How much does a social worker earn on public holiday? 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 public holiday 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)
Public Holiday 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 public holiday penalty rate of 2.5x.
Start with the base hourly rate: $28.54/hr
Multiply by the public holiday penalty rate: 2.5x
$28.54 x 2.5 = $71.35/hr
Under the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award 2010, employees working on a public holiday receive 2.5x their base rate. Employees can also refuse to work on a public holiday if the request is not reasonable. If you do not work on a public holiday, you are still entitled to be paid your ordinary hours for that day (for full-time and part-time employees).
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 public holiday, you earn $570.80 instead of $228.32 on a weekday — that's $342.48 extra.
Weekday (8hrs)
$228.32
Public Holiday (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 public holiday 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 public holiday 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 public holiday. 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 public holiday, 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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