Amusement, Events and Recreation Award 2025 Pay Rates (MA000080)

Plain-English Summary

Who does this award cover?

The Amusement, Events and Recreation Award covers employees working in amusement parks, theme parks, indoor play centres, bowling alleys, ice-skating rinks, cinemas, exhibition centres, convention centres, event venues, recreation grounds, and similar entertainment and events businesses. If you work as a ride operator, event coordinator, usher, ticketing attendant, recreation ground worker, bowling alley attendant, or exhibition stand builder, this award applies to you. It covers roughly 40,000 workers across Australia's events and recreation sector.

This award does NOT cover employees in hospitality venues that primarily serve food and drink (Hospitality Award, MA000009), employees in sporting organisations that are primarily clubs (Registered Clubs Award, MA000058), or employees in general retail (General Retail Industry Award, MA000004). The key test is whether the employer's primary business involves providing amusement, entertainment, or recreation services, or staging events and exhibitions. See clause 4 for coverage terms.

How classification levels work

The award has two streams: exhibition employees and other employees. Exhibition employees are those working at trade shows, exhibitions, conferences, and conventions. Other employees cover amusement parks, recreation centres, cinemas, and similar venues. Each stream has classification levels from Level 1 through Level 5 (clause 14 and Schedule A). Level 1 covers entry-level roles such as ticketing, basic customer service, and general labouring. Levels 2 and 3 cover experienced operators and skilled workers. Levels 4 and 5 cover supervisors and specialist roles.

Exhibition employee provisions

Exhibition employees have a unique arrangement in this award. Their working hours and penalty structures differ from standard amusement and recreation employees because exhibition work is inherently project-based and irregular. Exhibition employees may work extended hours during event setup and pack-down periods, with specific overtime provisions for shifts exceeding 12 hours and for work beyond 56 hours in a single week.

Classification Levels and Base Rates

All rates effective 1 July 2025. Source: Fair Work Commission Annual Wage Review 2024-25.

Other Than Exhibition Employees

Exhibition Employees

Hourly rate = weekly rate / 38 (clause 13.1). Casual rate = hourly rate x 1.25 (clause 11.1).

Penalty Rates

All penalties are calculated on the base hourly rate (clause 24 and clause 25).

Full-Time and Part-Time Employees (Other Than Exhibition)

Exhibition Employees

Casual Employees (Other Than Exhibition)

Casual penalty rates include the 25% casual loading. Exhibition casuals have the same casual loading but different overtime triggers. See clauses 24 and 25.

Worked Examples

Example 1: Casual ride operator on a Sunday

Mia is a casual Level 2 ride operator at a theme park who works a 6-hour Sunday shift.

• Base rate: $25.49/hr
• Sunday casual rate: 175% = $25.49 x 1.75 = $44.61/hr
• Total for 6 hours: $267.66 gross
• Clause reference: clause 24.4

Example 2: Full-time exhibition builder on a 14-hour shift

Tony is a permanent Level 3 exhibition stand builder who works a 14-hour shift during a major trade show setup.

• Base rate: $26.59/hr
• First 12 hours (ordinary): 100% = $26.59/hr x 12 = $319.08
• Last 2 hours (exceeds 12 hrs, overtime at 200%): $26.59 x 2.00 = $53.18/hr x 2 = $106.36
• Total for 14 hours: $425.44 gross
• Clause reference: clause 25.4

Example 3: Part-time cinema usher on a public holiday

Suki is a part-time Level 1 cinema usher who works a 5-hour public holiday shift on Boxing Day.

• Base rate: $24.73/hr
• Public holiday rate: 250% = $24.73 x 2.50 = $61.83/hr
• Total for 5 hours: $309.15 gross
• Clause reference: clause 24.2

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the minimum shift length for amusement and events workers?

Casual and part-time employees (other than exhibition employees) must be engaged for a minimum of 3 hours per shift (clause 11.2). Exhibition employees have a minimum engagement of 4 hours due to the setup/pack-down nature of their work. At the Level 1 casual rate ($30.91/hr), the minimum payment for a 3-hour shift is $92.73 gross.

2. Why do exhibition employees have different overtime rules?

Exhibition work is project-based and irregular. Employees may work long hours during event setup and shorter hours between events. Instead of daily overtime triggers, the award uses a fortnightly trigger of 76 hours in a two-week roster cycle (clause 25.3). This gives exhibition employers flexibility to schedule longer shifts during setup periods and shorter shifts during quiet periods, while ensuring total hours are controlled.

3. I work at a bowling alley. Am I under this award or the Hospitality Award?

If your workplace is primarily a bowling alley (its main business is bowling and related amusement), you are under the Amusement, Events and Recreation Award. However, if the bowling is a minor part of a larger hospitality venue (such as a pub with a bowling green), the Hospitality Award may apply. The test is the primary purpose of the business.

4. Do theme park workers get penalty rates on weekends?

For permanent and part-time employees, Sunday attracts a 175% penalty (clause 24.1). Saturday does not attract a specific weekend penalty for ordinary hours under this award, reflecting the fact that Saturday work is normal and expected in the amusement and recreation industry. However, overtime worked on Saturday is paid at the standard overtime rate of 150% for the first 3 hours and 200% thereafter.

5. Can I be asked to work more than 12 hours in a single shift?

Under this award, work exceeding 12 hours in a shift attracts double time (200%) for all hours beyond the 12th hour (clause 25.2). Your employer can request you to work extended shifts, but the additional penalty rate compensates for the extended working time. You can refuse to work unreasonable additional hours under the National Employment Standards.

Check Your Rate

Working at a theme park, event venue, or recreation centre? Use our free calculator to check your exact pay rate.

Check your pay rate now

Select your stream (exhibition or other), classification level, employment type, and the day you work. The calculator handles the different overtime triggers for exhibition employees, Sunday penalties, and extended shift rates -- all with clause references so you can verify every number.

Schema Markup Suggestions

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Table Schema (Dataset)

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• creator: Fair Work Commission
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Breadcrumb Schema

Home > Awards > Amusement, Events and Recreation Award (MA000080)

Rates current as of 1 July 2025. Source: Fair Work Commission, CC BY 4.0. This information is general in nature and is not legal advice. Always verify rates against the Fair Work Ombudsman's Pay and Conditions Tool (PACT) at calculate.fairwork.gov.au.