The article provides guidelines about when to use the different work types and tags included as part of the pre-built Architects Award 2020 [MA000079] package. For further information about this industry award, refer to: Architects Award 2020.
Installing the pre-built award package
To read details on how to install and configure this Pre-built Award Template, please review the following article. While every effort is made to provide a high-quality service, Employment Hero does not accept responsibility for, guarantee or warrant the accuracy, completeness or up-to-date nature of the service.
Before relying on the information, users should carefully evaluate its accuracy, currency, completeness and relevance for their purposes, and should obtain any appropriate professional advice relevant to their particular circumstances.
Note: The award default Rule Set Period is set to Weekly that ends every Sunday. If you follow a different work pattern or roster period, you can review and set the rule set period date that applies to your organisation.
Key updates
See the current financial year tab to see award updates for the 2026/27 financial year.
1st
We have updated the award to reflect the Fair Work Commission's National Minimum Wage increase detailed in the Annual Wage Review 2026 decision, and also includes updates to expense-related allowances. You can find more information on the Determinations here and here.
These changes come into effect from the first full pay period on or after the 1st July 2026. Please install these updates after you have finalised your last pay run before the first full pay period beginning on or after the 1st July 2026.
We have also updated the Vehicle Allowance configurations to align with ATO:
- Renamed the existing "Vehicle allowance" pay category to "Vehicle Allowance - above ATO limit".
- Created a new pay category titled "Vehicle Allowance - up to ATO limit" with the appropriate tax-exempt settings enabled.
Updated the associated work type and rules to accurately automate these allowance updates.
Special notes
Timesheets
For the rules to apply correctly, the timesheet must include the start and end times.
Paid Breaks
Paid rest breaks do not require clocking in or out. Should the client require break times to be recorded, they can refer to this link.
Leaves
When converting leave to a timesheet, use the employee's standard hours of work. Adjust the start or end time as necessary to trigger any applicable penalty rates.
Salaried
Salaried employees not covered by the Annualised Wage Clause can use the “Salaried” employment agreement.
Rates
The base rate for the below classification level may not match the rate indicated on the pay guide due to a rounding issue with the system's calculation of casual loading and/or the all-purpose industry allowance. Please review and make manual adjustments where required.
- Casual - Graduates of architecture - Level 1 - 1st pay point
Other Clauses (Manual Customisation)
The clauses listed below were not included in the pre-built package and may require manual customisation if applicable to your business.
Other clauses
Clause Name |
Clause |
Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Substitution of public holidays by agreement | 23.2 |
Need to customise rules (a) An employer and employee may agree to substitute another day for a day that would otherwise be a public holiday under the NES. (b) An employer and employee may agree to substitute another part-day for a part-day that would otherwise be a part-day public holiday under the NES. |
| Ordinary hours of work | 12.2 |
Need to customise rules The spread of ordinary hours may be altered by agreement between an employer and the majority of employees in the establishment, section or sections concerned. |
| Salaried/Individual flexibility arrangements | 5 |
Need to customise rules 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. |
| Bachelor’s degree pathway | 13.5c |
Need to customise Employment Agreements. Progression for Bachelor’s degree pathway employees is based on industry experience (total time in the profession). If you need auto-progression, you need to customise the Employment Agreement. |
| Fares Allowance | 15.3(a)(i) |
Need to customise rules * Paid an allowance for all fares incurred in excess of normal travel to work, when directed to work at a different place. *There is no set amount, and consequently, no rules have been established. |
| Excess Travelling Time | 15.3(a)(iii) |
Need to customise rules * All time occupied in excess of normal travel time is deemed working time and paid at the appropriate rate. *There is no set amount, and consequently, no rules have been established. |
| Living Away From Home Allowance | 15.3(b) |
Need to customise rules * Paid an allowance for all reasonable expenses when directed to work at a place involving sleeping away from home. *There is no set amount, and consequently, no rules have been established. |
| Relocation Allowance | 15.3(c) |
Need to customise rules * Paid an allowance for fares, temporary lodging, and transport of effects if directed to an altered permanent locality that necessitates a change of residence. *There is no set amount, and consequently, no rules have been established. |
Conditions of pay
Types of Employment
Clause Name |
Clause Number |
Key Details |
|---|---|---|
| Part-time Employment | 9.1 | * Employed to work less than 38 hours per week. |
| Casual Loading | 10.1 | * Paid the minimum hourly rate plus a 25% loading for ordinary hours. |
| Casual Loading (Overtime) | 10.2 | * The 25% casual loading is not paid for overtime hours. |
| Casual Minimum Engagement | 10.4 | * Must be engaged and paid for a minimum of 2 consecutive hours of work on each occasion. |
Hours of Work
Clause Name |
Clause Number |
Key Details |
| Ordinary Hours of Work | 12.1 | * Ordinary hours are not to exceed 38 per week. |
| Span of Ordinary Hours | 12.1 | * Ordinary hours are to be worked between 8:00 am and 6:00 pm, Monday to Friday. |
Wages and Allowances
Clause Name |
Clause Number |
Key Details |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Allowance | 15.2 | * Paid an allowance per kilometre when required to use their own vehicle for work. |
| Air Travel Meal Allowance | 15.3(a)(ii) | * Paid a meal allowance for each meal period occurring during economy air travel, provided a meal was not received in flight. |
| Excess Travelling Time | 15.3(a)(iii) | * All time occupied in excess of normal travel time is deemed working time and paid at the appropriate rate. |
Overtime and Penalty Rates
Clause Name |
Clause Number |
Key Details |
|---|---|---|
| Overtime Payment | 17.1(a) | * All time worked in excess of or outside the spread of ordinary hours is paid at 150% of the minimum hourly rate. |
| Overtime (Casuals) | 10.2 & 17.1(a) |
* Casuals are paid 150% of the minimum hourly rate (the 100% rate) for overtime.
