Written by Australian Business Lawyers & Advisors

On 16 April 2025, the Fair Work Commission (the Commission) published its first and long-awaited decision in its Gender Undervaluation – Priority Awards Review. 

The decision signals that major changes are to be made to the following awards: 

  • Children’s Services Award 2010;
  • Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award 2010; 
  • Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020;
  • Pharmacy Industry Award 2020; and 
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Practitioners and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services Award 2020.

Those changes include significant increases to award minimum rates and changes to the classification structure and definitions. Whilst some of the changes are concrete, the overwhelming majority will be subject to further scrutiny via a series of conferences and, if necessary, further hearings with the interested parties. 

Australian Business Lawyers & Advisors (ABLA) will be continuing to appear and participate in the proceedings on behalf of multiple employer interests including Business NSW, Australian Business Industrial, Australian Childcare Alliance, Ageing Australia, and National Disability Services.  

The fact that the Commission has set out numerous “provisional views” provides businesses in the impacted sectors with a pivotal and time-sensitive opportunity to speak up about the proposed changes and, if necessary, advocate for a modified approach. 

 

The Breakdown: How is each award going to change? 

To help businesses get a grasp on the potential changes, we have prepared a series of articles setting out the findings and provisional views of the Commission - you can read our articles concerning the Children’s Services Award, SCHADS Award, and Health Professional and Support Services Award now.