SCHADS Award Guide [MA000100]

2023-07-10 ・ Sarah

This article provides guidelines on the Australian SCHADS Award package. For more information on this award, please refer to the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award [MA000100].

What is the SCHADS Award?

The SCHADS Award is an industrial award that sets out the minimum terms and conditions of employment for employees and employers in the social and community services, home care, and disability services industries in Australia.

This SCHADS Award covers a wide range of roles, including support workers, case managers, community workers, home care employees, and disability support workers. It provides protections and entitlements such as pay rates, hours of work, rostering, allowances, penalty rates, and overtime.

This SCHADS Award aims to ensure that employees in these industries receive fair and consistent treatment, and that employers are able to operate their businesses effectively while meeting their obligations under Australian workplace laws.

Who is entitled to the SCHADS Award?

Coverage

The Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award covers employers and employees in the:

crisis assistance and supported housing sector;
social and community services sector;
home care sector;
family day care scheme sector.

As well as their employees in the classifications listed in Schedule B to Schedule E to the exclusion of any other modern award.

It also covers employers which supply labor on an on-hire basis and those who provide group training services for trainees engaged in the industry.

Types of employment

An employee covered by this SCHADS award must be one of the following:

Full-time employee: An employee who is engaged to work 38 hours per week or an average of 38 hours per week.
Part-time employee: An employee who is engaged to work less than 38 hours per week or an average of less than 38 hours per week and who has reasonably predictable hours of work.
Casual employee: An employee who is engaged on an irregular and intermittent basis, with no guaranteed hours of work. (A casual employee is paid per hour calculated at the rate of 1/38th of the weekly rate appropriate to the employee’s classification. In addition, a loading of 25% of that rate will be paid.)

The SCHADS Award does not cover

Employers and employees covered by any of the following awards:

Aged Care Award 2010;
Amusement, Events and Recreation Award 2010;
Fitness Industry Award 2010;
Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2010; or
Nurses Award 2010.

How is the shiftwork arranged in the SCHADS Award?

Shiftwork

	Shift Type	Days	Span of hours
SCHADS Award Day Worker		Monday to Sunday	6.00 am – 8.00 pm
SCHADS Award Shiftworker	Afternoon shift	Monday to Friday	finish after 8.00 pm and at or before 12 midnight
	Night shift	Monday to Friday	finish 12 midnight or commences before 6.00 am
	Public holiday shift	Public holiday	any time worked between midnight on the night prior to the public holiday and midnight of the public holiday.

Hours of Work

Under the SCHADS Award, the ordinary hour per week should be 38 or at least an average of 38 hours per week based on the following conditions:

Worked in a week of five days in shifts and not over 8 hours per shift

Worked in a fortnight of 76 hours of 10 shifts and not over 8 hours per shift; or

In a four week period of 152 hours of 19 shifts, 8 hours per shift

*The maximum number of hours per shift can be increased to 10 hours per shift by agreement

Breaks

Meal Breaks	Tea Breaks
Employees needs to take an unpaid meal break of 30-60 minutes if they work more than 5 hours.	Employees are entitled to a paid 10 minute tea break in each four hours worked,at a time to be agreed between the employer and employee.
If they work through their meal break, they will be paid overtime rates until their meal break is taken.	Tea breaks will count as time worked.
If the employee needs to have their meal with a client, they will be paid their normal ordinary rates and counted as time worked.

How are wages and allowances calculated in the SCHADS Award?

