Pastoral Award [MA000035]

This page is a summary of who the Pastoral Award covers and doesn’t cover. Find a copy of the award at Pastoral Award.

Learn how to calculate pay rates and check entitlements from Find pay rates and entitlements.

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Who the Pastoral Award covers

The Pastoral Award covers employers in the pastoral industry and their employees who fit within the classifications of the award.

The pastoral industry means employers and employees who work in (or connected to) the:

  • managing, breeding, rearing or grazing of livestock or poultry
  • shearing and crutching of sheep on farms
  • classing and pressing of wool on farms
  • dairying work
  • hatchery work
  • sowing, raising or harvesting of broadacre field crops and other crops grown as part of any of the mentioned farms or properties
  • treating of land in relation to the work above, or
  • clearing, fencing, well sinking, dam sinking or trenching on any farm or property above.

Livestock means all animals used in primary production including insects.

Broadacre field crops means grains, seeds, grasses, silage, legumes, fibre, flowers, and other crops grown as part of a broadacre mixed farming enterprise.

Examples of employees covered by the Pastoral Award include:

  • station hands
  • piggery workers
  • dairy operators
  • poultry workers
  • shearers and crutchers
  • station cooks.

The Pastoral Award also covers labour hire businesses and their employees who are placed with an organisation in the pastoral industry.

Check the award for full information on who is covered and the classification descriptions.

Source reference: Pastoral Award [MA00035] clauses 2, 4, 31, 36, 46 and 50

Who the Pastoral Award doesn't cover

The following are examples of employers who are not covered by the Pastoral Award:

  • employers and employees in the wine industry
  • sugar farming or sugar cane growing and related activities
  • silviculture and afforestation
  • any work in or connected with producing or processing fish, aquaculture and marine products
  • farming horticultural crops, such as vegetables, fruits, grains, seeds, nuts and flowers, which aren’t mentioned above as a broadacre field crop.

Check the award for full information on coverage and classifications.

Source reference: Pastoral Award [MA000035] clauses 2, 4, 31, 36, 46 and 50

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