SCHADS Award Pay Rates for Disability Support Workers
Are you being paid correctly under the SCHADS Award?
From 1 July 2025, all disability support workers covered by the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award (SCHADS) received a 3.5% wage increase.
For disability support workers in the NDIS, your employer must pay you at least the minimum rate for your correct classification under the Award. The Australian Services Union (ASU) fought hard to secure these increases — and we’re here to help you make sure you’re getting every dollar you’re owed. If you're a disability support worker classified on Level 1 or you are paid under the Home Award — we believe this could be a red flag and we're here to help.
Unsure if you’re being paid correctly?
Contact us to check your classification and make sure you're receiving everything you're entitled to.
New Minimum Pay Rates from 1 July 2025
The tables below show the minimum hourly and casual rates under the SCHADS Award for disability support workers employed in the social and community services stream.
Weekday pay rates
For part time/full time and casual disability support workers on the SCHADS Award:
Classification | Hourly rate | Casual rate |
|---|---|---|
Level 2.1 | $34.58 | $43.23 |
Level 2.2 | $35.67 | $44.59 |
Level 2.3 | $36.75 | $45.94 |
Level 2.4 | $37.73 | $47.16 |
Level 3.1 | $38.65 | $48.31 |
Level 3.2 | $39.77 | $49.71 |
Level 3.3 | $40.62 | $50.78 |
Level 3.4 | $41.45 | $51.81 |
Level 4.1 | $44.58 | $55.73 |
Level 4.2 | $45.75 | $57.19 |
Level 4.3 | $46.93 | $58.66 |
Level 4.4 | $47.97 | $59.96 |
Level 5.1 | $51.00 | $63.75 |
Level 5.2 | $52.10 | $65.13 |
Level 5.3 | $53.31 | $66.64 |
Level 6.1 | $55.72 | $69.65 |
Level 6.2 | $56.95 | $71.19 |
Level 6.3 | $58.19 | $72.74 |
Level 7.1 | $60.27 | $75.34 |
Level 7.2 | $61.53 | $76.91 |
Level 7.3 | $62.79 | $78.49 |
Level 8.1 | $65.39 | $81.74 |
Level 8.2 | $66.67 | $83.34 |
Level 8.3 | $67.96 | $84.95 |
Saturday pay rates
Pay rates for part time/full time and casual disability support workers on the SCHADS Award:
Classification | Saturday hourly rate | Saturday casual rate |
|---|---|---|
Saturday pay rates | ||
Level 2.1 | $51.87 | $60.52 |
Level 2.2 | $53.51 | $62.42 |
Level 2.3 | $55.13 | $64.31 |
Level 2.4 | $56.60 | $66.03 |
Level 3.1 | $57.98 | $67.64 |
Level 3.2 | $59.66 | $69.60 |
Level 3.3 | $60.93 | $71.09 |
Level 3.4 | $62.18 | $72.54 |
Level 4.1 | $66.87 | $78.02 |
Level 4.2 | $68.63 | $80.06 |
Level 4.3 | $70.40 | $82.13 |
Level 4.4 | $71.96 | $83.95 |
Level 5.1 | $76.50 | $89.25 |
Level 5.2 | $78.15 | $91.18 |
Level 5.3 | $79.97 | $93.29 |
Level 6.1 | $83.58 | $97.51 |
Level 6.2 | $85.43 | $99.66 |
Level 6.3 | $87.29 | $101.83 |
Level 7.1 | $90.41 | $105.47 |
Level 7.2 | $92.30 | $107.68 |
Level 7.3 | $94.19 | $109.88 |
Level 8.1 | $98.09 | $114.43 |
Level 8.2 | $100.01 | $116.67 |
Level 8.3 | $101.94 | $118.93 |
Pay rates for part time/full time and casual disability support workers on the SCHADS Award:
Sunday pay rates
Classification | Hourly rate | Casual rate |
|---|---|---|
Level 2.1 | $69.16 | $77.81 |
Level 2.2 | $71.34 | $80.26 |
Level 2.3 | $73.50 | $82.69 |
Level 2.4 | $75.46 | $84.89 |
Level 3.1 | $77.30 | $86.96 |
Level 3.2 | $79.54 | $89.48 |
Level 3.3 | $81.24 | $91.40 |
Level 3.4 | $82.90 | $93.26 |
Level 4.1 | $89.16 | $100.31 |
Level 4.2 | $91.50 | $102.94 |
Level 4.3 | $93.86 | $105.59 |
Level 4.4 | $95.94 | $107.93 |
Level 5.1 | $102.00 | $114.75 |
Level 5.2 | $104.20 | $117.23 |
Level 5.3 | $106.62 | $119.95 |
Level 6.1 | $111.44 | $125.37 |
Level 6.2 | $113.90 | $128.14 |
Level 6.3 | $116.38 | $130.93 |
Level 7.1 | $120.54 | $135.61 |
Level 7.2 | $123.06 | $138.44 |
Level 7.3 | $125.58 | $141.28 |
Level 8.1 | $130.78 | $147.13 |
Level 8.2 | $133.34 | $150.01 |
Level 8.3 | $135.92 | $152.91 |
Allowances
Allowances for disability support workers on the SCHADS Award:
Allowance Descriptions | Amount | Per Unit |
|---|---|---|
On call allowance (MON-FRI) | $24.50 | Per 24hr of part thereof |
On call allowance (WEEKENDS OR PUBLIC HOLIDAYS) | $48.51 | Per 24hr of part thereof |
Broken shift (1 UNPAID BREAK) | $20.82 | Per broken shift |
Broken shift (2 UNPAID BREAKS) | $27.56 | Per broken shift |
Meal allowance | $16.62 | Per occassion |
Use of own motor vehicle | $0.99 | Per km |
First aid allowance | $20.46 | Per week |
Sleepover allowance | $60.02 | Per night |
Still have questions about your pay?