Minimum rates

Social and community services employee

	Full-time & part-time		Casual
Classification	Weekly pay rate	Hourly pay rate	Hourly pay rate
Level 1 – pay point 1	$930.70	$24.49	$30.61
Level 1 – pay point 2	$960.70	$25.28	$31.60
Level 1 – pay point 3	$995.00	$26.18	$32.73
Level 2 – pay point 1	$1,223.85	$32.21	$40.26
Level 2 – pay point 2	$1,262.23	$33.22	$41.53
Level 2 – pay point 3	$1,300.60	$34.23	$42.79
Level 2 – pay point 4	$1,335.29	$35.14	$43.93
Level 3 – pay point 1	$1,367.86	$36.00	$45.00
Level 3 – pay point 2	$1,407.17	$37.03	$46.29
Level 3 – pay point 3	$1,437.28	$37.82	$47.28
Level 3 – pay point 4	$1,466.77	$38.60	$48.25
Level 4 – pay point 1	$1,577.80	$41.52	$51.90
Level 4 – pay point 2	$1,618.98	$42.60	$53.25
Level 4 – pay point 3	$1,660.56	$43.70	$54.63
Level 4 – pay point 4	$1,697.65	$44.68	$55.85
Level 5 – pay point 1	$1,804.98	$47.50	$59.38
Level 5 – pay point 2	$1,843.75	$48.52	$60.65
Level 5 – pay point 3	$1,886.76	$49.65	$62.06
Level 6 – pay point 1	$1,972.04	$51.90	$64.88
Level 6 – pay point 2	$2,015.44	$53.04	$66.30
Level 6 – pay point 3	$2,059.12	$54.19	$67.74
Level 7 – pay point 1	$2,132.84	$56.13	$70.16
Level 7 – pay point 2	$2,177.57	$57.30	$71.63
Level 7 – pay point 3	$2,221.87	$58.47	$73.09
Level 8 – pay point 1	$2,314.06	$60.90	$76.13
Level 8 – pay point 2	$2,359.44	$62.09	$77.61
Level 8 – pay point 3	$2,405.12	$63.29	$79.11

Crisis accommodation employee

	Full-time & part-time		Casual
Classification	Weekly pay rate	Hourly pay rate	Hourly pay rate
Level 1 – pay point 1	$1,367.86	$36.00	$45.00
Level 1 – pay point 2	$1,407.17	$37.03	$46.29
Level 1 – pay point 3	$1,437.28	$37.82	$47.28
Level 1 – pay point 4	$1,466.77	$38.60	$48.25
Level 2 – pay point 1	$1,577.80	$41.52	$51.90
Level 2 – pay point 2	$1,618.98	$42.60	$53.25
Level 2 – pay point 3	$1,660.56	$43.70	$54.63
Level 2 – pay point 4	$1,697.65	$44.68	$55.85
Level 3 – pay point 1	$1,804.98	$47.50	$59.38
Level 3 – pay point 2	$1,843.75	$48.52	$60.65
Level 3 – pay point 3	$1,886.76	$49.65	$62.06
Level 4 – pay point 1	$1,972.04	$51.90	$64.88
Level 4 – pay point 2	$2,015.44	$53.04	$66.30
Level 4 – pay point 3	$2,059.12	$54.19	$67.74

Family day care employee

	Full-time & part-time		Casual
Classification	Weekly pay rate	Hourly pay rate	Hourly pay rate
Level 1 – pay point 1	$931.90	$24.52	$30.65
Level 1 – pay point 2	$961.70	$25.31	$31.64
Level 1 – pay point 3	$996.60	$26.23	$32.79
Level 1 – pay point 4	$1,030.10	$27.11	$33.89
Level 2 – pay point 1	$1,059.40	$27.88	$34.85
Level 2 – pay point 2	$1,094.00	$28.79	$35.99
Level 2 – pay point 3	$1,128.60	$29.70	$37.13
Level 2 – pay point 4	$1,155.50	$30.41	$38.01
Level 3 – pay point 1	$1,184.90	$31.18	$38.98
Level 3 – pay point 2	$1,221.70	$32.15	$40.19
Level 3 – pay point 3	$1,259.40	$33.14	$41.43
Level 3 – pay point 4	$1,294.00	$34.05	$42.56
Level 4 – pay point 1	$1,331.50	$35.04	$43.80
Level 4 – pay point 2	$1,345.40	$35.41	$44.26
Level 4 – pay point 3	$1,377.00	$36.24	$45.30
Level 4 – pay point 4	$1,399.70	$36.83	$46.04
Level 5 – pay point 1	$1,499.90	$39.47	$49.34
Level 5 – pay point 2	$1,541.30	$40.56	$50.70
Level 5 – pay point 3	$1,583.20	$41.66	$52.08
Level 5 – pay point 4	$1,624.80	$42.76	$53.45

