NAPSA
NAPSA (Notional Agreement Preserving State Award) is a federal agreement that preserved the conditions of certain state awards and/or state legislation from New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, or Tasmania, created on 27 March 2006. These agreements were replaced by modern awards on 1 January 2010.
NAPSA, standing for Notional Agreement Preserving State Award, was a transitional arrangement. It protected specific employment conditions from state awards and legislation in NSW, Queensland, South Australia, and Tasmania, ensuring continuity until the introduction of modern awards. Established in 2006, NAPSA served as a bridge, preserving existing workplace rights and conditions until they were replaced by the more comprehensive modern awards system in 2010.
Do NAPSAs still apply?
No. NAPSAs were transitional instruments created under the WorkChoices laws, and they have since been replaced. Employees who were covered by a NAPSA are now covered by a modern award, an enterprise agreement or, if they are award and agreement free, the National Employment Standards and the national minimum wage. The term mainly matters when checking historical pay records or old employment contracts. For example, a contract from 2008 that refers to a NAPSA should be updated to refer to the modern award that now applies.
Read our guide to modern awards.
General information only
This content is general information about Australian employment law, current at the date it was last reviewed. It does not take your circumstances into account and is not legal advice. For advice about your situation, call Employment Compass on 1300 144 002.
Last reviewed: October 2026
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