SCHADS Award Pay Rates 2026: Levels, Casual and Penalties
From 1 July 2026, the SCHADS award minimum for a qualified disability support worker (social and community services level 2, pay point 1) is $36.22 an hour, or $45.28 an hour for casuals. Award rates rose 4.75% in the 2026 Annual Wage Review, and home care disability workers get a further increase of up to 15% from 1 December 2026. The full table by level and pay point is below, with penalty rates, broken shifts, sleepovers and what Perth support worker ads are actually offering.
Last fact-checked: 3 November 2026. Pay rates, rules and job numbers change; follow the linked source before you act.
What does the SCHADS award cover?
The SCHADS award covers employers and employees in four sectors: social and community services (which includes disability services), crisis assistance and supported housing, home care, and family day care schemes. It's the award for most NDIS support workers, youth workers, community workers, case workers and in-home carers employed by national system employers.
| Stream | Who it covers | Award clause |
|---|---|---|
| Social and community services (SACS) | Social, welfare, youth and community work, and disability services such as supported accommodation and community access | 15 (levels 1 to 8) |
| Crisis accommodation | Crisis assistance and supported housing services | 15 (levels 1 to 4, paid the same as SACS levels 3 to 6) |
| Home care: disability | Personal care, domestic help or home maintenance for a person with disability in a private home | 17.1 (levels 1 to 5) |
| Home care: aged care | The same services for an older person in their own home | 17.2 (levels 1 to 6) |
| Family day care | Staff of family day care schemes | 16 (levels 1 to 5) |
The award doesn't apply if you're covered by an enterprise agreement, or if your employer is in the WA state system rather than the national system. Companies (Pty Ltd) are in the national system. If your employer is a sole trader or partnership, read which minimum wage system applies in WA.
What are the SCHADS award pay rates from 1 July 2026?
The table below shows every social and community services level and pay point, which is where most disability support, youth and community roles sit. Levels 2 to 8 include the equal remuneration order (ERO) loading, which the award says forms your ordinary rate of pay for all purposes. Level 1 has no ERO loading.
| Level and pay point | Weekly (full time, 38 hrs) | Hourly (full time and part time) | Hourly (casual, incl. 25%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1, pay point 1 | $1,046.90 | $27.55 | $34.44 |
| Level 1, pay point 2 | $1,080.60 | $28.44 | $35.55 |
| Level 1, pay point 3 | $1,119.10 | $29.45 | $36.81 |
| Level 2, pay point 1 | $1,376.49 | $36.22 | $45.28 |
| Level 2, pay point 2 | $1,419.79 | $37.36 | $46.70 |
| Level 2, pay point 3 | $1,462.96 | $38.50 | $48.13 |
| Level 2, pay point 4 | $1,501.95 | $39.53 | $49.41 |
| Level 3, pay point 1 | $1,538.59 | $40.49 | $50.61 |
| Level 3, pay point 2 | $1,582.94 | $41.66 | $52.08 |
| Level 3, pay point 3 | $1,616.71 | $42.55 | $53.19 |
| Level 3, pay point 4 | $1,649.97 | $43.42 | $54.28 |
| Level 4, pay point 1 | $1,774.74 | $46.70 | $58.38 |
| Level 4, pay point 2 | $1,821.07 | $47.92 | $59.90 |
| Level 4, pay point 3 | $1,867.93 | $49.16 | $61.45 |
| Level 4, pay point 4 | $1,909.51 | $50.25 | $62.81 |
| Level 5, pay point 1 | $2,030.20 | $53.43 | $66.79 |
| Level 5, pay point 2 | $2,073.91 | $54.58 | $68.23 |
| Level 5, pay point 3 | $2,122.13 | $55.85 | $69.81 |
| Level 6, pay point 1 | $2,218.02 | $58.37 | $72.96 |
| Level 6, pay point 2 | $2,267.02 | $59.66 | $74.58 |
| Level 6, pay point 3 | $2,316.16 | $60.95 | $76.19 |
| Level 7, pay point 1 | $2,398.95 | $63.13 | $78.91 |
| Level 7, pay point 2 | $2,449.36 | $64.46 | $80.58 |
| Level 7, pay point 3 | $2,499.20 | $65.77 | $82.21 |
| Level 8, pay point 1 | $2,602.75 | $68.49 | $85.61 |
| Level 8, pay point 2 | $2,653.94 | $69.84 | $87.30 |
| Level 8, pay point 3 | $2,705.27 | $71.19 | $88.99 |
Crisis accommodation levels 1 to 4 are paid the same as SACS levels 3 to 6. Weekly figures for levels 2 to 8 include the ERO. You move up a pay point after each 12 months of satisfactory service at a level (clause 13.3).
