2025 WAIRC 00648
State Research Stations, Agricultural Schools and College Workers Award

26. - WAGES

(1) Department of Agriculture (increments based on service):



A
B
C


RATE PER WEEK FIRST YEAR OF SERVICE$
RATE PER WEEK SECOND YEAR OF SERVICE$
RATE PER WEEK THIRD AND SUBSEQUENT YEARS OF SERVICE$





(a)
General Operative




Grade II
-
348.09
-

Arbitrated Safety Net Adjustments

612.51


Total

960.60






(b)
General Operative




Grade I
371.66
375.97
379.55

Arbitrated Safety Net Adjustments
619.24
620.53
621.65

Total
990.90
996.50
1001.20





(c)
Agricultural




Operative
379.76
384.17
387.86

Arbitrated Safety Net Adjustments
621.74
622.93
623.94

Total
1001.50
1007.10
1011.80





(d)
Senior Agricultural




Operative (Tradesperson)
423.83
428.75
432.96

Arbitrated Safety Net Adjustments
640.67
642.45
643.84

Total
1064.50
1071.20
1076.80





(e)
Senior Agricultural




Operative Special
476.83
484.00
491.18

Arbitrated Safety Net Adjustments
657.77
660.40
663.12

Total
1134.60
1144.40
1154.30






(2) Ministry of Education (increments based on performance provided that for entry to the level of (d) hereof the employee shall hold the appropriate qualification):



A
B
C


RATE PER WEEK$
RATE PER WEEK$
RATE PER WEEK$





(a)
Agricultural Training




Officer Level 1
433.67
438.80
443.21

Arbitrated Safety Net Adjustments
644.43
646.10
647.69

Total
1078.10
1084.90
1090.90





(b)
Agricultural Training




Officer Level 2
449.87
455.30
459.71

Arbitrated Safety Net Adjustments
650.23
652.20
653.69

Total
1100.10
1107.50
1113.40





(c)
Agricultural Training




Officer Level 3
466.68
472.42
481.03

Arbitrated Safety Net Adjustments
653.92
656.08
659.37

Total
1120.60
1128.50
1140.40





(d)
Agricultural Training




Officer Level 4
496.30
511.68
527.05

Arbitrated Safety Net Adjustments
665.20
670.82
679.25

Total
1161.50
1182.50
1206.30






(3) Ministry of Education (increments based on performance):



A
B
C
D


RATE PERWEEK$
RATE PERWEEK$
RATE PERWEEK$
RATE PERWEEK$






(a)
Kitchen Staff





employee Level 1
370.84
377.50
381.71


Arbitrated Safety Net Adjustments
619.16
621.00
622.19


Total
990.00
998.50
1003.90







(b)
Kitchen Staff





employee Level 2
387.55
395.85
400.98


Arbitrated Safety Net Adjustments
623.95
626.15
627.72


Total
1011.50
1022.00
1028.70







(c)
Kitchen Staff





employee Level 3
412.15
421.17
435.01
443.51

Arbitrated Safety Net Adjustments
630.95
639.53
644.59
648.09

Total
1043.10
1060.70
1079.60
1091.60






(d)
Kitchen Staff





employee Level 4
448.23
455.92
460.73


Arbitrated Safety Net Adjustments
649.67
652.68
654.37


Total
1097.90
1108.60
1115.10








(4) Employees of the Ministry of Education performing Housemaster's duties shall be entitled to payment in accordance with the rates and conditions prescribed by the Government School Teachers' Salaries Award.

(5) (a) For the purposes of (2) and (3) hereof, the following is to apply:

Assessment Within Levels

It is agreed that a performance management system should be used to assess the employee's performance and suitability to move from one increment point (A, B or C) to another within a particular level.

The personnel involved in assessing Agricultural Training Officers shall be:

the Principal (or nominated representative) and the Farm Supervisor (or Agricultural Teacher) at the establishment.

(b) A copy of this assessment and relevant documents will be sent to the employer's Head Office and the employee shall be entitled to the next annual increment.

(c) In the event of an assessment that the performances has been unsatisfactory, the employee will be given three (3) months to show an improvement and be reassessed for his/her increment and suitability to continue employment in that capacity.

(d) Employees will be subject to periodic review in order to receive an increment.

(6) (a). Assessment to a Higher Classification

There is a specific requirement at each level to master a number of major areas on the farm, as outlined in the National Core Curriculum Farm Skills Training Guide. The assessment procedure has been agreed to and should be read in conjunction with the "definitions" and "wages" clauses of this award.

(b) The Assessment Panel shall consist of the following: Employer Nominee, Supervisor and the Appropriate Member of Advisory Council.

(c) The assessment will be based on criteria established by the National Core Curriculum and consistent in every instance of assessment. Success will be determined by the criteria outlined and tested by this document and the panel members' decision must be unanimous. Criteria in addition to that outlined in the National Core Curriculum, assessed by the nominated panel will be the Agricultural Training Officer's ability to demonstrate and communicate with the students.

(d) Reasons for the decision are to be made available to the Agricultural Training Officer.

(e) The assessment report will then be forwarded to the Co-ordinator of Agricultural Education to be processed as a reclassification. Further increments within the level, (excluding and unless Level 4) will be subject to annual review; however the progression from one classification to another is not restricted by a qualifying time period.

(f) In the event that an employee wishes to appeal against the result of the assessment, the following is to apply:

(i) The employee shall forward to the Co-ordinator of Agricultural Education for receipt within 14 days of the decision being made, a written statement outlining the reason and grounds for disputing the decision.

(ii) On receipt of such written statement, the employer shall notify the Union of that fact.

(iii) The employer may require the original assessment panel to comment in writing to the Co-ordinator stating the reasons for unsuccessful assessment.

(iv) A review panel will then be appointed to reassess the claim.

(v) The decision of the review panel will be accepted by the employer and by the Union as final.

(vi) Nothing in the foregoing shall be construed so as to limit or pre-empt the rights of any employee pursuant to the Industrial Relations Act 1979.

(7) 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.



27. - MINIMUM 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.