The complete reference to the Health Professionals and Support Services Award MA000027 for private practices, allied health, dental, pathology and medical support employers — coverage, classifications, penalty rates, allowances, minimum engagement and Fair Work compliance.
The Health Professionals Award (MA000027) sets minimum pay by classification, starting at $26.97/hour full-time (Level 1 (support services)). Saturdays pay 150% (full/part-time) or 175% (casual); Sundays 150% (full/part-time) or 175% (casual); public holidays 250% (full/part-time) or 275% (casual). Casual percentages already include the 25% casual loading. Figures current as at 1 October 2026, sourced from the Fair Work Ombudsman Pay Guide — full tables below, or ask Fitz for the exact rate for your classification and shift. From 1 October 2026 health professionals are classified by AQF level and years of experience (Level 1) or by role (Levels 2.1, 2.2, 3 and 4), with no pay points; staff employed on 30 September 2026 keep their previous rate where it is higher.
Page updated 21 October 2026: added Christmas and New Year public holiday rates and the 2026–27 change timeline. Rates current as at 1 October 2026.
The Health Professionals and Support Services Award MA000027 covers private-sector health professionals and health support services — including allied health, dental assistants, pathology collectors and medical administration. Getting coverage right matters — it drives the classification structure, penalty rates, and allowances that apply to every shift. Applying the wrong award creates systematic underpayment exposure.
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Current classification rates, penalties and allowances from the FWO Pay Guide.
How Fitz compares for health practices on the Health Professionals Award.
What to look for in HR & compliance software for health practices — and how Fitz compares.
What award interpretation software does, and how Fitz HR applies the Health Professionals Award before the roster is published, not after payroll runs.
Penalty rates under MA000027 for weekend and public holiday work, as a percentage of the ordinary hourly rate:
| When worked | % of ordinary rate |
|---|---|
| Saturday (FT/PT) | 150% |
| Saturday (casual) | 175% |
| Sunday (FT/PT) | 150% |
| Sunday (casual) | 175% |
| Public holiday (FT/PT) | 250% |
| Public holiday (casual) | 275% |
Casual employees receive a 25% loading; the casual penalty percentages above are all-inclusive of that loading, not stacked on top.
A sample of the full-time minimum rates. See the Health Professionals Award pay rates page for the full table, streams and casual rates.
| Classification (full-time) | Hourly | Weekly |
|---|---|---|
| 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 45 full-time classifications. Ask Fitz for any classification, employment type or stream.
The Health Professionals Award sets a minimum period an employee must be paid for each time they are engaged:
| Allowance | Amount | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Heat allowance (temperature 40°C-46°C, employed at current workplace before 8 Aug 1991) | $0.61 | per hour |
| Heat allowance (temperature exceeds 46°C, employed at current workplace before 8 Aug 1991) | $0.73 | per hour |
| Laundry allowance | $0.33 | per shift |
| Meal allowance | $17.30 | per meal |
| Nauseous work allowance (not linen sealed in airtight containers) | $0.61 | per hour |
| Occasional interpreting allowance | $1.34 | per occasion |
| On call allowance (Monday to Saturday) | $26.34 | per 24-hour period |
| On call allowance (Sunday & public holiday) | $52.56 | per 24-hour period |
Operating under MA000027 creates obligations beyond paying the correct rate:
See the Fair Work compliance pillar guide and how Fitz HR compares with Employment Hero.
The summer public holidays are where Health Professionals Award payroll errors cluster, because the public holiday penalty is the largest multiplier in the award and Boxing Day falls on a Saturday this year, which brings substitute-day rules into play. For a Level 1 (support services) employee on the current minimum of $26.97 an hour:
| Hour worked | Full-time / part-time | Casual |
|---|---|---|
| Ordinary Monday–Friday hour | $26.97 | $33.71 |
| Public holiday hour (250% / 275% casual) | $67.43 | $74.17 |
The same multiplier applies at every classification level, so take the level’s ordinary rate from the table above and multiply. The casual public holiday percentage already includes the 25% casual loading; do not add it again. The national public holidays in the period are:
Each state and territory gazettes its own list, including part-day holidays such as Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve in some jurisdictions, so check your state’s list before the roster is published. The penalty applies to hours worked on the gazetted day; where a substitute day is declared, the award sets out which day attracts the penalty, and that is a question worth asking Fitz before the pay run rather than after.
The rates on this page took effect from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026, following the Fair Work Commission’s 4.75% Annual Wage Review increase, and apply for the 2026–27 financial year. The next Annual Wage Review decision is expected in June 2027 and takes effect from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2027. Superannuation guarantee is 12%. Nothing else is scheduled to change the Health Professionals Award minimum rates before then; if the Commission varies the award mid-year, the rates alert below will tell you.
Health professionals are now classified by AQF level and years of experience (Level 1) or by role (Levels 2.1, 2.2, 3 and 4), with no pay points. Staff employed on 30 September 2026 keep their previous rate where it is higher. See the full 1 October 2026 change guide.
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