Most disability support workers in Australia are covered by the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award, known as the SCHADS Award. How you build the roster directly affects what you must pay, so good rostering starts with the award rules.
Rules that affect the roster
- Minimum engagement periods for each shift
- Broken shifts and the allowance that applies
- Minimum breaks between shifts
- Overtime once ordinary hours are exceeded
- Evening, night, weekend and public holiday penalty rates
- Sleepovers and the rules for being woken to work
- Travel time between clients and vehicle allowances
- Rostering notice and changes to rosters
Common rostering mistakes
- Short shifts below the minimum engagement
- Back-to-back shifts without the required break
- Forgetting public holidays that only apply in one state
- Not recording travel time between participants
- Paying the wrong rate when a shift crosses into a penalty period
How Innovara iQ helps
Innovara iQ Roster warns about clashes and fatigue before you publish, and Innovara iQ Payroll applies your award pay rules to every approved shift, including penalties, allowances and public holidays by state.
This guide is general information only and is not legal, payroll or compliance advice. Always check current requirements with the NDIA, the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission or Fair Work.