NOTE: CareMaster updates will be rolled out from 06.01.25 with the new award rates. If you need the new rates before this, please contact support via our Help Centre to organise an update.

*The old rates are available till 31.01.2025 to include all available pay cycles.

**The new rates need only come into effect from the start of the 1st pay cycle starting after 01.01.2025.

There has been a reclassification of the Pay Points that for the Aged Care - Home Care Employee.

The change is designed to take into account the worker’s length of experience and obtained qualifications.

This change will require a review of the applied Award Rate on the worker’s CareMaster profile to sync it with the updated rate. The new rates will be available from 01.01.2025.

What is changing (brief summary)

• 'Home care employee - Full-time & part-time - Aged Care’ roles have been reclassified
• From 1 January 2025, minimum pay rates will increase for aged care employees covered by the SCHADS Award including nursing assistants who were covered by the Nurses Award.

  • The increase an employee gets, will depend on the award that covers them and their classification.

  • Some employees classified prior to 31 December 2024 need to maintain previous classification as minimum award weekly rate is higher than the minimum defined under the new classification

  • Some Nursing award classifications have been reclassified under SCHADS award

• More information:
  • Aged Care Work Value Case: Changes to awards - Fair Work Ombudsman
  • Definitions: https://www.fwc.gov.au/documents/awardsandorders/pdf/pr779153.pdf
  • SCHADS MA000100 Pay Guide 1 Jan 2025

payguides_MA000100 - 1 January 2025 (1).docx 176173

New Classification Definitions - Home Care Employees -Aged Care

1. Level 1 - Introductory An employee whose primary role is to provide home care to aged care clients and who has less than 3 months’ aged carer experience.
2. Level 2 - Home Carer An employee whose primary role is to provide home care to aged care clients and who has 3 months’ or more aged carer experience.
3. Level 3 - Qualified An employee whose primary role is to provide home care to aged care clients and who has obtained a Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing) or equivalent qualification.
4. Level 4 -Senior An employee whose primary role is to provide home care to aged care clients and who has obtained a Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing) or equivalent qualification and has obtained 4 years’ experience classified at level 3 after 1 January 2025.
5. Level 5 - Specialist An employee whose primary role is to provide home care to aged care clients and who has obtained a Certificate IV in Ageing Support or equivalent qualification as a requirement for the performance of their duties by the employer.
6. Level 6 - Team Leader A home care employee who has obtained a Certificate IV in Ageing Support or equivalent qualification as a requirement for the performance of their duties by the employer and is required to supervise and train other home care employees—aged care.

Translated Classifications - Home care employee - Full-time & part-time - Aged Care

* Retained minimum rates of pay for certain classifications

• Only applies to an employee classified under this award on or before 31 December 2024
• The minimum rate of pay applicable to an employee subject to this clause is the higher of:
  • (i) the minimum rate of pay that applies to the employee’s translated classification in the table above and
  • (ii) the minimum rate of pay previously applicable to the employee under the award as at 31 December 2024

Children Services Award Updates

Two of the lower level classifications in CSA award are increasing to ensure they get paid minimum wage.

https://www.fairwork.gov.au/about-us/workplace-laws/award-changes/changes-to-entry-level-classifications-in-awards

There are no allowances changes however along with all existing awards should have new start date of 1 January 2025.

These are the two classifications with updated weekly rates:

Classification	Previous Weekly pay rate	Weekly pay rate
Support worker level 1.1 on commencement	$910.90	$915.90
Children's services employee level 1.1 on commencement	$910.90	$915.90

Update all awards with start date of 1 January 2025

How to update a Workers Award Rate

In CareMaster, on the worker’s profile, select Employment Information.

Scroll down to Employment Classification and select Award and choose their Award Classification.

Now select their Classification Level and the accurate Pay Value will be displayed, and Save.

Updating the Workers Award Rate to your Financial Integration software

For our Xero customers, a system sync is available. Please use this process

For all other finance systems, the Worker’s award rate does not automatically sync and will need to be updated in CareMaster and your finance system separately. It is recommended to keep both updated for data consistency.

**Please note that if you are paying a Base Rate above the award, you may not need to increase the par rate as long as it is greater than the new minimum.

If you want to continue paying above the award, you will need to re calculate their new increased Base Rate manually.