Industrial Relations Update | April 2025

What’s Happened in Industrial Relations on 1^st April 2025?

Changes to introductory levels in Pastoral Award (FLH levels 1 and 2)

As mentioned in the February 2025 Member Update changes to the lowest classifications in the Pastoral Award 2020 came into effect on 1^st April 2025. The changes will impact on the Farm and Livestock Hands Levels (“FLH”) 1 and 2.

The Fair Work Commission handed down its decision in late 2024 which in the case of the Pastoral Award 2020 and Horticulture Award 2020 the changes were delayed to 1^st April 2025. The FWC released on 29^th March 2025 those changes the details which appear below.

Part 6 of the Award refers to Broadacre, Dairy, Cattle, Feedlots, Station Cooks and Offsiders.

A brief overview of the changes for the FLH Level 1 that the current introductory period of 12 months was reduced to 6 months on and from 1^stApril 2025.

The Award allows an FLH level 1 employee to progress to the next classification (FLH Lv 2) before the six months for the introductory classification. This may be based on the employee demonstrating competency or achieving a required qualification before the six months is completed.

All employment classifications that aren’t introductory classifications must be paid at least the National Minimum Wage which was made available previously and effective from 1^st July 2024.

Whilst the FLH 2 classification did not apply to Dairy Hand and Broadacre Farm Hands prior to 31^st March 2025, it will from 1^st April 2025.

Changes to classifications at these levels include:

Clause	Farm and livestock hand level 1 (FLH1)	Up to 31st March 2025	1st April 2025
31.1 (a)	Station hand (FLH1)	less than 12 months’ experience in the industry	Less than 6 months’ experience in the industry
31.1 (b)	Station Cook (FLH1)	Station Cook (introductory period not specified)	Station cook, with less than 6 months’ experience in the industry
31.1 (c)	Station cook offsider (FLH1)	Station cook’s offsider (introductory period not specified)	Station cook’s offsider with less than 6 months’ experience in the industry
31.1 (d)	Cattle Farm Worker	Cattle farm worker grade A	has less than 6 months’ experience in the industry (after which the employee will progress to Cattle farm worker grade B).
31.2 (f)	Not applicable FLH Lv 2	Farm and Livestock Hand Lv 1, Dairy operator grade 1A, Cattle farm worker grade A	NEW more than 6 months to go to Level 2.
31.2 (c )	Not applicable	Station Cook and Station Cook Offsider	NEW FLH Lv 2 Station cook’s offsider with more than 6 months’ experience in the industry.

Farm and livestock hand - Full-time & part-time

When keep is provided, the employer may deduct $155.60 from the employee’s total weekly wages.

Now that the changes have been highlighted the following classification structure will apply from the first full pay period commencing on or after 1^st April 2025.

NEW CLASSIFICATION STRUCTURE

31. Classifications

31.1 Farm and livestock hand level 1 (FLH1)

An employee at this level includes:

(a) Station hand with less than 6 months’ experience in the industry;

(b) Station cook with less than 6 months’ experience in the industry;

(c) Station cook’s offsider with less than 6 months’ experience in the industry; and

(d) Cattle farm worker grade A who:

• works under direct supervision either individually or in a team environment;

• understands and undertakes basic quality control/assurance procedures including the ability to recognise basic quality deviations/faults;

• understands and utilises basic statistical process control procedures; and

• has less than 6 months’ experience in the industry (after which the employee will progress to Cattle farm worker grade B).

Indicative of the tasks which an employee at this grade may perform are the following:

• routine mustering;

• routine fence repairs;

• aerial stock sighting;

• repetitive packing and/or unpacking; and

• kitchen/cooking assistance not involving food preparation.

(e) Feedlot employee level 1 with less than 3 months’ experience in the industry.

(f) Dairy operator grade 1A with less than 6 months’ experience in the industry who:

• uses their knowledge and skills to perform set procedures such as milking and attending to livestock, haymaking, fencing.

Indicative of the tasks which an employee at this level may perform are the following:

• operate milking plant and equipment in a safe manner;

• identify and report equipment not operating normally;

• work co-operatively as part of a team;

• read and record instrument information i.e. milk vat temperatures and cow numbers; and

• understand the principles of safe working.

31.2 Farm and livestock hand level 2 (FLH2)

An employee at this level includes:

(a) Station hand with 6 to 12 months’ experience in the industry.

(b) Station cook with more than 6 months’ experience in the industry.

(c) Station cook’s offsider with more than 6 months’ experience in the industry.

