MA000108

Professional Diving Industry (Industrial) Award 2020

 

This Fair Work Commission consolidated modern award incorporates all amendments up to and including 27 August 2024 (PR777342 and PR778081).

Clause(s) affected by the most recent variation(s):

2—Definitions

6A—Employee right to disconnect

10—Casual employees

22—Dispute resolution

 

Table of Contents

[Varied by PR747462, PR750525, PR774837, PR778081]

SECTION A — GENERAL. 4

Part 1— Application and Operation of this Award. 4

1. Title and commencement 4

2. Definitions. 4

3. The National Employment Standards and this award. 6

4. Coverage. 7

5. Individual flexibility arrangements. 8

6. Requests for flexible working arrangements. 10

6A. Employee right to disconnect 10

7. Facilitative provisions. 11

Part 2— Types of Employment and Classifications. 11

8. Types of employment 11

9. Full-time employees. 11

10. Casual employees. 12

11. Classifications. 13

Part 3— Wage related matters. 13

12. Accident pay. 13

13. Superannuation. 14

Part 4— Leave and Public Holidays. 16

14. Annual leave. 16

15. Personal/carer’s leave and compassionate leave. 18

16. Parental leave and related entitlements. 19

17. Community service leave. 19

18. Family and domestic violence leave. 19

19. Public holidays. 19

Part 5— Workplace Delegates, Consultation and Dispute Resolution. 20

19A. Workplace delegates’ rights. 20

20. Consultation about major workplace change. 23

21. Consultation about changes to rosters or hours of work. 24

22. Dispute resolution. 25

Part 6— Termination of Employment and Redundancy. 26

23. Termination of employment 26

24. Redundancy. 27

SECTION B—INSHORE DIVERS. 30

Part 7— Hours of Work. 30

25. Ordinary hours of work and rostering. 30

26. Breaks. 30

Part 8— Wages and Allowances. 31

27. Minimum rates. 31

28. Payment of wages. 31

29. Allowances. 33

Part 9— Overtime. 37

30. Overtime. 37

SECTION C—OFFSHORE DIVERS. 40

Part 10— Hours of Work. 40

31. Ordinary hours of work and rostering. 40

Part 11— Wages and Allowances. 43

32. Minimum rates. 43

33. Payment of wages. 45

34. Allowances. 46

Schedule A —Classification Definitions. 52

Schedule B —Summary of Rates of Pay. 54

Schedule C —Summary of Monetary Allowances. 58

Schedule D —Agreement for Time Off Instead of Payment for Overtime. 64

Schedule E —Agreement to Take Annual Leave in Advance. 65

Schedule F —Agreement to Cash Out Annual Leave. 67


SECTION A — GENERAL

Part 1—Application and Operation of this Award

1.                      Title and commencement

1.1                   This award is the Professional Diving Industry (Industrial) Award 2020.

1.2                   This modern award commenced operation on 1 January 2010. The terms of the award have been varied since that date.

1.3                   A variation to this award does not affect any right, privilege, obligation or liability that a person acquired, accrued or incurred under the award as it existed prior to that variation.

2.                      Definitions

[Varied by PR723956, PR733894, PR774837, PR777342]

In this award, unless the contrary intention appears:

Act means the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth).

all purposes means the payment will be included in the rate of pay of an employee who is entitled to the loading, when calculating any penalties, loadings or payment while they are on annual leave.

atmospheric diving systems (ADS) means a manned diving system such as OMB, ARMS, MOB, JIM, WASP and similar systems which allow an operator to work underwater without being subjected to greater than atmospheric pressure.

[Definition of casual employee inserted by PR733894 from 27Sep21; varied by PR777342 from 27Aug24]

casual employee has the meaning given by section 15A of the Act.

NOTE: Section 15A of the Act was amended with effect from 26 August 2024. Under clause 102(3) of Schedule 1 to the Act, an existing employee who was a casual employee of an employer under section 15A as it was immediately before that date is taken to be a casual employee of the employer for the purposes of section 15A after that date.

[Definition of casual hourly rate varied by PR723956 ppc 20Nov20]

casual hourly rate means the hourly rate for a casual employee for the employee’s classification specified in clause 32—Minimum rates, inclusive of casual loading, which is payable for all purposes.

defined benefit member has the meaning given by the Superannuation Guarantee (Administration) Act 1992 (Cth).

designated assembly point means the point from which the employer provides transport to the designated point of embarkation.

designated point of embarkation means the point from which transport to the offshore location is provided.

distant work means work in which the distances, or the travelling facilities to and from such places of work, make it reasonably necessary that employees will live and sleep at some place other than their usual place of residence at the time of commencing such work. Provided that if employees, whilst employed on distant work, change their usual place of residence, such new place of residence or any further change thereof (if made whilst employed on distant work) will be their usual place of residence for determination of whether the work is distant work.

employee means national system employee within the meaning of the Act.

[Definition of employee organisation inserted by PR774837 from 01Jul24]

employee organisation has the meaning given by section 12 of Act.

employer means national system employer within the meaning of the Act.

[Definition of enterprise inserted by PR774837 from 01Jul24]

enterprise has the meaning given by section 12 of the Act.

exempt public sector superannuation scheme has the meaning given by the Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993 (Cth).

inshore divers means employees qualified as ADS divers (parts 1, 2, 3 trained to the appropriate level of AS 2815.1, 2815.2, 2815.3) who undertake diving operations in coastal or inland waters under the jurisdiction of Australian State or Territory legislation and in keeping with the provisions of the operational standard AS/NZS 2299.1:2007.

MySuper product has the meaning given by the Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993 (Cth).

NES means the National Employment Standards as contained in sections 59 to 131 of the Act.

offshore divers means employees qualified as ADS divers (parts 3, 4 trained to the appropriate level of AS 2815.3 or 2815.4) who undertake an offshore petroleum diving operation conducted outside the State or Territory boundaries but within the jurisdiction of the Commonwealth.

offshore exploration and development diving means and includes all diving from oil drilling rigs, hydrocarbons exploration vessels or platforms and diving in or in connection with the construction and maintenance of platforms and associated submarine pipelines.

on-hire means the on-hire of an employee by their employer to a client, where such employee works under the general guidance and instruction of the client or a representative of the client.

professional industrial diving industry has the meaning given in clause 4.2.

saturation techniques means procedures in accordance with which a diver is continuously subjected to an ambient pressure greater than atmospheric pressure so that the body tissues and blood become saturated with the inert element of the breathing mixture.

[Definition of small business employer inserted by PR774837 from 01Jul24]

small business employer has the meaning given by section 23 of the Act.

standard rate means the minimum weekly rate for an inshore or offshore Diver, as the case may be, in clauses 27—Minimum rates or 32—Minimum rates.

[Definition of workplace delegate inserted by PR774837 from 01Jul24]

workplace delegate has the meaning given by section 350C(1) of the Act.

3.                      The National Employment Standards and this award

3.1                   The National Employment Standards (NES) and this award contain the minimum conditions of employment for employees covered by this award.

3.2                   Where this award refers to a condition of employment provided for in the NES, the NES definition applies.

3.3                   The employer must ensure that copies of this award and the NES are available to all employees to whom they apply, either on a notice board which is conveniently located at or near the workplace or through accessible electronic means.

4.                      Coverage

4.1                   This industry award covers employers throughout Australia in the professional industrial diving industry and their employees in the classifications listed in Schedule A—Classification Definitions to the exclusion of any other modern award.

4.2                   In this award, the professional industrial diving industry means the provision of underwater services to industry and includes offshore exploration and development diving and related shipboard services.

4.3                   In clause 4.1, Australia means all areas within the Commonwealth of Australia or within the adjacent areas as defined in the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Acts (State or Federal) and/or the Petroleum (Submerged Lands) Acts (State) and/or such areas that fall within the territorial jurisdiction of the Commonwealth of Australia.

4.4                   The award does not cover employers and employees covered by the classifications listed in the Professional Diving Industry (Recreational) Award 2020.

4.5                   This award covers any employer which supplies labour on an on-hire basis in the professional industrial diving industry in respect of on-hire employees in classifications covered by this award, and those on-hire employees, while engaged in the performance of work for a business in that industry. Clause 4.5 operates subject to the exclusions from coverage in this award.

4.6                   This award does not cover:

(a)          employees excluded from award coverage by the Act;

(b)         employees who are covered by a modern enterprise award or an enterprise instrument (within the meaning of the Fair Work (Transitional Provisions and Consequential Amendments) Act 2009 (Cth)), or employers in relation to those employees; or

(c)          employees who are covered by a State reference public sector modern award or a State reference public sector transitional award (within the meaning of the Fair Work (Transitional Provisions and Consequential Amendments) Act 2009 (Cth)), or employers in relation to those employees.

4.7                   Where an employer is covered by more than one award, an employee of that employer is covered by the award classification which is most appropriate to the work performed by the employee and to the environment in which the employee normally performs the work.

NOTE: Where there is no classification for a particular employee in this award it is possible that the employer and that employee are covered by an award with occupational coverage.

5.                      Individual flexibility arrangements

5.1                   Despite anything else in this award, an employer and an individual employee may agree to vary the application of the terms of this award relating to any of the following in order to meet the genuine needs of both the employee and the employer:

(a)          arrangements for when work is performed; or

(b)         overtime rates; or

(c)          penalty rates; or

(d)         allowances; or

(e)          annual leave loading.

5.2                   An agreement must be one that is genuinely made by the employer and the individual employee without coercion or duress.

5.3                   An agreement may only be made after the individual employee has commenced employment with the employer.

5.4                   An employer who wishes to initiate the making of an agreement must:

(a)          give the employee a written proposal; and

(b)         if the employer is aware that the employee has, or reasonably should be aware that the employee may have, limited understanding of written English, take reasonable steps (including providing a translation in an appropriate language) to ensure that the employee understands the proposal.

5.5                   An agreement must result in the employee being better off overall at the time the agreement is made than if the agreement had not been made.

5.6                   An agreement must do all of the following:

(a)          state the names of the employer and the employee; and

(b)         identify the award term, or award terms, the application of which is to be varied; and

(c)          set out how the application of the award term, or each award term, is varied; and

(d)         set out how the agreement results in the employee being better off overall at the time the agreement is made than if the agreement had not been made; and

(e)          state the date the agreement is to start.

5.7                   An agreement must be:

(a)          in writing; and

(b)         signed by the employer and the employee and, if the employee is under 18 years of age, by the employee’s parent or guardian.

5.8                   Except as provided in clause 5.7(b), an agreement must not require the approval or consent of a person other than the employer and the employee.

5.9                   The employer must keep the agreement as a time and wages record and give a copy to the employee.

5.10               The employer and the employee must genuinely agree, without duress or coercion to any variation of an award provided for by an agreement.

5.11               An agreement may be terminated:

(a)          at any time, by written agreement between the employer and the employee; or

(b)         by the employer or employee giving 13 weeks’ written notice to the other party (reduced to 4 weeks if the agreement was entered into before the first full pay period starting on or after 4 December 2013).

