Understanding Fair Work Australia: Your 2025 Employer Guide

GrevilleHR-Fair-Work-Guide-2025.pdf

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If you're an employer in Australia, you've probably heard the term "Fair Work" more times than you can count. But what does it actually mean for your business? And more importantly, are you meeting all your obligations?

Fair Work Australia refers to the national workplace relations system that governs employment in Australia. It's built on the Fair Work Act 2009 and administered by two key bodies: the Fair Work Commission (the tribunal) and the Fair Work Ombudsman (the regulator).

Whether you're running a small business, managing an aged care facility, or providing NDIS services, understanding Fair Work isn't optional—it's essential. Getting it wrong can mean back-pay claims, penalties, and reputational damage.

That's why we've created a comprehensive, plain-English guide to help you navigate your obligations with confidence.

What's Covered in Our Free Guide?

Our Understanding Fair Work in Australia: 2025 Employer Guide is a practical resource designed specifically for employers who want to stay compliant without wading through legal jargon.

The National Employment Standards (NES)

The NES provides 11 minimum entitlements that apply to all employees covered by the national system. These include:

•        Maximum weekly hours

•        Annual leave (4 weeks paid)

•        Personal/carer's leave (10 days paid)

•        Parental leave

•        Public holidays

•        Notice of termination and redundancy pay

•        The Fair Work Information Statement

Our guide breaks down each entitlement and explains what it means for your business in 2025—including the new casual conversion rules and superannuation requirements (now at 12%).

Modern Awards and Award Interpretation

Most employees are covered by a Modern Award that sets minimum pay rates, penalty rates, allowances, and conditions for their industry or occupation. There are over 120 modern awards in Australia, and determining which one applies to your employees isn't always straightforward.

Getting award coverage wrong is one of the most common causes of underpayment. Our guide explains how awards work and why award interpretation matters—especially if your business spans multiple industries.

Industry-Specific Guidance

We know that generic information only gets you so far. That's why our guide includes dedicated sections for:

Aged Care Providers

The aged care sector has experienced significant changes following the Fair Work Commission's Aged Care Work Value Case. From January 2025, there are new classification structures, pay rate changes, and additional increases coming in October 2025. If you employ workers under the Aged Care Award or Nurses Award, this section is essential reading.

NDIS and Disability Service Providers

The SCHADS Award (Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award) is one of the most complex awards in Australia. Our guide covers the common compliance challenges: minimum engagement periods, broken shifts, travel time, vehicle allowances, and client cancellation provisions.

Growing Businesses

As your team expands, so do your Fair Work obligations. We cover the challenges of scaling—from managing employees across multiple awards to understanding when an enterprise agreement might benefit your business.

2025 Legislative Changes

Fair Work law doesn't stand still. Our guide covers the recent changes every employer needs to know:

•        Right to Disconnect (effective August 2024 for large businesses, August 2025 for small businesses)

•        Wage Theft Criminalisation (effective January 2025)

•        Casual Employment Changes and the employee choice pathway

•        Fixed Term Contract restrictions

Practical Compliance Steps

We don't just explain the law—we tell you what to do about it. Our guide includes a practical checklist covering:

1.     How to identify which awards apply to your employees

2.     How to classify employees correctly

3.     Staying current with pay rates (updated 1 July each year)

4.     Record-keeping requirements

5.     Information statements you must provide

6.     When and how to review your compliance

Why We Created This Resource

At GrevilleHR, we work with employers every day who are trying to do the right thing but find themselves overwhelmed by the complexity of Australian employment law.

The Fair Work Ombudsman's website is comprehensive, but it's not always easy to find the specific information you need. And when you're running a business, you don't have time to piece together information from multiple sources.

Our guide brings everything together in one place, written in plain English, with a focus on practical application rather than legal theory.

Who Is This Guide For?

This guide is ideal for:

•        Business owners who want to understand their obligations without hiring a lawyer for every question

•        HR managers who need a quick reference for Fair Work requirements

•        Aged care providers navigating the 2025 Work Value Case changes

•        NDIS providers grappling with SCHADS Award complexity

•        Health care providers grappling with SCHADS Award complexity

•        Growing businesses scaling their HR practices

Download Your Free Copy

Ready to get clear on your Fair Work obligations?

This guide is free, no sign-up required.

Need More Help?

Sometimes you need more than a guide—you need expert advice tailored to your specific situation. That's where GrevilleHR can help.

We specialise in:

•        Award interpretation – ensuring you're paying correctly and meeting all your obligations

•        Enterprise agreement bargaining – from determining if an EA is right for you, through drafting, negotiation, and approval

•        Aged care HR – navigating the Work Value Case changes and ensuring compliance

•        NDIS provider support – making sense of the SCHADS Award and related obligations

•        HR for growing businesses – scaling your policies and practices as your team expands

Fair Work compliance doesn't have to be overwhelming. With the right support, you can focus on running your business while we handle the complexity.

to discuss how we can help.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Fair Work Australia?

Fair Work Australia is the umbrella term for Australia's national workplace relations system. It includes the Fair Work Commission (the national workplace tribunal), the Fair Work Ombudsman (the regulator and educator), and the laws they administer—primarily the Fair Work Act 2009.

What is the minimum wage in Australia in 2025?

From 1 July 2025, the national minimum wage is $24.94 per hour (or $948.06 per week for a 38-hour week). For casual employees, this is $31.18 per hour including the 25% casual loading. Most employees are also covered by a Modern Award which may set higher minimum rates.

What are the National Employment Standards?

The National Employment Standards (NES) are 11 minimum entitlements that apply to all employees covered by the national workplace relations system. They include maximum weekly hours, various types of leave, public holidays, notice of termination, redundancy pay, and the requirement to provide Fair Work Information Statements.

What happens if I underpay an employee?

Underpaying employees can result in back-pay orders, penalties (up to $93,900 per breach for companies under serious contravention provisions), and reputational damage. From January 2025, intentional wage underpayment can also result in criminal penalties.

How do I know which award applies to my employees?

Award coverage depends on both the industry your business operates in and the work your employees perform. The Fair Work Ombudsman's Find My Award tool can help, but coverage can be complex—especially when employees perform multiple duties or your business spans different industries. If you're unsure, seek professional advice.

Disclaimer: The information in this blog post and the accompanying guide is general in nature and current as at January 2025. It is not legal advice. Workplace law is complex and circumstances vary—you should seek professional advice for your specific situation. GrevilleHR can provide tailored guidance for your business.

Tags: Fair Work Australia, Fair Work Act, National Employment Standards, Modern Awards, employer obligations, minimum wage 2025, unfair dismissal, SCHADS Award, Aged Care Award, enterprise agreement, HR compliance