Changes to pay and classifications in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Award
Published 23 December 2025
Learn about changes to classifications and minimum pay rates for some employees in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Award.
On this page:
- What’s changing
- Changes to classifications
- Pay rate increases
- What you can do now
- Keep up to date
- More information
What’s changing
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Award is being updated as part of the Fair Work Commission’s (the Commission) Gender-based undervaluation – priority awards review. The Commission is the national workplace relations tribunal.
For dental assistants, dental therapists and oral health therapists, the changes include:
Changes to the classification structures take effect from the employee’s first full pay period starting on or after 1 January 2026.
Pay rate increases will take effect from the first full pay period starting on or after:
- 1 January 2026
- 1 January 2027, and
- 1 January 2028 (this third stage is only for some classifications).
There are also changes to the knowledge and cultural skills requirements for Generalist Health Workers (Grade 3) and Advanced Health Workers – Care (Grade 4).
Changes to classifications
From 1 January 2026, there are new classification structures for:
These changes may affect the minimum pay rates for employees under these classifications. Read more at Pay rate increases.
A new Schedule H—Classification Translation Arrangements sets out the new classification level for employees employed as a dental assistant or dental therapist on or before 31 December 2025.
Access the full table of translations in the Commission’s determination.
Tip: What’s a determination
A determination (or final determination) is a formal ruling by the Commission that sets out what has to happen, by law, after a decision is made.
Dental assistants
From 1 January 2026, dental assistant classifications are incorporated into the Aboriginal Health Worker classification structure. This means the classification structure for dental assistants in Schedule A.4 is being removed.
Dental assistants will be classified at Grades 2, 3 and 4. Classification at each grade is based on the qualification level and experience of each employee.
For information on the qualification and experience required for each grade, read the determination.
Dental therapists and oral health therapists
From 1 January 2026, there’s a new classification structure for dental therapists and oral health therapists.
There are 4 grades for dental therapists and oral health therapists under the new classification structure. Classification at each grade and progression is based on the experience the employee has in the profession.
Access the full table of classifications in the determination.
Other changes to classification definitions
The definitions for some classifications in Schedule A are being updated to include knowledge and cultural skills levels.
From 1 January 2026:
- it’s desirable for Generalist Health Workers (Grade 3) to have level 1 Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander knowledge and cultural skills
- Advanced Health Workers – Care (Grade 4) must have level 3 Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander knowledge and cultural skills.
This is because the Commission determined that these knowledge and cultural skills levels were unintentionally left out during a previous restructure of the classifications.
Pay rate increases
Minimum pay rates are increasing for dental assistants, dental therapists and oral therapists under the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Award.
The first increase applies from the employee’s first full pay period starting on or after 1 January 2026. These rates are available in the Commission’s determination and correction determination.
The full amount of the increase an employee gets will:
- depend on their classification
- be applied in either 2 or 3 stages.
The second and third stages will apply from:
- 1 January 2027, and
- 1 January 2028 (for some classifications).
We will have more information on the 2027 and 2028 increases closer to the time. To be notified, subscribe to our email updates.
Dental Therapist Grade 2 Level 5 under the old classification structure
A Dental Therapist Grade 2 Level 5 under the old classification structure becomes a Dental/Oral Health Therapist Grade 4 under the new classification structure.
If an employee who was previously a Dental Therapist Grade 2 Level 5 was being paid a higher minimum pay rate on 31 December 2025, that rate will continue to apply. This is set out in the new Schedule H, which is available in the determination.
What you can do now
You can calculate pay rates that apply from 1 January 2026 in our Pay and Conditions Tool.
To get the new rates, select ‘1 January 2026’ as the calculation date and the relevant new classification when using the tool.
You can also download the updated pay guide from our Pay guides page.
Keep up to date
To stay up to date and be notified with updates that are relevant to you, subscribe to our email updates. It only takes a few moments to sign up and will help you stay in the loop with changes to workplace laws.
You can also follow us on social media for other announcements and reminders.
