Health Professionals and Support Services Award Pay Guide: Latest Updates
What is the HPSS Award Pay Guide?
The Health Professionals and Support Services Award Pay Guide contains the minimum wages, classifications and key pay rates that apply to employees covered by the Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020 [MA000027] (HPSS Award).
The guide provides important information for employers, payroll teams and managers, including minimum rates for:
full-time employees
part-time employees
casual employees
different classifications and pay points under the Award
The Fair Work Commission regularly reviews and updates modern award rates, meaning employers should ensure they are always working from the most current pay guide.
Why is it important to use the latest HPSS Award Pay Guide?
Award wages and employment conditions can change through:
annual wage reviews
Fair Work Commission decisions
industry-specific reviews and variations
Using outdated pay rates or incorrect classifications can result in payroll errors, employee disputes and underpayment risks.
Employers should regularly review:
payroll system settings
employee classifications
salary arrangements
remuneration structures
to ensure employees continue to receive their correct entitlements.
HPSS Award wage increases following the Fair Work Commission review
The Fair Work Commission has introduced significant changes to the Health Professionals and Support Services Award as part of its review into gender-based undervaluation of work.
The review recognised that many roles covered by the HPSS Award, particularly in allied health and related professions, had historically been undervalued.
As a result, minimum award rates for some classifications will increase progressively over several years.
For many degree-qualified allied health professionals, minimum award rates are scheduled to increase through phased adjustments commencing from 2026.
These increases are separate from any future Annual Wage Review increases, meaning employers should continue monitoring Fair Work Commission decisions each year.
What do HPSS Award changes mean for allied health employers?
The phased HPSS Award increases may have a significant impact on workforce costs and remuneration planning.
Employers should consider reviewing:
Award classifications
Ensure employees are correctly classified under the HPSS Award based on their role, qualifications, skills and responsibilities.
Incorrect classification is a common cause of payroll errors and underpayments.
Employment contracts and salary arrangements
Employers should review whether current salary arrangements continue to meet minimum Award obligations as rates increase.
A salary that currently exceeds the Award minimum may not continue to do so after future increases.
Payroll systems
Payroll systems should be updated to reflect new Award rates and ensure:
correct minimum rates are applied
overtime and penalty calculations remain accurate
allowances are correctly processed
Workforce and remuneration planning
Allied health employers should consider how future wage increases may affect:
staffing budgets
salary reviews
recruitment strategies
retention initiatives
service pricing
Proactive planning can help organisations manage wage changes while continuing to attract and retain skilled professionals.
How can employers stay compliant with the HPSS Award?
To reduce payroll compliance risks, employers should:
use the latest HPSS Award Pay Guide
review employee classifications regularly
monitor Fair Work Commission updates
check employment contracts and salary arrangements
audit payroll processes periodically
seek advice where Award interpretation is complex
Modern awards can be difficult to interpret, particularly where classifications, allowances, overtime and salary arrangements interact.
Download the latest HPSS Award Pay Guide
The latest Health Professionals and Support Services Award Pay Guide provides employers with the current minimum wages and rates that apply under the Award.
Download the current HPSS Award Pay Guide >
How Workplace Plus can help
Workplace Plus supports healthcare and allied health employers with practical payroll compliance advice, Award interpretation and workforce planning support.
Our consultants can assist with:
Award classification reviews
We help employers determine whether employees are correctly classified and paid according to their role, qualifications and responsibilities.
Payroll compliance reviews
Our payroll reviews identify potential risks relating to Award interpretation, employee entitlements and payroll processes.
Remuneration and workforce planning
We support organisations to understand how Award changes may impact future workforce costs and employment arrangements.
Award training and support
Our workplace relations specialists provide practical guidance to help managers, payroll teams and HR professionals confidently apply complex modern award requirements.
Need support with HPSS Award compliance?
Workplace Plus helps healthcare and allied health organisations navigate complex Award obligations, payroll compliance requirements and workforce changes.
Contact Workplace Plus today.
