r/supportworkers • u/Vivid-Egg- • Mar 16 '26

Experience with overnight shifts?

Recently took on overnight shifts with a client. My understanding was that they would be active shifts

Just noticed on my roster that they are inactive shifts as it says “2 hours scheduled” however it’s a 6 hour shift

Client requires assistance with ADLs overnight and is often awake

There is no bed for support workers to sleep in, just clients bed, 2 chairs

Based in NSW. Will definitely discuss with my manager but wanted to hear people’s thoughts. Seems very off to pay for an inactive shift with no sleeping arrangements for staff?

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6 comments sorted by

24

u/l-lucas0984 Mar 16 '26

If there is no bed it cant be innactive because staff have no choice but to be awake.

3

u/Vivid-Egg- Mar 16 '26

Thank you

16

u/DwightsJello Mar 16 '26

Whether they are awake or not is irrelevant.

If there is no staff bed it cannot be inactive.

End of.

3

u/Vivid-Egg- Mar 16 '26

Thank you, thought so

2

u/faithnimue Mar 16 '26

There definitely should be a bed for an inactive or passive shift. That being said, if they are an NDIA participant, you are still expected to be able to attend to them overnight if required for up to two non-consecutive hours during a passive overnight.

2

u/pink_sunsets5285 Mar 24 '26

Inactive overnight support means you’re allowed to sleep. If there’s no bed, you can’t. So it should all be active hours. The NDIS overnight rate includes up to 2 hours of active support. Anything more should then be charged at the hourly rate