Animal Care and Veterinary Services Award

This award combines 2 separate coverage streams, so the first question is not pay but industry fit. Private veterinary practices and animal care charities are both included, yet the award still expects a real assessment of duties and work environment where more than one award could operate.

• Decide first whether the business is a private veterinary surgery practice or a community based animal care charity.
• Use clause 4.8 where more than one award may touch the employer, because the work performed and work environment decide the best fit.
• Do not assume an animal related role belongs here if another industry award is more appropriate.

A careful classification process matters here because the award contains several streams with different skill descriptions. Employers should not jump from a broad title to a level. The safer approach is to identify the principal functions first and then select the matching Schedule A level in writing.

• Classify each employee under Schedule A and give written advice of the classification and any later change.
• Use the principal functions of the employment as the deciding factor.
• Keep in mind that Schedule A contains separate inspector, support, practice manager and veterinary surgeon structures.

Employment type needs to be set up cleanly from the start. Part time and casual arrangements are simple to state but easy to mishandle in practice, especially in clinics that use a mix of regular support staff and short notice casual help. Written clarity at engagement reduces that risk.

• Tell employees at engagement whether they are full time, part time or casual.
• Part time employees work less than 38 ordinary hours on a regular basis and receive pro rata conditions.
• Casual employees receive the award loading for ordinary hours and a minimum payment of 3 hours, unless the specific student exception applies.

The after school student exception is narrow and should be treated that way. It is not a general permission to roster short casual shifts whenever a clinic or charity prefers them. Employers should document why each condition is met before using the reduced minimum engagement.

• The shorter minimum engagement is only available in the exact circumstances listed in clause 11.5.
• If any element is missing, the ordinary 3 hour casual minimum remains.
• The pathway from casual work to ongoing work sits in the National Employment Standards.

Hours compliance differs across the workforce. The general workforce follows the average hours and span rules, while veterinary surgeons have additional rostering requirements that go to travel time, notice of rosters and time off. A mixed practice should therefore review rostering by staff stream, not as one block.

• Ordinary hours average 38 per week and the maximum ordinary shift length is 10 hours, not counting meal breaks.
• For day work, ordinary hours sit between 6.00 am and 9.00 pm Monday to Sunday unless changed by agreement with an individual employee.
• Veterinary surgeons have separate rules for required travel, roster publication and minimum days off expectations.

This award has several veterinary specific obligations that sit outside the ordinary pay and roster discussion. On call treatment, study leave, agreed professional development expenses and proof of insurance can all matter in a private practice. Those items should be checked alongside the classification and roster rules.

• The award has on call rules for non veterinary surgeon employees and separate on call rules for veterinary surgeons.
• Full time associates are entitled to paid study leave for each completed year of service, with part time associates receiving it on a pro rata basis.
• On request, the employer must provide associates with written proof of professional indemnity and public liability insurance cover.

The award is only part of the legal picture. Employers still need to separate award entitlements from National Employment Standards rights and from any enterprise coverage. That distinction is important for leave, casual changes and the threshold issue of whether the award applies at all.

• The National Employment Standards and this award operate together as minimum conditions.
• Enterprise covered employees may fall outside the award under clause 4.7.
• Casual status changes are dealt with through the National Employment Standards pathway.

PR799280, PR799398, PR799553

The current consolidated award incorporates these recent variation determinations. Use the consolidated wording when checking any affected clause, schedule, rate or allowance.

Affected: 15 - Minimum rates, 16 - Allowances, Schedule B - Summary of Hourly Rates of Pay, Schedule C - Summary of Monetary Allowances, Schedule D - Supported Wage System