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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Practitioners and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services Award pay rates 2026–27
The minimum hourly rates and penalty rates under the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Practitioners and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services Award 2020 [MA000115], in force from 1 July 2026. The lowest adult rate is $25.46 an hour, or $31.83 for casuals.
Minimum hourly rates
Adult rates per hour. The casual rate includes the casual loading. Junior, apprentice and trainee rates are set separately in the award.
| Classification | Full-time & part-time | Casual |
|---|---|---|
| Dental Assistant — Grade 1 | $25.46 | $31.83 |
| Dental Assistant — Grade 2 | $25.96 | $32.45 |
| Dental Assistant — Grade 3 | $26.47 | $33.09 |
| Grade 1 — Level 1 | $27.91 | $34.89 |
| Grade 1 — Level 2 | $28.01 | $35.01 |
| Dental Assistant — Grade 5 | $28.09 | $35.11 |
| Grade 1—Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Worker Trainee (Entry) (Health Worker Trainee) — Level 1 | $28.11 | $35.14 |
| Dental Assistant — Grade 4 | $28.12 | $35.15 |
| Grade 1 — Level 3 | $28.58 | $35.72 |
| Grade 1 — Level 4 | $28.98 | $36.23 |
| Grade 2—Dental Assistant (unqualified) — Level 1 | $29.34 | $36.67 |
| Grade 1 — Level 5 | $29.82 | $37.28 |
| Grade 2—Dental Assistant (unqualified) — Level 2 | $29.92 | $37.40 |
| Grade 2—Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Worker Trainee (Health Worker Trainee) — Level 1 | $30.10 | $37.63 |
| Grade 2 — Level 1 | $30.28 | $37.85 |
| Dental Therapist Grade 1 — Level 1 | $30.42 | $38.03 |
| Grade 3—Dental Assistant (qualified with a Certificate III or assessed equivalent) — Level 1 | $30.50 | $38.13 |
| Grade 4—Dental Assistant (qualified with a Certificate IV or assessed equivalent) — Level 1 | $30.50 | $38.13 |
| Grade 2 — Level 2 | $30.82 | $38.53 |
| Grade 2—Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Worker Trainee (Health Worker Trainee) — Level 2 | $31.13 | $38.91 |
| Dental Therapist Grade 1 — Level 2 | $31.21 | $39.01 |
| Grade 2 — Level 3 | $31.35 | $39.19 |
| Grade 2 — Level 4 | $31.81 | $39.76 |
| Dental Therapist Grade 1 — Level 3 | $32.22 | $40.28 |
| Grade 2 — Level 5 | $32.35 | $40.44 |
| Grade 4—Dental Assistant (qualified with a Certificate IV or assessed equivalent) — Level 2 | $32.39 | $40.49 |
| Grade 3—Dental Assistant (qualified with a Certificate III or assessed equivalent) — Level 2 | $32.39 | $40.49 |
| Grade 3—Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Worker (Generalist Health Worker) — Level 1 | $32.76 | $40.95 |
| Grade 3 — Level 1 | $32.93 | $41.16 |
| Dental Therapist Grade 1 — Level 4 | $33.46 | $41.83 |
| Grade 3—Dental Assistant (qualified with a Certificate III or assessed equivalent) — Level 3 | $33.50 | $41.88 |
| Grade 4—Dental Assistant (qualified with a Certificate IV or assessed equivalent) — Level 3 | $33.50 | $41.88 |
| Grade 3 — Level 2 | $33.52 | $41.90 |
| Grade 3 — Level 3 | $33.88 | $42.35 |
| Dental Therapist Grade 1 — Level 5 | $33.92 | $42.40 |
| Grade 3—Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Worker (Generalist Health Worker) — Level 2 | $34.47 | $43.09 |
| Grade 3 — Level 4 | $34.49 | $43.11 |
| Grade 4 — Level 1 | $35.03 | $43.79 |
| Grade 4 — Level 2 | $35.87 | $44.84 |
| Grade 3—Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Worker (Generalist Health Worker) — Level 3 | $36.15 | $45.19 |
| Grade 4 — Level 3 | $36.51 | $45.64 |
| Dental Therapist Grade 1 — Level 6 | $36.73 | $45.91 |
| Grade 4—Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Worker Advanced (Advanced Health Worker—Practice) Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioner (Health Practitioner) Advanced Health Worker—Care — Level 1 | $37.16 | $46.45 |
| Grade 4 — Level 4 | $37.19 | $46.49 |
| Grade 5 — Level 1 | $37.93 | $47.41 |
| Dental Therapist Grade 1 — Level 7 | $37.97 | $47.46 |
| Grade 4—Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Worker Advanced (Advanced Health Worker—Practice) Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioner (Health Practitioner) Advanced Health Worker—Care — Level 2 | $38.16 | $47.70 |
| Dental Therapist Grade 2 — Level 1 | $38.51 | $48.14 |
| Grade 5 — Level 2 | $38.71 | $48.39 |
| Grade 4—Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Worker Advanced (Advanced Health Worker—Practice) Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioner (Health Practitioner) Advanced Health Worker—Care — Level 3 | $39.04 | $48.80 |
| Dental Therapist Grade 2 — Level 2 | $39.38 | $49.23 |
| Grade 5 — Level 3 | $39.52 | $49.40 |
