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NDIS support worker pay rates under the SCHADS Award

How NDIS support worker wages relate to SCHADS award minimums — and how that differs from NDIS price limits. General information only.

NDIS support worker wages for employees covered by the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award (SCHADS, MA000100) are modern award minimums — not NDIS billing price limits. AwardGuard can help you check adult SCHADS base rates; it does not set NDIS claim prices or endorse any funding arrangement.

Are NDIS support worker pay rates the same as NDIS prices?

No. An NDIS price limit is a ceiling on what may be claimed for a support under NDIS pricing arrangements. A SCHADS wage floor is the minimum an employer may need to pay an employee under that award for classified work. Mixing the two up can understate wage obligations or overstate what “the rate” means. See NDIS billing versus SCHADS wages for a side-by-side comparison.

Where do SCHADS minimums come from?

Adult base rates for SCHADS classifications are published through the Fair Work Commission — Modern Awards Pay Database. The award instrument is SCHADS Industry Award 2010 (MA000100). Fair Work Ombudsman pay guides and the Pay and Conditions Tool are additional official references.

How to check a SCHADS adult base rate in AwardGuard

  1. Open the SCHADS award page or go straight to /check.
  2. Select the classification that matches the role description in the award (see understanding SCHADS classifications).
  3. Enter the hourly rate you pay and compare it with the current adult base minimum returned from the Fair Work Commission database.
  4. Separately review penalties, loadings, overtime, and allowances in the award — AwardGuard’s checker focuses on adult base rates.

Compare what you pay with the current adult base minimum using the free AwardGuard rate checker. Always confirm against the award instrument and Fair Work sources — the award prevails.

Limitations

  • AwardGuard covers adult base rates for launch awards. Apprentices are out of scope; junior rates are estimates only where shown.
  • This page does not determine coverage, classification, or NDIS claiming rules.
  • AwardGuard is not endorsed by the Fair Work Commission, Fair Work Ombudsman, or NDIS.
  • General information only — not legal advice. The award always prevails.

Last reviewed: 15 July 2026 · Authored by AwardGuard (organisation).

General information only — not legal or workplace-relations advice. The applicable modern award always prevails. Rates and classifications should be verified against the Fair Work Commission — Modern Awards Pay Database. AwardGuard is not endorsed by the Fair Work Commission, Fair Work Ombudsman, or NDIS.

Identifies pay and roster items to review before payroll. General information only, not workplace relations or legal advice. The applicable modern award prevails. For authoritative guidance contact the Fair Work Ombudsman or a qualified adviser.

NDIS support worker pay rates under the SCHADS Award | AwardGuard