The Animal Care and Veterinary Services Award 2020 (the Award) covers vets, practice managers, veterinary nurses, receptionists, animal attendants and assistants. We encourage you to become familiar with the contents of the Award, which can be
found here.
Rates of pay
The employer is required to provide a copy of the award in your workplace which is readily accessible either via a hard copy or electronic copy.
Under the Animal Care and Veterinary Services Award 2020, Veterinarians must be paid at least the following hourly and annual rates pay.
| Classification |
Minimum Hourly rate of pay |
Minimum annual rate of pay |
A.3.1 Level 1A (a) Level 1A is the commencement level for a graduate veterinary surgeon. The performance of normal duties (including those performed on-call) is subject to supervision by a more experienced veterinary surgeon. A Level 1A associate will progress to Level 1B no later than 6 months after commencement.
(b) For the purposes of clause A.3.1,supervision does not require the more experienced veterinary surgeon to be present at all times. It means that the Level 1 associate has access to guidance and assistance on normal tasks. This could be in person, or by telephone, or some other suitable arranged communication (e.g. advice prior to performing task and feedback after the task is completed).
|
$28.75 |
$56,815 |
A.3.2 Level 1B (a) A Level 1B associate still requires some supervision to perform normal duties. A competent Level 1B associate could expect to advance to Level 2 no later than 2 years after commencement.
(b) Advancement to Level 2 could be earlier depending on whether the associate has developed skills quickly enough to perform the required duties attached to Level 2.
(c) For the purposes of clause A.3.2,supervision does not require the more experienced veterinary surgeon to be present at all times. It means that the Level 1 associate has access to guidance and assistance on normal tasks. This could be in person, or by telephone, or some other suitable arranged communication (e.g. advice prior to performing task and feedback after the task is completed). |
$30.33 |
$59,941 |
| A.3.3 Level 2 The veterinary surgeon conducts professional work without detailed supervision but with guidance on unusual cases and/or procedures. |
$32.77 |
$64,760 |
| A.3.4 Level 3 The experienced veterinary surgeon conducts professional work including more difficult assignments requiring substantial professional experience and initiative. |
$36.01 |
$71,146 |
| A.3.5 Level 4 The senior veterinary surgeon conducts professional work involving considerable independence of approach. They are responsible, when tasked, for the supervision of other professional staff and other practice management tasks, such as involvement in the overall planning of the practice, involvement in the formulation and implementation of practice policy and protocols, and/or supervising a practice branch or specific unit or department within the practice. |
$40.67 |
$80,364 |
A veterinarian who is working as a casual is entitled to a 25% loading on the hourly rate.
There is no provision under the award for penalty rates to be paid for weekend work, overtime, or out of hours work, however penalties do apply for working on Public Holidays.
Hours of work
The ordinary hours of work are 38 hours per week which can be averaged over a longer period. The averaged hours must not exceed 152 hours in 28 days, or an average of 38 hours over the period of an agreed roster cycle, and a veterinarian should have at least 3 days off per fortnight. If 3 days off is not possible, they can be accumulated and taken in the next few weeks, however if this does not happen, they must be paid out at the normal rate of pay after 6 weeks.
Time taken for travel required in the performance of duties, contributes to hours of work.
Rosters should be provided at least 1 month in advance and rosters for annual leave and public holidays should be provided 2 months’ advance.
Allowances
On-call allowance is an additional
$47.61 for each period of on-call duty. A new period of such duty will be deemed to commence each 24 hours if continuous on-call duty is required. If recalled, the relevant hourly pay rate applies. By agreement the compensation method may be varied, however must not be less than the minimum that would have applied under the award.
If a veterinarian is required to wear a uniform, you are entitled to be provided with either a uniform or an allowance equivalent to the cost of the uniform. A laundry allowance of
$6.51 per week if you are responsible for laundering the uniform.
The employer must meet all reasonable expenses of travel where it is required in the performance of duties.
The employer is required to provide or reimburse for necessary communications equipment.
Leave
Personal (sick and carer’s) leave and annual leave accrues year on year. If a veterinarian works in a 24/7 clinic, for example an animal hospital, you may be entitled to an extra week of annual leave.
Even with the award rate of pay being low, the long hours which many veterinarians work make underpayments likely to occur. You are entitled to seek the payment of any underpayment and employers can face civil penalties for breaching awards by not paying what their employees are entitled to be paid.
If you would like to join the union fighting to improve the veterinary industry in Australia,
join here.
The employer is required to provide a copy of the award in your workplace which is readily accessible either via a hard copy or electronic copy.