Minimum pay rates for home care workers in Victoria under the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award 2010. Updated 1 July 2025.
Last verified: 21 May 2026Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award 2010 (MA000100)
$28.86
Base rate/hr
$36.08
Casual rate/hr
Home care workers provide personal care, domestic assistance, and social support to people in their homes under the home care stream of the SCHADS Award (MA000100). The rates shown are the general home-care (disability and community care) ladder. Home care workers delivering aged care — Home Care Packages or Commonwealth Home Support Programme clients — are on a separate, higher direct-care ladder under the same award, starting at $32.61/hr (Level 1 Introductory) up to $40.58/hr (Level 6 Team leader).
Victoria Note
Victoria has state-based long service leave that may differ from the NES. Check your entitlements with the Victorian Wage Inspectorate.
| Employment Type | Hourly Rate | Weekly (38hrs) | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-time (adult) | $28.86/hr | $1,096.68 | $57,027.36 |
| Part-time (adult) | $28.86/hr | Pro-rata | Pro-rata |
| Casual (incl. 25% loading) | $36.08/hr | Varies | Varies |
Rates effective from 1 July 2026 under the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award 2010.
Saturday
$43.29/hr
1.5x base
Sunday
$57.72/hr
2x base
Public Holiday
$72.15/hr
2.5x base
Penalty rates shown for full-time/part-time Level 1 ($28.86/hr base). Casual employees receive penalty rates calculated on their base rate (before casual loading).
| Level | Description | Base Rate/hr | Casual Rate/hr | Annual (38hrs) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Home care worker (entry level, home care stream) | $27.28 | $34.10 | $53,905.28 |
| Level 2 | Home care worker | $28.86 | $36.08 | $57,027.36 |
| Level 3 | Experienced home care worker / team leader | $29.45 | $36.81 | $58,193.20 |
| Level 4 | Senior home care worker / coordinator | $32.13 | $40.16 | $63,488.88 |
View full Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award 2010 pay rates →
Home care workers frequently travel between clients without being paid for travel time. Other common issues include unpaid overnight shifts and missing broken shift allowances. If you care for aged-care clients and are being paid the general home-care rates, check the aged-care direct-care ladder — it starts at $32.61/hr, well above the general Level 1 rate.
If you think you are being paid below the minimum rate, you can calculate your potential back pay and check your rights.
Check If You Are Underpaid →| Job | Base Rate | Casual Rate | Sunday |
|---|---|---|---|
| Disability Support Worker | $36.22/hr | $45.28/hr | $72.44/hr |
| Social Worker | $40.49/hr | $50.61/hr | $80.98/hr |
The minimum hourly rate for a home care worker in Victoria is $28.86/hr for full-time and part-time employees, or $36.08/hr for casuals (including 25% loading). This is the Level 1 adult rate under the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award 2010 (MA000100), effective from 1 July 2025.
The minimum wage for a home care worker is $28.86 per hour ($1,096.68 per week for a 38-hour week, or $57,027.36 per year). This is set by the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award 2010. Higher classification levels attract higher rates.
Home Care Workers are covered by the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award 2010 (MA000100). This Modern Award sets minimum pay rates, penalty rates, allowances, and leave entitlements. Your employer may also have an enterprise agreement with different (usually higher) rates.
Yes. Under the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award 2010, home care workers receive 1.5x their base rate on Saturdays ($43.29/hr) and 2x on Sundays ($57.72/hr). Public holidays are paid at 2.5x ($72.15/hr).
The casual rate for a home care worker is $36.08/hr, which includes a 25% casual loading on top of the base rate of $28.86/hr. The casual loading compensates for the lack of paid leave, notice of termination, and redundancy pay.
Home care workers are typically adult employees. Junior rates do not commonly apply. The Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award 2010 does not have specific junior rates for this classification.
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