Psychologist Award Rates

There are a number of awards under which Psychologists may be employed, in the various States and territories or federally. A link to the web location of the relevant awards are provided below. For each award we indicate the stated coverage of that award, that is, to which types of employees the award is applicable.

The APS has made strong efforts to identify and show all the major awards under which Psychologists are currently employed. However, there may be some other obscure awards not included here. The Awards do expire periodically, and the date of expiry for the relevant award should be checked. However, while the award may state a particular expiry date, it is still applicable until it has been reviewed and replaced.

Salary rates may have been increased by Enterprise Bargaining Agreements. These increases may not appear in the award.

For individual employees signing an Australian Workplace Agreement (AWA), the AWA displaces the relevant award (where one exists). The salary (and other renumeration components such as a leased car) and other terms and conditions of employment - save for those legislatively guaranteed (see "Recent IR changes") - are negotiated between the employee and the employer. They may be at, above or below the award standards.

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Accessing Awards

Federal Awards:

WageNet is an on-line service that allows access to information about wages and conditions of employment in Australia for all regions for work that is covered by federal awards and agreements. WageNet can be accessed at:

www.wagenet.gov.au/WageNet/HomePage/HomePage.asp

 

Current State/Territory Awards:

South Australia

For psychologists working in public services in South Australia (for example public hospitals, mental health services, disabilities services, corrections, and education) the relevant award is:

  • The SA Government (Public Sector and Salaried Employees) Salaries Interim Award 2004

This award can be accessed at:

 

Victoria

For psychologists working in public hospitals, public mental health or community health, the relevant award is:

  • Public Health Sector (Medical Scientists, Pharmacists and Psychologists) Victorian Clinical Genetics Services Certified Agreement 2005-2007

For psychologists working in Private Hospitals and Private Health Services, the relevant award is:

  • Health Services Union Of Australia (Victoria- Private Sector - Medical Scientists, Psychologists And Pharmacists) Award 2004

For psychologists employed in Disability Services, Department of Human Services, and as Guidance Officers and psychologists in the Education Department, the relevant award is:

  • State of Victoria and CPSU, the Community and Public Sector Union -Victorian Public Service Agreement 2006

Psychologists are covered under the Allied Health Adaptive Structure, an annexure to the award. (Note: This award has recently been extended to 2009.)

Organizations that are not subject to a federal award or a certified agreement are employed under:

  • Health and Community Services Industry Sector - Minimum Wage Order - Victoria 1997

Psychologists under this circumstance would be employed as Health Professionals.

All of the Victorian awards can be accessed at:

 

Tasmania

For psychologists working in public hospitals, mental health services and disabilities services in Tasmania, the relevant award is:

  • Community and Health Services (Public Sector) Award

This award can be accessed at:

 

Queensland

For psychologists working in public hospitals, mental health services, disability services, and children's health services, the relevant award is:

  • District Health Services Employees Award - State 2003

All award wage rates can be accessed from Queensland Health at:

 

Northern Territory

For all psychologists working in the public sector in the Northern Territory, the relevant award is:

  • Northern Territory Public Sector 2004 - 2007 Certified Agreement

This award can be accessed at:

 

New South Wales

For psychologists working in areas covered by the Health Services Act - e.g. public hospitals, area health services, corrections health services, the relevant award is:

  • Health and Community Employers Psychologists (State) Award

This award can be accessed at:

 

Australian Capital Territory

For psychologists working in public hospitals, mental health services, community health and disabilities services, the relevant award is:

  • ACT Health, Clerical, Technical, Professional, Health Service Officer's Certified Agreement 2004-2007

This award can be accessed at:

health.act.gov.au/c/health?a=da&did=3000000&pid=1089085297

 

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