Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Practitioners and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services Award pay rates
Award code MA000115, with rates in force from 1 July 2026.
Minimum pay for 60 adult classifications under the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Practitioners and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services Award 2020, from 1 July 2026: $27.71 to $51.25 an hour before tax.
Lowest adult rate
$27.71an hour
For Cleaner. $1,052.90 for a full-time week. Up 4.76% from $26.45.
Its lowest adult rate is $27.71 an hour, 4.8% above the National Minimum Wage of $26.44 an hour. Of the 116 awards that set hourly rates, 25 have a higher minimum. The dashed line is the minimum wage; each tick is another award.
Pay by group of classifications
Dollars an hour, from 1 July 2026- Dental Assistants8 classifications$29.34 to $33.50
- Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Worker employees12 classifications$28.11 to $41.90
- Administrative32 classifications$27.91 to $51.25
- Dental/Oral Health Therapists4 classifications$35.05 to $43.76
- Ancillary4 classifications$27.71 to $29.58
Every classification in each group is in the tables below.
Minimum pay by classification from 1 July 2026
Weekly rates are for a full-time week; hourly rates apply to full-time and part-time hours.
Dental AssistantsClause 16.1(a)(i)
| Classification | Weekly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Grade 2, Dental Assistant (unqualified)Level 1 | $1,114.90 | $29.34 |
| Grade 2, Dental Assistant (unqualified)Level 2 | $1,136.90 | $29.92 |
| Grade 3, Dental Assistant (qualified with a Certificate III or assessed equivalent)Level 1 | $1,159.00 | $30.50 |
| Grade 3, Dental Assistant (qualified with a Certificate III or assessed equivalent)Level 2 | $1,231.00 | $32.39 |
| Grade 3, Dental Assistant (qualified with a Certificate III or assessed equivalent)Level 3 | $1,272.90 | $33.50 |
| Grade 4, Dental Assistant (qualified with a Certificate IV or assessed equivalent)Level 1 | $1,159.00 | $30.50 |
| Grade 4, Dental Assistant (qualified with a Certificate IV or assessed equivalent)Level 2 | $1,231.00 | $32.39 |
| Grade 4, Dental Assistant (qualified with a Certificate IV or assessed equivalent)Level 3 | $1,272.90 | $33.50 |
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Worker employeesClause 16.1(a)(ii)
| Classification | Weekly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Grade 1, Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Worker Trainee (Entry) (Health Worker Trainee)Level 1 | $1,068.10 | $28.11 |
| Grade 2, Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Worker Trainee (Health Worker Trainee)Level 1 | $1,143.90 | $30.10 |
| Grade 2, Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Worker Trainee (Health Worker Trainee)Level 2 | $1,183.00 | $31.13 |
| Grade 3, Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Worker (Generalist Health Worker)Level 1 | $1,244.80 | $32.76 |
| Grade 3, Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Worker (Generalist Health Worker)Level 2 | $1,310.00 | $34.47 |
| Grade 3, Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Worker (Generalist Health Worker)Level 3 | $1,373.60 | $36.15 |
| Grade 4, Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Worker Advanced (Advanced Health Worker, Practice) Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioner (Health Practitioner) Advanced Health Worker, CareLevel 1 | $1,412.00 | $37.16 |
