Veterinary Hospitals and Emergency Back-Office Services

The Award: typically the Animal Care and Veterinary Services Award 2020

Which award applies depends on the business, the work each employee actually performs, their classification and whether they are full-time, part-time or casual. The Fair Work Ombudsman's coverage summary places private veterinary surgery practices under the Animal Care and Veterinary Services Award 2020, listing veterinary surgeons, veterinary nurses, animal attendants and assistants, receptionists and practice managers among the employees covered; private boarding kennels and dog grooming businesses are not covered. Check coverage for your own business rather than assuming one award covers everyone, and use the Fair Work Pay Calculator for the current rate for a given award, classification and shift.

Classifications: Vet nurse Level 1-4, veterinary surgeon, emergency veterinarian, specialist referral classifications.

Ordinary hours: 38 hours per week, 24/7 emergency operations.

Penalty rates: the award sets separate rates for Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, and for overtime, evening, night or shift work where it provides them, and they vary by classification and by whether the employee is full-time, part-time or casual — casual employees have their own rates in the award's penalty table. Rather than work from a remembered percentage, look up the current rate for the specific classification and shift on the Fair Work Pay Calculator and apply the rate in effect on the day worked. On-call and call-back. Night shift.

Minimum engagement: 3 hours for casuals, or 2.5 hours for secondary school students (Animal Care and Veterinary Services Award clause 11, read 8 September 2026).

Key allowances: on-call, call-back (minimum 3hrs), x-ray, uniform, shift.

Getting these provisions wrong creates systematic underpayment that compounds with every pay period. The Fair Work Ombudsman actively monitors compliance in this sector, and the penalties for deliberate underpayment were significantly increased under recent legislation. Valont's payroll specialists configure your payroll software with the exact award rules for each employee classification, eliminating manual interpretation errors.

Sources: award coverage — the Fair Work Ombudsman's summary of the Animal and Veterinary Services Award [MA000118] and the award text of the Animal Care and Veterinary Services Award 2020 [MA000118] (read 8 September 2026); pay and award rules — Fair Work Ombudsman and the Fair Work Commission; superannuation, BAS and tax — the Australian Taxation Office.