Awards › Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Award Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Award pay rates 2026 New minimum rates for the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Award apply from 1 December 2026, set out in the Fair Work Ombudsman pay guide published 18 September 2026. The figures on this page apply until then.
from $27.28 /hour
Minimum rates for the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Award (MA000100) from 1 July 2026: 92 classifications on 75 distinct hourly rates, with casual and weekend rates.
This page lists the minimum pay rates under the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Award, set out by classification and pay point. For each role you can see the base hourly and weekly minimum, the casual rate, and the penalty rates that apply to evening, weekend and public holiday work.
The Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Award, often called SCHADS, covers a broad care and support workforce working outside hospitals and residential aged care. It applies to home care workers who support older people and people with disability in their own homes, disability support workers, social and community services staff, crisis accommodation workers, and family day care educators. The classifications span home care, disability, social and community services and crisis accommodation streams, each with levels and pay points that rise with qualifications and responsibility. Much of this work is done in clients' homes and the community.
Pay rates by classification Full-time minimum rates, Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Award, from 1 July 2026. Annual is weekly × 52.14 unless the pay database publishes a salary. Classification Hourly Weekly Annual Casual/hr Home care employees—disability care Home care employee level 1 — disability care — pay point 1 $27.28 $1,036.80 $54,059 $34.10 Home care employee level 2 — disability care — pay point 1 $28.86 $1,096.60 $57,177 $36.08 Home care employee level 2 — disability care — pay point 2 $29.06 $1,104.10 $57,568 $36.33 Home care employee level 3 — disability care — pay point 1 (certificate 3) $29.45 $1,119.10 $58,350 $36.81 Home care employee level 3 — disability care — pay point 2 $30.36 $1,153.70 $60,154 $37.95 Home care employee level 4 — disability care — pay point 1 $32.13 $1,221.00 $63,663 $40.16 Home care employee level 4 — disability care — pay point 2 $32.77 $1,245.40 $64,935 $40.96 Home care employee level 5 — disability care — pay point 1 (degree or diploma) $34.45 $1,309.20 $68,262 $43.06 Home care employee level 5 — disability care — pay point 2 $35.81 $1,360.80 $70,952 $44.76 Social and community services employees and crisis accommodation employees Social and community services employee level 1 — pay point 1 $27.55 $1,046.90 $54,585 $34.44 Social and community services employee level 1 — pay point 2 $28.44 $1,080.60 $56,342 $35.55 Social and community services employee level 1 — pay point 3 $29.45 $1,119.10 $58,350 $36.81 Social and community services employee level 2 — pay point 2 (minimum wage table) $30.38 $1,154.30 $60,185 $37.98 Social and community services employee level 2 — pay point 3 (minimum wage table) $31.30 $1,189.40 $62,015 $39.13 Social and community services employee level 3 / Crisis accommodation employee level 1 — pay point 1 (associate diploma/advanced certificate) $32.13 $1,221.10 $63,668 $40.16 Social and community services employee level 3 / Crisis accommodation employee level 1 — pay point 2 $33.06 $1,256.30 $65,503 $41.33 Social and community services employee level 3 / Crisis accommodation employee level 1 — pay point 3 (3 year degree) $33.77 $1,283.10 $66,901 $42.21 Social and community services employee level 3 / Crisis