Under the Health Professionals Award MA000027 (2026), a Support Services Level 1 employee earns $26.97/hr full-time. Saturday and Sunday are both 150% (175% casual) and public holidays 250% (275% casual). A 15% shift loading applies to certain Monday–Friday shifts. The casual minimum engagement is 3 hours, and the casual loading of 25% is already built into the casual penalty percentages.
Rates current as at 2026-07-01 (Annual Wage Review), sourced from the Fair Work Ombudsman Pay Guide MA000027. Next review 2027-07-01.
Support Services Level 1: $26.97/hr full-time
Saturday: 150% (FT/PT) · 175% (casual)
Sunday: 150% (FT/PT) · 175% (casual)
Public holiday: 250% (FT/PT) · 275% (casual)
Shift loading (Mon–Fri): +15%
Casual minimum engagement: 3 hours
Rates by Stream & Level
MA000027 splits into streams — support services, dental assistants, pathology collectors and health professionals — each with its own levels and pay points. Health-professional streams reach much higher rates than support roles, so the stream and level both matter.
| Classification (full-time) | Hourly | Weekly (38h) |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1 (support services) | $26.97 | $1024.70 |
| Level 2 (support services) | $28.03 | $1065.20 |
| Level 3 (support services) | $29.11 | $1106.20 |
| Level 4 (support services) | $29.45 | $1119.10 |
| Level 5 (support services) | $30.45 | $1157.20 |
| Level 6 (support services) | $32.09 | $1219.50 |
| Level 7 (support services) | $32.67 | $1241.40 |
| Level 8 - pay point 1 (support services) | $33.78 | $1283.50 |
| Level 8 - pay point 2 (support services) | $34.66 | $1317.20 |
| Level 8 - pay point 3 (support services) | $37.10 | $1409.70 |
| Level 9 - pay point 1 (support services) | $37.76 | $1435.00 |
| Level 9 - pay point 2 (support services) | $39.10 | $1485.90 |
Showing 12 of 40 full-time classifications. Ask Fitz for any classification, stream or employment type.
Penalty Rates & Shift Loading
Weekend and public holiday penalties are a percentage of the minimum hourly rate; casual rates are all-inclusive of the 25% loading:
| When worked | Full-time / part-time | Casual (all-inclusive) |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday | 150% | 175% |
| Sunday | 150% | 175% |
| Public holiday | 250% | 275% |
A 15% shift loading applies to defined Monday–Friday shifts. Overtime is 150% for the first 2 hours and 200% after.
Casual Loading & Minimum Engagement
Casual employees receive a 25% loading and a minimum engagement of 3 hours per shift. Many practices also use annualised wage arrangements for full-time professionals — see our annualised wage guide for the strict conditions.
Common Mistakes That Trigger Audits
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the base rate for a health support worker in 2026?
What are the weekend penalty rates under MA000027?
What is the casual minimum engagement under the Health Professionals Award?
Is there a shift loading under MA000027?
How do I calculate a Health Professionals Award rate?
Get Health Professionals Award Rates Right — Instantly
Stop guessing. Fitz HR answers any Health Professionals Award question — pay rates, penalties, allowances, compliance — grounded in the current Pay Guide MA000027.
Ask Fitz Free — No Card Required →