Travelling Shows Award

If you operate a travelling show, carnival, sideshow or mobile amusement operation in Australia that moves between locations, and you employ staff who are not otherwise award-free, the Travelling Shows Award 2020 (MA000102) is generally the relevant award. Work that sits outside travelling show operations may fall under a different modern award instead. Confirm coverage for your specific operation against the Fair Work source before setting pay and conditions, particularly if you run a mix of touring and fixed sites.

Match the employee to the level that reflects the work they actually perform, using the award's classification definitions, which weigh the skills, responsibilities and experience involved in setting up, operating and travelling with the show. Title alone is not enough; assess the real duties, including any driving or supervisory responsibilities, then read the current minimum rate for that level from the Fair Work Pay Calculator.

Casual travelling show employees are paid an hourly rate plus a casual loading, commonly 25% across modern awards, in place of the paid leave and other entitlements casuals do not receive. The loading can combine with weekend and public holiday penalties when casuals work those days, which is common for shows. Treat 25% as a guide and confirm the exact loading and how it interacts with penalties for this award on the Fair Work source before running pay.

Unlike many awards, MA000102 does not set weekend penalties: ordinary hours worked on a Saturday or Sunday are paid at the ordinary rate, with a premium applying only to work on public holidays. Weekends are peak trading for most shows, so it is worth being clear that no Saturday or Sunday loading applies, though overtime and the casual loading can still arise. Always confirm the current weekend treatment for your employee type on the Fair Work Pay Calculator before processing pay.

Work on a public holiday is paid at a significant premium, which across awards can reach up to 150% of the minimum rate, and a minimum engagement may apply. Public holidays are often a show's busiest days, so this premium can apply to a large part of the crew. Employees who would normally work that day but do not are generally entitled to their ordinary pay. Check the current public holiday entitlement for MA000102 against the Fair Work source.

Overtime applies when an employee works beyond the ordinary hours set by the award, such as exceeding the daily or weekly limits or working outside the spread of ordinary hours. Long show days plus set-up and pack-down can readily push crews into overtime. Overtime is paid at penalty rates that step up after the first couple of hours, with higher rates on Sundays and public holidays; confirm the applicable multipliers on the Fair Work source.

Yes. Part-time employees work fewer than full-time hours on a reasonably predictable pattern, and the award requires a written agreement setting out the agreed hours, days and times, with any changes also agreed in writing. Part-timers receive pro-rata leave and the same minimum rates as full-timers for their classification. Given the seasonal nature of shows, many crews are casual, but check the part-time provisions in the award for the full requirements where you use them.

Travel between towns and the bump-in and bump-out of rides and stalls are central to show work. The award treats set-up and pack-down as ordinary hours, paid at the relevant rate, while travel between shows is compensated through a per-kilometre vehicle allowance for those who use their own vehicle, together with reimbursement of accommodation costs while away. Map out the travel and set-up involved in your touring schedule, then confirm what is payable, and the current allowance amounts, against the Fair Work source.

Because crews tour and live away from home, the award provides allowances that can include a travelling or living-away allowance, a meal allowance, and allowances reflecting set-up, pack-down or driving duties, all paid on top of the base rate. Which apply depends on your touring arrangement and each role. Identify the relevant allowances for your operation and confirm current amounts on the Fair Work Pay Calculator rather than relying on remembered figures.

Annual leave loading is an extra payment on top of base pay when an employee takes annual leave. Under this award it is 17.5% of the minimum rate of pay, and it applies to full-time and part-time employees taking paid annual leave. Casuals, who make up much of a travelling show's seasonal workforce, do not accrue annual leave. Apply the loading when processing leave payments for permanent staff and confirm the calculation against the Fair Work source.

Minimum rates and many allowances are reviewed each year in the Fair Work Commission's Annual Wage Review and take effect from the first full pay period on or after 1 July. The 2026 review increased modern award minimums by 4.75%. Apply the new rates from that pay period, not the calendar date, and refresh each classification rate and allowance from the Fair Work Pay Calculator each year so your travelling show payroll stays compliant across the season.

Travelling shows often engage staff for a touring run or a season, with many crews employed as casuals to suit the work pattern, while some core staff are permanent. The form of engagement affects entitlements such as leave, notice and the casual loading. Be clear about how each person is engaged, and confirm the relevant minimum rates and entitlements for that engagement type, and any current figures, against the Fair Work source.

The risks with MA000102 sit in the detail: how travel, set-up and pack-down time is paid, weekend and public holiday penalties at peak trading, travelling and living-away allowances, the right classification and engagement type, and figures refreshed every July. Anchor every figure to the Fair Work Pay Calculator and review pay each 1 July, keeping accurate records of hours and travel. Valont's People Hub runs award-compliant payroll for travelling show operators, mapping classifications, allowances and penalties so the right amount is paid every cycle.