NOTE: If an employer and employee agree to an arrangement that purports to be an individual flexibility arrangement under this award term and the arrangement does not meet a requirement set out in section 144 then the employee or the employer may terminate the arrangement by giving written notice of not more than 28 days (see section 145 of the Act).

5.12               An agreement terminated as mentioned in clause 5.11(b) ceases to have effect at the end of the period of notice required under that clause.

5.13               The right to make an agreement under clause 5 is additional to, and does not affect, any other term of this award that provides for an agreement between an employer and an individual employee.

6.                      Requests for flexible working arrangements

[6 substituted by PR763315 ppc 01Aug23]

Requests for flexible working arrangements are provided for in the NES.

NOTE: Disputes about requests for flexible working arrangements may be dealt with under clause 22—Dispute resolution and/or under section 65B of the Act.

6A. Employee right to disconnect

[6A inserted by PR778081 from 26Aug24]

6A.1 Clause 6A provides for the exercise of an employee’s right to disconnect under section 333M of the Act.

NOTE:

(a) Section 333M provides that, unless it is unreasonable to do so, an employee may refuse to monitor, read or respond to contact, or attempted contact, from:

(1) their employer outside of the employee’s working hours,

(2) a third party if the contact or attempted contact relates to, their work and is outside of the employee's working hours.

(b) Section 333M(3) lists matters that must be taken into account in determining whether an employee’s refusal is unreasonable.

(c) Section 333M(5) provides that an employee’s refusal will be unreasonable if the contact or attempted contact is required under a law of the Commonwealth, a State or a Territory.

(d) Section 333N provides for the resolution of disputes about whether an employee’s refusal is unreasonable and about the operation of section 333M.

(e) The general protections in Part 3–1 of the Act prohibit an employer taking adverse action against an employee because of the employee’s right to disconnect under section 333M of the Act.

6A.2 Clause 6A applies from the following dates:

(a)          26 August 2024—for employers that are not small business employers on this date and their employees.

(b)         26 August 2025—for employers that are small business employers on 26 August 2024 and their employees.

6A.3 An employer must not directly or indirectly prevent an employee from exercising their right to disconnect under the Act.

6A.4 Clause 6A.3 does not prevent an employer from contacting, or attempting to contact, an employee outside of the employee’s working hours in circumstances including to notify them of a recall to work under clause 30.3.

7.                      Facilitative provisions

7.1                   A facilitative provision provides that the standard approach in an award provision may be departed from by agreement between an employer and an individual employee, or the majority of employees in the enterprise or part of the enterprise concerned.

7.2                   Facilitative provisions in this award are contained in the following clauses:

(a)          clause 14.5—Annual leave in advance

(b)         clause 14.6—Cashing out of annual leave

(c)          clause 25.1(e)—Ordinary hours of work and rostering (inshore divers);

(d)         clause 28.1—Payment of wages (inshore divers);

(e)          clause 30.4—Time off instead of payment for overtime (inshore divers);

(f)           clause 31.1(c)—Roster cycles (offshore divers); and

(g)          clause 33.1—Payment of wages (offshore divers).

Part 2—Types of Employment and Classifications

8.                      Types of employment

8.1                   Employees under this award will be employed in one of the following categories:

(a)          full-time; or

(b)         casual.

9.                      Full-time employees

9.1                   A full-time employee is engaged to work an average of 38 ordinary hours per week.

9.2                   Where employment is of less than 4 weeks’ duration, employees will be paid casual rates.

9.3                   Inshore divers must be employed by the week.

9.4                   For offshore divers, employment for the first 4 weeks will be on a weekly basis and thereafter will be on a calendar month basis.

10.                 Casual employees

[Varied by PR723956, PR733894, PR777342]

[10.1 deleted by PR733894 from 27Sep21]

[10.2 renumbered as 10.1 by PR733894 from 27Sep21]

10.1               A casual employee will be paid an hourly rate with a minimum payment of 8 hours except as provided for in clause 10.4.

10.2               Casual loading

[10.3 substituted by PR723956 ppc 20Nov20; 10.3 renumbered as 10.2 by PR733894 from 27Sep21]

(a)          For each ordinary hour worked, a casual employee must be paid:

(i)            the minimum hourly rate for the classification in which they are employed; and

(ii)          a loading of 25% of the minimum hourly rate.

(b)         The casual loading is paid instead of annual leave, paid personal/carer’s leave, notice of termination, redundancy benefits and the other entitlements of full-time or part-time employment.

(c)          The casual loading constitutes part of the casual employee’s all-purpose rate.

[New 10.4 inserted by PR723956 ppc 20Nov20; 10.4 renumbered as 10.3 by PR733894 from 27Sep21]

10.3               When a casual (inshore diver) employee works overtime, they must be paid the overtime rates in clause 30.2.

[10.4 renumbered as 10.5 by PR723956 ppc 20Nov20]

10.4               Where casual inshore divers are required to attend for work at the usual starting time and are not required to start work, they must be paid 4 hours’ pay plus fares and travelling time in accordance with clause 29.3(b).

[10.5 renumbered as 10.6 by PR723956 ppc 20Nov20, 10.6 renumbered as 10.5 by PR733894 from 27Sep21]

10.5               Casual employment is to be terminated by 4 hours’ notice on either side, or by the payment or forfeiture of 4 hours’ wages as the case may be.

10.6               Changes to casual employment status

[10.6 renumbered as 10.7 by PR723956; 10.7 renumbered as 10.6 and renamed and substituted by PR733894 from 27Sep21; renamed and substituted by PR777342 from 27Aug24]

A pathway for employees to change from casual employment to full-time or part-time employment is provided for in the NES. See sections 66A to 66MA of the Act.

NOTE: Disputes about changes to casual employment status may be dealt with under sections 66M and 66MA of the Act and/or under clause 22—Dispute resolution.

11.                 Classifications

The classification structure and definitions under this award are set out at Schedule AClassification Definitions.

Part 3—Wage related matters

12.                 Accident pay

12.1               For the purposes of clause 12, the following definitions will apply:

(a)          Accident pay means a weekly payment made to an employee by the employer that is the difference between the weekly amount of compensation paid to an employee pursuant to the applicable workers’ compensation legislation and the weekly amount that would have been received had the employee been on paid personal leave at the date of the injury (not including over award payments) provided the latter amount is greater than the former amount.

(b)         Injury will be given the same meaning and application as applying under the applicable workers’ compensation legislation covering the employer.

12.2               Entitlement to accident pay

The employer must pay accident pay where an employee suffers an injury and weekly payments of compensation are paid to the employee under the applicable workers’ compensation legislation for a maximum period of 52 weeks.

12.3               Calculation of the period

(a)          The 52 week period commences from the date of injury. In the event of more than one absence arising from one injury, such absences are to be cumulative in the assessment of the 52 week period.

(b)         The termination by the employer of the employee’s employment within the 52 week period will not affect the employee’s entitlement to accident pay.

(c)          For a period of less than one week, accident pay (as defined) will be calculated on a pro rata basis.

12.4               When not entitled to payment

An employee will not be entitled to any payment under clause 12 in respect of any period of paid annual leave or long service leave, or for any paid public holiday.

12.5               Return to work

If an employee entitled to accident pay under clause 12 returns to work on reduced hours or modified duties, the amount of accident pay due will be reduced by any amounts paid for the performance of such work.

12.6               Redemptions

In the event that an employee receives a lump sum payment in lieu of weekly payments under the applicable workers compensation legislation, the liability of the employer to pay accident pay as herein provided will cease from the date the employee receives that payment.

12.7               Damages independent of the Acts

Where the employee recovers damages from the employer or from a third party in respect of the said injury independently of the applicable workers compensation legislation, such employee will be liable to repay to the employer the amount of accident pay which the employer has paid under clause 12 and the employee will not be entitled to any further accident pay thereafter.

12.8               Casual employees

For a casual employee, the weekly payment referred to in clause 12.1(a) will be calculated using the employee’s average weekly ordinary hours with the employer over the previous 12 months or, if the employee has been employed for less than 12 months by the employer, the employee’s average weekly ordinary hours over the period of employment with the employer. The weekly payment will include casual loading but will not include over award payments.

13.                 Superannuation

[Varied by PR771383]

13.1               Superannuation legislation

[13.1 substituted by PR771383 ppc 09Apr24]

(a)          The NES and Superannuation legislation, including the Superannuation Guarantee (Administration) Act 1992 (Cth), the Superannuation Guarantee Charge Act 1992 (Cth), the Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993 (Cth) and the Superannuation (Resolution of Complaints) Act 1993 (Cth), deal with the superannuation rights and obligations of employers and employees.

(b)         The rights and obligations in clause 13 supplement those in superannuation legislation and the NES.

NOTE: Under superannuation legislation:

(a) Individual employees generally have the opportunity to choose their own superannuation fund.

(b) If a new employee does not choose a superannuation fund, the employer must ask the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) whether the employee is an existing member of a stapled superannuation fund and, if stapled fund details are provided by the ATO, make contributions to the stapled fund.

(c) If an employee does not choose a superannuation fund and does not have a stapled fund, the choice of superannuation fund requirements will be satisfied by contributions made to a superannuation fund nominated in the award covering the employee, provided the fund is able to accept contributions for the benefit of the employee.

(d) A fund may not be able to accept contributions for the benefit of an employee if the employee would be a new member of the fund’s MySuper product and the MySuper product is closed to new members because it has failed the performance tests of Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) for 2 consecutive years.

13.2               Employer contributions

An employer must make such superannuation contributions to a superannuation fund for the benefit of an employee as will avoid the employer being required to pay the superannuation guarantee charge under superannuation legislation with respect to that employee.

13.3               Voluntary employee contributions

(a)          Subject to the governing rules of the relevant superannuation fund, an employee may, in writing, authorise their employer to pay on behalf of the employee a specified amount from the post-taxation wages of the employee into the same superannuation fund as the employer makes the superannuation contributions provided for in clause 13.2.

(b)         An employee may adjust the amount the employee has authorised their employer to pay from the wages of the employee from the first of the month following the giving of three months’ written notice to their employer.

(c)          The employer must pay the amount authorised under clauses 13.3(a) or 13.3(b) no later than 28 days after the end of the month in which the deduction authorised under clauses 13.3(a) or 13.3(b) was made.

13.4               Superannuation fund

[13.4 varied by PR771383 ppc 09Apr24]

Unless, to comply with superannuation legislation, the employer is required to make the superannuation contributions provided for in clause 13.2 to another superannuation fund, the employer must make the superannuation contributions provided for in clause 13.2 and pay any amount authorised under clauses 13.3(a) or 13.3(b) to one of the following superannuation funds or its successor, provided that, in respect of new employees, the fund is able to accept new beneficiaries:

(a)          Maritime Super;

(b)         AMP Superannuation Savings Trust;

(c)          any superannuation fund to which the employer was making superannuation contributions for the benefit of its employees before 12 September 2008, provided the superannuation fund is an eligible choice fund and is a fund that offers a MySuper product or is an exempt public sector superannuation scheme; or

(d)         a superannuation fund or scheme which the employee is a defined benefit member of.

