Sleepover, night shift and broken shift pay explained
How sleepover, active-night and broken-shift pay works for support workers under the SCHADS award in 2026 — the allowance, when normal rates apply, and how to check it.
Sleepover vs active night shift: know which one you're on
How the SCHADS sleepover allowance works
What you're paid when you're woken during a sleepover
Active night shift loadings explained
Broken shifts and the broken shift allowance
How weekend, public holiday and overtime penalties stack
SCHADS pay is NOT the NDIS price limit
Common mistakes and what to watch for
How to check your overnight pay is right
A realistic scenario, start to finish
Practical next steps
Frequently asked questions
Do I get paid extra if I'm woken up during a sleepover?
Yes. The flat sleepover allowance covers you being there overnight, and any time you're actually woken to provide support is paid separately at your ordinary applicable hourly rate, usually with a minimum engagement (commonly one hour) each time you're disturbed. So a 10-minute wake-up is generally paid as a full hour, not 10 minutes. If it falls on a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday, the relevant penalty rate applies to that worked time, and casual loading applies if you're casual. Keep a written log of every wake-up so you can check your pay against it.
What's the difference between a sleepover and a night shift?
A sleepover means you're expected to sleep and are provided a proper bed, paid a flat allowance for the night plus your normal rate only for time you're woken. An active or 'awake' night shift means you're working the whole time, so every hour is paid at your ordinary rate with a night shift loading on top. The pay type is set by the roster and the award, not by what happens on the night. If a participant genuinely needs someone awake all night, it should be rostered and paid as an active shift, not a cheaper sleepover — a sleepover paid but active worked is a sign of misclassification.
How much is the SCHADS sleepover allowance in 2026?
It's a flat per-night amount set by the SCHADS Award, indicatively in the low tens of dollars as at 2026, but it changes with each annual wage review from the first full pay period on or after 1 July. Don't rely on a figure you've heard second-hand — confirm the current amount using the Fair Work Pay and Conditions Tool or the SCHADS award (MA000100) directly. That's the only way to be certain, and it's also where you confirm the sleepover span, the bed and facilities requirements, and how hours beyond the span are treated.
What is a broken shift and do I get paid for the gap?
A broken shift is a single rostered shift split by one or more unpaid breaks during the day, such as a morning visit and an evening visit with the afternoon off. You are not paid for the unpaid gap itself, but you receive a broken shift allowance to compensate for the disrupted day — and the allowance is higher for a shift with two breaks than one with a single break. Each work period attracts its own minimum engagement, so short visits are paid as minimum blocks. Travel between the two ends of the shift is generally paid, though home-to-first-client travel usually isn't.
Is the NDIS overnight price the same as my pay?
No, and this is a common source of confusion. The NDIS price limit is the maximum a provider can charge a participant's plan; the SCHADS award rate is what you're actually paid. NDIS prices are deliberately higher because they also cover supervision, admin, insurance, training, superannuation, leave and provider overheads, so never assume a provider's billing rate is your wage. Your floor comes from the award, confirmed via the Fair Work Pay and Conditions Tool. If someone justifies your pay by pointing at the NDIS price, that's the wrong reference point.
Do casual loading and night loadings apply at the same time?
Yes. For casual support workers, the 25% casual loading applies alongside the applicable night or evening loading and any weekend or public holiday penalty, calculated according to the award's rules — they are not mutually exclusive. This can make an overnight weekend shift a genuinely high rate, and it's an area where providers sometimes underpay by dropping one component. Check each part separately: base rate for your classification, then the night loading, then the weekend or public holiday penalty, then the casual loading, all confirmed against the current SCHADS figures.
What do I do if I think my overnight pay is wrong?
First, gather your evidence: rosters, wake-up logs and payslips, then work out what you should have been paid using the Fair Work Pay and Conditions Tool, component by component. Raise it in writing with your employer, as many errors are genuine payroll mistakes that get fixed quickly. If it isn't resolved, the Fair Work Ombudsman handles wage disputes and can help you recover underpaid amounts, including superannuation, which rises to 12% from 1 July 2026. Small errors are worth pursuing because they repeat every overnight — a modest per-shift shortfall can add up to thousands across a year.