Melbourne aged care workers are earning more than ever — and the market is still climbing. As of 1 July 2026, the 4.75% Fair Work Commission Annual Wage Review has lifted base rates across the Aged Care Award (MA000018) and SCHADS Award (MA000100). For a Direct Care Level 2 worker — the classification most commonly held by Certificate III qualified personal care workers — base pay now starts at $34.42 per hour. Casual loaded rates at active Melbourne employers regularly reach $43 to $50+ per hour when shift loadings stack. Here's the full 2026 breakdown.

The Two Awards That Set Aged Care Pay in Melbourne

Most aged care and disability support workers in Melbourne are covered by one of two awards. The Aged Care Award 2010 (MA000018) covers personal care workers, nursing assistants, and direct support staff in residential aged care facilities. The SCHADS Award (MA000100) — Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services — covers workers in home care, disability support, and community services. Both awards received the 4.75% increase effective 1 July 2026. Many workers transition between both sectors during their careers, so understanding both rate structures matters.

Entry-Level Aged Care Pay — Direct Care Level 1

An unqualified or newly started direct care worker in residential aged care is classified at Direct Care Level 1 under the Aged Care Award. Base rate: $32.61 per hour from 1 July 2026. On casual loading (25%), that becomes $40.76 per hour. Under the SCHADS Award, a home care Level 1 worker starts from $27.28 per hour — though most Melbourne employers pay well above this for entry-level roles.

In practice, Melbourne aged care employers advertise entry-level roles at $32.00 to $34.50 per hour for workers with no prior qualifications. The gap between Award minimum and actual market rate is significant at the entry level — employers are already paying above the floor to fill volume roles.

Certificate III in Individual Support — Direct Care Level 2

The CHC33021 Certificate III in Individual Support is the qualification that defines the minimum standard for personal care roles in Australian aged care. Holding this certificate places a worker at Direct Care Level 2 under the Aged Care Award. Base rate: $34.42 per hour as of 1 July 2026. Casual: $43.03 per hour.

Melbourne employers actively recruiting for Cert III qualified staff are paying $34.50 to $38.00 per hour base rate, with some NDIS-registered providers reaching $40–42 per hour for workers with the right combination of Cert III, First Aid, and manual handling certifications.

Certificate IV Qualified — Direct Care Level 4

The CHC43015 Certificate IV in Ageing Support or CHC43121 Certificate IV in Disability Support unlocks Direct Care Level 4 under the Aged Care Award. Base rate: $37.68 per hour. Casual: $47.10 per hour. Under the SCHADS Award, a qualified disability support worker at Level 2 earns $36.22 per hour base.

Melbourne employers are currently advertising Cert IV qualified aged care and disability support roles at $35.00 to $39.00 per hour base. The Direct Care Level 4 rate is where the real financial incentive to upskill becomes visible — the gap between Cert III ($34.42) and Cert IV ($37.68) is $3.26 per hour, or approximately $6,500 more per year for a full-time worker before any penalty rates.

Diploma Level and Senior Roles — Direct Care Levels 5–6

Workers with a CHC52025 Diploma of Community Services or in senior/coordinator roles sit at the top of the direct care structure. Under the Aged Care Award, base rates range from $38.00 to $45.00 per hour depending on classification. A shift coordinator or care team leader — Direct Care Level 6 — earns $40.58 base, with casual loaded rates reaching $50.73 per hour. In the NDIS sector, diploma-qualified senior practitioners and support coordinators command $38–45 per hour base, with experienced practitioners in high-demand specialty areas earning more.

Penalties, Loadings, and What Your Payslip Actually Looks Like

The base rate is only part of the picture. Aged care and disability support workers earn additional loadings on top:

• Casual loading: 25% on top of base (Aged Care Award and SCHADS Award)
• Saturday: 150% of base rate
• Sunday: 200% of base rate
• Public holidays: 250% of base rate
• Evening shifts (6pm–midnight): typically 10–15% loading
• Night shifts (midnight–6am): typically 15% loading

For a Cert IV aged care worker on $37.68 base doing a Sunday shift, the effective rate becomes $75.36 per hour. A full-time worker on $37.68 base doing a mix of weekday and weekend shifts can realistically earn $72,000 to $79,000 per year before super — and significantly more if picking up regular overtime or public holiday shifts.

What Employers Are Actually Paying vs. the Award Minimum

The Award sets the legal floor. The market — currently experiencing its tightest hiring conditions on record — is paying well above it. St Vincent's alone is advertising 3,500+ aged care positions across Melbourne. Dandenong has 921+ active disability support worker listings. Indeed is showing 352+ casual aged care roles in Melbourne metro at any given time. With the sector projected to need 75,000 additional workers nationally by late 2026, employers are not waiting for workers to find them — they're competing aggressively.

