Choose the right stream before applying the award
cl 4.1-4.6, 45-48, 61-63, Schedule ACoverage is broad, but the internal structure matters just as much as the industry definition. The safest approach is to pick the stream first and only then apply the detailed rules.
- Start with the industry definition, then identify the correct stream inside the award before applying hours or pay rules.
- The award clearly covers performers and company dancers, musicians, striptease artists, and production and support staff, but each stream works differently.
- If there is no suitable classification in this award for the work and work environment, another award may be more appropriate.
Document weekly employment properly
cl 45.1-47.9On the production and support staff side of the award, engagement status and written work patterns are central compliance documents, not optional paperwork.
- Employees must be engaged as full-time, part-time or casual, and must be told the terms of engagement.
- For full-time and part-time employees, the agreed work pattern must be recorded in writing, including hours worked each day, days of the week, and actual starting and finishing times.
- For full-time and part-time employees, time worked beyond the agreed written pattern is overtime, and a shift cannot be longer than 10 hours.
Run weekly rosters to the stream-specific rules
cl 61.1-61.2The weekly employee rules are detailed and operational. Rosters, daily hours, days off and cleaner night work all need to be set deliberately.
- Weekly employees work 38 ordinary hours per week and may be rostered Monday to Sunday between 7.00 am and 12 midnight.
- A Production and Support Staff employee engaged specifically as a cleaner may be rostered between 12 midnight and 7.00 am and receives an additional 20% loading for that work.
- Weekly employees must work a minimum of 4 hours and a maximum of 12 hours in a day, in no more than 2 periods. Full-time employees get 2 rostered days off for every 7 days, consecutive wherever reasonably possible, and cyclic rostering requires majority agreement and a written record.
- For casual employees in this stream, ordinary hours are a minimum of 3 consecutive hours per day, and casual employees are not paid per performance.
Use performer-specific crediting rules for performers
cl 33.1(a)(i)-(vii)Performer time is measured by award crediting rules, not just by clock-on and clock-off records. Rehearsals, calls and performances all need separate treatment.
- For performers, ordinary hours are 38 in a week, except in the week immediately before opening night or the first public performance when the week may go up to 48 hours.
- Performer ordinary hours are worked between 9.00 am and 11.15 pm on no more than 6 days in a week, and not more than 8 hours in a day.
- The award credits minimum time for whole performances, shorter performances, dress rehearsals, rehearsals and extra sessions such as wardrobe and photo calls.
- Lay-off on transfer of a production from one theatre to another is limited to 3 weeks in a 26 week period, pro rata for shorter periods, unless there is mutual agreement.
Capture special attendances and allowances
cl 32.1-32.2, 60.2Live performance payroll often turns on special attendances and specialist duties that sit outside ordinary rostered hours.
- Allowances must be paid when the clause triggers are met and identified separately.
- Role-specific weekly allowances apply for nude or semi-nude work, Assistant Stage Manager duties and driver duties while on tour.
- A prospective employee attending before employment for wardrobe, fitting, publicity, public relations or still photography must be paid for the attendance with a 3 hour minimum and travel costs.
- Production employees can also trigger the recording or transmission allowance when a performance is recorded or transmitted during a performance, subject to the award exclusions.
Monitor meal breaks during production pressure
cl 62.1-62.3Busy production periods do not remove break obligations. Missed meal breaks create direct pay consequences under this award.
- Weekly employees have set meal break windows for lunch, dinner, supper and breakfast, although the span can be varied where specific work requirements make that necessary.
- If an employee works more than 5 continuous hours without a suitable meal break, the award requires payment for the period that should have been allowed as the meal break.
- Employees working during the 7 days before the opening of a stage production have special meal-break payment rules, and casual employees who work more than 4 hours are entitled to a minimum 30 minute meal break.
Review Production and Support Staff levels as duties grow
cl Schedule A.1.1, Schedule A.2.1Entry level production and support classifications are tightly limited. Level 1 is for induction and training, not for long-term staffing.
- Production and Support Staff Level 1 is a trainee level involving 6 weeks induction training for a full-time or part-time employee, or 228 hours induction training for a casual employee.
- An employee cannot be engaged at Level 1 for more than 3 months.
- Level 2 requires completion of the Level 1 induction training or equivalent experience and covers broader operational, equipment, administration and customer service work.