Update for 1 July 2026
SCHADS Award minimum rates rose 4.75% in the Fair Work Commission Annual Wage Review, effective from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026. Every rate, penalty, and allowance on this page reflects the new figures.
Teiro keeps SCHADS rates current automatically, so your rosters, quotes, and pay never run on last year’s figures.
Important — two separate regimes: The SCHADS Award costs on this page have been updated to 2026-27 rates (+4.75% from 1 July 2026). The NDIS price limits shown are 2025-26 reference figures — NDIS Pricing Arrangements are set by the NDIA independently of the Fair Work Commission and are not simply the old limit plus 4.75%. Always check the current NDIS Pricing Arrangements 2026-27 for up-to-date price limits before quoting or entering service agreements.
The NDIS weekday rate (2025-26 reference)
Support item: Assistance with Daily Activities (Standard, Weekday Daytime)
Line item: 01_011_0107_1_1
Price limit (2025-26 reference): $70.23/hr — verify the 2026-27 figure in the NDIS Pricing Arrangements 2026-27.
This is the maximum amount a registered provider can charge a participant for standard daily activity support during a weekday under 2025-26 NDIS pricing. It is a cap, not a guaranteed payment. The NDIS Pricing Arrangements 2026-27 are reviewed separately by the NDIA — check the current document for updated limits.
The actual SCHADS cost: SACS Level 3.1 casual on a weekday (2026-27)
A SACS Level 3 PP1 casual disability support worker is one of the most common classifications in Australian disability care — a qualified, experienced worker who works without direct supervision. From 1 July 2026, the base casual rate is $50.61/hr (up from $48.31).
| On-cost | Per hour |
|---|---|
| Base casual rate (SACS L3 PP1, 2026-27) | $50.61 |
| Superannuation (12%) | $6.07 |
| Workers compensation (est. 2.5%) | $1.27 |
| Payroll tax (est. 4.85%, threshold dependent) | $2.45 |
| Leave loading proxy (casual, absorbed in loading) | $0.00 |
| Total employment cost | $60.40/hr |
Gross margin at $70.23 NDIS reference rate (2025-26): $70.23 – $60.40 = $9.83/hr (14.0%)
That $9.83 must cover worker travel time, administration, management, software, insurance, rent, training, compliance, and profit. NDIS price limit shown is the 2025-26 reference — check the NDIS Pricing Arrangements 2026-27 for the current weekday rate. Workers compensation and payroll tax rates vary by state — figures above are indicative for a Victorian provider above the payroll tax threshold.
How the gap widens on weekends and public holidays
The NDIS pricing structure provides higher rates for weekend and public holiday support, but they do not fully offset the SCHADS penalty rate increases.
Saturday
NDIS rate: $98.37/hr (01_015_0107_1_1) — 2025-26 reference; check 2026-27 NDIS Pricing Arrangements
SCHADS cost: SACS L3 PP1 casual 2026-27 — 175% of ordinary rate = $40.49 × 1.75 = $70.86/hr (penalty 150% + casual loading 25%, additive per MA000100)
Employment cost: $84.57/hr (after on-costs: super 12%, wc 2.5%, pt 4.85%)
Gross margin: $13.80/hr (14.0%)
Sunday
NDIS rate: $111.63/hr (01_016_0107_1_1) — 2025-26 reference; check 2026-27 NDIS Pricing Arrangements
SCHADS cost: SACS L3 PP1 casual 2026-27 — 225% of ordinary rate = $40.49 × 2.25 = $91.10/hr (penalty 200% + casual loading 25%, additive per MA000100)
Employment cost: $108.73/hr (after on-costs)
Gross margin: +$2.90/hr (2.6%)
Public Holiday
NDIS rate: $139.54/hr (01_017_0107_1_1) — 2025-26 reference; check 2026-27 NDIS Pricing Arrangements
SCHADS cost: SACS L3 PP1 casual 2026-27 — 275% of ordinary rate = $40.49 × 2.75 = $111.35/hr (penalty 250% + casual loading 25%, additive per MA000100)
Employment cost: $132.89/hr (after on-costs)
Gross margin: $6.65/hr (4.8%)
Sunday margins are the tightest of any day type for SACS Level 3.1 casual workers under 2025-26 NDIS reference limits. Under the correct SCHADS Award calculation — where casual loading is added on top of the penalty rate (200% + 25% = 225%, not 200% × 1.25) — Sunday leaves a thin positive margin of approximately 2.6% against the 2025-26 NDIS limit. Check the NDIS Pricing Arrangements 2026-27 for the current Sunday price limit before drawing conclusions about your specific margin. Many providers restructure Sunday rosters to use permanent part-time workers, whose Sunday penalty (200% of the lower base without the embedded casual loading) produces a different cost profile.
Summary: margin by day type
| Day type | NDIS rate | Gross margin | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weekday | $70.23 | $9.83 | 14.0% |
| Saturday | $98.37 | $13.80 | 14.0% |
| Sunday | $111.63 | $2.90 | 2.6% |
| Public Holiday | $139.54 | $6.65 | 4.8% |
SACS Level 3 PP1 casual (2026-27), Victorian on-costs (super 12%, wc 2.5%, pt 4.85%). NDIS price limits shown are 2025-26 reference figures — check the NDIS Pricing Arrangements 2026-27 for current limits. Last reviewed: July 2026.
What providers can do
1. Efficient rostering
Every unnecessary gap in a casual worker's day costs money. A 3-hour gap between clients that is not genuine travel time triggers two separate minimum engagements. Tightly sequenced rosters reduce the minimum-engagement obligations you incur and the travel time you pay without recovering.
2. Reduce travel time
Travel between clients is paid time under SCHADS and is usually unrecoverable in full from NDIS funding. Clustering clients geographically and scheduling workers in logical routes rather than across a sprawling area reduces paid travel that eats into your margin.
3. Correct classification
Over-classification increases your base rate unnecessarily. From 1 July 2026, the SACS Level 3 PP1 base is $40.49 versus Level 2 PP1 at $36.22 — a $4.27/hr difference that compounds across penalty rate multipliers (up to $9.61/hr more on a casual Sunday at 225% of the ordinary rate). Audit your classification decisions annually.
4. Mix employment types deliberately
Permanent part-time workers with agreed hours can be more cost-effective on high-penalty days (weekends, public holidays) because their base rate is lower than casual and the penalty rate multiplies that lower base. Casuals are flexible but their 25% loading is embedded regardless of day type.
5. Price correctly in service agreements
Ensure your NDIS service agreements with participants capture the full pricing structure, including weekend and public holiday rates, travel allowances, and any other allowable charges. Under-quoting locks you into a rate that may not cover your actual costs as penalty rates compound.
6. Know your real costs before you roster
Providers who roster without visibility of shift costs often discover the financial impact only at payroll. A scheduling tool that shows you the loaded cost of each shift before it is confirmed lets you make better rostering decisions in real time.
A note on NDIS pricing reviews
NDIS pricing is reviewed annually by the NDIA and is a separate regime from the Fair Work Commission's Annual Wage Review. The NDIS Pricing Arrangements 2026-27 should be checked directly — do not assume the price limits simply increased by 4.75% to match the SCHADS Award rise.
Providers who are routinely running negative margins on specific shift types should document this clearly. The NDIA's pricing consultation processes allow providers to submit evidence of cost pressures. If your Sunday or weekend margins are consistently negative, that evidence matters for future pricing submissions.
Last reviewed: July 2026. Next Fair Work Annual Wage Review: 1 July 2027.