Rates of Pay Guide 2025-2026

The AMA Queensland Rates of Pay Guide for 2025-2026 is now available. The guide helps private practices stay informed of recent pay changes under the Modern Awards by outlining the minimum pay rates for different job roles, based on the Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020 (HPSS) and the Nurses Award 2020. Each Award have their own classification structure, with minimum pay and conditions. 

As a reminder, a Modern Award is the minimum that needs to be met for employee entitlements which are legislated rules set as per the Fair Work Act (2009). The Modern Award will outline entitlements related to a specific industry which include:

• minimum hourly and weekly rates
• casual loading percentages
• overtime and penalty rates
• allowances

The practice can elect to pay an hourly rate higher than that prescribed by the HPSS or Nurses Award. The buffer between the minimum hourly rate and the grossed up rate may compensate for unexpected overtime or allowances, depending on the value of the difference between the two rates.

If you elect to pay a higher rate we recommend you carry out a BOOT. calculation. 

What is the BOOT?
Not to be confused with something you wear on your feet or associated with your car, BOOT stands for the Better Off Overall Test and is used when reviewing an employee’s workplace entitlements. The purpose of the BOOT is to ensure an employee being paid above the modern award rate is actually better off overall compared to the allowances and entitlements outlined in their applicable modern award.

The BOOT checks whether each employee is better off overall under a proposed agreement than under the relevant Modern Award such as Health Professional and Services Award (HPSS) and Nurses Award. This calculation is your safeguard to ensure the employee is genuinely better off and to measure by how much per year.

Have you checked out the new interactive guide to the services the Workplace Relations Team provide?

The Workplace Relations Team can draft employment contracts and undertake the BOOT calculation for new or existing members of your team. For further information regarding the Rates of Pay Guide, employment contracts and BOOT calculations, please contact the Workplace Relations Team on 07 3872 2264 or email at workplacerelations@amaq.com.au

AMA Queensland Workplace Relations Phone: 07 3872 2264  Email: workplacerelations@amaq.com.au