Part 4—Leave and Public Holidays

14.                 Annual leave

14.1               Annual leave is provided for in the NES.

14.2               Payment for annual leave

(a)          Before the start of an employee’s annual leave, the employer must pay the employee the amount the employee would have been paid for working ordinary hours during the period of annual leave.

(b)         Leave loading—inshore divers

In addition, the employer must pay inshore divers an annual leave loading of 17.5% calculated at the employee’s minimum hourly rate.

NOTE: Where an employee is receiving over-award payments such that the employee’s base rate of pay is higher than the rate specified under this award, the employee is entitled to receive the higher rate while on a period of paid annual leave (see sections 16 and 90 of the Act).

14.3               Leave for offshore divers is provided for in clause 31.1Ordinary hours and roster cycles.

14.4               Electronic funds transfer (EFT) payment of annual leave

Despite anything else in clause 14, an employee paid by electronic funds transfer (EFT) may be paid in accordance with their usual pay cycle while on paid annual leave.

14.5               Annual leave in advance

(a)          An employer and employee may agree in writing to the employee taking a period of paid annual leave before the employee has accrued an entitlement to the leave.

(b)         An agreement must:

(i)            state the amount of leave to be taken in advance and the date on which leave is to commence; and

(ii)          be signed by the employer and employee and, if the employee is under 18 years of age, by the employee’s parent or guardian.

NOTE: An example of the type of agreement required by clause 14.5 is set out at Schedule E—Agreement to Take Annual Leave in Advance. There is no requirement to use the form of agreement set out at Schedule E—Agreement to Take Annual Leave in Advance.

(c)          The employer must keep a copy of any agreement under clause 14.5 as an employee record.

(d)         If, on the termination of the employee’s employment, the employee has not accrued an entitlement to all of a period of paid annual leave already taken in accordance with an agreement under clause 14.5, the employer may deduct from any money due to the employee on termination an amount equal to the amount that was paid to the employee in respect of any part of the period of annual leave taken in advance to which an entitlement has not been accrued.

14.6               Cashing out of annual leave

(a)          Paid annual leave must not be cashed out except in accordance with an agreement under clause 14.6.

(b)         Each cashing out of a particular amount of paid annual leave must be the subject of a separate agreement under clause 14.6.

(c)          An employer and an employee may agree in writing to the cashing out of a particular amount of accrued paid annual leave by the employee.

(d)         An agreement under clause 14.6 must state:

(i)            the amount of leave to be cashed out and the payment to be made to the employee for it; and

(ii)          the date on which the payment is to be made.

(e)          An agreement under clause 14.6 must be signed by the employer and employee and, if the employee is under 18 years of age, by the employee’s parent or guardian.

(f)           The payment must not be less than the amount that would have been payable had the employee taken the leave at the time the payment is made.

(g)          An agreement must not result in the employee’s remaining accrued entitlement to paid annual leave being less than 4 weeks.

(h)         The maximum amount of accrued paid annual leave that may be cashed out in any period of 12 months is 2 weeks.

(i)            The employer must keep a copy of any agreement under clause 14.6 as an employee record.

NOTE 1: Under section 344 of the Act, an employer must not exert undue influence or undue pressure on an employee to make, or not make, an agreement under clause 14.6.

NOTE 2: Under section 345(1) of the Act, a person must not knowingly or recklessly make a false or misleading representation about the workplace rights of another person under clause 14.6.

NOTE 3: An example of the type of agreement required by clause 14.6 is set out at Schedule F—Agreement to Cash Out Annual Leave. There is no requirement to use the form of agreement set out at Schedule F—Agreement to Cash Out Annual Leave.

15.                 Personal/carer’s leave and compassionate leave

Personal/carer’s leave and compassionate leave are provided for in the NES.

16.                 Parental leave and related entitlements

[16 varied by PR763315 ppc 01Aug23]

Parental leave and related entitlements are provided for in the NES.

NOTE: Disputes about requests for extensions to unpaid parental leave may be dealt with under clause 22—Dispute resolution and/or under section 76B of the Act.

17.                 Community service leave

Community service leave is provided for in the NES.

18.                 Family and domestic violence leave

[18—Unpaid family and domestic violence leave renamed and substituted by PR750525 ppc 15Mar23]

Family and domestic violence leave is provided for in the NES.

NOTE 1: Information provided to employers concerning an employee’s experience of family and domestic violence is sensitive and if mishandled can have adverse consequences for the employee. Employers are subject to confidentiality requirements regarding the handling of this information under section 106C of the Act and requirements as to what can be reported on payslips pursuant to regulations 3.47 and 3.48 of the Fair Work Regulations 2009.

NOTE 2: Depending upon the circumstances, evidence that would satisfy a reasonable person of the employee’s need to take family and domestic violence leave may include a document issued by the police service, a court or family violence support service, or a statutory declaration.

19.                 Public holidays

[Varied by PR747462]

19.1               Public holidays are provided for in the NES.

19.2               An inshore diver required to work on a public holiday will be paid at the rate of 250% of the ordinary hourly rate, with a minimum payment for 4 hours’ work.

[19.3 substituted by PR747462 ppc 14Nov22]

19.3               Hours of work performed immediately before or after a part-day public holiday, that form part of one continuous shift, are counted as part of the minimum payment/engagement period in clause 19.2.

Part 5—Workplace Delegates, Consultation and Dispute Resolution

[Part 5—Consultation and Dispute Resolution renamed by PR774837 from 01Jul24]

19A. Workplace delegates’ rights

[19A inserted by PR774837 from 01Jul24]

19A.1 Clause 19A provides for the exercise of the rights of workplace delegates set out in section 350C of the Act.

NOTE: Under section 350C(4) of the Act, the employer is taken to have afforded a workplace delegate the rights mentioned in section 350C(3) if the employer has complied with clause 19A.

19A.2 In clause 19A:

(a)          employer means the employer of the workplace delegate;

(b)         delegate’s organisation means the employee organisation in accordance with the rules of which the workplace delegate was appointed or elected; and

(c)          eligible employees means members and persons eligible to be members of the delegate’s organisation who are employed by the employer in the enterprise.

19A.3 Before exercising entitlements under clause 19A, a workplace delegate must give the employer written notice of their appointment or election as a workplace delegate. If requested, the workplace delegate must provide the employer with evidence that would satisfy a reasonable person of their appointment or election.

19A.4 An employee who ceases to be a workplace delegate must give written notice to the employer within 14 days.

19A.5 Right of representation

A workplace delegate may represent the industrial interests of eligible employees who wish to be represented by the workplace delegate in matters including:

(a)          consultation about major workplace change;

(b)         consultation about changes to rosters or hours of work;

(c)          resolution of disputes;

(d)         disciplinary processes;

(e)          enterprise bargaining where the workplace delegate has been appointed as a bargaining representative under section 176 of the Act or is assisting the delegate’s organisation with enterprise bargaining; and

(f)           any process or procedure within an award, enterprise agreement or policy of the employer under which eligible employees are entitled to be represented and which concerns their industrial interests.

19A.6 Entitlement to reasonable communication

(a)          A workplace delegate may communicate with eligible employees for the purpose of representing their industrial interests under clause 19A.5. This includes discussing membership of the delegate’s organisation and representation with eligible employees.

(b)         A workplace delegate may communicate with eligible employees during working hours or work breaks, or before or after work.

19A.7 Entitlement to reasonable access to the workplace and workplace facilities

(a) The employer must provide a workplace delegate with access to or use of the following workplace facilities:

(i)            a room or area to hold discussions that is fit for purpose, private and accessible by the workplace delegate and eligible employees;

(ii)          a physical or electronic noticeboard;

(iii)        electronic means of communication ordinarily used in the workplace by the employer to communicate with eligible employees and by eligible employees to communicate with each other, including access to Wi-Fi;

(iv)        a lockable filing cabinet or other secure document storage area; and

(v)          office facilities and equipment including printers, scanners and photocopiers.

(b) The employer is not required to provide access to or use of a workplace facility under clause 19A.7(a) if:

(i)            the workplace does not have the facility;

(ii)          due to operational requirements, it is impractical to provide access to or use of the facility at the time or in the manner it is sought; or

(iii)        the employer does not have access to the facility at the enterprise and is unable to obtain access after taking reasonable steps.

19A.8 Entitlement to reasonable access to training

Unless the employer is a small business employer, the employer must provide a workplace delegate with access to up to 5 days of paid time during normal working hours for initial training and at least one day each subsequent year, to attend training related to representation of the industrial interests of eligible employees, subject to the following conditions:

(a)          In each year commencing 1 July, the employer is not required to provide access to paid time for training to more than one workplace delegate per 50 eligible employees.

(b)         The number of eligible employees will be determined on the day a delegate requests paid time to attend training, as the number of eligible employees who are:

(i)            full-time or part-time employees; or

(ii)          regular casual employees.

(c)          Payment for a day of paid time during normal working hours is payment of the amount the workplace delegate would have been paid for the hours the workplace delegate would have been rostered or required to work on that day if the delegate had not been absent from work to attend the training.

(d)         The workplace delegate must give the employer not less than 5 weeks’ notice (unless the employer and delegate agree to a shorter period of notice) of the dates, subject matter, the daily start and finish times of the training, and the name of the training provider.

(e)          If requested by the employer, the workplace delegate must provide the employer with an outline of the training content.

(f)           The employer must advise the workplace delegate not less than 2 weeks from the day on which the training is scheduled to commence, whether the workplace delegate’s access to paid time during normal working hours to attend the training has been approved. Such approval must not be unreasonably withheld.

(g)          The workplace delegate must, within 7 days after the day on which the training ends, provide the employer with evidence that would satisfy a reasonable person of their attendance at the training.

19A.9 Exercise of entitlements under clause 19A

(a)          A workplace delegate’s entitlements under clause 19A are subject to the conditions that the workplace delegate must, when exercising those entitlements:

(i)            comply with their duties and obligations as an employee;

(ii)          comply with the reasonable policies and procedures of the employer, including reasonable codes of conduct and requirements in relation to occupational health and safety and acceptable use of ICT resources;

(iii)        not hinder, obstruct or prevent the normal performance of work; and

(iv)        not hinder, obstruct or prevent eligible employees exercising their rights to freedom of association.

(b)         Clause 19A does not require the employer to provide a workplace delegate with access to electronic means of communication in a way that provides individual contact details for eligible employees.

(c)          Clause 19A does not require an eligible employee to be represented by a workplace delegate without the employee’s agreement.

NOTE: Under section 350A of the Act, the employer must not:

(a) unreasonably fail or refuse to deal with a workplace delegate; or

(b) knowingly or recklessly make a false or misleading representation to a workplace delegate; or

(c) unreasonably hinder, obstruct or prevent the exercise of the rights of a workplace delegate under the Act or clause 19A.

20.                 Consultation about major workplace change

20.1               If an employer makes a definite decision to make major changes in production, program, organisation, structure or technology that are likely to have significant effects on employees, the employer must:

(a)          give notice of the changes to all employees who may be affected by them and their representatives (if any); and

(b)         discuss with affected employees and their representatives (if any):

(i)            the introduction of the changes; and

(ii)          their likely effect on employees; and

(iii)        measures to avoid or reduce the adverse effects of the changes on employees; and

(c)          commence discussions as soon as practicable after a definite decision has been made.