| Grade 4, Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Worker Advanced (Advanced Health Worker, Practice) Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioner (Health Practitioner) Advanced Health Worker, CareLevel 2 | $1,449.90 | $38.16 |
| Grade 4, Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Worker Advanced (Advanced Health Worker, Practice) Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioner (Health Practitioner) Advanced Health Worker, CareLevel 3 | $1,483.40 | $39.04 |
| Grade 5, Senior Health Worker Senior Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioner (Senior Health Practitioner) Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Worker Coordinator (Health Worker Coordinator)Level 1 | $1,518.80 | $39.97 |
| Grade 5, Senior Health Worker Senior Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioner (Senior Health Practitioner) Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Worker Coordinator (Health Worker Coordinator)Level 2 | $1,554.50 | $40.91 |
| Grade 5, Senior Health Worker Senior Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioner (Senior Health Practitioner) Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Worker Coordinator (Health Worker Coordinator)Level 3 | $1,592.20 | $41.90 |
AdministrativeClause 16.1(b)
| Classification | Weekly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Grade 1Level 1 | $1,060.70 | $27.91 |
| Grade 1Level 2 | $1,064.30 | $28.01 |
| Grade 1Level 3 | $1,085.90 | $28.58 |
| Grade 1Level 4 | $1,101.30 | $28.98 |
| Grade 1Level 5 | $1,133.30 | $29.82 |
| Grade 2Level 1 | $1,150.70 | $30.28 |
| Grade 2Level 2 | $1,171.00 | $30.82 |
| Grade 2Level 3 | $1,191.30 | $31.35 |
| Grade 2Level 4 | $1,208.60 | $31.81 |
| Grade 2Level 5 | $1,229.20 | $32.35 |
| Grade 3Level 1 | $1,251.30 | $32.93 |
| Grade 3Level 2 | $1,273.80 | $33.52 |
| Grade 3Level 3 | $1,287.50 | $33.88 |
| Grade 3Level 4 | $1,310.60 | $34.49 |
| Grade 4Level 1 | $1,331.00 | $35.03 |
| Grade 4Level 2 | $1,363.00 | $35.87 |
| Grade 4Level 3 | $1,387.50 | $36.51 |
| Grade 4Level 4 | $1,413.10 | $37.19 |
| Grade 5Level 1 | $1,441.20 | $37.93 |
| Grade 5Level 2 | $1,471.00 | $38.71 |
| Grade 5Level 3 | $1,501.90 | $39.52 |
| Grade 6Level 1 | $1,519.30 | $39.98 |
| Grade 6Level 2 | $1,547.80 | $40.73 |
| Grade 6Level 3 | $1,580.00 | $41.58 |
| Grade 6Level 4 | $1,640.70 | $43.18 |
| Grade 6Level 5 | $1,689.50 | $44.46 |
| Grade 7Level 1 | $1,729.60 | $45.52 |
| Grade 7Level 2 | $1,776.60 | $46.75 |
| Grade 8Level 1 | $1,794.70 | $47.23 |
| Grade 8Level 2 | $1,840.80 | $48.44 |
| Grade 8Level 3 | $1,902.50 | $50.07 |
| Grade 8Level 4 | $1,947.50 | $51.25 |
Dental/Oral Health TherapistsClause 16.1(c)
| Classification | Weekly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Grade 1, Entry Level, 1st year | $1,331.80 | $35.05 |
| Grade 2, 2nd–3rd year | $1,366.70 | $35.97 |
| Grade 3, 4th–6th year | $1,464.90 | $38.55 |
| Grade 4, 7th year+ | $1,662.70 | $43.76 |
AncillaryClause 16.1(d)
| Classification | Weekly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Cleaner | $1,052.90 | $27.71 |
| Driver, Grade 1 | $1,095.50 | $28.83 |
| Caretaker | $1,124.10 | $29.58 |
| Driver, Grade 2 | $1,124.10 | $29.58 |
Penalty and overtime rates
Percentages as the award sets them, and what they come to an hour at the first adult level. Higher classifications get the same percentages of their own rate. The tick on each bar marks 100%, the ordinary rate.