Home care employee

	Full-time & part-time		Casual
Classification	Weekly pay rate	Hourly pay rate	Hourly pay rate
Disability care
Level 1 – pay point 1	$921.70	$24.26	$30.33
Level 2 – pay point 1	$974.90	$25.66	$32.08
Level 2 – pay point 2	$981.60	$25.83	$32.29
Level 3 – pay point 1	$995.00	$26.18	$32.73
Level 3 – pay point 2	$1,025.70	$26.99	$33.74
Level 4 – pay point 1	$1,085.50	$28.57	$35.71
Level 4 – pay point 2	$1,107.20	$29.14	$36.43
Level 5 – pay point 1	$1,163.90	$30.63	$38.29
Level 5 – pay point 2	$1,209.80	$31.84	$39.80
Aged care
Level 1 – pay point 1	$1,059.90	$27.89	$34.86
Level 2 – pay point 1	$1,121.20	$29.51	$36.89
Level 2 – pay point 2	$1,128.80	$29.71	$37.14
Level 3 – pay point 1	$1,144.20	$30.11	$37.64
Level 3 – pay point 2	$1,179.50	$31.04	$38.80
Level 4 – pay point 1	$1,248.40	$32.85	$41.06
Level 4 – pay point 2	$1,273.30	$33.51	$41.89
Level 5 – pay point 1	$1,338.50	$35.22	$44.03
Level 5 – pay point 2	$1,391.20	$36.61	$45.76

Overtime rates

Social and community services employee

Classification	Overtime -Monday to Saturday (first 2 hours)	Overtime -Monday to Saturday (after 2 hours)	Overtime -public holiday
Level 1 – pay point 1	$36.74	$48.98	$61.23
Level 1 – pay point 2	$37.92	$50.56	$63.20
Level 1 – pay point 3	$39.27	$52.36	$65.45
Level 2 – pay point 1	$48.32	$64.42	$80.53
Level 2 – pay point 2	$49.83	$66.44	$83.05
Level 2 – pay point 3	$51.35	$68.46	$85.58
Level 2 – pay point 4	$52.71	$70.28	$87.85
Level 3 – pay point 1	$54.00	$72.00	$90.00
Level 3 – pay point 2	$55.55	$74.06	$92.58
Level 3 – pay point 3	$56.73	$75.64	$94.55
Level 3 – pay point 4	$57.90	$77.20	$96.50
Level 4 – pay point 1	$62.28	$83.04	$103.80
Level 4 – pay point 2	$63.90	$85.20	$106.50
Level 4 – pay point 3	$65.55	$87.40	$109.25
Level 4 – pay point 4	$67.02	$89.36	$111.70
Level 5 – pay point 1	$71.25	$95.00	$118.75
Level 5 – pay point 2	$72.78	$97.04	$121.30
Level 5 – pay point 3	$74.48	$99.30	$124.13
Level 6 – pay point 1	$77.85	$103.80	$129.75
Level 6 – pay point 2	$79.56	$106.08	$132.60
Level 6 – pay point 3	$81.29	$108.38	$135.48
Level 7 – pay point 1	$84.20	$112.26	$140.33
Level 7 – pay point 2	$85.95	$114.60	$143.25
Level 7 – pay point 3	$87.71	$116.94	$146.18
Level 8 – pay point 1	$91.35	$121.80	$152.25
Level 8 – pay point 2	$93.14	$124.18	$155.23
Level 8 – pay point 3	$94.94	$126.58	$158.23

