Demystifying the SCHADS Award: Sleepover Allowances, Travel Mileage & 2-Hour Minimums

For NDIS registered providers and aged care facilities, compliance under the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award (SCHADS MA000100) is notoriously intricate. The Fair Work Commission's major SCHADS variations introduced strict rules around split shifts, minimum engagement periods, and sleepover allowances that catch even seasoned care coordinators off guard.

1. The 2-Hour Minimum Engagement Period

Under clause 10.5 of the SCHADS Award, part-time and casual home care employees must be engaged and paid for a minimum of 2 hours per shift (or 2 hours per segment of a split shift). If a support worker visits a participant for a 45-minute morning check-in, the provider must still pay for the full 2 hours unless specific multi-client exemption rules are met.

2. Sleepover Allowances vs. Active Night Work

In Supported Independent Living (SIL) environments, sleepover shifts (typically 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM) carry a fixed sleepover allowance. However, if the carer is awakened to assist a participant during the night:

• The time spent working must be paid at appropriate overtime penalty rates (minimum 1 hour per disturbance).
• If multiple disturbances exceed statutory limits, the entire shift transforms from an inactive sleepover to an active night shift.
• Rostey automatically calculates these disturbance intervals through the carer mobile app with one tap.

3. Travel Time & Vehicle Kilometers

When support workers travel directly between two participants during the day, the travel time must be treated as time worked, and reimbursement per kilometer applies under the SCHADS vehicle allowance. Rostey automatically calculates the distance and travel duration between client addresses, eliminating manual logbooks.