Shiftwork
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Worker adult employees: Full-time and part-time adult employees: ordinary, shiftworker and penalty rates
Dollars an hour at Level 1
| When | Rate |
|---|---|
| All employees - Ordinary hours | 100%$28.11 |
| Shiftworkers - Outside normal span of hours | 115%$32.33 |
| Shiftworkers - Continuous night shift | 130%$36.54 |
| All employees - Public holiday - plus one day off | 150%$42.17 |
| Shiftworkers - Saturday | 150%$42.17 |
| Shiftworkers - Sunday | 200%$56.22 |
| All employees - Public holiday | 250%$70.28 |
Administrative adult employees: Full-time and part-time adult employees: ordinary, shiftwork and penalty rates
Dollars an hour at Level 1
| When | Rate |
|---|---|
| All employees - Ordinary hours | 100%$27.91 |
| Shiftworkers - Outside normal span of hours | 115%$32.10 |
| Shiftworkers - Continuous night shift | 130%$36.28 |
| All employees - Public holiday - plus one day off | 150%$41.87 |
| Shiftworkers - Saturday | 150%$41.87 |
| Shiftworkers - Sunday | 200%$55.82 |
| All employees - Public holiday | 250%$69.78 |
Ancillary employees: Full-time and part-time adult employees: ordinary, shiftwork and penalty rates
Dollars an hour at Cleaner
| When | Rate |
|---|---|
| All employees - Ordinary hours | 100%$27.71 |
| Shiftworkers - Outside normal span of hours | 115%$31.87 |
| Shiftworkers - Continuous night shift | 130%$36.02 |
| All employees - Public holiday - plus one day off | 150%$41.57 |
| Shiftworkers - Saturday | 150%$41.57 |
| Shiftworkers - Sunday | 200%$55.42 |
| All employees - Public holiday | 250%$69.28 |
Dental assistants: full-time and part-time adult employees, ordinary, shiftwork and penalty rates
Dollars an hour at Level 1
| When | Rate |
|---|---|
| All employees - Ordinary hours | 100%$29.34 |
| Shiftworkers - Outside normal span of hours | 115%$33.74 |
| Shiftworkers - Continuous night shift | 130%$38.14 |
| All employees - Public holiday - plus one day off | 150%$44.01 |
| Shiftworkers - Sunday | 200%$58.68 |
| All employees - Public holiday | 250%$76.25 |
Dental/Oral Health Therapist employees: Full-time and part-time adult employees: ordinary, shiftwork and penalty rates
Dollars an hour at Grade 1, Entry Level, 1st year
| When | Rate |
|---|---|
| All employees - Ordinary hours | 100%$35.05 |
| Shiftworkers - Outside normal span of hours | 115%$40.31 |
| Shiftworkers - Continuous night shift | 130%$45.57 |
| All employees - Public holiday - plus one day off | 150%$52.58 |
| Shiftworkers - Saturday | 150%$52.58 |
| Shiftworkers - Sunday | 200%$70.10 |
| All employees - Public holiday | 250%$87.63 |
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Worker adult employees: Casual adult employees: ordinary, shiftwork and penalty rates
Dollars an hour at Level 1
| When | Rate |
|---|---|
| All employees - Day | 125%$35.14 |
| Shiftworkers - Outside normal span of hours | 140%$39.35 |
| All employees - Public holiday | 150%$42.17 |
| Shiftworkers - Continuous night shift | 155%$43.57 |
| Shiftworkers - Saturday | 175%$49.19 |
| Shiftworkers - Sunday | 225%$63.25 |
Administrative adult employees: Casual adult employees: ordinary, shiftwork and penalty rates
Dollars an hour at Level 1
| When | Rate |
|---|---|
| All employees - Day | 125%$34.89 |
| Shiftworkers - Outside normal span of hours | 140%$39.07 |
| All employees - Public holiday | 150%$41.87 |
| Shiftworkers - Continuous night shift | 155%$43.26 |
| Shiftworkers - Saturday | 175%$48.84 |
| Shiftworkers - Sunday | 225%$62.80 |
Ancillary employees: Casual adult employees: ordinary, shiftwork and penalty rates
Dollars an hour at Cleaner
| When | Rate |
|---|---|
| All employees - Day | 125%$34.64 |
| Shiftworkers - Outside normal span of hours | 140%$38.79 |
| All employees - Public holiday | 150%$41.57 |
| Shiftworkers - Continuous night shift | 155%$42.95 |
| Shiftworkers - Saturday | 175%$48.49 |
| Shiftworkers - Sunday | 225%$62.35 |
Dental assistants: casual adult employees, ordinary, shiftwork and penalty rates
Dollars an hour at Level 1
| When | Rate |
|---|---|
