Dental Award ChangesTake Effect April 1st
The MA000027 Dental Industry Award is getting a major reclassification for dental assistants. New minimum rates, updated penalty structures, and stricter overtime rules. Is your practice ready?
Describe your employee in plain English — get their award level and minimum rate instantly.
What's changing on April 1st?
The Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020 (MA000027) is reclassifying dental assistants and updating minimum rates.
DA Classification Overhaul
Dental assistants reclassified under Support Services with their own transition pay table. New hires start at Level 3 ($27.79/hr). DAs with 1–4 years experience sit at Level 5 ($27.83/hr). Cert III or 4+ years experience moves to Level 6 ($29.24/hr).
Transition Period Ends 31 Dec 2026
The DA-specific rates are transitional. From 1 January 2027, dental assistants move to the general Support Services rates (a step up of $1–$2/hr depending on level). Plan your payroll for the jump.
Overtime Thresholds
Overtime kicks in after 38 hours/week or 10 hours/day. First 2 hours at 150%, then 200%. Casual overtime starts at 187.5%.
Penalty Rate Updates
Saturday: 150% (FT/PT) / 175% (casual). Public holidays: 250% (FT/PT) / 275% (casual). Outside span of hours: 115% / 140%.
Span of Hours — Dental
Weekdays 7:30am-9:00pm. Saturdays 8:00am-4:30pm. All Sunday hours attract penalty rates. Shifts outside these windows cost more.
New minimum hourly rates
Effective from 1 April 2026 under MA000027. These are minimums — your practice must pay at least these rates.
| Role | Level | Hourly | Casual |
|---|---|---|---|
| DA (new, < 12 months) | Level 3 | $27.79 | $34.74 |
| DA (1–4 years unqualified) | Level 5 | $27.83 | $34.79 |
| DA (Cert III or 4+ years) | Level 6 | $29.24 | $36.55 |
| DA (Cert IV) | Level 7 | $30.23 | $37.79 |
| Receptionist | Level 2 | $26.76 | $33.45 |
| Practice Manager | Level 6 | $30.64 | $38.30 |
Source: Fair Work Pay Guide MA000027, published 26 Feb 2026, effective 1 April 2026. Dental assistant rates are transitional (1 Apr → 31 Dec 2026); from 1 Jan 2027 DAs step up to the general Support Services rates. Casual rates include 25% loading.
RosterPro handles compliance so you don't have to
The award rates are already built into the system. Assign classification levels, build your roster, and let RosterPro calculate the rest.
Auto-Calculates Award Rates
Assign each staff member their MA000027 classification level. RosterPro applies the correct base rate, casual loading, and penalty multipliers automatically.
Flags Overtime Before It Happens
See real-time overtime warnings as you build the roster. Know exactly when a shift will push someone past the 38-hour weekly or 10-hour daily threshold.
Visa Compliance Built In
Automatic weekly hour tracking for visa-restricted staff. Never accidentally over-roster a working holiday or student visa holder.
Audit-Ready Reports
Generate compliance reports showing every shift, rate applied, and penalty calculated. If Fair Work comes knocking, you have the paperwork.
Break & Rest Enforcement
Meal breaks after 5 hours, 10-hour minimum rest between shifts, 3-hour casual minimums. RosterPro flags violations before you publish.
Public Holiday Awareness
Australian public holidays by state loaded automatically. Penalty rates applied correctly for every shift on a public holiday.
Why dental practices choose Roster Pro
Free for small teams
Up to 5 staff on the free tier. No credit card, no trial expiry. Upgrade only when you need more.
Built for dental
MA000027 rates baked in. DA classifications, hygienist levels, and practice manager roles — all mapped correctly.
Built by a practice owner
Not another generic HR platform. Built by someone who's dealt with award changes, Fair Work audits, and Sunday penalty headaches.
Watch: What you need to know
A quick overview of the dental award changes and how RosterPro keeps your practice compliant.
Don't get caught underpaying staff
Fair Work penalties for award non-compliance start at $19,800 per breach for individuals. Get your rates right from day one.