Pay rates for working through meal breaks have been clarified in the Live Performance Award.
What's changed
The Live Performance Award has recently been updated to:
- clearly state the pay rate that applies when an employee is required to work through their meal break
- adopt new occupation terms in the award.
This follows a decision that the Fair Work Commission made that found errors in the existing award.
The Fair Work Commission is the national workplace tribunal and registered organisations regulator.
Pay rates and meal breaks
The update confirms that if an employee is required to work through their meal break, they're paid:
- 200% of the minimum hourly rate for full-time and part-time employees
- 225% of the minimum hourly rate for casuals.
These updates take effect from the first full pay period starting on or after 21 July 2025.
To calculate these and other entitlements under the award, use our Pay and Conditions Tool.
Occupation terms
Some occupation terms in the Live Performance Award have been updated, including:
- 'keyboard' updated to 'computer'
- 'clerk' updated to 'administrator'
- 'deputy ballet master/mistress' updated to 'deputy rehearsal director'.
The job title of 'chaperone' was also added to the award.
These updates have been made to address some confusion around use of some existing terms.
Award resources updated
Access helpful tools and resources for the Live Performance Award, including:
- an up-to-date copy of the award at Live Performance Award
- a summary of who is and isn't covered by the award at Live Performance Award summary of award coverage
- our calculator to work out pay penalty rates, leave and other entitlements: Pay and Conditions Tool.
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Related information
To learn more about these changes, you can also access the Fair Work Commission:
