Payroll

  • At WCMS we want to make sure every team member is paid fairly, accurately, and on time. To help us do this, we have a simple payroll process in place:

    Pay Cycle

    • Mentors are paid fortnightly, with payments processed on Wednesday afternoons.

    • Payment is made directly to the bank account you nominated on your Employee Information Form.

    Lesson Attendance

    • Payroll is based on lesson attendance recorded in Opus. This ensures accuracy and fairness for both you and the studio.

    • If a lesson’s attendance has not been marked in Opus, we have no record of the session and cannot process payment for it.

    ⚠️ Important: No attendance marked = no pay. Please mark attendance promptly so your timesheet is correct.

    Support & Resources

    • A step-by-step Scribe slideshow is available below to guide you through marking attendance in Opus.

    • If you notice a mistake in your pay, or have trouble marking attendance, please reach out to Kathryn as soon as possible. We’re here to help.

    • If you ever forget to mark attendance, let us know - we’d rather fix it together than see you miss pay.

    Accountability

    • Consistently missing attendance records makes it difficult to run payroll smoothly and fairly. If this happens regularly, it may result in a performance conversation.

    • Our goal is not to punish, but to support everyone in building good habits so the whole team is paid accurately and on time.

Pay Rates & Fairwork

  • At WCMS we believe in transparent and fair pay for all team members.

    Pay Rates

    • Mentor pay rates are set in line with the Miscellaneous Award 2020 under the Fair Work Act.

    • Mentor pay rates are set based on role, experience, and responsibility level.

    • A full breakdown of current rates is available in the Scribe Pay Rates Document (see below).

    • Rates are reviewed annually in July in line with:

      • Fair Work updates to the relevant Award

      • WCMS’s annual wage review (aim for 3% increase annually)

    Pay Reviews & Increases

    • If Fair Work announces an increase to Award minimums, WCMS will apply these changes automatically.

    • In addition, WCMS reviews pay each year to ensure our rates remain competitive and reflect the growth of the studio.

    • Any changes to your pay rate will be communicated to you in writing.

    Support & Questions

    • If you’re unsure of your current pay rate, or believe there may be an error, please contact Kathryn.

    • You can also check the Scribe Pay Rates Document at any time for the latest information.

  • All WCMS employees are covered under the Fair Work Act, which sets out your workplace rights, pay, and entitlements.

    All WCMS Mentors are covered by the Fair Work Act and the Miscellaneous Award 2020. This ensures you have strong protections for your pay, conditions, and entitlements.

    You can view the Award here:
    Miscellaneous Award 2020 – Fair Work

    Your Protections

    • Minimum pay and conditions are set by Fair Work.

    • These include:

      • Pay rates and entitlements

      • Breaks and working hours

      • Leave (annual, sick, compassionate, etc.)

      • Protection against unfair dismissal and discrimination

    Common Mentor Entitlements at WCMS

    Most mentors are hired as casual employees, which means:

    • Minimum shift length: Shifts cannot be less than 2 hours. If your rostered shift is shorter, you will still be paid for 2 hours.

    • Breaks: If your shift exceeds 5 hours, you are entitled to a 30-minute unpaid break.

    • Casual loading: Your hourly rate includes casual loading to cover leave entitlements.

    • Saturday loading: Saturday shifts attract a higher hourly rate, applied automatically through payroll.

    (Note: For full details, always refer back to the Miscellaneous Award.)

    Staying Informed

    • You can always check your rights directly at www.fairwork.gov.au

    • You can also call Fair Work for confidential advice.

    WCMS Commitment

    • WCMS is committed to staying fully compliant with all Fair Work requirements.

    • We keep up to date with Fair Work announcements and ensure pay and conditions are always at or above minimum standards.

    Support & Questions

    • If you’re ever unsure about your entitlements or want to understand more about Fair Work, please reach out to Kathryn or our External HR Consultancy team at Cornerstone.

    • You are also free to contact Fair Work directly at any time for independent guidance.

External HR

  • At WCMS we partner with Cornerstone HR Consulting to provide independent HR support. This ensures every team member has access to fair, professional, and confidential guidance if they need it.

    Cornerstone HR: https://cornerconsult.com.au/

    When to Use the Escalation Chain

    Before contacting Cornerstone, we ask that you follow the WCMS internal escalation chain:

    1. Team Mentor

    2. Culture Crew (Zalman, Indigo, Marie)

    3. Kiara (2IC)

    4. Kathryn (Director)

    Most issues can be resolved internally through open and respectful communication.