20.2               For the purposes of the discussion under clause 20.1(b), the employer must give in writing to the affected employees and their representatives (if any) all relevant information about the changes including:

(a)          their nature; and

(b)         their expected effect on employees; and

(c)          any other matters likely to affect employees.

20.3               Clause 20.2 does not require an employer to disclose any confidential information if its disclosure would be contrary to the employer’s interests.

20.4               The employer must promptly consider any matters raised by the employees or their representatives about the changes in the course of the discussion under clause 20.1(b).

20.5               In clause 20 significant effects, on employees, includes any of the following:

(a)          termination of employment; or

(b)         major changes in the composition, operation or size of the employer’s workforce or in the skills required; or

(c)          loss of, or reduction in, job or promotion opportunities; or

(d)         loss of, or reduction in, job tenure; or

(e)          alteration of hours of work; or

(f)           the need for employees to be retrained or transferred to other work or locations; or

(g)          job restructuring.

20.6               Where this award makes provision for alteration of any of the matters defined at clause 20.5, such alteration is taken not to have significant effect.

21.                 Consultation about changes to rosters or hours of work

21.1               Clause 21 applies if an employer proposes to change the regular roster or ordinary hours of work of an employee, other than an employee whose working hours are irregular, sporadic or unpredictable.

21.2               The employer must consult with any employees affected by the proposed change and their representatives (if any).

21.3               For the purpose of the consultation, the employer must:

(a)          provide to the employees and representatives mentioned in clause 21.2 information about the proposed change (for example, information about the nature of the change and when it is to begin); and

(b)         invite the employees to give their views about the impact of the proposed change on them (including any impact on their family or caring responsibilities) and also invite their representative (if any) to give their views about that impact.

21.4               The employer must consider any views given under clause 21.3(b).

21.5               Clause 21 is to be read in conjunction with any other provisions of this award concerning the scheduling of work or the giving of notice.

22.                 Dispute resolution

[Varied by PR763315, PR777342, PR778081]

22.1               Clause 22 sets out the procedures to be followed if a dispute arises about a matter under this award or in relation to the NES.

22.2               The parties to the dispute must first try to resolve the dispute at the workplace through discussion between the employee or employees concerned and the relevant supervisor.

22.3               If the dispute is not resolved through discussion as mentioned in clause 22.2, the parties to the dispute must then try to resolve it in a timely manner at the workplace through discussion between the employee or employees concerned and more senior levels of management, as appropriate.

22.4               If the dispute is unable to be resolved at the workplace and all appropriate steps have been taken under clauses 22.2 and 22.3, a party to the dispute may refer it to the Fair Work Commission.

22.5               The parties may agree on the process to be followed by the Fair Work Commission in dealing with the dispute, including mediation, conciliation and consent arbitration.

22.6               If the dispute remains unresolved, the Fair Work Commission may use any method of dispute resolution that it is permitted by the Act to use and that it considers appropriate for resolving the dispute.

22.7               A party to the dispute may appoint a person, organisation or association to support and/or represent them in any discussion or process under clause 22.

22.8               While procedures are being followed under clause 22 in relation to a dispute:

(a)          work must continue in accordance with this award and the Act; and

(b)         an employee must not unreasonably fail to comply with any direction given by the employer about performing work, whether at the same or another workplace, that is safe and appropriate for the employee to perform.

22.9               Clause 22.8 is subject to any applicable work health and safety legislation.

[Note 1 and Note 2 inserted by PR763315; deleted by PR778081 from 26Aug24]

[Note inserted by PR778081 from 26Aug24; varied by PR777342 from 27Aug24]

NOTE: In addition to clause 22, the Act contains dispute resolution procedures as follows:

For a dispute about rights under the Act to

Section

Request flexible working arrangements

65B

Change casual employment status

66M

Request an extension to unpaid parental leave

76B

Exercise an employee’s right to disconnect

333N

   

Part 6—Termination of Employment and Redundancy

23.                 Termination of employment

NOTE: The NES sets out requirements for notice of termination by an employer. See sections 117 and 123 of the Act.

23.1               Notice of termination by an employee

(a)          Clause 23.1 applies to all employees except those identified in sections 123(1) and 123(3) of the Act.

(b)         An employee must give the employer notice of termination in accordance with Table 1—Period of notice of at least the period specified in column 2 according to the period of continuous service of the employee specified in column 1.

Table 1—Period of notice

Column 1

Employee’s period of continuous service with the employer at the end of the day the notice is given

Column 2

Period of notice

Not more than 1 year

1 week

More than 1 year but not more than 3 years

2 weeks

More than 3 years but not more than 5 years

3 weeks

More than 5 years

4 weeks

NOTE: The notice of termination required to be given by an employee is the same as that required of an employer except that the employee does not have to give additional notice based on the age of the employee.

(c)          In clause 23.1(b) continuous service has the same meaning as in section 117 of the Act.

(d)         If an employee who is at least 18 years old does not give the period of notice required under clause 23.1(b), then the employer may deduct from wages due to the employee under this award an amount that is no more than one week’s wages for the employee.

(e)          If the employer has agreed to a shorter period of notice than that required under clause 23.1(b), then no deduction can be made under clause 23.1(d).

(f)           Any deduction made under clause 23.1(d) must not be unreasonable in the circumstances.

23.2               Job search entitlement

(a)          Where an employer has given notice of termination to an employee, the employee must be allowed time off without loss of pay of up to one day for the purpose of seeking other employment.

(b)         The time off under clause 23.2 is to be taken at times that are convenient to the employee after consultation with the employer.

24.                 Redundancy

NOTE: Redundancy pay is provided for in the NES. See sections 119 to 123 of the Act.

24.1               Transfer to lower paid duties on redundancy

(a)          Clause 24.1 applies if, because of redundancy, an employee is transferred to new duties to which a lower ordinary rate of pay applies.

(b)         The employer may:

(i)            give the employee notice of the transfer of at least the same length as the employee would be entitled to under section 117 of the Act as if it were a notice of termination given by the employer; or

(ii)          transfer the employee to the new duties without giving notice of transfer or before the expiry of a notice of transfer, provided that the employer pays the employee as set out in clause 24.1(c).

(c)          If the employer acts as mentioned in clause 24.1(b)(ii), the employee is entitled to a payment of an amount equal to the difference between the ordinary rate of pay of the employee (inclusive of all-purpose allowances and penalty rates applicable to ordinary hours) for the hours of work the employee would have worked in the first role, and the ordinary rate of pay (also inclusive of all-purpose allowances and penalty rates applicable to ordinary hours) of the employee in the second role for the period for which notice was not given.

24.2               Employee leaving during redundancy notice period

(a)          An employee given notice of termination in circumstances of redundancy may terminate their employment during the minimum period of notice prescribed by section 117(3) of the Act.

(b)         The employee is entitled to receive the benefits and payments they would have received under clause 24 or under sections 119 to 123 of the Act had they remained in employment until the expiry of the notice.

(c)          However, the employee is not entitled to be paid for any part of the period of notice remaining after the employee ceased to be employed.

24.3               Job search entitlement

(a)          Where an employer has given notice of termination to an employee in circumstances of redundancy, the employee must be allowed time off without loss of pay of up to one day each week of the minimum period of notice prescribed by section 117(3) of the Act for the purpose of seeking other employment.

(b)         If an employee is allowed time off without loss of pay of more than one day under clause 24.3(a), the employee must, at the request of the employer, produce proof of attendance at an interview.

(c)          A statutory declaration is sufficient for the purpose of clause 24.3(b).

(d)         An employee who fails to produce proof when required under clause 24.3(b) is not entitled to be paid for the time off.

(e)          This entitlement applies instead of clause 23.2.


 

SECTION B—INSHORE DIVERS

Part 7—Hours of Work

25.                 Ordinary hours of work and rostering

25.1               Ordinary hours and roster cycles

(a)          Ordinary hours are worked between 6.00 am to 6.00 pm, Monday to Friday.

(b)         The ordinary hours of work for a full-time employee will not exceed 38 hours per week.

(c)          The ordinary hours of work for a casual employee will be in accordance with clause 10—Casual employees.

(d)         Work undertaken prior to the spread of hours provided by clause 25.1(a) for which overtime rates are payable will be deemed for the purposes of clause 25 to be part of the ordinary hours of work.

(e)          The spread of hours provided by clause 25.1(a) may be altered by up to one hour by mutual agreement between the employer and employees.

(f)           Where employees are not employed on diving operations during their ordinary hours, the employer may use their services on other work for any time remaining.

26.                 Breaks

An inshore diver is entitled to an unpaid meal break of a duration and at a time fixed by agreement, provided that no employee will work more than 3 hours without such a break.

Part 8—Wages and Allowances

27.                 Minimum rates

[Varied by PR718926, PR729369, PR740794, PR762217, PR773997]

[27.1 varied by PR718926, PR729369, PR740794, PR762217, PR773997 ppc 01Jul24]

27.1               An employer must pay inshore divers the following minimum wages for ordinary hours worked by the employee:

Employee classification

Minimum weekly rate

(full-time employee)

Minimum hourly rate

 

$

$

Diving Supervisor

1671.80

43.99

Hyperbaric Welder

1297.30

34.14

Diver

1240.10

32.63

Diver’s Attendant

1019.70

26.83

NOTE: See Schedule B—Summary of Rates of Pay for a summary of hourly rates of pay including overtime and penalty rates.

27.2               Higher duties

(a)          Where employees perform the duties of a higher paid classification for a day or part day they will be paid at the higher rate for that day and paid at the higher rate for an equivalent day in their off-duty period.

(b)         For the purposes of clause 27.2(a), a higher paid classification means a classification where the total salary and allowances payable are greater than the total salary and allowances payable at the employee’s current classification.

28.                 Payment of wages

NOTE: Regulations 3.33(3) and 3.46(1)(g) of Fair Work Regulations 2009 set out the requirements for pay records and the content of payslips including the requirement to separately identify any allowance paid.

28.1               Wages will be paid either weekly or fortnightly, unless otherwise agreed between the employer and the employee.

28.2               Wages will be paid by cash, bank cheque or electronic funds transfer (EFT).

28.3               Where an employee is paid by cash or cheque and the employee is kept waiting for their wages on pay day for more than 15 minutes after the usual time for ceasing work, the employee must be paid overtime rates after that 15 minutes for the duration spent waiting at the workplace.

28.4               Payment on termination of employment

(a)          The employer must pay an employee no later than 7 days after the day on which the employee’s employment terminates:

(i)            the employee’s wages under this award for any complete or incomplete pay period up to the end of the day of termination; and

(ii)          all other amounts that are due to the employee under this award and the NES.

(b)         The requirement to pay wages and other amounts under clause 28.4(a) is subject to further order of the Commission and the employer making deductions authorised by this award or the Act.

NOTE 1: Section 117(2) of the Act provides that an employer must not terminate an employee’s employment unless the employer has given the employee the required minimum period of notice or “has paid” to the employee payment instead of giving notice.

