SCHADS Pay Rates 2024: Pay Rate Viewer and Classification Guide

Use our Pay Rate Viewer to check current pay rates for all SCHADS classifications. We also include a brief summary of all SCHADS Award classifications and highlight key updates for 2024.

Pay Rate Viewer

Employee Classification

Select which classification from the SCHADS Award the employee is.

Level
Social and community services employee Level 1
Social and community services employee Level 2
Social and community services employee Level 3
Social and community services employee Level 4
Social and community services employee Level 5
Social and community services employee Level 6
Social and community services employee Level 7
Social and community services employee Level 8

Pay Details

Select the correct characteristics of the individual employee to get the pay rates.

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Pay Rates

The visible pay rates are the latest minimum rates for the SCHADS Award.

Rates are sourced from the latest (July 2024) Fair Work Commission Modern Award Pay Database

Find which SCHADS classifications best match your position

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SCHADS Award: Quick Classification Guide

The SCHADS Award (Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award 2020) sets out the minimum legal entitlements for employees in the social, community, home care and disability services industry. These entitlements include minimum pay rates, allowances, and conditions of employment. Failure to correctly give employees their minimum entitlements can result in significant penalties for employers, so it is essential that your business gets it right.

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Award Matcher makes it simple for Australian businesses to match employees to award classifications.

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Who is covered by the SCHADS Award?

If your business operates in any of the following industries, it is likely covered by the SCHADS Award:

  • Crisis assistance and supported housing
  • Social and community services
  • Home care
  • Family day care scheme

What are the different classifications?

The SCHADs award has four classification streams, social and community services employee, crisis accommodation employee, family day care employee and home care employee. Below we will provide a quick description of each stream and classification.

Social and community services employee

A social and community services employee does roles like social work, youth work, or disability care, including personal care and advocacy.

  • Social and community services employee level 1 (SCHADS level 1) - New employees that do basic tasks with close supervision. They’re learning and need guidance.
  • Social and community services employee level 2 (SCHADS level 2) - Employees that work independently, follow guidelines, and may oversee others or volunteers, handling minor issues.
  • Social and community services employee level 3 (SCHADS level 3) - They handle complex problems with general direction, supervise others, manage tasks, and do some HR work.
  • Social and community services employee level 4 (SCHADS level 4) - Employees which oversee complex activities, provide advice, develop procedures,and need strong planning skills.
  • Social and community services employee level 5 (SCHADS level 5) - They use advanced skills to meet goals, supervise staff, and offer expert advice while planning and organizing work.
  • Social and community services employee level 6 (SCHADS level 6) - With limited direction, they manage projects, influence decisions, and use strong managerial skills.
  • Social and community services employee level 7 (SCHADS level 7) - These employees handle key functions and major projects, set up procedures, and contribute to long-term goals.
  • Social and community services employee level 8 (SCHADS level 8) - They manage important activities, provide expert advice, develop strategies, and lead projects with independence.

Crisis accommodation employee

A crisis accommodation employee offers urgent help and housing support to people in crisis.

  • Crisis Accommodation Employee Level 1 - Works under general direction with established procedures. Manages their own tasks and might supervise volunteers.
  • Crisis Accommodation Employee Level 2 - Operates with general direction, applying their skills to manage functions or teams. Sets procedures and plans their own work.
  • Crisis Accommodation Employee Level 3 - Works with general direction on complex tasks, manages budgets, and supervises staff. Provides expert advice and sets priorities.
  • Crisis Accommodation Employee Level 4 - Operates with limited direction, manages major projects, and develops procedures. Influences operations, makes decisions, and handles budgets.

Family day care employee

A family day care employee works in a family day care scheme, taking care of and supervising kids in a home environment.

  • Family Day Care Employee Level 1 - Starts with simple tasks, gets guidance, and learns as they go. Helps with training and support.
  • Family Day Care Employee Level 2 - Works more independently, manages specific tasks, and knows about child development. Helps with admin and equipment.
  • Family Day Care Employee Level 3 - Takes on complex tasks with less supervision. Involved in planning, service delivery, and creating policies.
  • Family Day Care Employee Level 4 - Runs the service and handles finances. Manages big projects and has strong leadership skills.
  • Family Day Care Employee Level 5 - Leads and oversees complex programs. Advises on important policies and manages multiple services.

