Home Care Pay Rates 2025-26
Minimum pay rates for home care workers in Australia under the Home Care Award. Updated 1 July 2025.
Last verified: 1 July 2025Home Care Minimum Pay Rate
Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award 2010 — Home Care (MA000100)
$24.10
Base rate/hr
$30.13
Casual rate/hr
The minimum pay rate for home care workers is $24.10/hr under the Home Care Award. Casuals receive $30.13/hr (base + 25% loading). Rates effective from 1 July 2025.
Home care workers providing domestic assistance, personal care, and support to people in their homes are covered by the Home Care Award. This includes workers in home care packages and Commonwealth Home Support Programme services. Travel between clients and split shifts are key pay issues in this sector.
Home Care Classification Rates
| Level | Classification | Base Rate/hr | Casual Rate/hr | Annual (38hrs) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Home Care Employee Level 1 | $24.10 | $30.13 | $47,621.60 |
| Level 2 | Home Care Employee Level 2 | $25.52 | $31.90 | $50,427.52 |
| Level 3 | Home Care Employee Level 3 | $26.65 | $33.31 | $52,660.40 |
| Level 4 | Home Care Employee Level 4 | $28.51 | $35.64 | $56,335.76 |
Rates effective from 1 July 2025 under the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award 2010 — Home Care. Casual rates include 25% loading.
Casual Home Care Pay Rates
Casual workers get a 25% loading on top of the base rate. This compensates for no paid leave, no notice period, and no redundancy pay. Here's what that looks like for each level:
| Level | Base Rate | + 25% Loading | Casual Rate/hr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | $24.10 | +$6.03 | $30.13 |
| Level 2 | $25.52 | +$6.38 | $31.90 |
| Level 3 | $26.65 | +$6.66 | $33.31 |
| Level 4 | $28.51 | +$7.13 | $35.64 |
Home Care Penalty Rates
Penalty rates are calculated on the base rate (Level 1: $24.10/hr). Casual employees receive penalty rates on their base rate before casual loading is applied.
Saturday
$36.15/hr
1.5x base
Sunday
$42.18/hr
1.75x base
Public Holiday
$60.25/hr
2.5x base
| Penalty Type | Multiplier | Level 1 Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday | 1.5x | $36.15/hr |
| Sunday | 1.75x | $42.18/hr |
| Public Holiday | 2.5x | $60.25/hr |
| Evening (8pm–midnight) | 1.15x | $27.72/hr |
| Overtime (first 2 hours) | 1.5x | $36.15/hr |
| Overtime (after 2 hours) | 2x | $48.20/hr |
Full Home Care Award Details
View the complete Home Care Award including all classification levels, break rules, allowances, and more.
View Full Home Care Award Pay Rates →Getting Paid Less Than This?
If your payslip shows less than $24.10/hr (or $30.13/hr casual), you might be getting underpaid. It happens more than you'd think in home care. Use our underpaid checker to calculate what you're actually owed.
Check If You're Underpaid →Pay Rates by Industry
Home Care Pay Rates FAQ
What is the minimum pay rate for home care workers in 2026?
The minimum base rate for home care workers is $24.10/hr (Level 1) under the Home Care Award. Casual workers receive $30.13/hr. Level 3 (qualified personal care workers) earn around $25.97/hr base.
Do home care workers get paid for travel between clients?
Yes. All travel time between clients during a shift must be paid at your base rate. Travel costs (fuel, tolls, public transport) must also be reimbursed. Unpaid travel time is one of the most common underpayment issues in home care.
What penalty rates apply to home care workers?
Saturday pays 1.5x, Sunday pays 2.0x, and public holidays pay 2.5x your base rate. Afternoon shifts (after 6pm) attract a 12.5% loading. Night shifts get 15%.
What is the minimum shift length for home care workers?
Under the Home Care Award, full-time and part-time workers must receive a minimum of 2 hours per engagement. Casual workers also have a 2-hour minimum. If your employer rossters you for a 1-hour visit, they must pay you for 2 hours.
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General information and estimates only — not legal, financial, or tax advice. Always verify with the Fair Work Ombudsman (13 13 94) or a qualified professional.
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