Pastoral Award 2020 — FWC Award text hosted by the Fair Work Ombudsman

FWC · MA000035 · Clause 50

50. Classifications

[Varied by PR724570, PR729479, PR740884, PR762308, PR774088]

[50.1 substituted by PR734194 from 27Sep21]

50.1 The minimum rates of pay provided for in clauses 51.1 to 51.6 will apply to casual employees engaged for work in a shed, other than Woolclassers and Shearing shed experts, in one or more of the following categories:

 Shearer;

 Crutcher;

 Shed hand;

 Woolpresser; or

 Shearing cook.

A composite of these categories may apply where the employee has mixed functions, except Shearers.

50.2 Shed hands or Woolpresser-shed hands

(a) A shed hand or Woolpresser-shed hand may be required to work as a generally useful hand in or about the shearing shed either during the crutching or shearing or when crutching or shearing is not taking place.

(b) Shed hands, Woolpressers and Woolpresser-shed hands will be paid by the run (as defined in clause 54.1(b)).

(c) Minimum daily payment

(i) Employees will be guaranteed a minimum daily payment for 2 runs on any day on which the employee attends for duty; except

 if on the day of cut out work continues beyond the normal lunch break then payment will be made for 4 runs; or

 if sheep are voted wet at the commencement of the third or fourth run, then they will be paid for all completed runs on that day together with the run due to commence or partly completed at the time sheep are voted wet.

(ii) Minimum payment per day will not apply where an employee is not required to attend for work because of wet weather, provided that:

 the employee is advised on each preceding day that they will not be required to attend; or

 the employee is advised by the employer of a starting time with more than 24 hours’ notice.

(d) When an employee has mixed functions (e.g. as Woolpresser and shed hand) they will be paid at the rate that attracts the higher minimum rate of pay under this award.

(e) Woolpresser-shed hands and shed hands will weigh, brand, store and carry wool to the press without extra payment.

(f) An employer may direct a shed hand to carry out the duties of a Woolpresser, provided that:

(i) the employee will only be required to perform those duties of a Woolpresser that are within the limits of that employee’s skill, competence and training;

(ii) the performance of such duties does not involve either an alteration to the employee’s classification or a major and substantial change in the duties normally performed by the employee; and

(iii) the direction will be given only in the pursuit of the efficient conduct of a shearing or crutching operation in circumstances of unavailability of a contracted Woolpresser for a limited period.

50.3 Woolpressers

(a) A Woolpresser or Woolpresser-shed hand will:

(i) press as soon as possible all the wool shorn or crutched from the relevant shearing or crutching;

(ii) weigh, brand and store the wool; and

(iii) press and close the bales in the manner and, as nearly practicable, to the weight directed by the overseer, and remove all clippings and string from the inside of the bales and clear away such clippings and string and all loose wool from the portion of the shed occupied for woolpressing.

(b) An employer may direct a Woolpresser to carry out the duties of a shed hand, provided that:

(i) the employee will only be required to perform those duties of a shed hand that are within the limits of that employee’s skill, competence and training; and

(ii) the performance of such duties does not involve either an alteration in the employee’s classification or a major and substantial change in the duties normally performed by the employee.

50.4 Shearing cooks

(a) Shearing cooks will prepare and cook up to 5 meals per day, including morning and afternoon tea, for an agreed number of persons.

(b) The total number of persons for whom an employee is to cook, on the average of the shearing or crutching, will not be:

(i) less than the minimum number agreed upon; or

(ii) more than the maximum number agreed upon.

(c) If any of the employees for whom the Shearing cook is to cook for, strike or wilfully cease work against the direction of the employer, the Shearing cook will be entitled to payment of wages in respect only of those employees who do not strike or cease work.

(d) The Shearing cook will provide at the cook’s own expense such suitable assistant or assistants as may be necessary for the proper cooking and serving of food.

(e) Shearing cooks may be engaged per half day.

(f) On the day prior to the commencement of shearing or crutching, should the Shearing cook be required to prepare the evening meal or clean and prepare the kitchen for a normal start on the following day, payment will be made at 50% of the daily or piecework rate.

(g) On the day of cut out a Shearing cook will be guaranteed 50% of the daily or piecework rate. However should shearing proceed after the normal midday meal break, a full day’s wages will be payable.

(h) Where a Shearing cook is engaged to cook for non-resident employees and prepares morning and afternoon tea and a midday meal they will receive 50% of the daily or piecework rate.

(i) Where clause 50.4(h) applies, employees will be required to contribute a maximum of 50% of the rate established pursuant to clause 51.6 of this award.

50.5 Shearers and learner shearers

(a) Shearers

Shearers will be engaged to shear and/or crutch sheep.