Home care employee

A home care employee gives personal care, domestic help, or home maintenance to older or disabled people in their own homes.

  • Home care employee level 1 - Handles basic tasks like cleaning and cooking, with less than a year of experience. Follows instructions and learns on the job.
  • Home care employee level 2 - Works more independently, helps with personal care, and may supervise others. Needs some experience or a certificate.
  • Home care employee level 3 - Works with minimal supervision, takes on specialized care tasks, and manages support staff. Requires advanced skills and qualifications.
  • Home care employee level 4 - Leads and trains staff, manages schedules, and handles more complex tasks. Needs a lot of experience and expertise.
  • Home care employee level 5 - Oversees multiple services, manages resources, and ensures everything runs smoothly. Requires strong management skills and deep knowledge of care operations.

Key Changes to SCHADS 2024 Pay Rates

Updated Hourly Rates for SCHADS Employees

As of 1 July 2024, the SCHADS Award pay rates have increased by 3.75%. This means that all employees covered are entitled to a pay rise. You can find the updated pay rates in the pay rate viewer. Make sure to update your payroll systems to reflect these changes, to avoid underpayment.

Updated Allowances in the SCHADS Award

Allowances have also gone up this year, either by a percentage or a fixed amount, usually based on inflation. See the pay rate viewers allowances section for the current rates (coming soon).

How to Use the SCHADS 2024 Pay Rates Viewer

Our SCHADS 2024 Pay Rates Viewer is an essential tool for quickly finding correct and up to date pay rates for your staff.

  1. Select the classification stream: Choose the classification stream relevent to the employee.
  2. Select the Classification Level: Select what level the employee is currently.
  3. Select the employment type: Select what type of employment you are interested in e.g full-time, part-time, casual...
  4. Select the pay point: Select the pay point the employee is on.
  5. View rates: View the up to date pay rates for the employee.

Not sure which classification applies?

If you're unsure which SCHADS classification applies to your employee, let Award Matcher help. Our tool simplifies the process of finding the right classification and provides evidence of why a specific classification was selected.

All you have to do is upload your job description. Award Matcher then analyses the role against all modern awards and classifications. Once the analysis is complete you will receive a detailed report on how your position matches each classification and which classification is likely to be the best fit.

Find your classification with Award Matcher

Frequently asked questions

Have a different question and can’t find the answer you’re looking for? Reach out to our support team by sending us an email and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.

Where do you source the pay rates?

We get our pay rates from the Fair Work Commission's Modern Award Pay Database. You can also check out the latest info on the SCHADS Award over at the Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) website.

When were the pay rates last updated?

We keep our pay rates up-to-date with changes from the Fair Work Commission. The latest update was on July 1, 2024.

I’m not sure whether my business falls under SCHADS or another modern award?

This is a common problem because SCHADS covers a wide range of services. To see if you're covered, check the coverage section of the relevant awards on the Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) website. If there's any overlap between awards, the Coverage section usually clarifies which one to use. You can also use our Award Matcher tool to help you figure it out.

Not sure which classification your employee falls under?

No worries! Figuring out the right SCHADS classification level can be tough. We made our product Award Matcher to help businesses like yours.

My business has a EBA why should i care about award pay rates?

Even with an EBA, you might still need to pay award rates. Awards set the legal minimums, so your employees get whichever is higher—Award or EBA. Just make sure your EBA always meets or beats those standards to stay compliant.

How are the SCHADS Award pay rates set?

The Fair Work Commission sets and reviews the SCHADS Award pay rates every year, looking at things like economic conditions, inflation, and what the sector needs.

Can pay rates change during the year?

Yes, while annual reviews are standard, pay rates can also change due to special rulings. Our tool always has the latest rates.

How do I use the pay rate tool?

It’s simple! Just select the stream, level, employment type, and pay point for your employee. The pay rates will show up in the table on the right.