The SCHADS Award for Employers Explained
A SCHADS award employer guide for NDIS providers: classifications, penalty rates, broken shifts, travel, super to 12% and why pay isn't all profit.
What the SCHADS award is — and why it governs your wage bill
Classifications: getting the level and stream right
The pay rate vs the price limit: two different numbers
Worked example: where a billed hour actually goes
Casual, part-time and full-time — the cost trade-offs
Penalty rates, overtime and shift loadings
Broken shifts — a SCHADS provision built for home care
Minimum engagement, travel and vehicle allowances
Sleepovers and overnight support
Superannuation to 12% and payday super
The SCHADS mistakes that cost providers most
Your next step
Frequently asked questions
Is the SCHADS award the same as the NDIS price guide?
No. The SCHADS award (MA000100), enforced by Fair Work, sets the minimum you must PAY your workers. The NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits (PAPL), set by the NDIA, cap what you can CHARGE participants. They are separate systems with separate numbers. The gap between them funds super, leave, insurance, admin and margin — it is not all profit.
What is the minimum I can pay a support worker under SCHADS?
It depends on the classification level, the stream (home care or social and community services), the time of day and whether the worker is casual, part-time or full-time. Indicatively, base rates run from around $31 to $44 per hour before penalties and loadings, but you must confirm the exact current rate for the specific classification in the Fair Work pay guide at fairwork.gov.au, as rates change annually from 1 July.
Do I have to pay support workers for travel between clients?
Generally yes. Under SCHADS, travel time between clients during the working day is usually paid, and workers using their own vehicle are entitled to a per-kilometre allowance. This is separate from the NDIA's own travel claiming rules in the PAPL, which cap what you can pass on to the participant — so part of the travel cost often lands on you. Confirm both the current award rules and the PAPL travel rules.
How much did superannuation rise for support workers in 2026?
The superannuation guarantee rose to 12% from 1 July 2026. Payday super also commenced from that date, meaning super is paid at the same time as wages rather than quarterly. Neither is separately reimbursed by the PAPL, so rebuild your cost-per-hour model at 12%. Confirm the current rate and payday super details on ato.gov.au.
What is a broken shift under SCHADS and do I have to pay extra?
A broken shift is a single day's work split by one or more unpaid breaks — common in home care when a worker does a morning and an afternoon visit with a gap between. SCHADS limits the number of breaks and requires a broken-shift allowance, with two breaks attracting more than one. Not paying it is a recurring underpayment. Confirm the current allowance and break limits on fairwork.gov.au.