(b) Learner shearers

(i) A learner will mean a shearer or intending shearer who has not yet shorn 5000 sheep.

(ii) A learner who starts in a shed as a learner may continue to be regarded as a learner under clause 50.5 for a run of sheds, although they become a shearer, not a learner, before the run of sheds is completed.

(iii) The learner must produce to their employer or intended employer a certificate, log book or equivalent in the following form showing the number of sheep they have shorn:

LEARNER’S CERTIFICATE TO BE PRESENTED AT EACH SHEARING

Issued to ……………………………..

Home address ………………………………

Date of issue of certificate ………………………………….

Age ……………………………………..

Date | Station | Total sheep shorn | Average tally per day (whole days) | Signature of owner or manager or shed overseer | Signature of learner | Total sheep shorn prior to issue of this certificate

| | | | | |

[50.5(b)(iv) varied by PR724570, PR729479, PR740884, PR762308, PR774088 ppc 01Jul24]

(iv) The earnings of a learner shearer will not be less than they would have received had they been employed for the same period as an adult shed hand, plus the combs and cutters allowance of $24.36 per week. The agreement of such specified learner will be endorsed “learner” at the time it is signed.

50.6 Crutchers

Crutchers will be engaged to crutch sheep, either a full crutch or other crutch.

50.7 Woolclassers

The classification and duties structure is as follows:

(a) Woolclasser level 1

Woolclasser level 1 (W1) may be required to undertake woolclassing duties only. These duties, which will be carried out in accordance with the directions and orders of the owner or nominated representative, will be as follows:

(i) to classify the wool and advise and report generally as a wool expert, according to the industry agreed code of practice as published by the Australian Wool Exchange Limited or its successors;

(ii) to instruct the woolrollers and supervise the skirting and rolling of the fleece;

(iii) to instruct and supervise the piece-pickers, the pickers-up as far as concerns their duty in picking up the fleeces and all other persons engaged in the handling of the wool;

(iv) to instruct the Woolpressers and exercise a general supervision over the pressing, weighing and branding of the bales;

(v) to keep the shed wool book, or see that it is kept by the Woolpresser or woolweigher, to the satisfaction of the employer, and, where required, to write up the station permanent wool and weight book daily (one copy only); and

(vi) to complete waybills if and when required.

(b) Woolclasser level 2

A Woolclasser level 2 (W2) may be required to undertake:

(i) woolclassing duties, being any of the duties outlined in relation to Woolclasser level 1; and

(ii) woolrolling, where such work is incidental to the duties of a Woolclasser, and other shed hand work where such work is a minor and incidental part of the duties of the Woolclasser. In the interest of efficient performance of work by the Woolclasser, such woolrolling will not be performed in a shed where more than 900 fleeces per day are shorn.

(c) Woolclasser level 3

A Woolclasser level 3 (W3) may be required to undertake:

(i) woolclassing duties, being any of the duties described for Woolclasser level 1 above;

(ii) woolrolling or other shed hands work as described for Woolclasser level 2 above;

(iii) overseeing or management of the board, provided that a Woolclasser must not do overseeing nor take the management of the board in addition to doing woolclassing in any shed where more than 12 Shearers are employed;

(iv) bookkeeping; and

(v) experting, as described in clause 50.8, provided that except in the case of an emergency, a Woolclasser must not act as an expert in addition to doing woolclassing in a shed where more than 6 Shearers are employed at any one time.

50.8 Shearing shed experts

(a) Shearing shed expert level 1

A Shearing shed expert level 1 (E1) may be required to perform experting duties only. The duties of a Shearing shed expert will include:

(i) attending to the shearing shed machinery;

(ii) engine driving;

(iii) the grinding of combs and cutters; and

(iv) such other duties as may be agreed upon by the employer and the employee at the time of the employee’s engagement.

(b) Shearing shed expert level 2

A Shearing shed expert level 2 (E2) may be required to perform:

(i) experting duties as described for Shearing shed expert level 1;

(ii) woolrolling or other shed hands work where such work is a minor and incidental part of the duties of an expert. In the interest of efficient performance of work, such woolrolling must not be performed in a shed where more than 900 fleeces per day are shorn;

(iii) overseeing or management of the board; and

(iv) bookkeeping.

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Official document

Pastoral Award 2020 — FWC Award text hosted by the Fair Work Ombudsman ↗

Version

This Fair Work Commission consolidated modern award incorporates all amendments up to and including 1 July 2026 (PR799280, PR799316 and PR799473). ↗

Citation verified

26 Oct 2026

Operative note

Based on the current consolidated Award text incorporating amendments up to and including 1 July 2026. That consolidation date is not the commencement date of every provision; check the relevant variation and operative conditions when assessing an earlier period.