Fraud Blocker

SCHADS Award Pay Rates Explained

SCHADS Award pay rates are the minimum hourly and weekly rates for staff covered by the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award. Rates depend on the employee’s classification level and pay point, with extra loadings for casuals, penalties (evenings, weekends, public holidays) and allowances. Fair Work updates the rates at least annually, usually on 1 July.

How SCHADS pay is structured

  • Streams & levels — SCHADS covers several work streams, each with classification levels and pay points. The correct level depends on the role’s duties and responsibilities, not the job title alone.
  • Base rate to all-in rate — the minimum base rate is the starting point; the actual pay for a shift adds casual loading (if applicable), penalties and any allowances.
  • Casual loading — casuals receive a loading on top of the base rate, in addition to relevant penalties.

Where to find the current SCHADS rates

Current rates → Fair Work

SCHADS pay rates, penalties and allowances are set by the Fair Work Commission and updated at least annually, usually from the first full pay period on or after 1 July. We do not republish the dollar figures here, because publishing an out-of-date rate is a payroll risk.

For the current, authoritative figures, use the official source: Fair Work — SCHADS Award (MA000100) summary & Pay Guide, or the Fair Work Pay & Conditions Tool. Always confirm the current figures before running pay.

Penalties & allowances

On top of the base rate, SCHADS shifts can attract:

  • Penalties: evening, Saturday, Sunday and public-holiday loadings; overtime; and shift loadings.
  • Allowances: travel/kilometre, sleepover, on-call, qualification and others.

The exact percentages and dollar amounts are set by Fair Work and change with each annual review — confirm them in the Fair Work SCHADS Pay Guide before applying them.

Stop guessing SCHADS rates

Getting levels, pay points and penalties right is where SCHADS underpayments happen. Employment Star configures and audits SCHADS pay in Employment Hero so your rates are correct every pay run. See our award interpretation service, or read the companion SCHADS Award guide.

Frequently asked questions

At least once a year, usually from the first full pay period on or after 1 July, when the Fair Work Commission’s annual wage review takes effect.

Their classification level and pay point — based on duties and responsibilities — plus casual loading, penalties and any allowances that apply to the shift.

Yes — casuals receive a loading on top of the base rate, in addition to applicable penalties.

The Fair Work SCHADS Pay Guide and Pay & Conditions Tool. Always check the current figures before running pay.

Yes — we audit your SCHADS configuration and past pay runs in Employment Hero and correct any errors.

Talk to Employment Star

Worried your SCHADS rates aren’t right? Book a payroll check. Call 02 7803 7879 or request a free quote.