Cleaning Award — Allowances
Last updated: March 2026 · Rates effective 1 July 2025
Allowances are extra payments for specific conditions, skills, or expenses. They are one of the most commonly missed entitlements after penalty rates.
| Allowance | Amount | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Broken shift allowance | $4.50 per day | If you work a broken shift (two separate periods on the same day with a substantial break in between), you receive an allowance per day worked on a broken shift. |
| Cold places allowance | $0.66 per hour | If you are required to work in a cold room or refrigerated area, you receive an additional allowance for each hour or part hour spent in cold conditions. |
| First aid allowance | $16.11 per week | If you hold a current first aid certificate and your employer has appointed you as the first aid officer at your workplace, you receive a weekly first aid allowance. |
| Height allowance (above 22nd floor) | $2.17 per hour | If you clean the exterior of a multi-storied building from outside, working above the 22nd floor above ground, you receive a higher height allowance per hour. |
| Height allowance (up to 22nd floor) | $1.06 per hour | If you clean the exterior of a multi-storied building from outside, working up to and including the 22nd floor above ground, you receive a height allowance per hour. |
| Hot places allowance (exceeding 54°C) | $0.80 per hour | If you are required to work in conditions exceeding 54°C, you receive a higher hot places allowance per hour. |
| Hot places allowance (46–54°C) | $0.66 per hour | If you are required to work in conditions where the temperature is between 46°C and 54°C, you receive a hot places allowance per hour. |
| Leading hand allowance (11–20 employees) | $75.83 per week | Level 2 employees who are required to supervise 11 to 20 other employees receive a higher weekly leading hand allowance. |
| Leading hand allowance (1–10 employees) | $58.93 per week | Level 2 employees who are required to supervise 1 to 10 other employees receive a weekly leading hand allowance. |
| Leading hand allowance (over 20 employees) | $92.72 per week | Level 2 employees who are required to supervise more than 20 other employees receive the highest weekly leading hand allowance. |
| Meal allowance | $16.84 per meal | If you are required to work overtime, you are entitled to a meal allowance for each meal time that falls during the overtime period. |
| Refuse collection allowance | $4.48 per shift | If your duties include collecting and removing refuse (rubbish) as part of your regular work, you receive a shift allowance. |
| Toilet cleaning allowance | $3.53 per shift | If your duties include cleaning toilet areas as a regular part of your work, you receive an allowance per shift (up to a weekly maximum of $17.35). |
| Uniform reimbursement | Varies | If your employer requires you to wear a specific uniform and you must purchase it yourself, your employer must reimburse the cost. |
| Vehicle allowance (car) | $0.99 per km | If you are required to use your own car for work purposes, you receive a per-kilometre vehicle allowance. |
| Vehicle allowance (motorcycle) | $0.33 per km | If you are required to use your own motorcycle for work purposes, you receive a per-kilometre vehicle allowance. |
See also: Pay rates | Allowances & loadings guide
Source: Fair Work Ombudsman pay guide for MA000022. Allowance amounts are updated annually following the Fair Work Commission Annual Wage Review, typically effective from 1 July.
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