    When to Contact Cornerstone HR Directly

    You may contact Cornerstone HR if:

    • You have a serious workplace concern that you don’t feel comfortable raising internally (e.g. bullying, harassment, discrimination).

    • You have followed the escalation chain and the issue remains unresolved.

    • You would like confidential, independent advice about your workplace rights.

    How to Contact Cornerstone HR

    WCMS Commitment

    • We fully support team members accessing Cornerstone HR if they need independent advice or assistance.

    • You will not be penalised or treated differently for seeking support from Cornerstone.

  • All WCMS employees are covered under the Fair Work Act, which sets out your workplace rights, pay, and entitlements.

    All WCMS Mentors are covered by the Fair Work Act and the Miscellaneous Award 2020. This ensures you have strong protections for your pay, conditions, and entitlements.

    You can view the Award here:
    Miscellaneous Award 2020 – Fair Work

    Your Protections

    • Minimum pay and conditions are set by Fair Work.

    • These include:

      • Pay rates and entitlements

      • Breaks and working hours

      • Leave (annual, sick, compassionate, etc.)

      • Protection against unfair dismissal and discrimination

    Common Mentor Entitlements at WCMS

    Most mentors are hired as casual employees, which means:

    • Minimum shift length: Shifts cannot be less than 2 hours. If your rostered shift is shorter, you will still be paid for 2 hours.

    • Breaks: If your shift exceeds 5 hours, you are entitled to a 30-minute unpaid break.

    • Casual loading: Your hourly rate includes casual loading to cover leave entitlements.

    • Saturday loading: Saturday shifts attract a higher hourly rate, applied automatically through payroll.

    (Note: For full details, always refer back to the Miscellaneous Award.)

    Staying Informed

    • You can always check your rights directly at www.fairwork.gov.au

    • You can also call Fair Work for confidential advice.

    WCMS Commitment

    • WCMS is committed to staying fully compliant with all Fair Work requirements.

    • We keep up to date with Fair Work announcements and ensure pay and conditions are always at or above minimum standards.

    Support & Questions

    • If you’re ever unsure about your entitlements or want to understand more about Fair Work, please reach out to Kathryn or our External HR Consultancy team at Cornerstone.

    • You are also free to contact Fair Work directly at any time for independent guidance.

Dress Code

  • At WCMS we value creativity, individuality and professionalism. Our dress code is designed to give mentors freedom of expression while ensuring we present a consistent, polished image to students and families.

    Standard Dress

    • Bottoms: Light denim jeans, skirts or shorts (neat and presentable).

    • Tops: White shirts, blouses or tops.

    • Layers: White or black jumpers or knits in cooler weather.

    • Name Tag: Your orange WCMS name tag must be worn during all shifts.

    General Guidelines

    • Clothing should be smart casual: neat, tidy and appropriate for teaching.

    • Outfits should be comfortable for movement as you will be playing instruments, demonstrating and sitting with students.

    • Clothing should never display offensive slogans, images or tags.

    • Avoid clothing that is overly revealing or could be considered provocative.

    • Shoes should be practical and safe for moving between rooms.

    Self Presentation

    • Mentors are expected to be clean, well-kempt and presentable at all times.

    • Coloured hair and tattoos are welcome. We simply ask that they are presented in a respectful and professional way.

    Why It Matters

    • Parents and students look to mentors as role models. A polished appearance builds trust and confidence.

    • A consistent WCMS look helps reinforce our brand identity as a creative and professional studio.

Organisation Chart

  • The WCMS organisational structure is designed to be supportive, transparent and collaborative. Every role connects to our goal of inspiring students through music while maintaining a strong, positive culture.

    The WCMS Structure

    Director (Kathryn Raats)

    • Provides overall leadership and direction.

    • Final decision-maker on strategy, HR, and finance.

    Adventure Architect (2IC / Kiara Macri)

    • Works directly with the Director to manage operations.

    • Oversees day-to-day running of the studio and team.

    Key Coordinators

    • Event Coordinator (Indigo Milne): Plans and delivers events such as BandFest, Showcases and Graduation Gala.

    • Community Coordinator (Marie Lee): Focuses on student and family engagement and team culture.

    • CFO (External: Regan Cleland): Manages finance, forecasting and compliance.

    • Culture Crew (Zal, Indigo & Marie): Supports reception, student journeys, parent engagement and team culture.

    Mentors

    • Deliver high-quality lessons and workshops.

    • Support students through the WCMS curriculum and student journey.

    • Contribute to the studio’s culture and events.

This section is accesible to Management Only