We understand there’s an email circulating about changes to HDA payments effective pay 25, due next week, that has caused some concern.

This is a positive change in our view, and we had agreement to make this change more than 5 years ago, it’s just taken forever to get this in. Essentially, you’ll now be paid the higher rate of pay for all hours you spend in that higher role, while previously there was a good chance of an underpayment.

For example, if you spent 2 blocks at Branch, you’d have received 76 hours HDA pay when you actually did 96 hours work on the Branch roster, but you’ll now receive 96 hours Branch rate minus 20 hours normal rate. You’ll always be paid 76 hours pay a fortnight under our agreement, for full time employees.

Under the old system (using PARA7 to BSO 1) you’d have received up to $152 extra a fortnight for HDA at Branch, but under this new system you’ll receive $192 extra for the same fortnight. Calcs get a bit complex with Composite vs Higher Factor (HF) rosters and when you do less hours in each pay fortnight in the higher role, but in short, you should now receive the right pay for higher duties when working at higher classifications.

Remember in an 8-week period for composite pay, your ordinary hours of work can’t exceed 320 hours (40 hours a week average) otherwise OT and/or HF rates apply.

If changing rosters and/or squads, we encourage you to track your hours as it’s easy to get the total rostered hours wrong. Rate of pay (C vs HF) is not related to specific stations – it’s related to your total hours rostered!