ShiftCare vs Deputy: Rostering and Award Handling Compared
By CrossVault · Updated
ShiftCare and Deputy approach rostering from different directions. ShiftCare is purpose-built for NDIS and care providers; Deputy is a broad general-workforce scheduling and time-and-attendance platform used across many industries, with a built-in award-interpretation engine. This page compares the two factually — what each does, how each handles SCHADS, integrations and indicative pricing. Details are as published in July 2026 and subject to change; confirm with each vendor.
Quick Facts
- ShiftCare
- NDIS-specific — care notes, client billing, roster-stage SCHADS checks
- Deputy
- General workforce — scheduling, time/attendance, award-interpretation engine
- SCHADS
- ShiftCare flags at the roster stage; Deputy computes pay via its award engine
- Where CrossVault fits
- A pre-payroll layer that validates either platform's timesheet export
Tools & Resources
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SCHADS AI Assistant
Get instant answers to award questions.
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Timesheet Validator
Check timesheets for compliance.
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Free Payslip Check
For workers: compare your payslip to the award minimums.
ShiftCare: Built for NDIS and Care Providers
ShiftCare's strength is depth in the NDIS and care sector specifically — rostering tied to client funding, progress notes and incident reporting alongside the schedule, and bulk NDIS invoicing and PRODA-ready claims. On SCHADS, it markets a roster-stage compliance feature that validates shifts against SCHADS rules in real time and flags issues such as missing allowances, insufficient rest breaks and overtime while the roster is built, before the data exports to payroll; the final award pay is calculated in the connected payroll system (partners include Xero, MYOB, QuickBooks, Employment Hero and Pay Cat). Indicative pricing (AUD, July 2026, ex GST) runs from about $9 to $25 per user/month across three plans, with a five-staff minimum.
Deputy: Breadth Across Industries, With an Award Engine
Deputy is one of the most widely used workforce-management platforms globally — scheduling, time and attendance with mobile and biometric clock-in, and a built-in award-interpretation engine that applies Modern Award rules to timesheets. SCHADS is covered in Deputy's award library; its own help documentation notes that some of the harder SCHADS mechanics — sleepover allowances, broken shifts, minimum engagement and casual loading — may need to be applied or checked manually, and that its pay engine is not a substitute for verifying pay. For a provider running SCHADS alongside other awards in a mixed workforce, Deputy's breadth is a genuine advantage. Indicative pricing (AUD, July 2026) is about $6.75 (Lite), $8.75 (Core) and $13 (Pro) per user/month, with a $30 monthly minimum; it exports to Xero, MYOB, ADP, QuickBooks and others.
At a Glance
Figures are as published in July 2026 (AUD) and subject to change — confirm current details with each vendor.
| ShiftCare | Deputy | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | NDIS-specific rostering + care management | General-workforce scheduling & time/attendance |
| SCHADS award handling | Roster-stage SCHADS compliance checks; pay calculated downstream | Award-interpretation engine covers SCHADS; some mechanics (sleepovers, broken shifts) may need manual handling per Deputy's docs |
| Best suited to | NDIS/disability providers wanting care management in one place | Mixed workforces across multiple awards/industries |
| Indicative pricing (AUD) | ~$9–$25 per user/mo; 5-staff min | ~$6.75–$13 per user/mo; $30/mo min |
Where CrossVault Fits
CrossVault approaches SCHADS compliance as a validation step rather than a rostering platform. It reads a timesheet export from either tool — in whatever format it comes out — and checks the actual hours and pay against the SCHADS Award clause by clause before the pay run, including the allowances and thresholds that are easy to miss (broken shifts, sleepover disturbances and overtime accrued across multiple shifts), citing the specific clause behind each flag. It runs alongside your existing roster rather than replacing it. See the timesheet validator, or the NDIS rostering software buyer's guide.
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is ShiftCare or Deputy better for NDIS providers?
- ShiftCare is purpose-built for NDIS and care providers — client funding links, care notes, NDIS billing — with roster-stage SCHADS compliance checks. Deputy is a broader general-workforce platform strong in scheduling and time and attendance across many industries, with a built-in award-interpretation engine. If NDIS-specific depth matters most, ShiftCare typically fits better; if you value breadth or run a mixed workforce across awards, Deputy is a strong choice.
- Does Deputy support the SCHADS Award?
- Yes — Deputy's award-interpretation engine covers SCHADS in its pay-rate library. Deputy's own documentation notes that some harder SCHADS mechanics — sleepover allowances, broken shifts, minimum engagement and casual loading — may need to be applied or checked manually, and that the pay engine does not replace verifying pay. Confirm current coverage with Deputy.
- How much do ShiftCare and Deputy cost?
- As published in July 2026 (AUD): ShiftCare runs about $9–$25 per user/month across three plans with a five-staff minimum (ex GST); Deputy lists about $6.75 (Lite), $8.75 (Core) and $13 (Pro) per user/month with a $30 monthly minimum. Both are subject to change — check each vendor for current pricing.
- Can CrossVault work alongside ShiftCare or Deputy?
- Yes. CrossVault validates a timesheet export from either platform against the SCHADS Award — no integration or configuration mapping required. Most providers keep their existing roster and add CrossVault as a pre-payroll compliance check.
Check your pay against these rates automatically
Upload a timesheet export and CrossVault checks every shift against the SCHADS Award, with the clause cited.
For providers
Find underpayments before Fair Work does
ShiftCare, Deputy, Employment Hero or Xero exports. Sleepovers, broken shifts, overtime and penalties checked shift by shift.
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For support workers
Were you paid right?
Upload your payslip and check it against the SCHADS Award.