accommodation employee level 1 — pay point 4 (4 year degree) $34.46 $1,309.50 $68,277 $43.08 Social and community services employee level 4 / Crisis accommodation employee level 2 — pay point 1 $35.38 $1,344.50 $70,102 $44.23 Social and community services employee level 4 / Crisis accommodation employee level 2 — pay point 2 $36.31 $1,379.60 $71,932 $45.39 Social and community services employee level 4 / Crisis accommodation employee level 2 — pay point 3 $37.24 $1,415.10 $73,783 $46.55 Social and community services employee level 4 / Crisis accommodation employee level 2 — pay point 4 $38.07 $1,446.60 $75,426 $47.59 Social and community services employee level 5 / Crisis accommodation employee level 3 — pay point 1 $39.00 $1,481.90 $77,266 $48.75 Social and community services employee level 5 / Crisis accommodation employee level 3 — pay point 2 $39.84 $1,513.80 $78,930 $49.80 Social and community services employee level 5 / Crisis accommodation employee level 3 — pay point 3 $40.76 $1,549.00 $80,765 $50.95 Social and community services employee level 6 / Crisis accommodation employee level 4 — pay point 1 $41.69 $1,584.30 $82,605 $52.11 Social and community services employee level 6 / Crisis accommodation employee level 4 — pay point 2 $42.61 $1,619.30 $84,430 $53.26 Social and community services employee level 6 / Crisis accommodation employee level 4 — pay point 3 $43.54 $1,654.40 $86,260 $54.43 Family day care employees Family day care employee level 1 — pay point 1 $27.58 $1,048.10 $54,648 $34.48 Family day care employee level 1 — pay point 2 $28.47 $1,081.80 $56,405 $35.59 Family day care employee level 1 — pay point 3 $29.50 $1,121.00 $58,449 $36.88 Family day care employee level 1 — pay point 4 $30.49 $1,158.60 $60,409 $38.11 Family day care employee level 2 — pay point 1 $31.36 $1,191.60 $62,130 $39.20 Family day care employee level 2 — pay point 2 $32.38 $1,230.50 $64,158 $40.48 Family day care employee level 2 — pay point 3 $33.41 $1,269.50 $66,192 $41.76 Family day care employee level 2 — pay point 4 $34.20 $1,299.70 $67,766 $42.75 Family day care employee level 3 — pay point 1 $35.07 $1,332.70 $69,487 $43.84 Family day care employee level 3 — pay point 2 $36.16 $1,374.20 $71,651 $45.20 Family day care employee level 3 — pay point 3 $37.28 $1,416.50 $73,856 $46.60 Family day care employee level 3 — pay point 4 $38.30 $1,455.50 $75,890 $47.88 Family day care employee level 4 — pay point 1 $39.41 $1,497.60 $78,085 $49.26 Family day care employee level 4 — pay point 2 $39.83 $1,513.40 $78,909 $49.79 Family day care employee level 4 — pay point 3 $40.76 $1,548.80 $80,754 $50.95 Family day care employee level 4 — pay point 4 $41.43 $1,574.40 $82,089 $51.79 Family day care employee level 5 — pay point 1 $44.40 $1,687.10 $87,965 $55.50 Family day care employee level 5 — pay point 2 $45.62 $1,733.70 $90,395 $57.03 Family day care employee level 5 — pay point 3 $46.87 $1,780.90 $92,856 $58.59 Family day care employee level 5 — pay point 4 $48.09 $1,827.60 $95,291 $60.11 Home care employees—aged care Home care employee level 1 — aged care $32.61 $1,239.00 $64,601 $40.76 Home care employee level 2 — aged care $34.42 $1,307.80 $68,189 $43.03 Home care employee level 3 — aged care $36.23 $1,376.70 $71,781 $45.29 Home care employee level 4 — aged care $37.68 $1,431.70 $74,649 $47.10 Home care employee level 5 — aged care $39.13 $1,486.80 $77,522 $48.91 Home care employee level 6 — aged care $40.58 $1,541.90 $80,395 $50.73 Equal remuneration rates for applicable Social and Community Services employees Social and community services employee level 2 — pay point 1 $36.22 $1,376.49 $71,770 $45.28 Social and community services employee level 2 — pay point 2 (equal remuneration rate) $37.36 $1,419.79 $74,028 $46.70 Social and