15% Disability Wage Rise 2026: What the SCHADS Award Change Means

A significant pay change is coming for many disability home care workers in Australia.

From the first full pay period starting on or after 1 December 2026, most employees currently covered by Schedule E – Home Care Employees – Disability Care of the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award, commonly known as the SCHADS Award, will receive an increase of around 15% to their minimum award rate.

It’s an important change, but the headline does need some context.

The increase does not automatically apply to every disability Support Worker in Australia, and not every affected classification receives exactly 15%.

Here’s what disability workers need to know.

The first phase of the Schedule E wage increase will apply from the first full pay period starting on or after 1 December 2026.

You may have previously seen 1 October 2026 reported as the commencement date. That was the date initially proposed by the Fair Work Commission.

On 11 September 2026, the Commission issued its final decision and moved the commencement of the first Schedule E increase to 1 December 2026.

That distinction matters for workers and employers preparing for the change.

The December increase is specifically for employees who are currently classified under Schedule E of the SCHADS Award, which covers Home Care Employees – Disability Care.

For most employees within Schedule E, the minimum award rate will increase by 15%. Some classifications will receive a slightly different increase as part of the transition.

This means the change should not be interpreted as a blanket 15% pay rise for everyone working in disability support.

Disability workers can currently be classified under different parts of the SCHADS Award depending on factors such as the work they perform and the setting in which it is delivered. Workers who are not covered by Schedule E may therefore be affected differently.

If you’re unsure which schedule, level or pay point applies to you, check your employment information or speak with your employer.

The change comes from the Fair Work Commission’s Gender-based Undervaluation – Priority Awards Review.

The review looked at whether work covered by several modern awards had historically been undervalued because of gender. The SCHADS Award was one of the priority awards considered.

The Commission found that classifications covering home care disability workers had been affected by gender-based undervaluation and determined that changes to minimum wages and the broader classification structure were needed.

This makes the December increase more than a routine annual wage adjustment. It forms part of a broader review of how care and community sector work is recognised and valued.

No.

Minimum SCHADS Award rates also increased through the 2026 Annual Wage Review, with a 4.75% increase applying from July 2026.

The Schedule E increase is a separate change arising from the Fair Work Commission’s gender-based undervaluation review.

The final Schedule E rates have been adjusted to take the 2026 Annual Wage Review into account.

So workers should check the rate that applies to their specific classification rather than simply adding 15% to an older pay rate.

No.

This is probably the most important point behind the headline.

The December wage increase applies to employees currently covered by Schedule E – Home Care Employees – Disability Care.

Some disability workers are covered by other SCHADS classifications, including Schedule B, so the award classification attached to a person’s role matters.

Among Schedule E employees, most minimum rates increase by 15%, but the final transition arrangements mean some classifications receive a slightly different percentage.

For workers, the useful questions to ask are:

The Fair Work Ombudsman’s Pay and Conditions Tool can also be used to check applicable minimum rates, penalties, overtime and allowances under the SCHADS Award.

The December increase is only the first stage of broader SCHADS Award changes.

A new classification structure is scheduled to commence on 1 October 2027, replacing the existing classification arrangements across several SCHADS Award schedules. Any remaining wage adjustments for affected Schedule E employees will occur as part of that transition.

The new structure will also change the way different types of disability and home care work are classified.

For workers and employers, that means December 2026 is one important date, but it is not the end of the SCHADS Award changes.

There is no need to guess whether the headline applies to your role.

Before the December change takes effect, disability home care workers can check their current award classification, level and pay point and make sure they understand the minimum rate that will apply to them.

It is also worth keeping an eye on further Fair Work information as the sector prepares for the larger classification changes scheduled for October 2027.

For disability Support Workers, the work can involve far more than completing a list of tasks. It can mean learning how someone communicates, understanding their routines and preferences, supporting independence, responding when needs change and building the consistency and trust that good support depends on.

The upcoming wage increase forms part of a broader recognition of the value, skill and responsibility involved in this work.

At Leora Healthcare, Support Workers are an important part of helping people with disability live with greater choice, independence and connection in their everyday lives.

Interested in working in disability care? Explore Support Worker opportunities with #TeamLeora and find a role where your skills can make a difference.

When does the 15% disability wage rise start?
For employees covered by Schedule E of the SCHADS Award, the first phase of the increase starts from the first full pay period on or after 1 December 2026.

Is every disability Support Worker getting a 15% pay rise?
No. The increase specifically applies to employees currently classified under Schedule E, Home Care Employees – Disability Care. Other disability workers may be covered by different SCHADS Award classifications.

Why was the pay increase introduced?
It forms part of the Fair Work Commission’s review of gender-based undervaluation in the care and community sector.

Wasn’t the wage rise starting on 1 October 2026?
That was the earlier proposed commencement date. The Fair Work Commission’s final September decision moved the first Schedule E increase to 1 December 2026.

Are more SCHADS Award changes coming?
Yes. A new classification structure is due to commence from 1 October 2027, with further transition arrangements applying at that time.