NOTE 2: Clause 28.4(b) allows the Commission to make an order delaying the requirement to make a payment under clause 28.4. For example, the Commission could make an order delaying the requirement to pay redundancy pay if an employer makes an application under section 120 of the Act for the Commission to reduce the amount of redundancy pay an employee is entitled to under the NES.

NOTE 3: State and Territory long service leave laws or long service leave entitlements under section 113 of the Act, may require an employer to pay an employee for accrued long service leave on the day on which the employee’s employment terminates or shortly after.

29.                 Allowances

[Varied by PR718926, PR719078, PR729369, PR729551, PR740794, PR740957, PR762217, PR762386, PR773997, PR774166]

NOTE: Regulations 3.33(3) and 3.46(1)(g) of Fair Work Regulations 2009 set out the requirements for pay records and the content of payslips including the requirement to separately identify any allowance paid.

29.1               Employers must pay to an employee the allowances the employee is entitled to under clause 29.

NOTE: See Schedule C—Summary of Monetary Allowances for a summary of monetary allowances and method of adjustment.

29.2               Over-award allowances

(a)          Diving allowance

[29.2(a) varied by PR718926, PR729369, PR740794, PR762217, PR773997 ppc 01Jul24]

A Diver will be paid a diving allowance of $5.33 per metre or $1.61 per foot of water or equivalent pressure. The allowance will be payable once in respect of the greatest depth or equivalent pressure incurred each day.

(i)            The allowance will:

·   only apply to dives made in excess of 50 feet or 15 metres of water or equivalent pressure or when decompression is necessary whichever will occur first; and

·   be calculated from the surface to the maximum depth or equivalent pressure attained during the dive.

(ii)          The allowance will not be paid to persons performing practice or training dives. Underwater services will not be performed for the employer during practice or training dives.

(iii)        Diving Supervisors will receive 20% of the average diving allowance paid to Divers under their control. Average diving allowance will be calculated daily by dividing the total diving allowance earned by divers whilst under the control of a Diving Supervisor by the number of divers who earned a diving allowance on that day.

(b)         Non-destructive testing allowance

[29.2(b) varied by PR718926, PR729369, PR740794, PR762217, PR773997 ppc 01Jul24]

Employees engaged in non-destructive testing of structures by the methods of magnetic particle testing, ultrasonic testing and radiography will be paid an allowance of $80.73 per day for each day or part day on which they are engaged in such duties.

(c)          Hyperbaric welding allowance

(i)            The Hyperbaric Welder rate as specified in clause 29.2(c)(ii) will apply from the date an employee is required to carry out such duties. The payment will cease when the employee is no longer required by the employer to carry out those duties.

[29.2(c)(ii) varied by PR718926, PR729369, PR740794, PR762217, PR773997 ppc 01Jul24]

(ii)          A Hyperbaric Welder will be entitled to a payment of $6.08 per linear millimetre for a successfully completed weld. For the purpose of clause 29.2(c), successfully completed means a weld which has been accepted by the client without the necessity for repair.

[29.2(c)(iii) varied by PR718926, PR729369, PR740794, PR762217, PR773997 ppc 01Jul24]

(iii)        Provided that instead of clause 29.2(c)(ii) a Hyperbaric Welder will be entitled to payment of $4.09 per linear millimetre for a weld which requires repair prior to being accepted by the client.

(iv)        The payments prescribed in clauses 29.2(c)(ii) and 29.2(c)(iii) will apply only to members of the nominated hyperbaric welding team who have been coded for the particular hyperbaric welding task.

(d)         Annual medical exam allowance

Employees who are subjected to greater than atmospheric pressure will be reimbursed the cost of an annual medical examination which will include, but not be limited to, the requirement set out in Appendix A of the Standards Association of Australia Underwater Air Breathing Operations Standard AS 2299. The provisions of clause 29.2(d) do not apply where the employer provides for the service.

29.3               Expense-related allowances

(a)          Meal allowance

[29.3(a)(i) varied by PR719078, PR729551, PR740957, PR762386, PR774166 ppc 01Jul24]

(i)            A meal allowance of $11.06 is payable to employees:

·   who are required to work overtime for more than 2 hours on any day after the usual finishing time; or

·   are notified that they will be required to work overtime the following day and such order is cancelled after they have left work on the day on which they were notified.

(ii)          The meal allowance is not payable when:

·   an employee is notified the previous day that their services are required; or

·   a hot meal is provided by the employer.

(b)         Fares and travelling time allowance

[29.3(b)(i) varied by PR729551, PR740957, PR762386, PR774166 ppc 01Jul24]

(i)            Employees who start and finish work within a 50 km radius of the General Post Office in the city or town in which the employer’s business address is situated will receive a fare allowance of $14.64 per day.

(ii)          Where employees start and finish work beyond the 50 km radius referred to in clause 29.3(b)(i) they will be reimbursed for the actual fares incurred and all time spent travelling beyond this radius will be paid at ordinary rates.

(c)          Distant work allowance

(i)            For the purpose of clause 29.3(c) distant work is work in which the distances, or the travelling facilities to and from places of work, make it reasonably necessary that employees will live and sleep at some place other than their usual place of residence at the time of starting work. Provided that if employees, whilst employed on distant work, change their usual place of residence, the new place of residence or any further change thereof (if made whilst employed on distant work) will be their usual place of residence for determination of whether the work is distant work.

(ii)          Employees engaged on distant work will be conveyed with equipment to and from work at their employer’s expense. Such conveyance will be made each time the employee is recalled and sent again to the place of work. Provided that return fares and travelling time need not be paid to employees who:

·   leave the employment of their own free will before the completion of the job or before being employed for 3 months, whichever happens first; or

·   are discharged for incompetence within one week of engagement; or

 are discharged for misconduct.

[29.3(c)(iii) varied by PR719078, PR729551, PR740957, PR762386 ppc 01Jul23]

(iii)        The rate of pay for time occupied in travelling to and from distant work will be ordinary rates, except on Sundays and public holidays when an employee will be paid 150% of the minimum hourly rate. Employees will also be paid an amount of $9.34 to cover the expenses, if any, of reaching home and of transporting their personal diving equipment.

(iv)        The maximum travelling time to be paid for will be 12 hours out of every 24 hours, or when a sleeping berth is provided by the employer for all night travel, 8 hours out of every 24 hours.

[29.3(c)(v) varied by PR719078, PR729551, PR740957, PR762386 ppc 01Jul23]

(v)          On distant work employees may be paid, by agreement with the employer, an allowance of $487.71 per week, or if agreed upon, a greater amount, in return for which employees will be responsible for securing their own accommodation and meals.

[29.3(c)(vi) varied by PR719078, PR729551, PR740957, PR762386 ppc 01Jul23]

(vi)        In the case of broken parts of the week occurring at the beginning or ending of the employment on a distant job the allowance will be $69.73 per day or one seventh of any other weekly amount agreed upon.

(vii)      The provisions of clauses 29.3(c)(v) and 29.3(c)(vi) do not apply if the employer provides reasonable board and lodging.

[29.3(c)(viii) varied by PR729551, PR740957, PR762386, PR774166 ppc 01Jul24]

(viii)    Employees who consent to use their own vehicle in the course of their employment will be paid an allowance of $0.98 per kilometre. This allowance is for the use of the vehicle by the employee for transporting the employee and the employee’s personal diving equipment.

(d)         Diving clothing and equipment allowance

Employees who supply their own wet suits and personal diving equipment including weightbelt and diving knife will be paid, in addition to the ordinary rate, an allowance of $7.08 per day on each day on which the equipment is used.

(e)          Protective clothing, footwear and equipment allowance

(i)            Employees will be reimbursed for the cost of all required industrial protective clothing, footwear and safety equipment other than that prescribed in clause 29.3(d). This provision does not apply if the clothing and the equipment is supplied by the employer.

(ii)          Casual employees may, instead of the provision of footwear by the employer, be paid an amount of $2.53 per day of employment for the purchase of approved safety footwear. This allowance will not be payable where safety footwear is not required to be worn.

Part 9—Overtime

30.                 Overtime

[Varied by PR723837, PR723956, PR763315]

30.1               Definition of overtime

For an inshore diver, overtime is any time worked:

[30.1(a) substituted by PR723837 ppc 09Nov20]

(a)          in excess of 7 hours and 36 minutes per day; or

(b)         outside the spread of hours in clause 25.1(a).

30.2               Overtime rates

[30.2 varied by PR723956 ppc 20Nov20]

Where an inshore diver works overtime the employer must pay to the employee the overtime rates as follows:

For overtime worked on

Overtime rate

% of minimum hourly rate

Casual overtime rate

% of the casual hourly rate1

Monday to Saturday—first 2 hours

150

150

Monday to Saturday—after 2 hours

200

200

Sunday—all day

200

200

Public holiday—all day

250

250

1 Casual hourly rate is defined in clause 2—Definitions and includes the casual loading which constitutes part of the casual employee’s all-purpose rate.

NOTE: See Schedule B—Summary of Rates of Pay for a summary of hourly rates of pay including overtime.

30.3               Call back

An employee recalled to work overtime after leaving the employer’s business premises (whether notified before or after leaving the premises) must be engaged and paid for a minimum of 4 hours’ work at the overtime rates even when the employee is not required to work for the full 4 hours.

30.4               Time off instead of payment for overtime

(a)          An employee and employer may agree in writing to the employee taking time off instead of being paid for a particular amount of overtime that has been worked by the employee.

(b)         Any amount of overtime that has been worked by an employee in a particular pay period and that is to be taken as time off instead of the employee being paid for it must be the subject of a separate agreement under clause 30.4.

(c)          An agreement must state each of the following:

(i)            the number of overtime hours to which it applies and when those hours were worked;

(ii)          that the employer and employee agree that the employee may take time off instead of being paid for the overtime;

(iii)        that, if the employee requests at any time, the employer must pay the employee, for overtime covered by the agreement but not taken as time off, at the overtime rate applicable to the overtime when worked;

(iv)        that any payment mentioned in clause 30.4(c)(iii) must be made in the next pay period following the request.

NOTE: An example of the type of agreement required by clause 30.4 is set out at Schedule D—Agreement for Time Off Instead of Payment for Overtime. There is no requirement to use the form of agreement set out at Schedule D—Agreement for Time Off Instead of Payment for Overtime. An agreement under clause 30.4 can also be made by an exchange of emails between the employee and employer, or by other electronic means.

(d)         The period of time off that an employee is entitled to take is the same as the number of overtime hours worked.

EXAMPLE: By making an agreement under clause 30.4 an employee who worked 2 overtime hours is entitled to 2 hours’ time off.

(e)          Time off must be taken:

(i)            within the period of 6 months after the overtime is worked; and

(ii)          at a time or times within that period of 6 months agreed by the employee and employer.

(f)           If the employee requests at any time, to be paid for overtime covered by an agreement under clause 30.4 but not taken as time off, the employer must pay the employee for the overtime, in the next pay period following the request, at the overtime rate applicable to the overtime when worked.

