On 16 April 2025, the Fair Work Commission (Commission) found that there was gender-based undervaluation of occupations across five Modern Awards. Modern Awards set minimum pay rates as a ‘safety net’ for industries and occupations in the private sector.
In a wide-ranging initial decision announced as a ‘provisional view’, the Commission made a number of historic determinations. Importantly, this included changes to the minimum pay rates in a range of occupations in the Health Professionals and Support Services Award.
For example – for Members working in private pathology, the Commission proposed to reclassify the placement of the indicative roles in the support services employees structure to Levels 5, 6 and 7. This would lead to minimum wage rate increases in the range of 1.8% to 10.9% for Pathology Collectors, depending on an employee’s current classification level.
There is a lot to work through in the decision, and it now puts in motion a series of steps before there is a final decision by the Commission. This is a huge step in the right direction for HSUWA Members.
We can expect employers to push back and seek to reduce and delay pay changes to these underlying Modern Awards, especially considering the flow-on effects to pay in the Enterprise Agreements achieved by union Members. Growing stronger is key to continuing to win change – ask your colleagues to join now.
