What is SCHADS Award ?
The SCHADS Award is the main industry award for social work and disability services in Australia. It sets out the minimum pay rates for workers in these sectors, including base rates, overtime and penalty rates, and allowances.
The SCHADS Award also specifies different pay points for specific hours of the day and days of the week, as well as for staff levels based on their experience and qualifications. Overall, the SCHADS Award plays an important role in ensuring fair and consistent pay for workers in these industries.
Who is entitled to the SCHADS Award ?
The SCHADS Award covers employers in the following industries:
- crisis assistance and supported housing
- social and community services
- home care
- family day care scheme
Each sector has a separate “stream” under the Award, and employee entitlements vary according to the particular stream that applies.
Crisis Assistance and Supported Housing Sectors
This sector covers the provision of crisis assistance and supported housing services.
Social and Community Services Sector
This sector refers to the provision of social and community services, which include:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Home Care Sector
This sector covers the provision of personal care, domestic assistance or home maintenance to an aged person or a person with a disability in a private residence.
Family Day Care Scheme Sector
This sector covers the operation of a family daycare scheme for the provision of family daycare services.
The SCHADS Award does not generally cover
| Employees not covered by the Social and Community Services Award include: |
|
| Not covered by the Social and Community Services Award are employers and employees who are already covered by one of the following awards: |
|
To determine whether your staff fall under the SCHADS Award , it’s recommended to visit the Fair Work website.
SCHADS Award pay rates
Workstem has developed a comprehensive guide to help compliance with the SCHADS Industry Award pay Rates.
If you’re uncertain about the applicable classifications, this guide can help you understand how to comply with Fair Work legislation, classify your employees correctly, and pay penalties and allowances in accordance with the SCHADS Award .
Full-time and part-time employees
|
Loadings for full-time/part-time employees |
Loadings |
|
Afternoon shift: Any shift which finishes after 8pm and at or before 12 midnight Monday to Friday. |
12.5% |
| Night shift: Any shift which finishes after 12am midnight or commences before 6.00am Monday to Friday. |
15% |
| Public Holiday shift: Any time worked between midnight on the night prior to the public holiday and midnight of the public holiday. |
150% |
| Saturday Work: time worked between midnight Friday and midnight Saturday |
50% |
| Sunday Work: time worked between midnight Saturday and midnight Sunday. |
100% |
Casual employees
| Loadings for Casuals |
Loading |
|
Casual Loading |
25% |
|
Afternoon shift: Any shift which finishes after 8pm and at or before 12 midnight Monday to Friday. |
12.5% + 25% = 37.5% |
|
Night shift: Any shift which finishes after 12am midnight or commences before 6.00am Monday to Friday. |
15% + 25% = 40% |
| Public Holiday shift: Any time worked between midnight on the night prior to the public holiday and midnight of the public holiday. |
150% + 25% = 175% |
| Saturday Work: time worked between midnight Friday and midnight Saturday |
50% + 25% = 75% |
| Sunday Work: time worked between midnight Saturday and midnight Sunday. |
100% + 25% = 125% |
Overtime
|
Overtime |
Loading |
|
Full-time overtime (time and a half) first 2 hours (disability services, home care and day care employees) first 3 hours (SACS and Crisis Accommodation employees) |
50% |
|
Full-time overtime (double time) Beyond the two or three hours above |
100% |
| Part-Time overtime (time and a half) time worked in excess of 38 hours per week or 76 hours per fortnight, or in excess of 10 hours per day first 2 hours |
50% |
| Part-Time overtime (double time) time worked in excess of 38 hours per week or 76 hours per fortnight, or in excess of 10 hours per day after first 2 hours |
100% |
| Casual overtime (time and a half) time worked in excess of 38 hours per week or 76 hours per fortnight, or in excess of 10 hours per day first 2 hours |
50% + 25% = 75% |
| Casual overtime (double time) time worked in excess of 38 hours per week or 76 hours per fortnight, or in excess of 10 hours per day after first 2 hours |
100% + 25% = 125% |
Allowances
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 |
For more information on this award, please refer to the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award[MA000100].
How to make payroll efficient with Workstem?
Simplify your payroll processes with Workstem’s all-in-one platform, handling onboarding, time and attendance, award interpretation, payroll, STP 2, superannuation and more.
Customise attendance entitlements, auto-track attendance data, streamline the payment process and keep compliance with Fair Work award through our AI Engine. Workstem provides a complete solution for efficient payroll management and regulatory compliance.
FAQs
Q: Do SCHADS employers be required to pay Award minimum wage?
A: Yes, the Award minimum wage is the minimum legal requirement that an employee must be paid if they are covered through the SCHADS Award . Employers are legally bound to comply with this.
Q: How do employers pay employees not covered under an Award?
A: If a business owner is in the industry, but a particular employee is not covered by theSCHADS Award , then either the FWC’s national minimum wage or the state minimum wage applies.
Read more:
Updated SCHADS Award Pay Rates Guide
Understanding Pay Point Progression in the SCHADS Award
Streamline SCHADS Award Compliance with HR Software