| All employees - Day | 125%$36.68 |
| Shiftworkers - Outside normal span of hours | 140%$41.08 |
| All employees - Public holiday | 150%$44.01 |
| Shiftworkers - Continuous night shift | 155%$45.48 |
| Shiftworkers - Saturday | 175%$51.35 |
| Shiftworkers - Sunday | 225%$66.02 |
Dental/Oral Health Therapist employees: Casual adult employees: ordinary, shiftwork and penalty rates
Dollars an hour at Grade 1, Entry Level, 1st year
| When | Rate |
|---|---|
| All employees - Day | 125%$43.81 |
| Shiftworkers - Outside normal span of hours | 140%$49.07 |
| All employees - Public holiday | 150%$52.58 |
| Shiftworkers - Continuous night shift | 155%$54.33 |
| Shiftworkers - Saturday | 175%$61.34 |
| Shiftworkers - Sunday | 225%$78.86 |
Overtime
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Worker adult employees: Full-time and part-time adult employees: overtime rates
Dollars an hour at Level 1
| When | Rate |
|---|---|
| All employees - Excess hours - First 2 hours | 150%$42.17 |
| Employees other than shiftworkers - Outside the span of hours - First 2 hours | 150%$42.17 |
| Shiftworkers - broken shifts - Outside a spread of 9 hours | 150%$42.17 |
| All employees - Excess hours - After 2 hours | 200%$56.22 |
| Employees other than shiftworkers - Outside the span of hours - After 2 hours | 200%$56.22 |
| Shiftworkers - broken shifts - Outside a spread of 12 hours | 200%$56.22 |
Administrative adult employees: Full-time and part-time adult employees: overtime rates
Dollars an hour at Level 1
| When | Rate |
|---|---|
| All employees - excess hours - First 2 hours | 150%$41.87 |
| Employees other than shiftworkers - Outside the span of hours - First 2 hours | 150%$41.87 |
| Shiftworkers - broken shifts - Outside a spread of 9 hours | 150%$41.87 |
| All employees - excess hours - After 2 hours | 200%$55.82 |
| Employees other than shiftworkers - Outside the span of hours - After 2 hours | 200%$55.82 |
| Shiftworkers - broken shifts - Outside a spread of 12 hours | 200%$55.82 |
Ancillary employees: Full-time and part-time adult employees: overtime rates
Dollars an hour at Cleaner
| When | Rate |
|---|---|
| All employees - Excess hours - First 2 hours | 150%$41.57 |
| Employees other than shiftworkers - Outside the span of hours - First 2 hours | 150%$41.57 |
| Shiftworkers - broken shifts - Outside a spread of 9 hours | 150%$41.57 |
| All employees - Excess hours - After 2 hours | 200%$55.42 |
| Employees other than shiftworkers - Outside the span of hours - After 2 hours | 200%$55.42 |
| Shiftworkers - broken shifts - Outside a spread of 12 hours | 200%$55.42 |
Dental assistants: full-time and part-time adult employees, overtime rates
Dollars an hour at Level 1
| When | Rate |
|---|---|
| All employees - Excess hours - First 2 hours | 150%$44.01 |
| Employees other than shiftworkers - Outside the span of hours - First 2 hours | 150%$44.01 |
| Shiftworkers - broken shifts - Outside a spread of 9 hours | 150%$44.01 |
| All employees - Excess hours - After 2 hours | 200%$58.68 |
| Employees other than shiftworkers - Outside the span of hours - After 2 hours | 200%$58.68 |
| Shiftworkers - broken shifts - Outside a spread of 12 hours | 200%$58.68 |
Dental/Oral Health Therapist employees: Full-time and part-time adult employees: overtime rates
Dollars an hour at Grade 1, Entry Level, 1st year
| When | Rate |
|---|---|
| All employees - Excess hours - First 2 hours | 150%$52.58 |
| Employees other than shiftworkers - Outside the span of hours - First 2 hours | 150%$52.58 |
| Shiftworkers - broken shifts - Outside a spread of 9 hours | 150%$52.58 |
| All employees - Excess hours - After 2 hours | 200%$70.10 |
| Employees other than shiftworkers - Outside the span of hours - After 2 hours | 200%$70.10 |
| Shiftworkers - broken shifts - Outside a spread of 12 hours | 200%$70.10 |
Allowances paid on top
7 allowances are for the work itself, paid when the job calls for it, and 7 cover costs you'd otherwise pay yourself, like meals, laundry or travel. The amounts are the Commission's, in force today; the award sets out exactly who gets each one and when.