Crisis accommodation employee

Classification	Overtime -Monday to Saturday – first 3 hours (full-time) or first 2 hours (disability services and part-time)	Overtime -Monday to Saturday -after 3 hours (full-time) or after 2 hours (disability services and part-time)	Overtime -public holiday
Level 1 – pay point 1	$54.00	$72.00	$90.00
Level 1 – pay point 2	$55.55	$74.06	$92.58
Level 1 – pay point 3	$56.73	$75.64	$94.55
Level 1 – pay point 4	$57.90	$77.20	$96.50
Level 2 – pay point 1	$62.28	$83.04	$103.80
Level 2 – pay point 2	$63.90	$85.20	$106.50
Level 2 – pay point 3	$65.55	$87.40	$109.25
Level 2 – pay point 4	$67.02	$89.36	$111.70
Level 3 – pay point 1	$71.25	$95.00	$118.75
Level 3 – pay point 2	$72.78	$97.04	$121.30
Level 3 – pay point 3	$74.48	$99.30	$124.13
Level 4 – pay point 1	$77.85	$103.80	$129.75
Level 4 – pay point 2	$79.56	$106.08	$132.60
Level 4 – pay point 3	$81.29	$108.38	$135.48

Family day care employee

Classification	Overtime – Monday to Saturday (first 2 hours)	Overtime -Monday to Saturday (after 2 hours)	Overtime -public holiday
Level 1 – pay point 1	$36.78	$49.04	$61.30
Level 1 – pay point 2	$37.97	$50.62	$63.28
Level 1 – pay point 3	$39.35	$52.46	$65.58
Level 1 – pay point 4	$40.67	$54.22	$67.78
Level 2 – pay point 1	$41.82	$55.76	$69.70
Level 2 – pay point 2	$43.19	$57.58	$71.98
Level 2 – pay point 3	$44.55	$59.40	$74.25
Level 2 – pay point 4	$45.62	$60.82	$76.03
Level 3 – pay point 1	$46.77	$62.36	$77.95
Level 3 – pay point 2	$48.23	$64.30	$80.38
Level 3 – pay point 3	$49.71	$66.28	$82.85
Level 3 – pay point 4	$51.08	$68.10	$85.13
Level 4 – pay point 1	$52.56	$70.08	$87.60
Level 4 – pay point 2	$53.12	$70.82	$88.53
Level 4 – pay point 3	$54.36	$72.48	$90.60
Level 4 – pay point 4	$55.25	$73.66	$92.08
Level 5 – pay point 1	$59.21	$78.94	$98.68
Level 5 – pay point 2	$60.84	$81.12	$101.40
Level 5 – pay point 3	$62.49	$83.32	$104.15
Level 5 – pay point 4	$64.14	$85.52	$106.90

Home care employee

Classification	Overtime – Monday to Saturday (first 2 hours)	Overtime -Monday to Saturday (after 2 hours)	Overtime -public holiday
Disability care
Level 1 – pay point 1	$36.39	$48.52	$60.65
Level 2 – pay point 1	$38.49	$51.32	$64.15
Level 2 – pay point 2	$38.75	$51.66	$64.58
Level 3 – pay point 1	$39.27	$52.36	$65.45
Level 3 – pay point 2	$40.49	$53.98	$67.48
Level 4 – pay point 1	$42.86	$57.14	$71.43
Level 4 – pay point 2	$43.71	$58.28	$72.85
Level 5 – pay point 1	$45.95	$61.26	$76.58
Level 5 – pay point 2	$47.76	$63.68	$79.60
Aged care
Level 1 – pay point 1	$41.84	$55.78	$69.73
Level 2 – pay point 1	$44.27	$59.02	$73.78
Level 2 – pay point 2	$44.57	$59.42	$74.28
Level 3 – pay point 1	$45.17	$60.22	$75.28
Level 3 – pay point 2	$46.56	$62.08	$77.60
Level 4 – pay point 1	$49.28	$65.70	$82.13
Level 4 – pay point 2	$50.27	$67.02	$83.78
Level 5 – pay point 1	$52.83	$70.44	$88.05
Level 5 – pay point 2	$54.92	$73.22	$91.53

Penalty Rates

Employees covered by the SCHADS Award are entitled to penalty rates for weekend work outside of the ordinary hours of 6am to 8pm, Monday to Saturday.

