AwardScale

Children's Services Award penalty rates 2026

Saturday, Sunday, public holiday and evening rates for every classification in the Children's Services Award (MA000120), from 1 July 2026.

Most work is during the day on weekdays, but higher penalty rates can apply for work on weekends and public holidays, with overtime and additional payments for hours worked beyond the ordinary roster.

Full-time and part-time penalty rates

Hourly rate, full-time / part-time
ClassificationSaturday(shiftworkers, ordinary hours; day workers are paid Saturday work as overtime under 23.5(a))Sunday(all time worked)Public holiday(all time worked)
Support worker level 1.1 — on commencement$39.66$52.88$66.10
Support worker level 2.1 — on commencement$40.40$53.86$67.33
Support worker level 2.2 — after 1 year$41.73$55.64$69.55
Support worker level 3.1 — on commencement$44.18$58.90$73.63
Children's services employee level 1 — Introductory Educator$43.22$57.62$72.03
Children's services employee level 2 — Educator$44.54$59.38$74.23
Children's services employee level 3 — Qualified Educator$48.71$64.94$81.18
Children's services employee level 4 — Experienced Educator$51.98$69.30$86.63
Children's services employee level 5 — Advanced Educator$54.86$73.14$91.43
Children's services employee level 6 — Room Leader$57.38$76.50$95.63
Children's services employee level 7 — Assistant Director$60.00$80.00$100.00
Children's services employee level 8 — Director$69.18$92.24$115.30
Children’s Services Employee — Level 6 — Room Leader (former level 4A)$51.98$69.30$86.63

Casual penalty rates

Casual figures include the casual loading.

No casual weekend or public holiday rates are set for this award.

Where these rates come from

The pay database carries no weekend or public holiday rows for the Children's Services Award. The rates above apply the percentages in the award (consolidated to 1 July 2026) to each classification’s minimum hourly rate, rounded to the cent, and every figure matches the Fair Work Ombudsman pay guide.

  • Full-time and part-time: Saturday (shiftworkers, ordinary hours; day workers are paid Saturday work as overtime under 23.5(a)), 150% (clause 23.5(b))
  • Full-time and part-time: Sunday (all time worked), 200% (clause 23.5(c))
  • Full-time and part-time: Public holiday (all time worked), 250% (clause 23.5(d))
  • Casual: Ordinary hours (25% casual loading), 125% (clause 10.5(a))

Clause 23.5 sets no separate casual rate for Saturday, Sunday or public holiday work, and the FWO pay guide publishes none, so no casual weekend or public holiday figure is shown.

Read the Children's Services Award 2010

How the Children's Services Award compares

Full-time and part-time rate for Support worker level 1.1 — on commencement, as a percentage of the minimum hourly rate, against the median of the awards on this site
DayChildren's servicesMedianRank
Saturday150%150%2 of 19
Sunday200%187.5%1 of 20
Public holiday250%250%1 of 22

The Sunday rate of 200% is higher than the median of 187.5% across the 20 awards with a Sunday rate for their entry classification, and ranks 1st.

What one shift pays

One 7.6-hour shift, Support worker level 1.1 — on commencement
ShiftFull-time / part-timeCasual
Weekday (7.6 hours)$200.94$251.18
Saturday (7.6 hours)$301.42—
Sunday (7.6 hours)$401.89—
Public holiday (7.6 hours)$502.36—

A full-time saturday shift pays $301.42, $100.48 more than the same shift on a weekday.

A full-time sunday shift pays $401.89, $200.95 more than the same shift on a weekday.

A full-time public holiday shift pays $502.36, $301.42 more than the same shift on a weekday.

Work out a shift

All Children's Services Award ratesPenalty rates explainedPenalty rate calculator

Rates current as of 1 July 2026. FWC pay database, Children’s Services Award 2010 (MA000120), checked (how). General information only: your award or enterprise agreement prevails if it differs.