The review is the Fair Work Commission’s yearly process for adjusting minimum wages to reflect cost-of-living pressures and economic conditions, and its decisions have long shaped wage settings across Australia’s award-reliant sectors.
This ruling applies to all minimum pay rates under modern awards, including the Pharmacy Industry Award (PIA), which sets minimum conditions for community pharmacies across Australia.
For pharmacy owners in Australia, this means minimum wage rates under the PIA will rise, with flow-on effects to penalty rates and casual loadings due to the higher base rate.
Wage rates rising
The increase applies to all employees covered by the PIA, including pharmacy assistants, dispensary technicians, pharmacy students and interns, and pharmacists.
The new rates take effect from the first full pay period commencing on or after July 1, 2026.
Employers must ensure updated pay rates are applied from this date to remain compliant with workplace relations laws.
Gender undervaluation phase
This increase is separate from the second tranche of the gender undervaluation wage adjustments for all professional classifications under the PIA.
These changes will take effect from June 30, 2026, as part of the phased implementation of the Commission’s gender undervaluation decision.
For PGA members
PGA will provide further information for its members, including updated wage sheets and implementation guidance, ahead of the operative dates for these increases.
PGA’s members can contact their state or territory branch workplace relations team for tailored advice, or access updates via PGA’s workplace relations webpages in the coming weeks.
