The Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services (SCHADS) award has influenced disability workers’ pay and conditions since 2010. Several key changes came into effect on or after 1 July 2022. With a shortage of disability support workers making headlines, it’s crucial that working conditions and rates of pay for disability support workers are updated to retain and attract workers.
The changes to the SCHADS Award will most likely affect how employers roster shifts. From the first full pay period starting on or after 1 July 2022, all part-time disability employees will be paid a minimum of two hours for each shift or work period in a broken shift. This is a new entitlement for part-time employees.
Workers will now be reimbursed for client cancellations. If a client cancels a service scheduled for a full-time or part-time employee, the employer must either substitute another shift or pay the worker the full fee. Employers must now provide employees with advance notice before requiring them to work ‘make-up time’. The legislation also sets out specific rules for when and what type of make-up time employees may be offered.
A further change ensures that disability workers are recognised and rewarded for work they do at home.
