Weekend, evening and public holiday rates for support workers
How NDIS weekend, evening and public holiday rates work for independent support workers: why these shifts pay more and how to match your rate and invoice line correctly.
Why some shifts pay more
The time bands you need to know
Setting your rates for each band
Matching your invoice line to the time worked
Public holidays: know which days count
Using higher-rate shifts wisely
Check the current bands and limits
How higher-rate shifts change your weekly income
Frequently asked questions
Do NDIS support workers get paid more on weekends?
Yes. NDIS price limits are set in higher bands for Saturdays, Sundays, evenings and public holidays, mirroring penalty rates under the SCHADS Award. As an independent you can charge more for those shifts up to the relevant limit, so weekend and public holiday work pays more per hour than standard weekday daytime…
How do I bill a shift that runs across two rate bands?
Split it. If a shift starts in the afternoon and runs into the evening, bill the daytime portion against the daytime support item and the evening portion against the evening item, each at its own rate. Keep clear records of the times so the split is easy to justify to a plan manager.
Which support item do I use for a Sunday shift?
The support item for the Sunday band. Each time band — weekday evening, Saturday, Sunday, public holiday — has its own support item and its own price limit. Bill the shift against the item that matches when the support was actually delivered, and keep the rate at or below that band's limit.
How do I know if a day is a public holiday for billing?
Check the gazetted public holidays for the state or territory where you deliver the support. Public holidays vary across Australia — some are national, some state-specific, some regional. Only bill the public holiday rate on a day that officially counts for that location, or the claim may be queried.
Do I need to tell clients about higher weekend rates in advance?
Yes. Set your evening, Saturday, Sunday and public holiday rates in your service agreement up front, each in line with the relevant NDIS price limit. When your rates for each band are agreed in writing beforehand, a higher-rate weekend or holiday invoice is expected rather than a surprise.