Awards and agreements

Awards and agreements

Awards and agreements establish the conditions of employment for employees covered by them. They are legally binding and enforceable before the Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission and Industrial Magistrate.

Awards outline the minimum conditions of employment and operate as a safety net. Agreements are collective agreements establishing further conditions of employment and entitlements for specific employees and their employers. 

Agreements are negotiated between unions and employers on a more regular basis (generally every 2 or 3 years) and registered by the Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission (WAIRC). Once registered, the agreement’s provisions apply to all employees in the workplace who perform work covered by the industrial agreement.

It is important to read both the relevant agreement and the award for the specific occupational group to understand an employee’s full entitlements. As a general rule. an agreement overrides an award if they both contain clauses covering the same condition of employment and are contradictory. 

The following tables provide an overview of the industrial instruments applicable to Department employees.

Occupational group Award* General Agreement*
Teachers, school administrators, education officers, school psychologists, swimming instructors Teachers (Public Sector Primary and Secondary Education) Award 1993 The School Education Act Employees’ (Teachers and Administrators) General Agreement 2021

 

Occupational group Award* General Agreement*
Education assistants, including Aboriginal and Islander education officers

Teachers’ Aides’ Award 1979  

Miscellaneous Government Conditions and Allowances Award 1992

Education Assistants' (Government) General Agreement 2023

Home economics assistants

Cleaners and Caretakers (Government) Award 1975

Miscellaneous Government Conditions and Allowances Award 1992

Education Assistants' (Government) General Agreement 2023 (wages only)

Government Services (Miscellaneous) General Agreement 2023 (conditions only)

Cleaners (other than agricultural colleges)

Cleaners and Caretakers (Government) Award 1975

Miscellaneous Government Conditions and Allowances Award 1992

Government Services (Miscellaneous) General Agreement 2023

Gardeners (other than agricultural colleges and residential colleges)

Gardeners (Government) Award 1986  

Miscellaneous Government Conditions and Allowances Award 1992

Government Services (Miscellaneous) General Agreement 2023
Kitchen staff, laundry staff and cleaners in agricultural colleges State Research Stations, Agricultural Schools and College Workers Award 1971

Australian Workers' Union (Western Australian Public Sector) General Agreement 2022

Gardeners in student residential colleges

Auxiliary Staff Residential Colleges (Government) Award 2021

Miscellaneous Government Conditions and Allowances Award 1992
Government Services (Miscellaneous) General Agreement 2023
Kitchenhands, cleaners and laundryhands in student residential colleges

Auxiliary Staff Residential Colleges (Government) Award 2021

Miscellaneous Government Conditions and Allowances Award 1992
Government Services (Miscellaneous) General Agreement 2023
Cooks (camp schools)

Catering Employees and Tea Attendants (Government) Award 1982

Miscellaneous Government Conditions and Allowances Award 1992

Government Services (Miscellaneous) General Agreement 2023

All wages employees have an entitlement to district allowance pursuant to the District Allowance (Government Wages Employees) General Agreement 2010

Occupational group Award* General Agreement*
School support officers (for example, managers corporate services, school officers, laboratory technicians, library officers) Department of Education (School Support Officers) Award Department of Education (School Support Officers) CSA Agreement 2022
Public service officers (for example, central and regional office staff and managers corporate services) Public Service Award 1992 Public Sector CSA General Agreement 2022
Government officers (residential supervisors – agricultural colleges) Government Officers Salaries, Allowances and Conditions Award 1989

Public Sector CSA General Agreement 2022

Government Schools (Agricultural Schools and Colleges) Residential Supervisors’ Agreement 2009
Government officers (technical officers- agricultural instruction) Government Officers Salaries, Allowances and Conditions Award 1989

Public Sector CSA General Agreement 2022

Technical Officer – Agricultural Instruction Staff Agreement 1997

Clerical/administrative staff in student residential colleges

(formerly Country High School Hostels)
Government Officers Salaries, Allowances and Conditions Award 1989

Public Sector CSA General Agreement 2022

Country High Schools Hostels Authority Administration Officers Agency Specific Agreement 2007

Supervisory staff and college managers in student residential colleges

(formerly Country High School Hostels)
Department of Education (Residential College Supervisors) Award 2005

Department of Education (Residential College Supervisors) CSA Agreement 2021

All salaried employees have an entitlement to district allowance pursuant to the District Allowance (Government Officers) General Agreement 2010.

* All Awards and Agreements can be found on the website of the Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission (WAIRC)

Find out more about casual employment and entitlements under the Long Service Leave Act 1958.