Shift Type	Penalty Rate (% of Minimum Hourly Rate)
Afternoon shift – shift ends between 8pm and midnight, Monday to Friday	112.5%
Night shift – finishes after midnight or starts before 6am, Monday to Friday	115%
Public holiday shift – any time worked during the public holiday	250%

‍Allowance

Effective from the first full pay period commencing on or after 1 July 2021.

Description	Percentage of the Standard Rate for the Social and Community Services employee level 3, paypoint 3 (Clause 15 of the SCHCADS Award – $1299.44)	Clause	Amount
Expense-related allowances
Uniform Allowance		20.2(b)	$1.23 per shift or $6.24 per week
Laundry Allowance		20.2(b)	$0.32 per shift or $1.49 per week
Meal allowance		20.5(a)	$15.20
Travel Allowance		20.7(a)	$0.96 per kilometre
Board and lodging deduction		20.10(a)	$29.54
Board and lodging deduction		20.10(b)	$18.39
Wage-related allowances
First Aid Allowance	1.67%	20.6(a)	$19.05 per week
Broken shift allowance with one unpaid break	1.7%	20.12(a)	$19.39 per shift
Broken shift allowance with two unpaid breaks	2.25%	20.12(b)	25.67 per broken shift
On call allowance:24 hour period—finish of ordinary duty on Monday to finish of ordinary duty on Friday	2.0%	20.11(a)	$22.81 per 24 hour period or part thereof
On call allowance:Other 24 hr period or public holiday	3.96%	20.11(b)	$45.17
Sleepover allowance	4.90%	25.7(d)	$55.89 per night

How is the leave managed in the SCHADS Award?

In the SCHADS Award, leave entitlements for employees are determined by the National Employment Standards (NES) and the classification of the employee.

Annual leave

Annual leave is provided for in the NES. This clause contains additional provisions.

Employees who work 10+ weekends for 4+ hours or complete 8+ 24-hour care shifts (as per clause 25.8) earn 1 extra week of annual leave on the same terms.

Employees receive payment for annual leave loading.

Non-shiftworkers get 17.5% of their regular pay;
Shiftworkers get either 17.5% loading or the weekend/shift penalties they would have received if working.

Personal Leave

Personal/carer’s leave and compassionate leave are provided for in the NES.

Public holidays

Public holidays are provided for in the NES. This clause contains additional provisions.

Working on a public holiday pays double time and a half of the normal rate. No additional payment for shift/weekend work is given.
Casual employees get casual loading (clause 10.5(a)) and 275% of their ordinary rate (including casual loading) for public holiday work (clause 34.2(d)).

How to keep in compliance with the SCHADS Award?

To comply with the SCHADS Award in Australia, businesses in the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services industry can follow:

Minimum wage	Employers must pay their employees at least the minimum wage set by the Fair Work Commission.
Superannuation	Employers are obligated to make superannuation contributions on behalf of their eligible employees, which includes calculating and paying the correct amount on time.
Taxation	Businesses must accurately calculate and withhold income tax from employee wages, regularly passing the amount to the ATO.
‍Record-keeping	Employers are required to maintain comprehensive records relating to employee pay, taxes, superannuation and entitlements

How can Workstem assist you?

Workstem is a one-stop payroll & HR platform with an award interpretation module and customised attendance formulas that ensure SCHADS employers stay compliant with Fair Work regulations. The platform simplifies HR processes, reduces administrative burdens, and offers a user-friendly interface for small businesses and large enterprises alike.

Experience the benefits of Workstem for yourself !

Read More:

SCHADS Award

SCHADS Level 4

SCHADS Level 5

Updated SCHADS Award Pay Rates Guide

Understanding Pay Point Progression in the SCHADS Award

Streamline SCHADS Award Compliance with HR Software

Your Guide to Broken Shift Allowance

A Quick Guide to NDIS

SCHADS Award Guide [MA000100]

What is the SCHADS Award?