community services employee level 2 — pay point 3 (equal remuneration rate) $38.50 $1,462.96 $76,279 $48.13 Social and community services employee level 2 — pay point 4 $39.53 $1,501.95 $78,312 $49.41 Social and community services employee level 3 — pay point 1 (associate diploma/advanced certificate) $40.49 $1,538.59 $80,222 $50.61 Social and community services employee level 3 — pay point 2 $41.66 $1,582.94 $82,534 $52.08 Social and community services employee level 3 — pay point 3 (3 year degree) $42.55 $1,616.71 $84,295 $53.19 Social and community services employee level 3 — pay point 4 (4 year degree) $43.42 $1,649.97 $86,029 $54.28 Social and community services employee level 4 — pay point 1 $46.70 $1,774.74 $92,535 $58.38 Social and community services employee level 4 — pay point 2 $47.92 $1,821.07 $94,951 $59.90 Social and community services employee level 4 — pay point 3 $49.16 $1,867.93 $97,394 $61.45 Social and community services employee level 4 — pay point 4 $50.25 $1,909.51 $99,562 $62.81 Social and community services employee level 5 — pay point 1 $53.43 $2,030.20 $105,855 $66.79 Social and community services employee level 5 — pay point 2 $54.58 $2,073.91 $108,134 $68.23 Social and community services employee level 5 — pay point 3 $55.85 $2,122.13 $110,648 $69.81 Social and community services employee level 6 — pay point 1 $58.37 $2,218.02 $115,648 $72.96 Social and community services employee level 6 — pay point 2 $59.66 $2,267.02 $118,202 $74.58 Social and community services employee level 6 — pay point 3 $60.95 $2,316.16 $120,765 $76.19 Social and community services employee level 7 — pay point 1 $63.13 $2,398.95 $125,081 $78.91 Social and community services employee level 7 — pay point 2 $64.46 $2,449.36 $127,710 $80.58 Social and community services employee level 7 — pay point 3 $65.77 $2,499.20 $130,308 $82.21 Social and community services employee level 8 — pay point 1 $68.49 $2,602.75 $135,707 $85.61 Social and community services employee level 8 — pay point 2 $69.84 $2,653.94 $138,376 $87.30 Social and community services employee level 8 — pay point 3 $71.19 $2,705.27 $141,053 $88.99 Equal remuneration rates for Crisis Accommodation employees Crisis accommodation employee Level 1 — pay point 1 (associate diploma/advanced certificate) $40.49 $1,538.59 $80,222 $50.61 Crisis accommodation employee Level 1 — pay point 2 $41.66 $1,582.94 $82,534 $52.08 Crisis accommodation employee Level 1 — pay point 3 (3 year degree) $42.55 $1,616.71 $84,295 $53.19 Crisis accommodation employee Level 1 — pay point 4 (4 year degree) $43.42 $1,649.97 $86,029 $54.28 Crisis accommodation employee level 2 — pay point 1 $46.70 $1,774.74 $92,535 $58.38 Crisis accommodation employee level 2 — pay point 2 $47.92 $1,821.07 $94,951 $59.90 Crisis accommodation employee level 2 — pay point 3 $49.16 $1,867.93 $97,394 $61.45 Crisis accommodation employee level 2 — pay point 4 $50.25 $1,909.51 $99,562 $62.81 Crisis accommodation employee level 3 — pay point 1 $53.43 $2,030.20 $105,855 $66.79 Crisis accommodation employee level 3 — pay point 2 $54.58 $2,073.91 $108,134 $68.23 Crisis accommodation employee level 3 — pay point 3 $55.85 $2,122.13 $110,648 $69.81 Crisis accommodation employee level 4 — pay point 1 $58.37 $2,218.02 $115,648 $72.96 Crisis accommodation employee level 4 — pay point 2 $59.66 $2,267.02 $118,202 $74.58 Crisis accommodation employee level 4 — pay point 3 $60.95 $2,316.16 $120,765 $76.19
How the pay scale works Adult rates in the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Award run from $27.28 an hour (Home care employee level 1 — disability care — pay point 1) to $71.19 (Social and community services employee level 8 — pay point 3), a spread of $43.91 an hour or 161%, $1,668.47 a week full-time.
