Weekend and public holiday penalty rates for support workers
Support worker penalty rates explained — Saturday, Sunday, public holiday and evening loadings under the SCHADS award, and how casual loading stacks on top.
What are penalty rates for support workers?
What are the SCHADS weekend and public holiday penalty rates?
How does casual loading stack with penalty rates?
When do public holiday rates apply?
A worked example: how the numbers add up
Penalty rates vs NDIS price limits: why they are not the same
Evening, night and sleepover shifts
How to check you are being paid correctly
Common mistakes and what to watch for
Why penalty rates matter when choosing shifts and jobs
Frequently asked questions
Do casual support workers still get penalty rates?
Yes. Casual support workers are entitled to the same weekend and public holiday penalty rates as permanent staff, and they also receive a 25% casual loading on top. Under SCHADS the loading is generally ADDED to the penalty rather than compounded, so a casual Saturday is commonly around 175%, a Sunday around 225% and a public holiday around 275% of your ordinary rate. That is why casual unsocial-hours shifts usually pay the most per hour. Confirm your exact figure using the Fair Work Pay and Conditions Tool, which applies the correct method automatically.
Are penalty rates the same as the NDIS price limit?
No, and this is the most important distinction in support-worker pay. Your penalty rate is set by the Fair Work Commission under the SCHADS Award and is what your EMPLOYER must pay YOU. The NDIS price limit is set by the NDIS and is the maximum a PROVIDER can charge a participant's plan. The NDIS builds higher weekend and public holiday price limits so providers can afford to pay your penalties, but the two numbers are separate, set by different bodies, and should never be treated as the same thing. If your employer says your pay 'is' the NDIS rate, treat that as a warning sign.
What percentage is a Sunday shift for a support worker?
Under SCHADS, Sunday work is generally paid at 200% of your ordinary hourly rate — double time. For comparison, Saturday is generally 150% and public holidays 250%. Casual workers add their 25% loading on top of these. These percentages are a stable part of the award structure, but the dollar amount depends on your classification level and pay point and changes at least once a year, usually on 1 July, so always check the current rate against the SCHADS award (MA000100) or the Fair Work Pay and Conditions Tool.
Do public holiday rates depend on which state I work in?
Yes. Public holiday penalty rates apply on days gazetted as public holidays in the state or territory where you PHYSICALLY work, and those days differ across Australia. Some are national, others are state-specific or one-off regional holidays such as show days, and substitute days often apply when a holiday falls on a weekend. Your location of work is what counts, not where your employer or the participant's plan is based. Always check your state or territory government's official public holidays list for the exact year in question.
How do I know if my employer is paying penalty rates correctly?
Use the Fair Work Pay and Conditions Tool to calculate the correct rate for your classification, employment type, and the exact date and time you worked, then compare it against your payslip line by line. Weekend, public holiday, evening, night and sleepover components should each appear as separate, correctly calculated amounts — not blended into one flat rate. Keep your own diary of shifts and any sleepover wake-ups as evidence. If something is missing or short, raise it in writing with your employer, and contact the Fair Work Ombudsman if it is not resolved.
Do evening and overnight shifts attract extra pay too?
Yes. Separate from weekend penalties, SCHADS provides evening and afternoon shift loadings when a shift finishes late, and night shift loadings for overnight active work where you are awake and assisting. Sleepovers, where you sleep on-site but must be available, are paid via a sleepover allowance PLUS your normal pay for any time you are woken to assist — being paid only the allowance for a night you actually worked is a common underpayment. These loadings are frequently missed, so check them carefully against the award and your payslip if you do late or overnight shifts.
Does the 2026 super increase affect my penalty pay?
Superannuation rises to 12% from 1 July 2026, and it is calculated on your ordinary time earnings. The super increase does not change the penalty rate percentages themselves, but the higher 12% rate applies to your eligible earnings, so it is worth confirming your payslip reflects 12% super from that date. The ATO is the authoritative source for how super is calculated and exactly what counts as ordinary time earnings, so check there if you are unsure whether a particular component is included.