Children's Services Award Penalty Rates 2025–26
Rates effective 1 March 2026 · MA000120
Penalty rates are higher pay rates for working at particular times — weekends, public holidays, evenings, and late nights. These multipliers are applied to your base hourly rate under the Children's Services Award.
Penalty rate multipliers
| Day | FT/PT | Casual |
|---|---|---|
| Monday – Friday | ×1.00 | ×1.00 |
| Saturday | ×1.50 | ×1.20 |
| Sunday | ×2.00 | ×1.60 |
| Public Holiday | ×2.50 | ×2.00 |
Casual multipliers are applied to the casual base rate (which already includes the 25% loading).
Time-based loadings
| Time Band | Loading |
|---|---|
| early morning | ×1.10 |
| afternoon | ×1.15 |
Tip: Sunday shifts are the most commonly underpaid across most awards. If you regularly work weekends, use our calculator to check your pay is correct.
See also: Pay rates | Overtime | Casual employees
Source: Fair Work Commission pay guide for MA000120, effective 1 March 2026.
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