The award’s 92 classifications in this dataset share 75 distinct hourly rates.
A casual Home care employee level 1 — disability care — pay point 1 is paid $34.10 an hour, 25% above the full-time hourly rate, in place of paid leave.
What changed on 1 July 2026 For the entry classification, Home care employee level 1 — disability care — pay point 1:
The hourly rate rose $1.23 (4.7%) from $26.05 on 30 June 2026 to $27.28, and the full-time weekly rate rose $47.00.
Penalty rates Full-time and part-time rate for Home care employee level 1 — disability care — pay point 1, as a percentage of the minimum hourly rate, against the median of the awards on this site Day SCHADS Median Rank Saturday 150% 150% 2 of 19 Sunday 200% 187.5% 1 of 20 Public holiday 250% 250% 1 of 22
The Sunday rate of 200% is higher than the median of 187.5% across the 20 awards with a Sunday rate for their entry classification, and ranks 1st.
Every Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Award penalty rate, by classification
Compared with related awards The Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Award entry rate is $0.53 an hour lower than the Pharmacy Industry Award entry rate of $27.81.
The Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Award entry rate is $0.49 an hour lower than the Aged Care Award entry rate of $27.77.
The Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Award entry rate is $0.31 an hour higher than the Health Professionals and Support Services Award entry rate of $26.97.
Allowances The pay database lists 6 wage-related allowances and 10 expense-related allowances for this award. All-purpose allowances count towards penalty rates, overtime and leave.
Allowances, Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Award Allowance Amount Paid All-purpose First aid allowance $21.43 per week no Heat allowance—temperature raised by artificial means: — between 40°C and 46°C $0.64 per hour or part thereof no Exceeds 46°C $0.77 per hour or part thereof no On-call allowance: — 24 hour period—finish of ordinary duty on Monday to finish of ordinary duty on Friday $25.66 per 24 hour period or part thereof no Other 24 hour period, including public holidays $50.81 per 24 hour period or part thereof no Sleepover allowance $62.87 per night no Uniform—per shift $1.26 per shift or part thereof no Uniform—per week $6.41 per week no Laundry—per shift $0.33 per shift or part thereof no Laundry—per week $1.53 per week no Laundry (other than uniform) $0.33 per shift no Meal—overtime $17.30 per occasion no Meal—overtime $17.30 per occasion no Motor vehicle—per km $1.01 per km no Board and lodging—full adult rate of pay $32.63 per week no Board and lodging—ruling cafeteria rates $20.32 per week no
Look up a rate ClassificationHome care employee level 1—aged care Social and community services employee level 1 — Pay point 1 Social and community services employee level 2 — Pay point 1 Crisis accommodation employee Level 1 — Pay point 1 (associate diploma/advanced certificate) Family day care employee level 1 — Pay point 1 Home care employee level 1—disability care — Pay point 1 Social and community services employee level 1 — Pay point 2 Social and community services employee level 2 — Pay Point 2 Crisis accommodation employee Level 1 — Pay point 2 Family day care employee level 1 — Pay point 2 Home care employee level 2—aged care Social and community services employee level 1 — Pay point 3 Social and community services employee level 2 — Pay Point 3 Crisis accommodation employee Level 1 — Pay point 3 (3 year degree) Family day care employee level 1 — Pay point 3 Home care employee level 2—disability care — Pay point 1 Social and community services employee level 2 — Pay point 4 Crisis accommodation employee Level 1 — Pay point 4 (4 year degree) Family day care employee level 1 — Pay point 4 Home care employee level 2—disability care — Pay point 2 Home care employee level 3—aged care Social and community services employee level 2 — Pay point 2 Social and community services employee level 3 — Pay point 1 (associate diploma/advanced certificate) Crisis accommodation employee level 2 — Pay point 1 Family day care employee level 2 — Pay point 1 Home care employee level 3—disability care — Pay point 1 (certificate 3) Home care employee level 4—aged care Social and community services employee level 2 — Pay point 3 Social and community services employee level 3 — Pay point 2 Crisis