(d) Cattle farm worker grade B who:

• performs work above and beyond the skills of a cattle farm worker grade A and to the level of their training;

• is responsible for the quality of their own work subject to routine supervision;

• works under routine supervision either individually or in a team environment; and

• exercises discretion within their level of skills and training.

Indicative of the tasks which an employee at this level may perform are the following:

• receive, check, despatch and record goods received and sent;

• assist a tradesperson;

• basic non-trades daily maintenance of equipment used by the employee;

• sort and cut out stock;

• sort and brand yarded stock;

• fence repairs;

• kitchen/cooking assistance not involving unsupervised food preparation;

• boundary riding;

• forklift, overhead crane, winch or tractor operation; and

• household domestic work other than childcare or child education.

(e) Feedlot employee grade 1 with more than 3 months’ experience in the industry who:

• works under direct supervision with regular checking of their work.

Indicative of the tasks which an employee at this level may perform are the following:

• perform cattle handling procedures;

• perform cattle health and welfare procedures;

• assist with euthanasing livestock;

• assist with performance of cattle post-mortem procedures;

• transport, handle and store chemicals applicable to primary work area;

• prepare and apply chemicals applicable to primary work area;

• operate moving plant and equipment competently and efficiently;

• perform grain processing procedures;

• perform feed manufacture and delivery procedures;

• perform hygiene and housekeeping procedures associated with the primary work area;

• perform feedlot and environment maintenance procedures;

• possess understanding of industry quality assurance programs and all site operating procedures; and

• carry out workplace work health and safety procedures.

(f) Dairy operator grade 1A with 6 to 12 months’ experience in the industry.

31.3 Farm and livestock hand level 3 (FLH3)

An employee at this level includes:

(a) Station hand who:

• has at least 12 months’ experience in the industry as a station hand; but

• does not conform to the definition of senior station hand (FLH5) in clause 31.5 .

(b) Dairy operator grade 1B with 12 months’ experience in the industry who:

• uses their knowledge and skills to perform set procedures such as milking and attending to livestock, haymaking, fencing.

Indicative of the tasks which an employee at this level may perform are the following:

• operate milking plant and equipment, in a safe manner;

• identify and report equipment not operating normally;

• work co-operatively as part of a team;

• read and record instrument information i.e. milk vat temperatures and cow numbers; and

• understands the principles of safe working.

Please note FLH levels 4 and 6 do not apply to dairy farm workers.

The applicable rate for all grades appears below and please note that these rates are the minimum not maximum rates;

Classification	Weekly pay rate	Hourly pay rate	Public holiday	Overtime - Monday to Saturday	Overtime - Sunday - not for the purpose of feeding and watering stock	Overtime - Sunday - for the purpose of feeding and watering stock
FLH Level 1	$891.50	$23.46	$46.92	$35.19	$46.92	$35.19
FLH Level 2	$915.90	$24.10	$48.20	$36.15	$48.20	$36.15
FLH Level 3	$928.60	$24.44	$48.88	$36.66	$48.88	$36.66
FLH Level 5	$965.60	$25.41	$50.82	$38.12	$50.82	$38.12
FLH Level 7	$1,032.30	$27.17	$54.34	$40.76	$54.34	$40.76
FLH Level 8	$1,109.20	$29.19	$58.38	$43.79	$58.38	$43.79

Casual Employees are entitled to 25% loading. Overtime rates for casual employees are based on the fulltime rate plus casual loading. For example the overtime rate for a casual who works time and a half is calculated on the basis of 175% of the fulltime rate and 225% for double time.

REVIEW

Employers will need to review all current FLH1 employees engaged on or after 1^st April 2025 to ensure that they are paying the correct amount after that date.

The changes apply from the start of the employee’s first full pay period who starts on or after 1 April 2025.

Upon commencement of employment the employer must

1. advise the new and inexperienced employee that s/he will be paid at the FLH Level 1 and
2. will progress to a FLH Level 2, when the employee reaches the required level to meet the classification FLH Level 2. The period can be less than 6 months but must not exceed it.
3. Provide a copy of the Fair Work Information Statement Fair Work Information Statement
4. In addition to that Statement if an employee is casual this Statement also needs to be issued Providing employees with the Casual Employment Information Statement

FURTHER INFORMATION

Information about the definition and operation of allowances, penalties and overtime can be found in the Award and the Pay and Conditions Tool

For more details about the changes please refer to: Changes to entry-level classifications in modern awards | Fair Work Commission

Members’ Industrial Relations Advice

Livestock SA members are entitled to contact MERS for a free half hour consultation, per member per year. Our telephone number is 08 8331 2422 and email chas@mers.com.au