Published 26 February 2024

The Fair Work Commission has made changes to the junior age group descriptions in 34 awards to make them clearer.

On this page:

• What’s changed
• List of awards that have changed
• Check rates for junior employees
• Keep up to date
• Related information

What’s changed

The Fair Work Commission (the Commission) has made changes to the age group descriptions for junior employees in 34 awards.

These changes took effect from the first pay period starting on or after 31 December 2023.

There are no changes to junior rates in the awards. The Commission wanted to make the age descriptions clearer and more consistent.

List of awards that have changed

The changes are different for each of the 34 awards.

Read the Commission’s determination for your award below to see what’s changed:

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Practitioners and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services Award
• Airline Operations - Ground Staff Award
• Alpine Resorts Award
• Aluminium Industry Award
• Animal Care and Veterinary Services Award
• Banking, Finance and Insurance Award
• Business Equipment Award
• Dry Cleaning and Laundry Industry Award
• Electrical Power Industry Award
• Fast Food Industry Award
• Fitness Industry Award
• Gardening and Landscaping Services Award
• General Retail Industry Award
• Hair and Beauty Industry Award
• Hospitality Industry (General) Award
• Hydrocarbons Industry (Upstream) Award
• Manufacturing and Associated Industries and Occupations Award
• Mining Industry Award
• Oil Refining and Manufacturing Award
• Port Authorities Award
• Poultry Processing Award
• Racing Clubs Events Award
• Racing Industry Ground Maintenance Award
• Rail Industry Award
• Registered and Licensed Clubs Award
• Restaurant Industry Award
• Road Transport and Distribution Award
• Salt Industry Award
• Sporting Organisations Award
• Textile, Clothing, Footwear and Associated Industries Award
• Travelling Shows Award
• Vehicle Repair, Services and Retail Award
• Waste Management Award
• Wool Storage, Sampling and Testing Award

Not sure of your award? Use our 3-step Find my award tool to work out what you’re covered by. Reading the award can help you determine if you’re covered by it too.

Check rates for junior employees

Check your award to make sure junior employees are being paid the correct rate for their age. Access a copy of your updated award directly from our List of awards page.

We’ve also updated our Pay and Conditions Tool and pay guides to include the updated age descriptions.

Keep up to date

To stay up to date and be notified with updates that are relevant to you, subscribe to our email updates. It only takes a few moments to sign up and will help you stay in the loop with changes to workplace laws.

You can also follow us on social media for other announcements and reminders.

Related information

Read a copy of the Commission’s decision.