The 2026 Annual Wage Review lifted all modern award minimum wages by 4.75%, from the first full pay period starting on or after 1 July 2026. Fair Work's current pay guide (published 31 August 2026, for pay periods from 1 September 2026) shows the same wage rates, plus a vehicle allowance of $1.05 per km from 1 September 2026.
Which level does an NDIS support worker start on?
A support worker with a relevant certificate, such as a Certificate III in Individual Support, starts at SACS level 2, pay point 1: $36.22 an hour, or $45.28 casual. The award's classification schedule (Schedule B) sets the entry points:
- Level 1: new recruits with limited experience working under close direction. If the role includes helping people with personal care under general supervision, the minimum is pay point 2 ($28.44, or $35.55 casual).
- Level 2, pay point 1: you've completed an appropriate certificate and do work related to it.
- Level 2, pay point 2: the appropriate certificate is a Certificate IV, or you hold a relevant diploma ($37.36, or $46.70 casual).
- Level 3 and up: team leaders, coordinators and degree-qualified roles. Level 3 pay point 3 is the entry point for a 3-year degree.
Your employer must tell you your classification in writing when you start (clause 13.2). Check it. Some in-home disability providers use the home care stream instead, which pays less (see below). The award notes that working in a private home doesn't by itself stop you being classified under the SACS schedule.
Want to get into the work? Read how to become a support worker in WA.
What are home care disability rates, and what changes on 1 December 2026?
Home care employees doing disability care get an increase of up to 15% from the first full pay period on or after 1 December 2026. It comes from the Fair Work Commission's gender-based undervaluation review. Most other changes from that review, including a new classification structure, start on 1 October 2027.
| Home care: disability | Hourly now | Casual now | Hourly from 1 Dec 2026 | Casual from 1 Dec 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1, pay point 1 | $27.28 | $34.10 | $31.38 | $39.23 |
| Level 2, pay point 1 | $28.86 | $36.08 | $33.19 | $41.49 |
| Level 2, pay point 2 | $29.06 | $36.33 | $33.41 | $41.76 |
| Level 3, pay point 1 (certificate 3) | $29.45 | $36.81 | $33.87 | $42.34 |
| Level 3, pay point 2 | $30.36 | $37.95 | $34.92 | $43.65 |
| Level 4, pay point 1 | $32.13 | $40.16 | $36.95 | $46.19 |
| Level 4, pay point 2 | $32.77 | $40.96 | $37.68 | $47.10 |
| Level 5, pay point 1 (degree or diploma) | $34.45 | $43.06 | $39.62 | $49.53 |
| Level 5, pay point 2 | $35.81 | $44.76 | $40.58 | $50.73 |
Family day care rates run from $1,048.10 a week ($27.58 an hour) at level 1, pay point 1 to $1,827.60 a week at level 5, pay point 4.
What are the SCHADS penalty rates for evenings, weekends and public holidays?
Saturday is 150% (175% casual), Sunday 200% (225% casual) and public holidays 250% (275% casual). Shiftworkers also get a loading for afternoon and night shifts on weekdays. Here's how it works at level 2, pay point 1:
| When you work | Full time and part time | Casual |
|---|---|---|
| Monday to Friday, ordinary hours | 100%: $36.22 | 125%: $45.28 |
| Afternoon shift (finishes after 8pm, at or before midnight, Mon to Fri) | 112.5%: $40.75 | 137.5%: $49.80 |
| Night shift (finishes after midnight or starts before 6am, Mon to Fri) | 115%: $41.65 | 140%: $50.71 |
| Saturday | 150%: $54.33 | 175%: $63.39 |
| Sunday | 200%: $72.44 | 225%: $81.50 |
| Public holiday | 250%: $90.55 | 275%: $99.61 |
Weekend and public holiday rates replace shift loadings rather than adding to them. Overtime for full-time disability services and home care staff is time and a half for the first 2 hours, then double time; other SACS staff get time and a half for the first 3 hours. Sunday overtime is double time and public holiday overtime is double time and a half. For more on weekend pay, see weekend jobs and penalty rates in Perth.
How do broken shifts work under the SCHADS award?
A broken shift is a shift split into periods of work with an unpaid break between them, and it attracts an allowance of $21.81 (one unpaid break) or $28.87 (two unpaid breaks). The rules in clause 25.6 apply only to SACS employees doing disability services work and to home care employees.
- Your employer can roster a broken shift with one unpaid break. A shift with two unpaid breaks needs your agreement before each occasion, unless it's part of your agreed regular pattern.
- The whole broken shift must fit in a 12-hour span. Any work beyond 12 hours is paid at double time.
- You must get at least 10 hours off between broken shifts on consecutive days.
- A break that falls inside a minimum payment period counts as time worked, not a break.
- Shift loadings apply to the part of the broken shift that meets the afternoon or night shift definition.
What is the SCHADS sleepover allowance?
