Employment & Awards Overview

What is a Modern Award?

In simple terms, a Modern Award outlines the entitlements of employees, including wages and conditions based on industry and occupation. These conditions include the type of employment, overtime, penalty rates, wages, allowances, superannuation, and leave entitlements. There are currently 122 Modern Awards covering the majority of employees in Australia. Modern Awards stem from the National Employment Standards (NES), which outline the ten minimum standards for employment. Modern Awards cover all employees unless they are employed under an EA, employment contract or another registered agreement. Some classes of employees, such as accountants, may not be covered by an Award. Within any business, the employees may not necessarily be covered by the same Modern Award. Employees are covered by Awards that relate to their occupation. Therefore a kitchen hand and a cleaner will not be under the same Award, regardless of whether they work for the same business.
 

What is an Enterprise Agreement or EA?

The Fair Work Act 2009 allows employers and employees to form an agreement rather than adhering to a Modern Award. These agreements set out the terms and conditions of employment and cannot contain anything less than what is offered in the Modern Award. Once an EA is approved by the Fair Work Commission (FWC), it may replace any applicable Modern Awards to act as the base terms and conditions of employment for those employees.

What is the SCHADS Award?

The Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award 2020 (“SCHADS Award”) covers many employers in the social and community services sector. This includes many charities, not-for-profits and NDIS providers. 

Browse the full SCHADS Award using the link or download a copy: https://library.fairwork.gov.au/award/?krn=ma000100.

Browse the SCHADS Award Pay Rates using the link or download a copy: https://www.fairwork.gov.au/pay-and-wages/minimum-wages/social-and-community-services-industry-pay-rates. 

SCHADS Award Calculators 

Pay Calculator - https://calculate.fairwork.gov.au/FindYourAward

Leave Calculator - https://calculate.fairwork.gov.au/Leave

Notice & Redundancy Calculator - https://calculate.fairwork.gov.au/EndingEmployment

Shift Calculator - https://calculate.fairwork.gov.au/FindYourAward?redirect=true

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More Information...

Fair Work Australia - https://www.fairwork.gov.au.