MA000094CurrentRetail, hospitality and recreation
This award covers a wide range of gym, aquatic and coaching businesses. The usual trouble spots are off-site admin roles, broken shifts, casual engagement rules for instructors and getting the classification right when staff move beyond entry level supervision.
This award reaches more than gyms. It can apply across aquatic, coaching and recreational operations, but it does not automatically cover every worker connected with those businesses. Coverage still turns on the actual work and where it is performed.
The award contains classification levels that connect an employee's duties, skills and responsibility to a minimum rate. Common role descriptions include:
A familiar job title is only a starting point. Match the employee's real duties against the classification definitions and keep a written record of the level selected.
Coverage depends on both the activity and the setting. Off-site support roles and overlapping industries are the first filter.
Part-time engagements need real written structure. In fitness businesses, that matters because split shifts and class based rostering are common.
Casual rules are not uniform across all fitness roles. Payroll should distinguish general casual engagements from instructor and coaching exceptions.
Fitness businesses often rely on split classes and peak periods. The award allows that, but only within strict broken shift rules.
Notice, recordkeeping and break settings are as important as the span of hours itself, especially where classes change week to week.
Classification and allowances are closely linked in this award. A wrong level or a missed broken shift allowance can undermine an otherwise tidy pay run.
The safest way to check a current rate is to start with the employee's classification, employment type and working pattern, then use Fair Work's current pay guide or Pay and Conditions Tool. Rates can change after an Annual Wage Review or an award variation.
That can point to Level 2 rather than Level 1. The schedule says Level 1 includes swimming and water safety teaching as part of structured training or direct supervision, while Level 2 covers responsibility for providing part of that teaching without direct supervision.
The award allows a broken shift, but only within the clause 13.4 limits. If the shift is rostered as a broken shift, the broken shift and excess fares allowances under clause 17.2(b) should also be checked.
The award can cover the coaching activity, but not every admin task around it. If the employee's support role is performed outside the covered centres or coaching setting, the off-site admin exclusion needs to be checked.
The role may be engaged for the shorter casual minimum if it fits one of the listed instructor, trainer, coach or trainee practical work classifications. If not, the ordinary casual minimum still applies.
PR799280, PR799374, PR799529
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, 17 - Allowances, Schedule B - Summary of Hourly Rates of Pay, Schedule C - Summary of Monetary Allowances, Schedule D - Supported Wage System
Not necessarily. The award specifically says it does not cover an employee engaged to provide administrative or other operational support outside the listed fitness and recreation settings. Head office style support roles need a separate coverage check.
Sometimes. The usual casual minimum is 3 hours, but the award allows a 1 hour minimum for certain instructor, trainer, tennis coach and trainee practical work classifications.
Yes, if the employee is responsible for providing part of swimming and water safety teaching without direct supervision or otherwise meets the Level 2 triggers. The award draws that distinction expressly in Schedule A.
Yes. A rostered broken shift attracts both a broken shift allowance and an excess fares allowance under the allowance clause.
Yes. The award requires at least 7 days' notice of a change to rostered hours except in an emergency, so short notice changes need care.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Modern award coverage and classification depend on the facts. Check the current official award and get advice for your business before relying on this page.
Get practical legal help with award coverage, classifications, contracts and workplace changes. Fixed fees, no hourly rates.