accommodation employee level 2 — Pay point 2 Family day care employee level 2 — Pay point 2 Home care employee level 3—disability care — Pay point 2 Home care employee level 5—aged care Social and community services employee level 3 — Pay point 3 (3 year degree) Crisis accommodation employee level 2 — Pay point 3 Family day care employee level 2 — Pay point 3 Social and community services employee level 3 — Pay point 4 (4 year degree) Crisis accommodation employee level 2 — Pay point 4 Family day care employee level 2 — Pay point 4 Home care employee level 4—disability care — Pay point 1 Home care employee level 6—aged care Home care employee level 4—disability care — Pay point 2 Social and community services employee level 3 / Crisis accommodation employee level 1 — Pay point 1 (associate diploma/advanced certificate) Social and community services employee level 4 — Pay point 1 Crisis accommodation employee level 3 — Pay point 1 Family day care employee level 3 — Pay point 1 Social and community services employee level 3 / Crisis accommodation employee level 1 — Pay point 2 Social and community services employee level 4 — Pay point 2 Crisis accommodation employee level 3 — Pay point 2 Family day care employee level 3 — Pay point 2 Home care employee level 5—disability care — Pay point 1 (degree or diploma) Social and community services employee level 3 / Crisis accommodation employee level 1 — Pay point 3 (3 year degree) Social and community services employee level 4 — Pay point 3 Crisis accommodation employee level 3 — Pay point 3 Family day care employee level 3 — Pay point 3 Home care employee level 5—disability care — Pay point 2 Social and community services employee level 3 / Crisis accommodation employee level 1 — Pay point 4 (4 year degree) Social and community services employee level 4 — Pay point 4 Family day care employee level 3 — Pay point 4 Crisis accommodation employee level 4 — Pay point 1 Social and community services employee level 5 — Pay point 1 Crisis accommodation employee level 4 — Pay point 2 Family day care employee level 4 — Pay point 1 Social and community services employee level 4 / Crisis accommodation employee level 2 — Pay point 1 Social and community services employee level 5 — Pay point 2 Crisis accommodation employee level 4 — Pay point 3 Family day care employee level 4 — Pay point 2 Social and community services employee level 4 / Crisis accommodation employee level 2 — Pay point 2 Social and community services employee level 5 — Pay point 3 Family day care employee level 4 — Pay point 3 Social and community services employee level 4 / Crisis accommodation employee level 2 — Pay point 3 Family day care employee level 4 — Pay point 4 Social and community services employee level 4 / Crisis accommodation employee level 2 — Pay point 4 Social and community services employee level 6 — Pay point 1 Social and community services employee level 6 — Pay point 2 Family day care employee level 5 — Pay point 1 Social and community services employee level 6 — Pay point 3 Family day care employee level 5 — Pay point 2 Social and community services employee level 5 / Crisis accommodation employee level 3 — Pay point 1 Family day care employee level 5 — Pay point 3 Social and community services employee level 5 / Crisis accommodation employee level 3 — Pay point 2 Social and community services employee level 7 — Pay point 1 Family day care employee level 5 — Pay point 4 Social and community services employee level 5 / Crisis accommodation employee level 3 — Pay point 3 Social and community services employee level 7 — Pay point 2 Social and community services employee level 7 — Pay point 3 Social and community services employee level 6 / Crisis accommodation employee level 4 — Pay point 1 Social and community services employee level 8 — Pay point 1 Social and community services employee level 6 / Crisis accommodation employee level 4 — Pay point 2 Social and community services employee level 8 — Pay point 2 Social and community services employee level 6 / Crisis accommodation employee level 4 — Pay point 3 Social and community services employee level 8 — Pay point 3 EmploymentFull-time / part-time Casual
Rates current as of 1 July 2026. FWC pay database, Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award 2010 (MA000100) , checked 24 September 2026 (how ). General information only: your award or enterprise agreement prevails if it differs.