Members can contact us to check your classification and make sure you're receiving everything you're entitled to. In the past year, we helped ASU members win back $7m+ in unpaid and stolen wages and entitlements. ​​
"My workload was set to double after a merger and my employer still refused to change my pay or classification. That was until the ASU got behind me. I am so glad that the ASU got my employer to come to the table and negotiated an amazing outcome for me."
- Cath, ASU member​​
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the SCHADS Awards?
The Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award (SCHADS Award) sets out minimum pay rates, allowances, and working conditions for workers in the community and social services sector - including disability support workers.
2. What are the current SCHADS Award pay rates?
From 1 July 2025, SCHADS minimum pay rates increased by 3.5% following the Annual Wage Review. The pay rates table have the current hourly and weekly rates for your classification and employment type (full-time, part-time, or casual).
3. How do I know if I'm being paid correctly?
​Check your:
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Classification level
-
Whether you're full-time, part-time or casual
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If you're under the right Award (the ASU believes disability support workers should be on either an Enterprise Agreement or the SCHADS Award - not the Home Care Award)
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Your penalty rates for weekends, nights, public holidays
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Allowances like travel or sleepovers
​
Still unsure? Contact us.
4. How do I find my SCHADS Award level?
Your level depends on the duties in your job description, qualifications, and experience. In most cases, where more complex care is required, the higher the classification. The ASU can help you figure your classification.
5. What should I do if I’m underpaid?
If your payslips don’t match SCHADS Award rates and you believe you've been underpaid, the ASU is by your side.
​
Recently, we helped a member who is a disability support worker recover $30,000 in back pay after their employer to agreed that they were underpaid.
To make the process smoother, we strongly recommend raising underpayment issues with the ASU as soon as possible - before leaving your job. While it’s still possible to recover underpayments after leaving, it’s often more difficult to get the full amount you're owed once your relationship with the employer ends.
6. Do I get penalty rates for nights and weekends?
7. Am I entitled to a sleepover allowance?
Yes. If you’re required to sleep at a client’s home or worksite, you must be paid a sleepover allowance under the SCHADS Award. This is separate from your regular hourly rate.
​
8. Can I still pursue backpay if I have left the employer who I believe underpaid me?
Yes, you can still pursue backpay if you have left the employer. However, to make the process smoother, we strongly recommend raising underpayment issues with the ASU BEFORE leaving your job. While it’s still possible to recover backpay after leaving, it’s often more difficult to get the full amount you're owed once your relationship with the employer ends.
​
9. Do I get reimbursed for travel between clients?
Yes. If you use your own vehicle to travel between clients, you're entitled to a kilometre allowance. Keep a log of your trips and check your payslip.
​
10. Can an Enterprise Agreement replace the SCHADS Award?
Yes, but it must leave you better off overall than the Award. If you’re unsure, we can review your EA and check it against SCHADS minimums.
Contact us.
​
11. Where can I get help with my pay or classification?
If you’re a member, the ASU can help you:
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Review your payslip
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Confirm your correct classification
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Support you to claim underpayments
​
We recommend:
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Saving your payslips and rosters
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Keeping a log of your hours, especially if working multiple shifts or clients
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Checking your payslips to see if the 1 July pay increase has been included if you were on the Award minimum for your classification (from the first full pay circle from 1 July)