SCHADS Award — free pay calculator 2026 | Expert Zoom

Frequently Asked Questions

• What are the current pay rates under the SCHADS Award 2026?

  Under the SCHADS Award (MA000100), pay rates for 2025-26 range from AUD $28.24/hour (SACS Level 1) to AUD $77.28/hour (SACS Level 8) for social and community services employees (Schedule B). Home care aged care employees (Schedule F) receive rates from AUD $31.13/hour following the Aged Care Work Value Case uplifts effective 1 October 2025. Rates reflect the Fair Work Commission Annual Wage Review effective 1 July 2025.

• How much redundancy pay am I entitled to under the SCHADS Award?

  The SCHADS Award provides no confirmed enhancement above the NES genuine redundancy scale (Fair Work Act 2009 Schedule 4, s.119). Entitlements range from 4 weeks' pay (1 year of service) up to 12 weeks' pay (10 or more years, capped). Small business employers with fewer than 15 employees are generally exempt from paying NES redundancy pay under s.123. Contact your union (ASU, HSU or UWU) or the Fair Work Ombudsman (1300 724 690) for advice on your specific situation.

• How many days annual leave do SCHADS Award workers receive?

  Full-time employees covered by the SCHADS Award are entitled to 4 weeks (20 days) of paid annual leave per year under the NES (Fair Work Act 2009 s.87). Shiftworkers who regularly work on Sundays and public holidays are entitled to 5 weeks of annual leave. Annual leave loading of 17.5% is paid under the award. Part-time employees accrue leave on a pro-rata basis proportional to their contracted hours.

• What is the notice period under the SCHADS Award?

  The SCHADS Award does not provide notice periods beyond the NES statutory minimum. Under Fair Work Act 2009 s.117, the minimum notice is: 1 week (less than 1 year service), 2 weeks (1–3 years), 3 weeks (3–5 years), and 4 weeks (5+ years). Employees over 45 with 2 or more years of service receive one additional week on employer dismissal. Employers may pay in lieu of notice.

• How much superannuation does my employer have to pay under the SCHADS Award?

  Your employer must pay 12.0% of your ordinary time earnings as superannuation under the Superannuation Guarantee (Administration) Act 1992, effective 1 July 2025. This rate applies to all 5 streams of the SCHADS Award. The super is paid in addition to your wages — it is not deducted from your take-home pay. You can choose your own complying super fund under Fair Work Act 2009 s.149A.

• Does the SCHADS Award provide casual loading?

  Yes. Casual employees under the SCHADS Award receive a 25% loading above the base rate, in line with Fair Work Act 2009 s.67B (NES). Casual loading is paid in addition to any applicable penalty rates (weekend, public holiday, evening work). Casuals do not accrue annual leave or personal/carer's leave — the 25% loading is intended to compensate for these missing entitlements.

• Can I be made redundant as a casual employee under the SCHADS Award?

  Casual employees do not typically have the same protections against redundancy as permanent employees under the NES genuine redundancy provisions. However, long-term casuals (employed on a regular and systematic basis for 12 months or more) may be entitled to some protections, including access to unfair dismissal claims. If you are a long-term casual worker, contact the Fair Work Ombudsman (1300 724 690) or your union (ASU/HSU/UWU) for advice.

• What is the minimum wage under the SCHADS Award in 2026?

  The National Minimum Wage for the 2025-26 financial year is AUD $24.10/hour (AUD $915.80/week for full-time 38 hours). However, the SCHADS Award minimum rates exceed the NMW — the lowest classification (SACS Level 1) is AUD $28.24/hour. If your employer is paying you less than your award minimum, contact the Fair Work Ombudsman on 13 13 94 or at fairwork.gov.au.

• What is long service leave for SCHADS Award workers?

  Long service leave entitlements for SCHADS Award workers depend on the state or territory where they work, as LSL is governed by state legislation. Qualifying periods range from 7 years (VIC, ACT) to 10 years (all other states/territories). Entitlements at the qualifying period range from 6.067 weeks (VIC, ACT) to 13 weeks (SA, NT). Use the Long Service Leave tab in the calculator above to estimate your entitlement based on your location.

• Does the Aged Care Work Value Case affect my SCHADS Award pay?

  Yes, if you are covered by Schedule F (Home Care Aged Care) of the SCHADS Award. The Fair Work Commission's Aged Care Work Value Case decisions (AM2020/99, AM2021/63, AM2022/58) introduced phased pay uplifts for aged care workers. The final tranche of Schedule F uplifts took effect 1 October 2025, bringing Home Care Level 1 to AUD $31.13/hour. If you believe you are not receiving the correct uplift, contact your union or the Fair Work Ombudsman.