(g)          If time off for overtime that has been worked is not taken within the period of 6 months mentioned in clause 30.4(e), the employer must pay the employee for the overtime, in the next pay period following those 6 months, at the overtime rate applicable to the overtime when worked.

(h)         The employer must keep a copy of any agreement under clause 30.4 as an employee record.

(i)            An employer must not exert undue influence or undue pressure on an employee in relation to a decision by the employee to make, or not make, an agreement to take time off instead of payment for overtime.

(j)           An employee may, under section 65 of the Act, request to take time off, at a time or times specified in the request or to be subsequently agreed by the employer and the employee, instead of being paid for overtime worked by the employee. If the employer agrees to the request then clause 30.4 will apply, including the requirement for separate written agreements under clause 30.4(b) for overtime that has been worked.

[Note varied by PR763315 ppc 01Aug23]

NOTE: If an employee makes a request under section 65 of the Act for a change in working arrangements, the employer may only refuse that request on reasonable business grounds (see section 65A(3) of the Act).

(k)         If, on the termination of the employee’s employment, time off for overtime worked by the employee to which clause 30.4 applies has not been taken, the employer must pay the employee for the overtime at the overtime rate applicable to the overtime when worked.

NOTE: Under section 345(1) of the Act, a person must not knowingly or recklessly make a false or misleading representation about the workplace rights of another person under clause 30.4.

SECTION C—OFFSHORE DIVERS

Part 10—Hours of Work

31.                 Ordinary hours of work and rostering

31.1               Ordinary hours and roster cycles

(a)          The average daily hours of work for an offshore diver will be no greater than 12 hours.

(b)         Leave accrual

For each on-duty day worked, employees (other than casual employees) will receive one paid off-duty leave day.

(c)          Rosters

Starting and finishing times will be in accordance with a nominated regularly recurrent roster schedule. The employer will establish a regularly recurring roster of equal on-duty and off-duty periods for each work site. The on-duty and off-duty periods will each be of 14 days’ duration, provided that other equal periods may be worked by agreement between the employer and a majority of affected employees.

(d)         On-duty period

The on-duty period for employees (other than casual employees) will commence on the day of arrival at the designated point of embarkation to the work site.

(e)          Off-duty period

(i)            The off-duty period for employees (other than casual employees) will commence on the day of departure from the work site.

(ii)          If the employee is held over beyond midnight on their crew change day and/or subsequent days, they will be paid one day’s pay at 20% of the minimum weekly wage rate in clause 32.1, but they will not accrue a subsequent leave day.

(f)           Not attending for duty

Employees not attending for duty in a rostered on-duty period other than as provided for elsewhere in clause 31 will not receive payment nor accrue off-duty leave days in respect of such period.

(g)          Authorised paid leave

Employees who are absent during a rostered on-duty period, for reasons provided for in clause 15—Personal/carer’s leave and compassionate leave will be paid as if on-duty for the period of such absence.

(h)         Authorised unpaid leave

Where requested by an employee, the employer may grant authorised unpaid leave to that employee. The employee will not receive payment nor accrue or use paid off-duty leave days in respect of such period of absence. The granting of authorised unpaid leave will be at the sole discretion of the employer.

(i)            Roster changes by the employer

Where a roster is changed by the employer and the commencement of an employee’s on-duty period is brought forward, the employee will be considered to be on duty from the day of arrival at the designated point of embarkation.

(j)           Roster changes by the employee

Where a roster is changed at the request of an employee, the employee will be either on-duty and accruing off-duty leave days or off-duty and using off-duty leave days as provided in clauses 31.1(d) and 31.1(e).

(k)         Returning to work early

Where an employee commences duty prior to the commencement of the employee’s rostered on-duty period, the employee will be considered to be on-duty from the day of arrival at the designated point of embarkation.

(l)            Prevented from commencing an on-duty period

Where an employee reports for duty at a designated assembly point but cannot be transported to the offshore work site due to weather conditions, insufficient work or other circumstances beyond the employer’s control, the period of such delay will be regarded as an on-duty period provided that the employer may gainfully employ the employee onshore.

(m)       Prevented from remaining on duty

Where during an on-duty period an employee cannot remain at the offshore work site due to circumstances beyond the employer’s control, such days will be considered to be on-duty days provided that the employer may gainfully employ the employee onshore.

(n)         Prevented from commencing off-duty period

Where due to weather conditions or other circumstances an employee is delayed offshore and prevented from commencing a rostered off-duty period the employee will be on duty and accruing off-duty leave days until the employee actually commences an off-duty period.

(o)          Imbalance of off-duty leave days owed and actually taken

(i)            Subject to 31.1, an employee may accrue more off-duty leave days than are taken or take more off-duty leave days than have been accrued.

(ii)          Where the employee accrues more off-duty leave days than are taken the balance will be recorded and taken at another time.

(iii)        Where the employee takes more off-duty leave days than are accrued they will be deducted from any balance of off-duty days yet to be taken. Where that results in a negative balance of off-duty leave days that number of days will be subtracted from the employee’s pay for that month.

(iv)        A positive balance of off-duty days owed to the employee on termination will be paid to the employee at that time.

31.2               Work on first day of off-duty period

To allow a smooth changeover of on-duty and off-duty crews, employees will normally be required to work for some period of the first day of their off-duty period on the understanding that they will on average not work a corresponding period on the first day of their on-duty period.

Part 11—Wages and Allowances

32.                 Minimum rates

[Varied by PR718926, PR729369, PR740794, PR762217, PR773997]

32.1               Minimum rates

[32.1(a) varied by PR718926, PR729369, PR740794, PR762217, PR773997 ppc 01Jul24]

(a)          An employer must pay offshore divers the following wages for ordinary hours worked by the employee:

Full-time employees

Employee classification

Minimum weekly rate

(full-time employee)

Aggregate weekly factor (percentage of minimum weekly rate)

Total weekly rate (minimum weekly rate plus aggregate weekly factor)

 

$

%

$

Diving Superintendent

1362.90

117

2957.49

Diving Supervisor

1273.70

116

2751.19

Supervisor (ADS Operations)

1273.70

116

2751.19

Hyperbaric Welder

1229.30

116

2655.29

Life Support Technician

1165.50

114

2494.17

Senior Operator (OMB Operations)

1165.50

114

2494.17

Systems Maintenance Technician

1091.20

113

2324.26

Diver

1025.80

111

2164.44

Operator (ADS Operations)

1025.80

111

2164.44

Diver’s Attendant

896.90

108

1865.55

NOTE: See Schedule B—Summary of Rates of Pay for a summary of rates of pay including, overtime and penalty rates.

(b)         A full-time employee engaged in offshore diving must be paid the total weekly rate which is the minimum weekly rate plus the aggregate weekly factor.

(c)          The aggregate weekly factor specified in clause 32.1(a) includes payment for the various rosters that may be worked, overtime, the nature of the industry and penalties and conditions of employment applicable to the work performed.

(d)         Total monthly rates are calculated by multiplying the total weekly rate specified in clause 32.1(a) by 4.35.

32.2               Higher duties

(a)          Where employees perform the duties of a higher paid classification for a day or part day they will be paid at the higher rate for that day and paid at the higher rate for an equivalent day in their off-duty period.

(b)         For the purposes of clause 32.2(a), a higher paid classification means a classification where the total salary and allowances payable are greater than the total salary and allowances payable at the employee’s current classification.

33.                 Payment of wages

NOTE: Regulations 3.33(3) and 3.46(1)(g) of Fair Work Regulations 2009 set out the requirements for pay records and the content of payslips including the requirement to separately identify any allowance paid.

33.1               Wages will be paid either weekly or fortnightly, unless otherwise agreed between the employer and the employee.

33.2               Wages will be paid by cash, bank cheque or electronic funds transfer (EFT).

33.3               Where an employee is paid by cash or cheque and the employee is kept waiting for their wages on pay day for more than 15 minutes after the usual time for ceasing work, the employee must be paid overtime rates after that 15 minutes for the duration spent waiting at the workplace.

33.4               Payment on termination of employment

(a)          The employer must pay an employee no later than 7 days after the day on which the employee’s employment terminates:

(i)            the employee’s wages under this award for any complete or incomplete pay period up to the end of the day of termination; and

(ii)          all other amounts that are due to the employee under this award and the NES.

(b)         The requirement to pay wages and other amounts under clause 33.4(a) is subject to further order of the Commission and the employer making deductions authorised by this award or the Act.

NOTE 1: Section 117(2) of the Act provides that an employer must not terminate an employee’s employment unless the employer has given the employee the required minimum period of notice or “has paid” to the employee payment instead of giving notice.

NOTE 2: Clause 33.4(b) allows the Commission to make an order delaying the requirement to make a payment under clause 33.4. For example, the Commission could make an order delaying the requirement to pay redundancy pay if an employer makes an application under section 120 of the Act for the Commission to reduce the amount of redundancy pay an employee is entitled to under the NES.

NOTE 3: State and Territory long service leave laws or long service leave entitlements under section 113 of the Act, may require an employer to pay an employee for accrued long service leave on the day on which the employee’s employment terminates or shortly after.

34.                 Allowances

[Varied by PR718926, PR719078, PR729369, PR729551, PR740794, PR740957, PR762217, PR762386, PR773997]

NOTE: Regulations 3.33(3) and 3.46(1)(g) of Fair Work Regulations 2009 set out the requirements for pay records and the content of payslips including the requirement to separately identify any allowance paid.

34.1               Employers must pay to an employee the allowances the employee is entitled to under clause 34.

NOTE: See Schedule C—Summary of Monetary Allowances for a summary of monetary allowances and method of adjustment.

34.2               Over-award allowances

(a)          Disability allowance

For each on-duty day on a support vessel whether dynamically positioned or anchor moored:

[34.2(a)(i) varied by PR718926, PR729369, PR740794, PR762217, PR773997 ppc 01Jul24]

(i)            employees other than casual employees will receive an allowance of $82.06 per day; and

[34.2(a)(ii) varied by PR718926, PR729369, PR740794, PR762217, PR773997 ppc 01Jul24]

(ii)          casual employees will receive an allowance of $97.35 per day.

The allowance in clause 34.2(a) is paid in recognition of all disabilities and work requirements associated with living and working from such a vessel. The amounts in clause 34.2 reflect payment for the on-duty and off-duty period.

(b)         Diving allowances

(i)            Diving other than ADS Operations

[34.2(b)(i) varied by PR718926, PR729369, PR740794, PR762217, PR773997 ppc 01Jul24]

A Diver will be paid a diving allowance of $4.82 per metre or $1.44 per foot or equivalent pressure as follows:

·   a minimum of $72.00 (50 times the diving allowance per foot) will be paid for dives using other than saturation techniques; or

·   a minimum of $360.00 (calculated as 250 times the diving allowance per foot) will be paid where the employee is engaged in a dive using saturation techniques.

·   The allowance will be payable once in respect of the greatest depth or equivalent pressure incurred in each period worked.

·   For the purposes of this allowance, a period worked will begin from the time the Diver enters the water or is subject to greater than atmospheric pressure and will end 12 hours later. If at the end of a period worked, or a further period worked, a Diver is still subject to greater than atmospheric pressure, further periods worked will begin again each 12 hours.

