SCHADS Level 1 Pay Rate 2026–27

Level 1 in the Social and Community Services (SACS) stream is the entry-level classification. Under Schedule B, a Level 1 employee works under direct and regular supervision, performs a defined range of straightforward duties in a structured environment, and applies known routines and procedures with limited scope for independent judgement. It is the classification for employees who are new to the sector, undertaking induction or on-the-job training, or working within closely defined tasks.

Employees at this level develop their skills through experience and structured training, exercise judgement against clear guidelines, and refer anything outside routine to a supervisor. The three pay points within Level 1 recognise increasing competence and length of service at the level.

Typical Level 1 roles: entry-level and trainee support workers, program assistants, and administrative or ancillary staff performing routine tasks under supervision. Note that many disability and community support workers who hold a Certificate III are classified at Level 2 rather than Level 1 — classification follows the duties and required skills, not the job title.

Minimum rates for full-time and part-time SACS Level 1 employees. Penalty rates shown are for ordinary hours worked on those days; afternoon shift (finishes after 8pm Mon–Fri) adds 12.5% and night shift adds 15%, applied to the whole shift. Compare: Level 2 rates. See also the full SCHADS levels guide.

Casual employees receive a 25% loading on the minimum hourly rate. The rates below already include it. For how the loading interacts with weekend penalties, see our casual loading guide.

Annualised, a full-time Level 1 employee earns between approximately $54,439 (pay point 1) and $58,193 (pay point 3) — calculated as the weekly rate × 52 for a 38-hour week, before any weekend penalties, shift loadings, overtime or allowances. In practice, rostered weekend and shift work can lift actual earnings well above the base salary.

Schedule B of the award characterises Level 1 by routine duties performed under direct supervision, with skills developed through experience and structured training rather than a formal qualification prerequisite. Typical entry routes:

• No formal qualification required to start at pay point 1 — the level suits new entrants and trainees
• Relevant short courses or partial qualifications plus limited experience
• On-the-job training and induction toward the competencies of the level

Within the level, employees generally progress one pay point after each 12 months of service at that point, subject to demonstrated competency — see our pay point progression guide. Gaining a Certificate III and taking on the associated duties is the usual trigger for reclassification to Level 2.

Level 2 covers employees who work under general (rather than direct) supervision, apply skills gained through a relevant qualification such as a Certificate III, and carry out a broader range of tasks with more autonomy. Most frontline disability and community support workers with a Certificate III sit at Level 2, which is why Level 1 is comparatively uncommon beyond genuine entry and trainee roles.

Because the boundary between Level 1 and Level 2 turns on required skills and supervision — not job title — misclassifying a qualified support worker at Level 1 underpays them on every ordinary hour, penalty and overtime line. CrossVault's Timesheet Validator checks every line of pay against the correct classification rate.