Well, it’s that time of year again… EOFY is almost upon us! 1 July brings a whole host of changes that businesses need to be aware of, including minimum wage increases, changes to portable service leave, and the start of Payday Super and Qualifying Earnings reporting.
In this newsletter, we’ve included a round-up of the most important changes to be aware of in the coming weeks, as well as our usual array of behind-the-scenes tidbits.
As always, we are incredibly grateful to our clients and the trust you place in us. Here’s to another fantastic year this 26/27 FY.
Warmly,
Tennille Skelly
As the New Financial Year dawns, there are a number of key workplace changes coming into effect that could impact your business. Here’s a quick snapshot of 4 key changes to be aware of.
4.75% Minimum Award Wages Increase
The Fair Work Commission has announced a 4.75% increase to minimum award wages, which will apply from the first full pay period starting on or after 1 July 2026. If you haven’t already, make sure to check how the increase will affect your industry award, including allowances and penalties such as uniforms and overtime. Update your payroll ASAP to prevent any automated payment errors and remain compliant.
Payday Super
Starting 1 July 2026, all Australian employers must pay their employee’s super at the same time they pay their regular salary and wages, rather than the previous quarterly cycle you may be used to. Late or missed payments trigger the Super Guarantee Charge (SGC), which means you could be charged interest that compounds daily, administration fees, and penalties ranging from 25% to 50% of the unpaid super amount. Look over the checklist included in our last newsletter to ensure you’re on top of your superannuation responsibilities before July 1st.
Qualifying Earnings Reporting
Qualifying earnings (QE) are the new basis on which the SuperannuatIon Guarantee is calculated. They include:
Ordinary time earnings (OTE), i.e. payments for ordinary hours of work including certain types of paid leave, allowances, bonuses and lump sum payments.
All commissions paid to an employee
Salary sacrifice amounts that would qualify as QE had they not been sacrificed to superannuation
Earnings paid to workers who fall under the expanded definition of employee, including payments to independent contractors paid mainly for their labour.
From 1 July 2026 employers will be required to report the year-to-date amount of each employee’s qualifying earnings and super liability each payday via Single Touch Payroll.
Portable Service Leave
Portable long service leave (PLSL) allows employees to accrue leave based on their continuous service across an entire industry, rather than with a single employer. In NSW, PLSL has historically been available to those working in building and construction or contract cleaning, with the introduction of community services in July last year. Employers in the Community Services Industry would have been paying the reduced levy of 1.3% of gross ordinary wages for the 2025–2026 financial year. Starting 1 July 2026, the levy rate will return to the statutory 1.7%
If you’re in the ACT, the PLSL scheme has been expanded to include additional vulnerable and mobile sectors, such as hairdressing, beauty, accommodation, and food services. Employers in these newly covered industries have until 30 June 2026 to register and prepare for the full rollout. Employers will be required to submit service records, lodge quarterly returns, and pay a levy (currently at 1.07% of ordinary wages), with the first due date set for October 31, 2026.
Need a hand?
If you need help navigating these changes or implementing new processes in your business, we can help. Get in touch today to make sure you’re compliant and ready for the new financial year.
Say hello to the everyone’s new favourite AI platform, Claude. First released in 2023, Claude’s new features and expanded capabilities has led the AI to rapidly gain popularity, with many touting it as the ‘all in one full productivity system’.
The Dream Team have been trialling Claude this past month and are blown away by what it can achieve.
Why Claude?
At Dream Admin Services, we consider AI a tool that can be used to increase productivity and workflows. AI is here to stay – and while businesses will always need a human element, we’re using Claude to work smarter and save time. The great thing about Claude is that it can pretty much tackle anything. A few ways we’ve been integrating it into our work are:
Brainstorming and writing: Claude is highly regarded for its writing capabilities, using a much more natural tone than other AI models. It’s a great way to get the bones of an email or marketing piece written, which our expert team can then finesse. It’s also fantastic for generating new ideas for your social media platforms and marketing campaigns.
Automation: Claude seamlessly integrates with tools like Google Workspace, Microsoft 365 and Shopify to automate workflows like updating calendars and sending invoice reminders. All those little jobs you usually do yourself can be taken care of in the background so you can focus on the important stuff.
Finance & Administration: Tired of reading through pages of information or finance data every day? Claude can process large amounts of information in minutes, highlighting key details you need and making recommendations on steps to take to keep your projects and payroll up to date.
While we always recommend double-checking everything you ask Claude to do – especially when it comes to finances – we still see Claude as a great tool to free up your time and reduce some of the mental load of running a business. It’s free to use on their basic plan, with affordable subscriptions to access advanced features. If you give it a go yourself, we’d love to hear what you thInk.
Xero Pricing Update
From 1 July 2026, subscription prices for Xero plans will increase, as follows:
Ignite plan – $37/mth
Grow plan – $78/mth
Comprehensive plan – $107/mth
Ultimate 10 plan – $143/mth
Ultimate 20 plan – $180/mth
Ultimate 50 plan – $250/mth
Ultimate 100 plan – $300/mth
Your monthly payment will increase automatically from your first billing cycle on or after 1 July.