(ii)          ADS Operations

[34.2(b)(ii) varied by PR718926, PR729369, PR740794, PR762217, PR773997 ppc 01Jul24]

A Senior Operator (OMB Operations) and Operator (ADS Operations) will be paid a diving allowance of $2.36 per metre or $0.72 per foot.

·   A minimum of $180.00 will be paid (calculated as 250 times the diving allowance per foot).

·   The allowance will be payable only once in respect of dives commenced within a 12 hour period.

(iii)        Practice or training dives

The diving allowances in clauses 34.2(b)(i) and 34.2(b)(ii) must not be paid to:

·   persons performing practice or training dives; or

·   an Operator (ADS Operations) during the first 12 month period of training.

Underwater services must not be performed for the employer during practice or training dives.

(iv)        Diving Superintendents, Diving Supervisors, Supervisors (ADS Operations) and Life Support Technicians

·   Diving Superintendents, Diving Supervisors and Supervisors (ADS Operations) will receive 20% and Life Support Technicians will receive 15% of the average diving allowance paid to Divers or Operators (ADS Operations) under their control.

·   The average diving allowance will be calculated daily by dividing the total diving allowance earned in each day (or part thereof) by Divers or Operators (ADS Operations) under the control of a Diving Superintendent, Diving Supervisor or Supervisor (ADS Operations) by the number of Divers or Operators (ADS Operations) who earned a diving allowance in that day.

·   Surface oriented dives made in conjunction with saturation diving operations must be calculated separately for the purpose of calculating the average diving allowance.

(c)          Non-destructive testing allowance

[34.2(c) varied by PR718926, PR729369, PR740794, PR762217, PR773997 ppc 01Jul24]

Employees engaged in non-destructive testing of structures by the methods of magnetic particle testing, ultrasonic testing and radiography will be paid an allowance of $72.22 per day for each day or part day on which they are engaged in such duties.

(d)         Hyperbaric welding allowance

(i)            The minimum wage for a Hyperbaric Welder as specified in clause 32.1(a) will apply from the date an employee is required to carry out such duties. The payment will cease when the employee is no longer required by the employer to carry out those duties.

[34.2(d)(ii) varied by PR718926, PR729369, PR740794, PR762217, PR773997 ppc 01Jul24]

(ii)          A Hyperbaric Welder will be entitled to a payment of $5.95 per linear millimetre for a successfully completed weld. For the purpose of clause 34.2(d), successfully completed means a weld which has been accepted by the client without the necessity for repair.

[34.2(d)(iii) varied by PR718926, PR729369, PR740794, PR762217, PR773997 ppc 01Jul24]

(iii)        Provided that instead of clause 34.2(d)(ii) a Hyperbaric Welder will be entitled to payment of $4.00 per linear millimetre for a weld which requires repair prior to being accepted by the client.

(iv)        The payments prescribed in clauses 34.2(d)(ii) and 34.2(d)(iii) will apply only to members of the nominated hyperbaric welding team who have been coded for that particular hyperbaric welding task.

34.3               Expense-related allowances

(a)          Loss of personal effects reimbursement

[34.3(a)(i) varied by PR719078, PR729551, PR740957, PR762386, PR774166 ppc 01Jul24]

(i)            An employee will be reimbursed up to $3073 for the loss of personal effects normally required while offshore, which are lost due to fire, explosion, collision, foundering or collapse of a fixed platform, vessel or work barge.

(ii)          No payment will be made where the employee’s loss is made good by any insurance policy or other claim on the employer or any third party.

(b)         Living away from home allowance

[34.3(b)(i) varied by PR719078, PR729551, PR740957, PR762386 ppc 01Jul23]

(i)            An allowance of $75.66 per day will be paid to each employee for each day or part thereof of their duty period offshore or in circumstances where employees would normally be working offshore and are temporarily accommodated onshore away from their home.

(ii)          With the exception of annual leave, the allowance will not be payable during periods of leave or authorised absences nor during periods in which the employee is specifically engaged on shore-based duties including equipment mobilisation or demobilisation where the employee is able to live at home.

(c)          Transportation and accommodation allowances

(i)            At the beginning and end of each on-duty period, the employer must provide transport between the designated assembly point and the designated point of embarkation.

(ii)          Employees are required to present themselves at the designated point of embarkation by use of the transport provided by the employer or otherwise at their own expense.

(iii)        If the transport provided by the employer is in the form of a hired vehicle the employee will be responsible for the care of the vehicle and if an accident occurs while the employee is in charge of the vehicle and is proven to be under the influence of illegal drugs or alcohol, the employer will have the right to recover from the employee any cost incurred by the employer resulting from such accident.

(iv)        During the period of duty, employees who cannot reasonably return to their usual residence will be reimbursed the cost of reasonable accommodation and meals. Where such accommodation and meals are provided by the employer the provisions of clause 34.3(c) do not apply.

(v)          The employer will notify the employees of the designated assembly point and designated point of embarkation for each job.

(d)         Clothing and equipment allowances

(i)            Employees will be reimbursed for the purchase of clothing and equipment required for the performance of duties. The provisions of clause 34.3(d) do not apply if the employer provides the clothing and equipment.

(ii)          Where a full-time employee is required to supply and maintain their own wetsuit and approved safety footwear, they will be paid an allowance of $108.61 per calendar month.

(iii)        A casual employee will be paid an allowance of $8.75 per day.

(e)          Medical examination allowance

(i)            Where the employer requests that a prospective employee undertake a pre‑employment medical examination, the employee will be reimbursed for the costs of attending the examination.

(ii)          Where Commonwealth, State or Territory legislation requires that employees bound by this award must submit to medical examination, then upon employees complying with such Act or Regulation, the employer will reimburse the employee for all costs associated with such examination.

(f)           Insurance policy reimbursement

[34.3(f)(i) varied by PR719078, PR729551, PR740957, PR762386, PR774166 ppc 01Jul24]

(i)            Where the employee elects to obtain insurance cover against death from any cause with a sum insured of $156,589 to apply during the period of their employment, then upon presentation of verifiable evidence of the purchase of the insurance policy, the employer will reimburse the employee for the cost of the policy.

(ii)          The insurance policy reimbursement does not apply if the employer provides the insurance coverage directly.


 

Schedule AClassification Definitions

An employer may direct an employee to carry out such duties that are within the limits of the employee’s skill, competence and training, consistent with the respective classification.

A.1                  Diver means an employee trained and certified in accordance with AS 2815 Parts 1-3 and experienced in the use of Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus (SCUBA) and/or Surface Supplied Breathing Apparatus (SSBA) equipment, the physics and physiology of diving, underwater communication systems, use, inspection and maintenance of compressed air supplies, operation and maintenance of underwater tools, preparation and operation of compression chambers (Parts 1 and 2 under supervision), the performance of underwater work, first aid and the relevant legislation.

A.2                  Diver’s Attendant means an employee who has adequate knowledge of underwater work, the signals and communication devices used in diving operations, decompression procedures and equipment used in diving operations. The Diver’s Attendant will carry out the functions of attending to a diver, including assisting the diver to dress and undress, handling hoses and/or lifelines and such other duties as may be assigned by the diving supervisor but will not be required to perform underwater services.

A.3                  Diving Superintendent means an employee placed in charge of a 24 hour diving operation to co-ordinate the diving work and to relieve Diving Supervisors engaged in that operation where and when necessary.

A.4                  Diving Supervisor means a diver experienced in diving and diving techniques, appointed by the employer in writing to supervise diving operations, to instruct other divers and to be responsible for safe diving practices. The diving supervisor will also be competent to supervise all classes of hydrocarbon exploration and development diving applicable to and appropriate to the particular operation which may include using helium/oxygen or similar mixtures, using submarine observation chambers and operating from submarine working chambers. In addition, the diving supervisor is responsible to the employer for other on-site supervisory functions relating to matters within the scope of this award, including liaison with other companies, supervision of employees, keeping of appropriate records and reports ensuring that all equipment is kept and properly maintained to comply with all rules and regulations and that all expendable items are maintained at an acceptable stock level. An employee must have worked as a diver for a period of not less than 6 months before being designated as a diving supervisor.

A.5                  Hyperbaric Welder means an employee who is a trained and certified diver and is a qualified welder appointed to perform work in such capacity by the employer.

A.6                  Life Support Technician means an employee who will, under the supervision of a diving supervisor, control and monitor all the systems and functions which relate to the life support, safety and health of any person inside hyperbaric chambers used in saturation diving.

A.7                  Operator (ADS Operations) means an operator in relation to ADS Operations as defined in clause 2—Definitions.

A.8                  Senior Operator (OMB Operations) means an employee appointed as such to operate an observation manipulator bell as OMB, ARMS or MOB.

A.9                  Supervisor (ADS Operations) means a supervisor in relation to ADS Operations as defined in clause 2—Definitions.

A.10              Systems Maintenance Technician means an employee engaged specifically to perform maintenance and repair tasks on diving and ancillary equipment. Such an employee will typically have a relevant trade qualification and be familiar with diving operations.


 

Schedule BSummary of Rates of Pay

[Varied by PR718926, PR729369, PR740794, PR762217, PR773997]

B.1                Full-time employees—inshore divers

B.1.1            Full-time employees—ordinary and penalty rates

[B.1.1 varied by PR718926, PR729369, PR740794, PR762217, PR773997 ppc 01Jul24]

 

Ordinary hours

Public holiday

 

% of minimum hourly rate

 

100%

250%

 

$

$

Diving Supervisor

43.99

109.98

Hyperbaric Welder

34.14

85.35

Diver

32.63

81.58

Diver’s Attendant

26.83

67.08

B.1.2            Full-time employees—overtime rates

[B.1.2 varied by PR718926, PR729369, PR740794, PR762217, PR773997 ppc 01Jul24]

 

Monday to Saturday–first 2 hours

Monday to Saturday–after 2 hours

Sunday–all day

Public holiday

% of minimum hourly rate

 

150%

200%

200%

250%

 

$

$

$

$

Diving Supervisor

65.99

87.98

87.98

109.98

Hyperbaric Welder

51.21

68.28

68.28

85.35

Diver

48.95

65.26

65.26

81.58

Diver’s Attendant

40.25

53.66

53.66

67.08

B.2                Casual employees—inshore divers

B.2.1            Casual hourly rate includes the casual loading which is payable for all purposes.

