An award is a legal document that sets out the terms and conditions of employment for a specific industry or job. It contains things like rates of pay, overtime, penalty rates and allowances.
It is a legally enforceable set of minimum terms and conditions of employment. Awards operate in conjunction with the National Employment Standards (a legislated set of minimum standards), and together they provide a fair and relevant minimum safety net for workers.
An award applies to employees in a particular industry or occupation. The Fair Work Commission has responsibility for making and varying Awards in the national workplace relations system. Unions, such as the SDA, can apply to change or improve Awards that apply for their members.
What this means for you
If you work in the pharmacy industry, the relevant Award is the Pharmacy Industry Award. This Award outlines the minimum standards for the pharmacy industry.
That means workers within the pharmacy sector should not receive less overall than the pay and entitlements set out in this Award.
If you work in the pharmacy industry, you may be covered by the Pharmacy Industry Award or an Enterprise Bargaining Agreement negotiated by the SDA.
Check with the SDA if you’re unsure what applies to you.
The Pharmacy Award covers employers in the pharmacy industry and their employees who fit within the classifications of the award.
A pharmacy means any business that:
- is registered under the relevant state or territory legislation for regulation as a pharmacy or is located in a state or territory where there is no legislation that regulates pharmacies, and
- compounds or dispenses prescriptions or sells medicines or drugs (which may be alongside other retail goods) to the general public.
Examples of employees covered by the Pharmacy Award include:
- pharmacy assistants including dispensary assistants
- pharmacists
- pharmacy students and interns
- shop assistants working in a community pharmacy.
SDA members have access to exclusive pay and conditions resources.
This is just a snapshot of a handful of entitlements in the Pharmacy Industry Award – there’s many more.
As part of your SDA union membership, you can access detailed information about your award or agreement. This includes a full copy of your award or agreement.