For the work
| Allowance | Amount | |
|---|---|---|
| Bilingual qualification allowance | ||
| Level 1Clause 18.2(a)(ii) | $2,575.86 a year | |
| Level 2Clause 18.2(a)(ii) | $5,155.71 a year | |
| Nauseous work allowance | ||
| Minimum per weekClause 18.2(b) | $3.36 minimum per week | |
| Per hourClause 18.2(b) | $0.62 per hour or part thereof | |
| Medication administration allowanceClause 18.2(c) | $3.11 a week | |
| On-call and recall allowances | ||
| After ordinary working hours, other than public holidayClause 20.7(a)(i) | $24.52 per any 24 hour period or part thereof | |
| Public holidayClause 20.7(a)(ii) | $49.05 per any 24 hour period or part thereof | |
To cover costs
| Allowance | Amount | |
|---|---|---|
| Clothing allowance: Clothing allowance | ||
| Uniform allowance, Per day or part thereofClause 18.3(a)(i) | $1.23 per day or part thereof | |
| Uniform allowance, Per weekClause 18.3(a)(i) | $6.08 a week | |
| Laundry allowance: Clothing allowance | ||
| Laundry allowance, Per day or part thereofClause 18.3(a)(ii) | $0.27 per day or part thereof | |
| Laundry allowance, Per weekClause 18.3(a)(ii) | $1.32 a week | |
| Travelling, transport and fares, use of own motor vehicleClause 18.3(b)(i) | $1.01 a km | |
| Meal allowance | ||
| Overtime of more than one hour after usual finishing timeClause 18.3(c)(i) | $17.30 each time | |
| Overtime exceeding 4 hoursClause 18.3(c)(ii) | $15.60 each time | |
The award is the final word
These are the minimum rates the Fair Work Commission publishes for the award. Shift rules, rostering and who each classification covers are in the award itself, and an enterprise agreement can set different pay. Employees no award or agreement covers get the National Minimum Wage: $26.44 an hour from 1 July 2026.
Questions people ask
- What is the minimum pay rate under the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Practitioners and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services Award?
- From 1 July 2026, the lowest adult rate is $27.71 an hour ($1,052.90 a week full time), for Cleaner. The highest adult classification is $51.25 an hour.
- How does the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Practitioners and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services Award minimum compare?
- Its lowest adult rate is $27.71 an hour, 4.8% above the National Minimum Wage of $26.44 an hour. Of the 116 awards that set hourly rates, 25 have a higher minimum.
- How much did Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Practitioners and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services Award rates go up on 1 July 2026?
- The lowest adult rate rose 4.76%, from $26.45 to $27.71 an hour, in the Fair Work Commission's Annual Wage Review. The table shows each classification's rate before and after.
- What allowances are paid under the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Practitioners and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services Award?
- 14 allowances have a dollar amount set by the Commission, including a bilingual qualification allowance, Level 1 of $2,575.86 a year, a bilingual qualification allowance, Level 2 of $5,155.71 a year and a nauseous work allowance, minimum per week of $3.36 minimum per week. The full list, with the clause each comes from, is on this page.
- Where do these rates come from?
- The Fair Work Commission's Modern Awards Pay Database, which publishes every award's minimum rates; we read it when the Commission changes an award. The award itself prevails if the two ever differ, and an enterprise agreement can set different pay.
Source: Fair Work Commission, Modern Awards Pay Database, licensed CC BY 4.0, read 27 Oct 2026 and arranged by The Finance Algorithm. Not endorsed by the Fair Work Commission. Read with the award: if they differ, the award prevails. General information, not legal or payroll advice.