How much does a social worker earn on christmas day? 2.5x penalty rate under the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award 2010.
Last verified: 21 May 2026A social worker working on christmas day earns $71.35/hr (150% above the base rate of $28.54/hr).
Based on the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award 2010 (MA000100), Level 1 adult rate, effective 1 July 2025.
Weekday Base Rate
$28.54/hr
1.0x (no penalty)
Christmas Day Penalty Rate
$71.35/hr
2.5x (+150%)
Casual social workers receive their casual-loaded rate ($35.68/hr, which includes 25% casual loading) multiplied by the christmas day penalty rate of 2.5x.
Start with the base hourly rate: $28.54/hr
Multiply by the christmas day penalty rate: 2.5x
$28.54 x 2.5 = $71.35/hr
Christmas Day (25 December) is a public holiday in all Australian states and territories. Under the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award 2010, employees working on Christmas Day receive 2.5x their base rate. You have the right to refuse to work on Christmas Day unless the request is reasonable, considering your personal circumstances, the nature of the work, and the amount of notice given.
Source: Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award 2010 (MA000100). Rates effective from 1 July 2025 following the Fair Work Commission Annual Wage Review.
If you work 8 hours on christmas day, you earn $570.80 instead of $228.32 on a weekday — that's $342.48 extra.
Weekday (8hrs)
$228.32
Christmas Day (8hrs)
$570.80
Extra Earned
+$342.48
| Day / Time | Multiplier | Full-Time Rate | Casual Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weekday (base) | 1.0x | $28.54/hr | $35.68/hr |
| Saturday | 1.5x | $42.81/hr | $53.52/hr |
| Sunday | 2x | $57.08/hr | $71.36/hr |
| Public Holiday | 2.5x | $71.35/hr | $89.20/hr |
| Christmas Day | 2.5x | $71.35/hr | $89.20/hr |
| Evening | 1.12x | $31.96/hr | $39.96/hr |
| Early Morning | 1.12x | $31.96/hr | $39.96/hr |
Use our Penalty Rate Calculator to check your exact rate based on your award, classification level, and employment type.
Open Penalty Rate CalculatorA social worker working on christmas day earns $71.35 per hour under the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award 2010. This is 2.5x the base rate of $28.54/hr, which is 150% more than the ordinary weekday rate. Casual social workers earn $89.20/hr (2.5x their casual rate of $35.68/hr).
The christmas day penalty rate for social workers is 2.5x the base hourly rate under the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award 2010 (MA000100). For a Level 1 social worker, this means $71.35/hr instead of $28.54/hr. The penalty rate compensates employees for working during unsociable hours.
Yes. Casual social workers receive penalty rates on christmas day. The 2.5x penalty multiplier is applied to the casual rate of $35.68/hr (which already includes 25% casual loading), giving a total of $89.20/hr. Casual employees receive both their loading and the penalty rate.
Under the Fair Work Act, an employer can request you to work on christmas day, but you can refuse if the request is unreasonable. Factors include: the nature of the workplace, your personal circumstances including family responsibilities, whether you could reasonably expect the request, and the amount of notice given. If you do work, you must be paid 2.5x your base rate.
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FairWork Mate is an independent commercial service. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or associated with the Fair Work Ombudsman, the Fair Work Commission, or any Australian Government agency. Content is 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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