Dream Admin Services Invoice Change
A friendly reminder that Dream Admin Services is moving to monthly invoices for all clients from 1 July 2026. If you haven’t signed your new proposal, please do so ASAP so there is no interruption to your services
This month we’re putting the spotlight on Brodie, the newest member of our bookkeeping team. Having worked as a bookkeeper for the past 5 years, Brodie brings a wealth of experience to the Dream team. She thrives on untangling tricky issues, turning chaos to clarity and keeping the numbers behaving themselves.
We asked Brodie some questions to get to know her better.
What’s your favourite quote or motto?
“You do not yield.” – Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas. It’s a great reminder to stay strong, keep pushing forward, and not back down—even when things feel like they’re stacked against you.
Favourite book, movie, or TV show?
Choosing a favourite book is nearly impossible, but the Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas is definitely up there. If you know, you know.
Favourite app, tool or lifehack you can’t live without?
Surprisingly, not an app—but my gardening shears! They’re essential for keeping my garden looking great and harvesting fresh produce. Bookkeeping by day, gardener by… slightly earlier in the morning.
What’s your most memorable on-the-job experience?
One of my more memorable experiences was early on, when I brought my 3‑month‑old baby into the office so I could keep working. She remained my tiniest (and loudest) colleague until she turned one. It was definitely a team-building exercise for everyone involved… but let’s just say, I wouldn’t recommend it as standard practice!
What’s something you’re excited to learn from your teammates?
I’m keen to master the art of juggling multiple clients like the rest of the team do here at Dream. It’s not just about the work itself—but about smoothly switching between clients while staying fully focused on each one (and not mentally wandering off to the next to-do list!). Plus, I’m always excited to learn from the team’s collective bookkeeping wisdom.
If you’re in the building and construction industry, you’ve likely heard of Wunderbuild – and if you haven’t, you’re missing out. An all-in-one project management tool, Wunderbuild helps construction companies to manage every aspect of a projec,t from estimating to team and site management to invoicing. This platform is truly a lifesaver for businesses working in building in construction. But if you’ve not used it before, it can be a bit tricky knowing how to set it up and get the most out of it for your business.
That’s where Adam Antony from WonderOps comes in. Having used Wunderbuild for years in his own construction business, Adam now offers consulting and training that helps residential builders implement and use Wunderbuild properly. Whether you’re setting up Wunderbuild for the first time, or just aren’t sure how to use it to its full potential, Adam can help. We sat down for a chat to learn more about why Adam started WunderOps, how Dream Admin has been helping, and his vision for the future of the business.
What inspired you to start your WunderOps?
I’ve been running Veo Building Co. on Wunderbuild every day, and over time other builders kept reaching out asking how I had it all set up. That’s when I realised there was a real gap. Wunderbuild is a brilliant bit of software, but it has a learning curve, and there was no one out there teaching builders how to actually run their business on it, not just click the buttons. Most blokes in this industry are time-poor and not big on tech, and they’re running their whole operation off spreadsheets, email and memory. I’d already done the hard yards working it out for my own business, so WunderOps is about showing other builders the way, instead of letting them learn it the hard way like I did.
What makes WunderOps unique in your industry?
The thing that sets WunderOps apart is that I’m a working builder, not a software trainer or a consultant who’s never picked up a hammer. I’m running Wunderbuild on real jobs every single day, so when I show a builder how to set something up, it’s because I’ve actually done it and I know why it matters on site. I’ve also kept WunderOps deliberately narrow. I’m not trying to be a business coach or sell anyone on sales and finance strategy. It’s one lane: helping builders turn Wunderbuild into a single source of truth so their whole business runs out of one system instead of five. That focus is the difference. Builders know they’re talking to a peer who’s one step ahead, not someone reading off a script.
What’s one lesson you’ve learned that you’d share with other entrepreneurs?
Honestly, WunderOps is still really new, so I’m learning as I go. But the biggest thing so far is this: you don’t have to invent something brand new to start a business. WunderOps came straight out of stuff I was already doing every day for my own company. Builders kept asking how I had my systems set up, and instead of brushing it off I started thinking about how to package up what I already knew and give it to them properly. So the lesson is, have a look at what you’re already good at and what people keep asking you, because there’s often a business sitting right there in front of you. The other one is start small and don’t overcook it. I could have spent six months building the perfect platform before showing anyone, but I’d rather get it in front of a handful of real builders, see what actually helps them, and build it out from there.
What’s something exciting coming up for your business?
Plenty. WunderOps is just getting off the ground, so the next few months are all about getting it in front of more builders. I’m building out an online training platform with practical, no-nonsense video modules that walk builders through setting up and running Wunderbuild, and I’ll keep adding to it as the software releases new features. I’m also working on a couple of partnerships in the industry that I reckon will make a real difference for builders, including a framework for taking a builder right through from an accurate quote to running the whole job off that number. It’s early days, but I’m genuinely excited about where it’s heading.
How does Dream Admin Services help WunderOps achieve its goals?
Dream Admin has been a huge part of getting WunderOps off the ground. Starting a brand new business means a mountain of setup and compliance work behind the scenes – the company side, the bookkeeping, BAS, all the bits that have to be right from day one or they come back to bite you later. That’s exactly the stuff I talk to other builders about getting sorted, so it would be a bit rich of me not to practise what I preach. Dream Admin has taken all of that off my plate and set it up properly, which means I can put my energy into building the product and helping builders rather than getting buried in admin. They already look after the books for Veo, so having the same team set up and run WunderOps was a no-brainer. It’s the exact lesson I bang on about: get the experts in to do what they do best.
