health care team and referral agencies.

- Where appropriate provide support to the family, the support network, and other health professionals.

- Where appropriate, conduct visits to clients home to undertake developmental assessments

(d) Senior Qualified Child Care Giver

Definition: a Senior Qualified Child Care Giver shall mean a Qualified Child Care Giver appointed to carry out administrative duties in addition to the normal duties of a Qualified Child Care Giver. An employee at this level shall hold qualifications as defined for Qualified Child Care Giver and shall be responsible for the overall implementation and coordination of programme(s).

Skill Descriptor: A Senior Qualified Child Care Giver shall be competent to perform work above and beyond the level of a Qualified Child Care Giver. In addition to the normal duties of a Senior Qualified Child Care Giver the responsibilities of a Senior Qualified Child Care Giver may include the following:

- To co-ordinate the developmental programme(s) or therapeutic milieu

- To take referrals from professional health agencies.

- To explain the function and role of the service to other agencies and professional individuals.

- To supervise in-service training of staff.

- Where appropriate initiate programmes for parent/child activity groups.

- Where appropriate liaise with specialist staff (internal and external) on appropriate programmes for children with special needs.

- Participate in In-service education.

- Identification budgetary expenses for service including fund-raising where required.

- Ensure the daily operation of the centre complies with Licensing Regulations where appropriate.

- Handle child care enrolment enquiries and allocate places in accordance with Policy where appropriate.

- Act as a positive role model and care giver for staff, parents, students and children.

- Direct and supervises the duties of support staff, volunteers and students, and ensures that appropriate standards in care are maintained at all times.

- Arrange the placement and/or maintenance of the centres equipment, furnishing, toys and consumable materials as required.

- Where appropriate collect fees, issue receipts and forward monies to appropriate officer.

- Select short-term relief staff as required and assist with appointment and orientation of child care staff.

- To conduct staff meetings and attends other relevant meetings.

- To encourage team-work amongst staff.

- Operate within the requirements of Government Legislation, Regulations and relevant Industrial Awards.

- To provide leadership and direction for other staff.