Packages & Benefits
When employed by NSW Health your salary rates are set out in an award. In addition, there are a variety of other benefits that may apply to you. Read on for more information.
Awards & Conditions
An award outlines your fundamental employment conditions. It is also typically, your first point of reference to review the financial benefits that apply to a position.
Conditions of employment that may be described in an award include:
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To view the award relevant to a position and to access your conditions of employment visit the Awards Index Page
Salary Packaging*
Salary packaging is a great opportunity for you to increase your take-home pay!
Salary packaging is a process that allows you to remodel your existing 'cash' salary into a combination of 'cash' and a mix of packaging benefits. Salary packaging enables you to receive a higher net benefit from tax savings.
The Australian Taxation Office approves the public hospital tax status that enables the salary packaging scheme to be available to NSW Health Service employees. This status 'caps' the scheme so that you can package up to $17,000 grossed up of approved exempt fringe benefits.
Eligible staff are:
- Permanent full-time and part-time staff,
- Temporary staff with a minimum of a three month contract
Note: Casual staff are not eligible
For more information see:
Salary packaging of Meal Entertainment*
The Meal Entertainment benefit is a new salary sacrifice incentive available to employees of public hospitals, government employees working exclusively for, or in connection with, public hospitals and public ambulance services.
The Meal Entertainment benefit can be salary packaged on top of the current maximum. It is also a fringe benefit tax-exempt item, which means the value of the amount packaged is not counted in the employees $17,000 per annum grossed up fringe benefits tax exemption cap.
Further information about the business rules for the administration of Meal Entertainment for Salary Packaging can be found here : http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/policies/pd/2007/pdf/PD2007_076.pdf
Salary Sacrifice to Superannuation*
Superannuation is a government regulated investment strategy. Currently NSW Health pays 9% of your salary/wages into a superannuation fund. You can access the fund when you retire (government mandated age limits apply).
Sacrificing to superannuation is the option of making additional superannuation contributions. You can now elect to sacrifice up to 100% of your salary either through salary sacrificing to superannuation, or salary packaging, or using a combination of both.
Eligible staff are:
- Permanent full-time and part-time staff
- Temporary staff with a minimum of a six month contract
Note: Casual staff are not eligible.
For more information on salary sacrifice arrangements see:
- Salary Sacrifice for Superannuation Guideline [PDF, 96k]
- Salary Packaging and Sacrificing to Superannuation - Removal of 50% Limitation [PDF, 41k]
Other Fringe Benefits Tax Exemptions*
A fringe benefit is a benefit which may be supplied to you as an employee in exchange for salary or in addition to salary. This benefit may or may not attract fringe benefits tax (FBT).
FBT, currently 46.5%, can be levied on approved benefits supplied to you unless:
- those benefits fall within the FBT exempt cap discussed in salary packaging, or
- those benefits are already exempted from FBT by the Australian Tax Office.
Dependent on the details of your employment relationship with NSW Health you may be able to apply certain specific FBT exemptions for:
- Child Care
Where appropriate facilities and places are available - Relocation and Living Away from Home Expenses
These can include accommodation costs in Australia, transport costs, etc.
For more information refer to Other FBT Exemptions.
*You are strongly advised to seek independent professional financial advice before entering into salary packaging, salary sacrifice for superannuation or FBT exemption arrangements.