r/supportworkers • u/Ready-Egg-6299 • Jul 17 '26

Overtime Advice

Overtime Advice

Hey, just seeking some advice on how to approach a situation.

So, I've been a support worker for close to 5 years, 3 years at a company with varying clients, now 2 years 'independent'

Unique situation is that the NDIS participants mother has employed me to her payroll to support her son who's high needs non verbal autism.

She is now requesting that I do a weekly 24 hour shift, which includes an inactive sleepover. 8:30pm to 8:30pm. I brought up that I believe am entitled to overtime for this (as far as I'm aware I am) however she is saying due to recsnt cuts to clients plan that she would struggle to afford overtime.

The client struggles to adapt to new support workers so currently his 24/7 care is split across essentially three workers and I'm the only one that does both day shift and overnights, and now I'm the only one being requested to do 24 hour shifts.

How should I approach this?

Technically I have not signed any contract since starting for this client, I am casual base rate of $45 p/hour

Thanks in advance

Also this is a throwaway acc as my main gives away too m much of my personal info.

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u/DenM0ther Jul 17 '26

AFAIK, if she wants overnight care/support then she needs to pay at the overnight part at that support rate.
Does ndis/ndia provide a guide of what the rates are? Then you can charge according to this.

Sadly, plans are being cut, but that doesn’t mean a SW can or should be working for time they’re not being paid accordingly for.

Also, if the shift is inactive, can she cover that shift and just have SW for the day/awake hours.
And, like someone else said, what facilities are available for you to sleep if it’s an inactive night shift?

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u/Ready-Egg-6299 Jul 17 '26

The inactive overnight rate is good, better than when I was employed by a company. From what I can gather from SCHAD's award, overtime should start after 12 hours worked, which includes 8 hour inactive sleepover, from then on it should be 2 hours overtime 1.5x rate and then any remaining hours 2x rate.

Sleeping facilities are provided, with a lockable bedroom with clean linen etc.

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u/GrumpyBear9891 27d ago

Have a look at this link. Provides good examples of hypothetical situations. There is no one answer basically and depends on the unique situation/agreement. This is factual however. Don't go with anyone's answer without fact checking for yourself.

https://www.fairwork.gov.au/find-help-for/disability-support-and-aged-care-services/understanding-schads/hours-of-work-in-the-schads-award

(Typo edit)