Bulletin 4 - Offer for a new Enterprise Agreement - issued 21 August 2026
I am pleased to advise that on 20 August 2026, I made an offer for a new Agreement for Dental Officers’ that provides a fair and generous package of contemporary improvements designed to support and recognise our dental officer workforce. This offer achieves a balance of enhanced employment conditions with the ongoing provision of secure and sustainable employment and continues to remunerate dentists very competitively nationally.
The Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) and their workplace delegates, the Health Services Union, representatives from Department of Health, Department of Corporate and Digital Development, and my office have worked hard to negotiate improved salaries and conditions for a new agreement that address key priorities for both the agency and employees.
Key improvements build on the current agreement and include:
- Salary and allowance increase of 2.75% per annum, providing an overall compounding increase of 11.46% over 4 years.
- Improvements to Professional Development Allowance Reimbursement for Graduate Dentists.
- New entitlement for Dental Officers to access Time off In Lieu (TOIL) when undertaking excess travel to remote communities in the course of their duties.
- Work level descriptions for the Dental Officers’ have been amended to reflect the work content for each level.
- Improved leave entitlements to support employee wellbeing and work-life balance.
- Strengthened health and safety provisions to further protect employees and promote a safe, healthy and supportive workplace.
The offer summarised below reflects the significant progress made during the negotiation meetings and addresses a range of Union and employer proposals. To read the details of the full offer, you can review the information sheet PDF (635.9 KB).
Summary of the Offer
| 4 year agreement | - The new agreement will have a 4 year term that will provide employees with job certainty and secure terms and conditions over this period, including employment security provisions whereby there are no involuntary redundancies for the term of the Agreement.
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| Salary increases each year | - Total salary increase of 11% over 4 years (or 11.46% compounding over the term of the Agreement).
- Payment of the first increase from 21 August 2026, on the proviso the offer is approved through a ballot of employees.
- Allowances will continue to be adjusted by the respective salary increase with no reduction to any current allowances.
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| Improvements to Professional Development | - Improvements to Professional Development Reimbursement Payment for Graduate Dentists to be eligible after 6 months of continuous service.
- Professional Development Leave clause has been reworded to improve clarity and readability, including confirming that fixed-term employees engaged on contracts of 6 months or more are eligible to access this leave.
Note: Dental Officers also have access to additional support for professional development through By-law 41 – Assistance with Studies, which provides opportunities to access study leave and the reimbursement of approved study-related expenses.
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| NEW – Excess Travel Time for Travelling to Remote Communities | - A new clause to provide Dental Officers’ with time off in lieu, where Dental Officers’ undertake approved travel to remote communities in the course of their duties.
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| NEW - Recreation Leave at Half Pay | - A new clause will be included into the agreement to allow the use of recreation leave at half pay.
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| Dental Officer Work Level Descriptions and Classification Structure | - Dental Officer work level descriptions have been amended to reflect the work content for each level within the new classification structure, aligning with the NTPS Capability Framework and Dental Officer Professional Practice Framework, reflecting the agreed outcomes of the review conducted under clause 9 Review of Certain Matters in the current Agreement.
- Clause 31 - Assessment for Progression has been amended to reflect the updated classification structure.
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| Workloads | - A new clause to provide a commitment that management will respond in writing to an employee’s written concerns regarding ongoing and sustained workload issues in the workplace within 7 days.
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| Strengthening Safe & Healthy Work Environment | - The work health and safety provisions will be strengthened consistent with the Work Health and Safety (National Uniform Legislation) Act 2011, and improved measures will be included for all parties to:
- take reasonable and practicable steps to prevent and address psychosocial risks in the workplace; and
- support the establishment of committees and/or working groups including health and safety representatives (HSR’s).
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| Disability & Diversity | - A new clause committing to support and accommodate a diverse and inclusive workplace which values the identities, skills and capabilities of all people including those with a disability, from culturally diverse background and senior employees.
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| Inclusion of PSEM By-Laws & Determinations | - The current Long Service Leave provisions contained in By-law 8 will be enshrined in the new agreement (All leave related By-Laws have been included in the agreement.)
- The Community Language Allowance currently available under Determination 5 of 2024 will be incorporated into the new agreement.
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| Fair Work Compliance | - Updated or new clauses to reflect recent changes to the Fair Work Act 2009 include Management of Change, Dispute Settling Procedures, Individual Flexibility Arrangements, Casual Employment (Employee Choice Pathway), Workplace Delegates Rights, Right to Disconnect and Fixed Period Employment.
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| Improved leave provisions | - Personal Leave to cover medical attendance
- Recredit of recreation leave if accessing compassionate leave
- Improved Blood Donor Leave to include Blood Plasma
- New Organ Donor Leave
- Improved leave to engage in Voluntary Emergency Management Activities
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| Employer Efficiencies | - Removal of Accident Allowance clause as other provisions such as personal leave or workers compensation is available.
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I have also considered other matters raised in the Union’s log of claims throughout the bargaining process. There were a number of claims that could not be supported, as they are not consistent with the Northern Territory Government Wages Policy, nor do they take into account the generous NT provisions which already exist (e.g. including double superannuation on parental leave).
I consider this offer as I consider this offer to be a fair and generous package of contemporary improvements that balances enhanced employment conditions and continues to remunerate dental officers very competitive nationally.
Have your say – your feedback is important
Should you wish to provide feedback, you can provide your feedback to me by emailing Enquiries.OCPE@nt.gov.au.
More information
Regular updates in relation to the bargaining process are posted at the Dental Officers Enterprise Agreement web page.
Nicole Hurwood
Commissioner for Public Employment