B.2.2            Casual employees—ordinary and penalty rates

[B.2.2 varied by PR718926, PR729369, PR740794, PR762217, PR773997 ppc 01Jul24]

 

Ordinary hours

Public holiday

 

% of casual hourly rate

 

100%

250%

 

$

$

Diving Supervisor

54.99

137.48

Hyperbaric Welder

42.68

106.70

Diver

40.79

101.98

Diver’s Attendant

33.54

83.85

B.3                Full-time employees—offshore divers

B.3.1            Full-time employees—ordinary rates

[B.3.1 varied by PR718926, PR729369, PR740794, PR762217, PR773997 ppc 01Jul24]

 

Total hourly rate

Total monthly rate1

 

$

$

Diving Superintendent

77.83

12,865.08

Diving Supervisor

72.40

11,967.68

Supervisor (ADS Operations)

72.40

11,967.68

Hyperbaric Welder

69.88

11,550.51

Life Support Technician

65.64

10,849.64

Senior Operator (OMB Operations)

65.64

10,849.64

Systems Maintenance Technician

61.16

10,110.53

Diver

56.96

9415.31

Operator (ADS Operations)

56.96

9415.31

Diver’s Attendant

49.09

8115.14

1 Total monthly rates are calculated by multiplying the total weekly rate specified in clause 32.1(a) by 4.35.

B.4                Casual employees—offshore divers

B.4.1            Casual employees—ordinary rates

[B.4.1 varied by PR718926, PR729369, PR740794, PR762217, PR773997 ppc 01Jul24]

 

Casual ordinary rate

 

$

Diving Superintendent

44.84

Diving Supervisor

41.90

Supervisor (ADS Operations)

41.90

Hyperbaric Welder

40.44

Life Support Technician

38.34

Senior Operator (OMB Operations)

38.34

Systems Maintenance Technician

35.90

Diver

33.74

Operator (ADS Operations)

33.74

Diver’s Attendant

29.50

   


 

Schedule CSummary of Monetary Allowances

[Varied by PR718926, PR719078, PR729369, PR729551, PR740794, PR740957, PR750860, PR762217, PR762386, PR773997, PR774166]

See clauses 29—Allowances and 34—Allowances for full details of allowances payable under this award.

C.1                 Wage-related allowances—inshore divers

[C.1.1 varied by PR718926, PR729369, PR740794, PR762217, PR773997 ppc 01Jul24]

C.1.1            The following wage-related allowances are based on the standard rate defined in clause 2—Definitions as the minimum weekly rate for a Diver in clause 27—Minimum rates = $1240.10.These rates are to be paid in accordance with the clause 29—Allowances.

Allowance

Clause

% of standard rate

$

Payable

Diving allowance—Per metre; OR

29.2(a)

0.43

5.33

per metre

Diving allowance—Per foot of water or equivalent pressure

29.2(a)

0.13

1.61

per foot of water or equivalent pressure

Non-destructive testing allowance

29.2(b)

6.51

80.73

per day

Hyperbaric welding allowance

29.2(c)(ii)

0.49

6.08

per linear millimetre

Hyperbaric welding allowance—weld which requires repair

29.2(c)(iii)

0.33

4.09

per linear millimetre

C.2                 Expense-related allowances—inshore divers

[C.2.1 varied by PR719078, PR729551, PR740957, PR762386, PR774166 ppc 01Jul24]

C.2.1            The expense-related allowances in this award will be adjusted by reference to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) as per the following:

Allowance

Clause

$

Payable

Meal allowance—overtime

29.3(a)(i)

11.06

per occasion

Meal allowance—late cancellation of overtime

29.3(a)(i)

11.06

per occasion

Fares and travelling time allowance

29.3(b)(i)

14.64

per day

Distant work allowance—Expenses

29.3(c)(iii)

9.34

per occasion

Distant work allowance—Accommodation and meals

29.3(c)(v)

487.71

per week by agreement

Distant work allowance—Accommodation and meals—broken parts of the week

29.3(c)(vi)

69.73

per day

Distant work allowance—Use of own vehicle allowance

29.3(c)(viii)

0.98

per km

Diving clothing and equipment allowance

29.3(d)

7.08

per day

Protective clothing, footwear and equipment allowance—casual employees

29.3(e)(ii)

2.53

per day

C.3                 Wage-related allowances—offshore divers

[C.3.1 varied by PR718926, PR729369, PR740794, PR762217, PR773997 ppc 01Jul24]

C.3.1            The following wage-related allowances are based on the standard rate defined in clause 2—Definitions as the minimum weekly rate for a Diver in clause 32.1 = $1025.80. These rates are to be paid in accordance with the clause 34—Allowances.

Allowance

Clause

% of standard rate

$

Payable

Disability allowance—Full-time/part-time employees

34.2(a)(i)

8.0

82.06

per on-duty day

Disability allowance—Casual employees

34.2(a)(ii)

9.49

97.35

per on-duty day

Diving allowance—other than ADS Operations—Per metre; OR

34.2(b)(i)

0.47

4.82

per metre

Diving allowance—other than ADS Operations—Per foot or equivalent pressure

34.2(b)(i)

0.14

1.44

per foot or equivalent pressure

Diving allowance—other than ADS Operations—Minimum payment—50 x Diving allowance per foot; OR

34.2(b)(i)

 

72.00

per 12 hour period

Diving allowance—other than ADS Operations—Minimum payment using saturation techniques—250 x Diving allowance per foot

34.2(b)(i)

 

360.00

per 12 hour period

Diving allowance—ADS Operations—Per metre; OR

34.2(b)(ii)

0.23

2.36

per metre

Diving allowance—ADS Operations—Per foot

34.2(b)(ii)

0.07

0.72

per foot

Diving allowance—ADS Operations—Minimum payment—250 x Diving allowance per foot

34.2(b)(ii)

 

180.00

per 12 hour period

Non-destructive testing allowance

34.2(c)

7.04

72.22

per day

Hyperbaric welding allowance

34.2(d)(ii)

0.58

5.95

per linear millimetre

Hyperbaric welding allowance—weld which requires repair

34.2(d)(iii)

0.39

4.00

per linear millimetre

C.4                 Expense-related allowances—offshore divers

[C.4.1 varied by PR719078, PR729551, PR740957, PR762386, PR774166 ppc 01Jul24]

C.4.1            The expense-related allowances in this award will be adjusted by reference to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) as per the following:

Allowance

Clause

$

Payable

Loss of personal effects reimbursement—maximum—an amount of up to

34.3(a)(i)

3073

per claim

Living away from home allowance

34.3(b)(i)

75.66

per day

Clothing and equipment allowances—Full-time employees

34.3(d)(ii)

108.61

per calendar month

Clothing and equipment allowances—Casual employees

34.3(d)(iii)

8.75

per day

Insurance policy—reimbursement of cost policy

34.3(f)(i)

156,589

insured sum

C.5                 Automatic adjustment of wage–related allowances

[C.5—Adjustment of wage-related allowances renamed and substituted by PR750860 ppc 15Mar23]

The amount of each wage-related allowance is the percentage of the standard rate specified for the allowance and will automatically adjust to reflect the specified percentage when the standard rate is varied.

C.6                 Adjustment of expense-related allowances

C.6.1            At the time of any adjustment to the standard rate, each expense-related allowance will be increased by the relevant adjustment factor. The relevant adjustment factor for this purpose is the percentage movement in the applicable index figure most recently published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics since the allowance was last adjusted.

C.6.2            The applicable index figure is the index figure published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics for the Eight Capitals Consumer Price Index (Cat No. 6401.0), as follows: C.1.2 renamed and substituted by

Allowance

Applicable Consumer Price Index figure

Clothing, footwear and equipment allowances

Clothing and footwear group

Distant work allowance

Domestic holiday travel and accommodation sub-group

Fares allowance

Transport group

Insurance policy reimbursement

Insurance and financial services group

Living away from home allowance

Domestic holiday travel and accommodation sub-group

Loss of personal effects reimbursement

Consumer price index – All groups

Meal allowance

Take away and fast foods sub-group

Vehicle allowance

Private motoring sub-group

   


 

Schedule DAgreement for Time Off Instead of Payment for Overtime

Link to PDF copy of Agreement for Time Off Instead of Payment for Overtime.

 

Name of employee: _____________________________________________

Name of employer: _____________________________________________

The employer and employee agree that the employee may take time off instead of being paid for the following amount of overtime that has been worked by the employee:

Date and time overtime started: ___/___/20___ ____ am/pm

Date and time overtime ended: ___/___/20___ ____ am/pm

Amount of overtime worked: _______ hours and ______ minutes

 

The employer and employee further agree that, if requested by the employee at any time, the employer must pay the employee for overtime covered by this agreement but not taken as time off. Payment must be made at the overtime rate applying to the overtime when worked and must be made in the next pay period following the request.

 

Signature of employee: ________________________________________

Date signed: ___/___/20___

 

Name of employer representative: ________________________________________

Signature of employer representative: ________________________________________

Date signed: ___/___/20___


 

Schedule EAgreement to Take Annual Leave in Advance

Link to PDF copy of Agreement to Take Annual Leave in Advance.

 

Name of employee: _____________________________________________

Name of employer: _____________________________________________

The employer and employee agree that the employee will take a period of paid annual leave before the employee has accrued an entitlement to the leave:

The amount of leave to be taken in advance is: ____ hours/days

The leave in advance will commence on: ___/___/20___

 

Signature of employee: ________________________________________

Date signed: ___/___/20___

 

Name of employer representative: ________________________________________

Signature of employer representative: ________________________________________

Date signed: ___/___/20___

[If the employee is under 18 years of age - include:]

I agree that:

if, on termination of the employee’s employment, the employee has not accrued an entitlement to all of a period of paid annual leave already taken under this agreement, then the employer may deduct from any money due to the employee on termination an amount equal to the amount that was paid to the employee in respect of any part of the period of annual leave taken in advance to which an entitlement has not been accrued.

Name of parent/guardian: ________________________________________

Signature of parent/guardian: ________________________________________

Date signed: ___/___/20___

   


 

Schedule FAgreement to Cash Out Annual Leave

Link to PDF copy of Agreement to Cash Out Annual Leave.

 

Name of employee: _____________________________________________

Name of employer: _____________________________________________

 

The employer and employee agree to the employee cashing out a particular amount of the employee’s accrued paid annual leave:

The amount of leave to be cashed out is: ____ hours/days

The payment to be made to the employee for the leave is: $_______ subject to deduction of income tax/after deduction of income tax (strike out where not applicable)

The payment will be made to the employee on: ___/___/20___

 

Signature of employee: ________________________________________

Date signed: ___/___/20___

 

Name of employer representative: ________________________________________

Signature of employer representative: ________________________________________

Date signed: ___/___/20___

Include if the employee is under 18 years of age:

Name of parent/guardian: ________________________________________

Signature of parent/guardian: ________________________________________

Date signed: ___/___/20___

   

[Schedule G—Part-day Public Holidays deleted by PR747462 ppc 14Nov22]

 

Title: Professional Diving Industry (Industrial) Award 2020
Code: MA000108
Effective:
Updated:
Instrument Type: Modern Award

Modern award and related determinations on the Find My Award tool or otherwise on the Fair Work Ombudsman’s website display content taken from the Fair Work Commission’s website. The Fair Work Commission and Fair Work Ombudsman take care to ensure that modern award and related determination copies are accurate at the time of publication but do not guarantee, and accept no legal liability whatsoever arising from or connected to, the accuracy, reliability, currency or completeness of the information displayed by the Find My Award tool or otherwise on the Fair Work Ombudsman’s website or resources.

Any data extracts must be read in conjunction with the provisions in the modern award. These copies and extracts are not a substitute for independent professional advice and users should obtain any appropriate professional advice relevant to their particular circumstances.