The Pastoral Award 2020 covers employees working in the pastoral industry across a range of roles and farming operations. This article explains how PaySauce supports the Pastoral Award and how to configure it for your employees.
Paying under the Pastoral Award 2020 (MA000035)
The Pastoral Award 2020 covers employees working in the pastoral industry across a range of roles and farming operations. This article explains how PaySauce supports the Pastoral Award and how to configure it for your employees.
What PaySauce currently supports
PaySauce supports the dairy sector of the Pastoral Award 2020. This includes preset pay rates for the Farm Hand and Livestock Hand classification levels, along with a number of common allowances.
⚠️ PaySauce does not currently automatically support Shearers, Woolpressers, Crutchers, or any other roles paid under piecework arrangements.
It is your responsibility to review all employee setup and payments to ensure they are award compliant. If you are unsure whether PaySauce supports your specific employees, check the Pastoral Award 2020 on the Fair Work website before proceeding.
Classification levels
The Pastoral Award sets out defined classification levels for Farm Hands and Livestock Hands. Levels are based on a combination of industry experience and skills, and employees move up as they meet the relevant criteria.
PaySauce does not automatically increase classification levels. If an employee progresses to a higher level, you will need to update this manually.
To update an employee's classification level:
Select the employee.
Go to the Award Details tab.
Select the new level from the Classification dropdown.
Select Update.
Note: Even if an employee is salaried or paid above award, it is worth keeping their classification level current. PaySauce uses this information when running the Award Comparison Test to check that their pay meets the minimum award rate.
Sunday overtime
Under the Pastoral Award, Sunday work is not automatically treated as overtime. Hours on a Sunday are paid at the ordinary rate unless the employee has already exceeded 152 hours in a consecutive four-week period. Overtime may also apply after 38 hours in a week or 76 hours in a fortnight, depending on the employment arrangement.
Once the overtime threshold is crossed, Sunday hours attract penalty rates based on the type of work:
Feeding or watering stock: 150%
All other work: 200%
PaySauce defaults to 150% for Sunday overtime. To apply the 200% rate:
Open the employee's timesheet.
Enter the total Sunday hours worked.
Select Not feeding and watering stock from the Detail dropdown.
Save the timesheet.
Allowances
Leading Hand Allowance
The Leading Hand Allowance applies to any employee who supervises two or more other employees. It is an all-purpose allowance, meaning it is included in overtime penalty calculations and paid during periods of leave.
To set up the Leading Hand Allowance:
Select the employee.
Go to the Award Details tab.
Select Pastoral Award under award selection.
Tick Leading Hand Allowance.
Enter the number of employees they supervise.
Select Update.
First Aid Allowance
The First Aid Allowance applies to employees who hold a first aid certificate and are required to use those skills as part of their role. Like the Leading Hand Allowance, it is an all-purpose allowance included in overtime calculations and paid during leave.
To set up the First Aid Allowance:
Select the employee.
Go to the Award Details tab.
Select Pastoral Award under award selection.
Tick First Aid Allowance.
Select Update.
Allowances and Individual Flexibility Arrangements (IFAs)
If an employee is on an Individual Flexibility Arrangement, neither the Leading Hand nor First Aid Allowance will be paid directly. However, PaySauce will still include these allowances when running the Award Comparison Test, to ensure their overall pay remains above the award minimum.
Junior pay rates
The Pastoral Award allows reduced pay rates for employees under 20, based on their age. The rates increase each year until the employee reaches 20, at which point the full adult rate applies.
Age | Rate |
Under 16 | 50% of adult rate |
16 | 60% |
17 | 70% |
18 | 80% |
19 | 90% |
20+ | 100% |
The reduced rate applies at the employee's classification level. PaySauce calculates this automatically — all you need to do is enter the employee's date of birth and set their classification level correctly.
Minimum shift lengths
All shifts under the Pastoral Award require a minimum payment of three hours, with one exception: Full-Time Secondary School Students who are also Dairy Operators have a minimum of two hours.
To set up a Full-Time Secondary School Student:
Select the employee.
Enter their date of birth on the Employee Details tab.
Go to the Award Details tab.
Select Pastoral Award under award selection.
Tick Dairy Operator.
Tick Full-Time Secondary Student.
Select Update.
Note: PaySauce will use the employee's date of birth and these settings to determine the correct minimum shift payment.
Common questions
Does PaySauce support the full Pastoral Award?
Does PaySauce support the full Pastoral Award?
Almost. PaySauce currently supports the dairy sector, covering Farm Hand and Livestock Hand classifications. Shearers, Woolpressers, Crutchers, and piecework employees are not supported at this time. To pay employees under these parts of the award, manual setup.interpretation will be required.
Will classification levels update automatically as employees gain experience?
Will classification levels update automatically as employees gain experience?
No. You will need to update the classification level manually when an employee progresses. PaySauce uses the classification level in pay calculations and for the Award Comparison Test, so keeping it current is important.
How do I know if my employees are being paid correctly under the award?
How do I know if my employees are being paid correctly under the award?
PaySauce runs an Award Comparison Test to check that salaries and flat-rate employees are being paid above the award minimum. Make sure each employee's classification level and allowances are correctly configured for this test to be accurate. You should also review Fair Work's guidance on the Pastoral Award 2020 to confirm your obligations.