2025 WAIRC 00522
Department of Communities (CSA Family Resource Workers, Welfare Assistants and Parent Helpers) Award 1990

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.


SCHEDULE A – SALARIES

(1) Annual salaries applicable to employees covered by this Award:

Level
Salary Per Annum $
Arbitrated Safety Net Adjustment $
Total Salary Per Annum $




Level 1



Under 17 years
11355
15824
27179
17 years
13270
18493
31763
18 years
15480
21573
37053
19 years
17918
24970
42888
20 years
20122
28042
48164
21 years or 1 st year of adult service
22104
30804
52908
22 years or 2 nd year of adult service
22756
30991
53747
23 years or 3 rd year of adult service
23407
31176
54583
24 years or 4 th year of adult service
24054
31705
55759
25 years or 5 th year of adult service
24705
31951
56656
26 years or 6 th year of adult service
25356
32188
57544
27 years or 7 th year of adult service
26105
32332
58437
28 years or 8 th year of adult service
26623
32529
59152
29 years or 9 th year of adult service
27389
32815
60204
Level 2



2.1
28306
33161
61467
2.2
29009
33427
62436
2.3
29748
33701
63449
2.4
30529
33996
64525
2.5
31346
34303
65649

(2) Salary increases resulting from State Wage Case Decisions are calculated for those employees under the age of 21 years employed at Level 1 by dividing the current junior annual salary by the current 21 years or 1 st year of adult service annual salary and multiplying the result by the new 21 years or 1 st year of adult service annual salary which includes the State Wage Case increase. The following formula is to be applied:

Current junior rate
21 years or 1 st year of adult service rate

x New 21 years or 1 st year of adult service rate

= New junior rate.