Modern award
Cleaning Services Award [MA000022] for commercial cleaning
Source: Fair Work Ombudsman: List of awards (retrieved 6 October 2026)
Employer guide
Hire a Cleaner in Australia
To hire a cleaner, decide the site type and the checks it needs, apply the right award and avoid treating employees as contractors. CrossNation recruits cleaners for employers across Australia. The fee is 12% of the annual salary, charged only on a successful placement.
By CrossNation Editorial Team. Sources checked 6 October 2026.
12% of annual salary
Charged only when a placement succeeds. No placement, no fee.
90-day placement guarantee
See our terms.
Official data
Key facts from official sources
Pay check
Fair Work Pay Calculator shows the minimum rate for an award and level
Source: Fair Work Ombudsman: Pay Calculator (retrieved 6 October 2026)
Checks for school sites
Working with children checks are issued by each state; Victoria runs the Working with Children Check
Source: Victorian Government: Working with Children Check (retrieved 6 October 2026)
What you need to know
Which checks fit the site?
Checks follow the site. Hospitals, aged care homes and schools often require a national police check, and sites where children are present need a Working With Children Check in the relevant state. Healthcare sites may ask for immunisation evidence and infection control training. Decide the checks before you brief a recruiter, record each one and keep copies. Chemical handling and manual handling training are standard, and you need safety data sheets for the products used. A consistent process protects your client, the workers and your contract.
How should you describe the shift and site?
Cleaners choose work by hours and travel, so give the start and finish times, the number of days, the sites and distances between them and whether travel time is paid. Early morning, evening and split shifts are common in commercial cleaning. Describe the areas, the equipment supplied and the team size, and say whether the person works alone. If your cleaning spans hotels or clubs, check whether a hospitality award applies instead of the cleaning award.
Which award applies, and what about contractors?
Commercial cleaners are generally covered by the Cleaning Services Award [MA000022], which sets minimum rates by level, penalty rates for nights and weekends, minimum shift lengths and allowances. Some cleaning businesses engage workers as contractors on an ABN, but what counts is the real working relationship, and misrepresenting employment as contracting can breach the Fair Work Act. We do not publish pay figures here. Confirm the award, keep accurate time records and use the Fair Work Pay Calculator to cost each shift.
How do you make cleaning teams reliable?
Reliability starts with clear scope. Give each cleaner a written task list and schedule for each site, show the equipment and chemicals, and provide safety data sheets. Explain access, alarms and key handling, and what to do if something is damaged or unsafe. Pay on time, provide correct pay slips and confirm shift times in writing. Supervisors who check in, listen to concerns and fix equipment problems keep people longer than those who only inspect. Keep accurate time records for every shift.
Before you brief a recruiter: cleaner checklist
Checklist
- Match police check and Working With Children Check to the site
- Collect immunisation evidence and training records where required
- Give shift times, sites and travel arrangements
- Confirm the award and classification
- Keep accurate time and pay records
- Decide genuinely whether the worker is an employee
Tell us the role, location and start date
The fee is 12% of the candidate's annual salary, charged only when a placement succeeds.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Do cleaners need a licence?
There is no national licence. Your clients and sites set the checks and training.
Can cleaners be engaged as contractors?
Only if they genuinely run their own business. Workers directed like employees may be employees with award rights.
What is a minimum shift length?
Awards set minimum periods of engagement for some employees. Check the Cleaning Services Award and your roster.
How does CrossNation charge to recruit a cleaner?
The fee is 12% of the candidate's annual salary, charged only when a placement succeeds, and placements carry a 90-day placement guarantee. There is no charge to send a brief. CrossNation recruits cleaners for employers across Australia, and you can send the role, location and start date through the employer enquiry form.
Can I recruit an overseas cleaner through CrossNation?
CrossNation recruits sponsorship-ready overseas candidates for employers that want them. Cleaning roles have limited overseas hiring routes, and visa work limits such as those on student visas affect rostering. The employer holds or obtains its own approval, and CrossNation cannot promise a visa, an approval or a job. This is general information, not migration advice. Speak to a registered migration agent.
What should I verify before I offer a cleaner the job?
Cleaners do not need registration. Sites such as hospitals, schools and aged care homes commonly require a police check or a Working With Children Check. For a cleaner, the award that commonly applies is the Cleaning Services Award (MA000022), but coverage depends on your industry and the person's duties, so confirm it with the Fair Work Ombudsman before you set the offer. Keep a copy of any licence, registration or check you sight for your cleaner, and confirm their right to work in Australia before they start.