| Grade 5—Senior Health Worker Senior Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioner (Senior Health Practitioner) Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Worker Coordinator (Health Worker Coordinator) — Level 1 | $39.97 | $49.96 |
| Grade 6 — Level 1 | $39.98 | $49.97 |
| Dental Therapist Grade 2 — Level 3 | $40.22 | $50.28 |
| Grade 6 — Level 2 | $40.73 | $50.91 |
| Grade 5—Senior Health Worker Senior Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioner (Senior Health Practitioner) Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Worker Coordinator (Health Worker Coordinator) — Level 2 | $40.91 | $51.14 |
| Dental Therapist Grade 2 — Level 4 | $40.94 | $51.18 |
| Grade 6 — Level 3 | $41.58 | $51.97 |
| Dental Therapist Grade 2 — Level 5 | $41.87 | $52.34 |
| Grade 5—Senior Health Worker Senior Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioner (Senior Health Practitioner) Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Worker Coordinator (Health Worker Coordinator) — Level 3 | $41.90 | $52.38 |
| Grade 6 — Level 4 | $43.18 | $53.98 |
| Grade 6 — Level 5 | $44.46 | $55.58 |
| Grade 7 — Level 1 | $45.52 | $56.90 |
| Grade 7 — Level 2 | $46.75 | $58.44 |
| Grade 8 — Level 1 | $47.23 | $59.04 |
| Grade 8 — Level 2 | $48.44 | $60.55 |
| Grade 8 — Level 3 | $50.07 | $62.59 |
| Grade 8 — Level 4 | $51.25 | $64.06 |
Ancillary
| Classification | Full-time & part-time | Casual |
|---|---|---|
| Cleaner | $27.71 | $34.64 |
| Driver—Grade 1 | $28.83 | $36.04 |
| Driver—Grade 2 | $29.58 | $36.97 |
| Caretaker | $29.58 | $36.97 |
Dental/Oral Health Therapists
| Classification | Full-time & part-time | Casual |
|---|---|---|
| Grade 1—Entry Level—1st year | $35.05 | $43.81 |
| Grade 2—2nd–3rd year | $35.97 | $44.96 |
| Grade 3—4th–6th year | $38.55 | $48.19 |
| Grade 4—7th year+ | $43.76 | $54.70 |
Penalty rates and overtime
For adult day workers, as a percentage of the base rate unless shown otherwise. Dollar figures are per hour at Dental Assistant — Grade 1.
| When | Full-time & part-time | Casual |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday | 150% · $38.19 | 175% · $44.56 |
| Sunday | 200% · $50.92 | 225% · $57.29 |
| Public holiday | 150% · $38.19 | 150% · $38.19 |
| Night work | 130% · $33.10 | 155% · $39.46 |
| Overtime, first 2 hours | 150% · $38.19 | 150% of the casual rate · $47.75 |
| Overtime, after 2 hours | 200% · $50.92 | 200% of the casual rate · $63.66 |
Shiftworkers, juniors and apprentices can have different penalties, and some awards set more than one evening or night band (the lowest is shown). The award itself is the authority.
Source: the Fair Work Commission's published rates. Check them against the award or the Fair Work Ombudsman's pay guide.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Practitioners and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services Award: common questions
What is the minimum pay rate under the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Practitioners and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services Award?
From 1 July 2026, the lowest adult classification, Dental Assistant — Grade 1, is $25.46 an hour for full-time and part-time employees and $31.83 an hour for casuals, which includes the casual loading. Higher classifications are paid more; the full table is on this page.
What is the Sunday rate under the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Practitioners and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services Award?
Full-time and part-time adult employees are paid 200% of their base rate for work on a Sunday, which is $50.92 an hour at Dental Assistant — Grade 1. Casuals are paid $57.29 an hour at the same level.
What is the public holiday rate under the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Practitioners and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services Award?
Full-time and part-time adult employees are paid 150% of their base rate for work on a public holiday, which is $38.19 an hour at Dental Assistant — Grade 1. Casuals are paid $38.19 an hour at the same level.
When do Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Practitioners and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services Award pay rates change?
The Fair Work Commission reviews minimum wages every year, and new rates usually apply from the first full pay period on or after 1 July. The rates on this page apply from 1 July 2026.
How do I check a payslip against the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Practitioners and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services Award?
Upload the payslip to FairCheck's free payslip check. It reads the pay lines, confirms the award and classification with you, and shows whether the rates, penalties and super meet this award, with the reasoning for every line.