The sleepover allowance is $62.87 a night (4.9% of the standard rate). A sleepover is when your employer requires you to sleep overnight where your client is. The span is a continuous 8 hours, and you must get a separate room with a bed and clean linen.
- If you're woken to work, you're paid at overtime rates for the time worked, with a minimum of 1 hour.
- If you work before and/or after the sleepover, your employer must roster or pay at least 4 hours for one of those periods. The allowance is on top.
- By agreement, ordinary hours can stretch to 12 hours around a sleepover, with no more than 8 ordinary hours either side.
Home care staff can also work a 24-hour care shift by agreement, paid as 8 hours at 155% of their rate.
What is the minimum shift length under the SCHADS award?
Part-time and casual staff doing disability services work, home care and family day care must be paid for at least 2 hours per shift. Other SACS employees get a 3-hour minimum. The minimum applies to each shift and to each period of work in a broken shift (clause 10.5).
Part-time employees must also have their guaranteed hours, days and start and finish times agreed in writing before they start. To compare the two arrangements, read casual vs part-time in Australia.
Does the equal remuneration order still apply?
Yes. The 2012 equal remuneration order still applies to SACS levels 2 to 8 and crisis accommodation levels, adding 23% to 45% on top of the base award wage. The phase-in finished on 1 December 2020, so the final ERO rates now apply in full. They're already built into the main table above. Queensland has separate transitional arrangements that don't affect WA.
What Perth support worker jobs are paying right now
On 3 November 2026 Jobs In Perth tracked 13 live support worker jobs in Perth, including 7 disability support roles. These were in our social work and aged care listings, excluding school-based student support roles.
| Jobs | |
|---|---|
| Disability support worker roles | 7 |
| General, youth, family and home support worker roles | 6 |
| Casual | 6 |
| Part time | 3 |
| Full time | 2 |
| Fixed term or contract | 2 |
| Ads that listed pay | 7 of 13 |
What the pay ranges show:
- Four of the five hourly ads sat between $35 and $50.25. Casual disability roles in Rockingham listed $35 to $45 and $35.55 to $46.70. That second range matches the casual rates for level 1, pay point 2 and level 2, pay point 2 exactly.
- A full-time family support role in Midland listed $46.70 to $50.25 an hour, which is SACS level 4, pay points 1 to 4.
- Two salaried roles listed $79,500 to $85,000 and $92,016 to $99,005 a year.
- One casual ad's range started at $20 an hour, below every adult minimum in the award. If an offer comes in under the rates above, ask which classification you're on.
See every current role on our Support Worker Jobs Perth page, or browse social work and support jobs across WA.
Is aged care covered by the SCHADS award?
Residential aged care isn't. Workers in aged care homes are covered by the separate Aged Care Award 2010 (MA000018), and the SCHADS award specifically excludes employers covered by it. Home care for older people living in their own homes stays in the SCHADS award, under clause 17.2. Those rates run from $32.61 an hour (level 1, introductory) to $40.58 (level 6, team leader) from 1 July 2026.
For residential roles, see aged care jobs in Perth, aged care worker salaries and our guide to aged care jobs in Perth.
Frequently asked questions
What is the SCHADS award pay rate for a disability support worker in 2026?
From 1 July 2026, a support worker with a relevant certificate at SACS level 2, pay point 1 earns at least $36.22 an hour full time or part time, or $45.28 an hour as a casual. That includes the equal remuneration order.
What is the casual loading under the SCHADS award?
25% of the ordinary hourly rate. Casuals get 175% on Saturdays, 225% on Sundays and 275% on public holidays, all including the loading.
How much is the SCHADS sleepover allowance?
$62.87 for each night, from 1 July 2026. Any work done during the sleepover is paid at overtime rates, with a minimum of 1 hour.
How much is the broken shift allowance?
$21.81 per broken shift with one unpaid break, and $28.87 per broken shift with two unpaid breaks. All work must fit within a 12-hour span or it's paid at double time.
When do SCHADS award rates change next?
Home care disability rates rise by up to 15% from the first full pay period on or after 1 December 2026. Most other changes from the gender undervaluation review start on 1 October 2027, and annual wage review increases usually start each 1 July.
Is the SCHADS award the same as the Aged Care Award?
No. Residential aged care is covered by the Aged Care Award 2010 (MA000018). Home care for older people is under the SCHADS award.
Sources
- Fair Work Ombudsman, Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award 2010 [MA000100]
- Fair Work Ombudsman, MA000100 pay guide (pay periods from 1 September 2026)
- Fair Work Ombudsman, MA000100 pay guide (pay periods from 1 December 2026)
- Fair Work Ombudsman, Minimum wages increase from 1 July 2026
- Fair Work Ombudsman, Changes to the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Award
- Fair Work Ombudsman, Aged Care Award 2010 [MA000018]