SCHADS Travel & KM Allowance Calculator | CrossVault
Free It's free and can save you thousands on compliance. See why NDIS providers use it.

SCHADS Travel & KM Allowance Calculator

CrossVault's SCHADS travel allowance calculator estimates the two payments that can apply when a worker drives between clients: the $1.01/km vehicle allowance under clause 20.7(a), and paid travel time where the worker remains engaged across the drive. It excludes ordinary commuting from home to the first client and from the last client home.

Quick Facts

Vehicle allowance floor
$1.01/km from 1 July 2026
Travel time
Paid where the worker remains engaged across the drive
Commute
Generally excluded
Both can apply
Km allowance plus paid time
Related rule
Broken-shift gaps and minimum engagements may also apply
Source
SCHADS cl.20.7(a), cl.10.5 and cl.25.6 interactions

Tools & Resources

Calculate Travel Allowance and Travel Time

Do not include the home-to-first-client commute.

Use only time where the worker stayed engaged across the drive.

Estimated minimum owed
Vehicle allowance at $1.01/km
Travel time pay
Km allowance shortfall at paid rate

This calculator estimates the award floor. Providers may pay above $1.01/km. Travel time should be included only where the worker remains engaged across the drive; a long unpaid gap may instead be a broken shift.

What counts as eligible kilometres

Eligible kilometres are authorised work-related kilometres in the worker's private vehicle: driving between clients, transporting a client, or driving from the office to a client. Home to the first client and the last client back home are generally the commute and should not be included. The detailed rule explanation is in the SCHADS travel allowance guide.

Why travel time is separate

The vehicle allowance compensates running costs. Travel time is pay for time worked. A 30-minute drive between two clients can therefore create both payments: 30 minutes of paid work at the applicable rate, plus the $1.01/km vehicle allowance. If the worker has a long unpaid gap instead of a continuous drive, the gap may trigger broken-shift rules rather than travel-time pay.

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the SCHADS travel allowance rate in 2026?
The minimum vehicle allowance is $1.01 per kilometre under clause 20.7(a), effective from 1 July 2026. Providers can pay more, but not less.
Does the calculator include travel from home to the first client?
No. Home to the first client, and the last client home, is generally commuting and is excluded. The calculator is for authorised work travel such as driving between clients.
Is travel time paid as well as kilometres?
Where the worker remains engaged across the drive, yes. The kilometres attract the vehicle allowance and the time is paid at the applicable hourly, penalty or overtime rate.
What if payroll paid less than $1.01/km?
The calculator shows the gap between the award floor and the rate entered. Paying below the SCHADS minimum creates a per-kilometre shortfall.

Automate SCHADS Compliance

Don't risk underpayments. CrossVault's AI engine validates every timesheet against the specific rules of the SCHADS Award.