* The 25% casual loading is not paid on overtime hours. |
| Time Off Instead of Overtime (TOIL) | 17.3 | * TOIL is accrued at the equivalent overtime payment rate (e.g., 2 hours OT @ 150% = 3 hours TOIL). |
| Work on Public Holidays | 23.3 | * All work on a public holiday is treated as overtime and compensated as per Clause 17 (e.g., paid at 150% or TOIL by agreement). |
Leave and Public Holidays
Clause Name |
Clause Number |
Key Details |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Leave Loading | 18.2(a) | * During a period of annual leave, an employee receives a loading of 17.5% of the minimum hourly rate. |
| Public Holidays | 23.1 | * Public holidays are provided for in the NES |
Work Types
Select the appropriate work type when recording a timesheet to ensure correct rule interpretation.
Work type |
Description |
|---|---|
| Annual Leave Taken | Choose this work type when annual leave is taken. |
| Compassionate Leave Taken | Choose this work type when compassionate leave is taken. |
| Excess Travelling Time | Choose this work type when all time in excess of normal travel time is deemed working time. |
| Leave Without Pay Taken | Choose this work type when any unpaid leave is taken. |
| Long Service Leave Taken | Choose this work type when long service leave is taken. |
Work type |
Description |
|---|---|
| Meal Allowance - Travel | Choose this work type for meal periods occurring during economy air travel (if no meal provided). |
| No Minimum Shift Engagement | Choose when no minimum shift or daily engagement requirement applies. |
| Paid Community Service Leave | Choose this work type when community service leave is taken. |
| Personal/Carer's Leave Taken | Choose this work type when personal/carer's leave is taken. |
| Public Holiday Not Worked | Choose this work type where a Permanent employee is not required to work on a shift falling on public holiday that the employee would have otherwise worked had it not been a public holiday. |
| TIL Of OT | Choose this work type if the employee elects to accrue time in lieu rather than be paid overtime for a shift. |
| Vehicle Allowance | Choose this work type when employee is required to use their own vehicle for work. |
Tags & Shift Conditions
Shift Conditions are added to specific timesheet records where a unique condition applies.
Shift Conditions |
Description |
|---|---|
| No Minimum Shift Engagement | Select when no minimum shift or daily engagement requirement applies. |
| TIL Of OT | Select if the employee elects to accrue TOIL for the specific shift. |
Tags are applied at the employee level for recurring conditions.
Tags |
Description |
|---|---|
| TIL of OT | Assign if an employee has a standing agreement to accrue all overtime as TOIL. |
System limitations
Please note that rules cannot interpret or calculate the clauses below due to platform limitations and will require manual intervention or a workaround.
Clause 17.3 Time off instead of payment for overtime
- (c) 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.
- (d) If the employee requests at any time to be paid for overtime covered by an agreement under clause 17.3 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.
- (e) If time off for overtime that has been worked is not taken within the period of 6 months mentioned in clause 17.3(b), 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.
Clause 13.5a Students of architecture
Since the payroll system cannot automatically track or trigger increases based on a specific number of weeks, progression to subsequent service weeks must be managed manually by the administrator.
Clause 13.6 Student or graduate study leave
- (a) The duration of which is not to exceed 4 days, maximum time for study and attendance at written and/or interview-based examinations for each APE examination period for which they present.
- (b) The duration of which is not to exceed one da,y maximum time for each examination for which they present.