Behaviour Support Practitioner pay rates in Australia, 2026-27
Behaviour support practitioners are paid under the SCHADS Award social and community services stream, typically at Level 3 to 5; experienced and senior practitioners are often paid above award by individual agreement.
What behaviour support practitioner pay looks like
Behaviour support practitioners are paid under the SCHADS Award social and community services stream, typically at Level 3 to 5; experienced and senior practitioners are often paid above award by individual agreement.
$0 to $140 an hour
| Weekday | $40 to $56 an hour |
|---|---|
| Saturday | $60 to $84 an hour |
| Sunday | $80 to $112 an hour |
| Public holiday | $101 to $140 an hour |
Casual employees receive a 25% loading on the ordinary rate (about $50 to $70 an hour on weekdays), with casual weekend and public holiday rates of 1.75x, 2.25x and 2.75x the ordinary rate. Figures are full-time and part-time minimums for employees; independent contractors set their own rates.
How that compares, as of 1 July 2026
$40.49–$55.85
an hour · SCHADS Award minimum, social and community services employee, Level 3 to 5, full-time (Fair Work pay guide)
$73.58
an hour · NDIS price limit for standard weekday self-care support: the most a provider can bill a participant's plan for that hour, which funds wages, on-costs and overheads. A service price cap, not a worker wage (Pricing Schedule 2026–27)
Work out your own rate with the SCHADS award tool or the pay rate calculator.
Indicative hourly rates based on the SCHADS Award (MA000100), from the Fair Work pay guide effective 1 July 2026 (Fair Work pay guides). Modern award rates are national and do not vary by state. Pay is set by each provider and can be higher under an enterprise agreement. General information only, not financial advice.
Behaviour Support Practitioner pay questions, answered
How much does a behaviour support practitioner get paid in Australia?
Behaviour support practitioners are paid under the SCHADS Award social and community services stream, typically at Level 3 to 5; experienced and senior practitioners are often paid above award by individual agreement. Indicative hourly minimums are $40 to $56 an hour on weekdays, $60 to $84 an hour on Saturdays, $80 to $112 an hour on Sundays and $101 to $140 an hour on public holidays, based on the SCHADS Award (MA000100) pay guide effective 1 July 2026. Employers can pay above these rates, and many do under enterprise agreements.
Do casual behaviour support practitioners get paid more per hour?
Casual employees receive a 25% loading on the ordinary rate (about $50 to $70 an hour on weekdays), with casual weekend and public holiday rates of 1.75x, 2.25x and 2.75x the ordinary rate. Figures are full-time and part-time minimums for employees; independent contractors set their own rates.
Do these rates apply if I work for myself?
No. Award minimums apply to employees. If you work as an independent contractor with an ABN you set your own rate with the provider or participant, and for plan-managed NDIS clients the NDIS price limit for the support is the ceiling on what can be billed. Independent workers also cover their own insurance, tax and super, so the headline rate is not comparable with an employee wage.
Where can I find behaviour support practitioner work near me?
Register a free worker profile on Carevo. Care requests within 30 km of your suburb that match your services appear on your dashboard and are emailed to you as they arrive, and providers hiring behaviour support practitioners can see your profile and contact you. 90 matching requests came through Carevo in the last 90 days.
Employed support worker rates for the whole sector are covered in NDIS support worker pay rates 2026-27; independent rates in independent support worker pay rates.
Working for yourself
If you plan to take on participants directly rather than joining a provider team, these guides cover the practical side.
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