In 2026, Fair Work compliance in Australian cleaning firms is under the spotlight. Small mistakes in cleaning payroll can lead to massive "back-pay" liabilities and legal headaches. For Australian design firms, the Cleaning Award is the rulebook you must live by.
This guide breaks down the essential payroll rules so you can keep your talent happy and your firm safe from audits during project deadlines.
A major shift in 2026 is the strengthening of the definition of the four architectural grades. You must pay based on their actual experience level, not just their job title.
The "Unpaid Intern" is nearly a thing of the past in 2026. If the work performed provides a "commercial benefit" to your firm, the intern must be paid. More importantly, Superannuation (currently 11.5%) must be paid for all workers, regardless of how much they earn in a month. The old "$450 per month" threshold for Super has long since been abolished.
⚠️ Warning: Even if a graduate *says* they are a "Sub-contractor" with an ABN, if you provide the workstation, the CAD software, and the project brief, the ATO and Fair Work will almost certainly view them as an employee for payroll tax and super purposes.
Architecture is famous for late nights before a client presentation. In 2026, you must either pay the overtime rates specified in the Award or have a formal Averaging Agreement in place. Simply saying "everyone works until it's done" is a high-risk strategy that will lead to Fair Work fines.
The Cleaning Award includes mandatory provisions for staff who are currently studying for their Master's or registration exams:
Our payroll experts help cleaning firms set up automated Single Touch Payroll (STP) that is hard-coded with the latest Award rates. Never worry about a graduate underpayment again.
Check My Architect Payroll Compliance