Sources come first
We write from primary sources wherever they exist: the registered award or agreement (NSW Industrial Relations Commission, Queensland Industrial Relations Commission, Fair Work Commission, WA Industrial Relations Commission, SA Employment Tribunal, Tasmanian Industrial Commission), force recruiting websites, legislation, the ATO, and super fund product disclosure statements. Secondary sources such as news reports and association bulletins are used for context and are labelled as such.
Three levels of certainty
Every figure in our data is tagged as verified (read in the primary source), calculated (worked out by us from a verified rule, which we explain) or unconfirmed (reported but not yet visible in the instrument). Pages show calculated and unconfirmed figures with a label.
One source of truth
Pay tables, allowances and standards live in a single data file per force. Every page and calculator reads from it, so when a pay rise lands we update one file and every page changes together.
Independence
No force, association, lender or exam provider reviews or approves our content before publication. Referral relationships never change what a guide says. See disclosures.
Use of AI
We use AI tools to help draft and structure guides and to power some interactive practice tools. Facts are checked against sources and the published page is our responsibility. See how we use AI.
Updates
Each guide shows when it was last updated and when its sources were checked. We review pay pages whenever an agreement changes and at least every six months.