"The gap between minimum Award rates and actual market pay is widening every month," says Laiju Thomas, Head Trainer — CHC Training Programs at Clinton Institute. "A Cert III qualified worker with First Aid and manual handling tickets is not struggling to find shifts right now — they're in a position to be selective about which employer they choose. The employers who are paying above Award and offering stable hours are the ones filling their rosters fastest."

How to Qualify for the Higher Pay Grades

The pathway from entry-level pay to Cert IV rates is direct and clear:

1. CHC33021 Certificate III in Individual Support (CRICOS: 115261A) — the entry qualification, unlocks Direct Care Level 2 ($34.42 base)
2. CHC43015 Certificate IV in Ageing Support (CRICOS: 115262M) — unlocks Direct Care Level 4 ($37.68 base) and the $2–5/hr pay jump
3. CHC52025 Diploma of Community Services (CRICOS: 115263K) — opens senior and coordination roles at $38–45 per hour

Clinton Institute (RTO ID: 41597, CRICOS: 03540C) offers all three qualifications with work placement included. Melbourne classes run at Level 9, 313 La Trobe Street. International students on Subclass 500 visas are eligible to study and work in aged care roles — and the pay rates are identical regardless of residency status.

2026 Melbourne Aged Care Pay Rate Summary

Source: Aged Care Award 2010 (MA000018) and SCHADS Award (MA000100), effective 1 July 2026. Market rates based on active Melbourne job listings, August 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the base pay rate for entry-level aged care workers in Melbourne in 2026?

Under the Aged Care Award 2010 (MA000018), an entry-level direct care worker — someone without qualifications starting in residential aged care — earns a base rate of $32.61 per hour as of 1 July 2026. Under the SCHADS Award (MA000100), a home care or disability support worker at the lowest classification earns from $27.28 per hour. Most Melbourne aged care employers pay at or above the Award minimum, and entry-level roles with no experience typically start between $32.00 and $34.50 per hour.

How much does a Certificate III in Individual Support earn in Melbourne aged care?

A worker holding the CHC33021 Certificate III in Individual Support — the minimum qualification standard for personal care roles in residential aged care — is classified at Direct Care Level 2 under the Aged Care Award. The base rate is $34.42 per hour as of 1 July 2026. On casual loading (25%), that rises to $43.03 per hour. In practice, Melbourne employers commonly pay $34.50 to $38.00 per hour for Cert III qualified workers, with top providers reaching $40–42 per hour for the right candidates.

What is the pay rate for a Certificate IV in Ageing Support or Disability Support in Melbourne?

A worker with a Certificate IV in Ageing Support (CHC43015) or Certificate IV in Disability Support is classified at Direct Care Level 4 under the Aged Care Award, earning a base rate of $37.68 per hour (casual: $47.10/hr). Under the SCHADS Award, a qualified disability support worker at Level 2 can earn $36.22 per hour base. Melbourne employers frequently pay $35.00 to $39.00 per hour for Cert IV qualified staff, with senior or team leader roles — Direct Care Level 6 — reaching $40.58 base ($50.73 casual). The gap between Cert III and Cert IV is $2 to $5 per hour — a direct financial incentive to upskill.

How much do Diploma-qualified or senior aged care workers earn in Melbourne?

Aged care workers with a Diploma of Community Services (CHC52025) or in senior/coordination roles sit at the top of the direct care pay structure. Base rates range from $38.00 to $45.00 per hour under the Aged Care Award, depending on classification level and employer. In the NDIS-funded disability support sector, diploma-qualified support coordinators and senior practitioners can earn $38–45 per hour base. Top-level aged care shift coordinators (Direct Care Level 6) earn $40.58 base, with casual loaded rates reaching $50.73 per hour.

What is the top casual loading rate for aged care workers in Melbourne right now?

Casual loading under the Aged Care Award and SCHADS Award is 25% on top of the base rate. For a senior or Cert IV aged care worker on $40.58 base, casual loading brings the rate to $50.73 per hour. Some Melbourne employers — particularly NDIS registered providers — are advertising casual disability support roles at $46 to $50+ per hour loaded. For a full-time worker on the Cert IV base rate doing weekend shifts, effective hourly earnings can reach $60–70 per hour when all loadings stack.

How does the 4.75% SCHADS Award increase from July 2026 affect my pay?

The Fair Work Commission's 2026 Annual Wage Review increased all modern award minimum wages by 4.75% from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026. For an entry-level direct care worker, the increase lifted the base rate from approximately $31.11 to $32.61 per hour. For a Direct Care Level 4 (Cert IV) worker, it moved from $35.97 to $37.68 per hour. The NDIS 2026-27 Pricing Review confirmed that disability support provider funding has been adjusted to accommodate the higher Award rates, meaning employers have the headroom to pay — and retain — qualified staff at the new higher floors.

Are aged care employers in Melbourne actually paying above Award minimums?

Yes. St Vincent's alone is advertising 3,500+ aged care positions across Melbourne. Dandenong has 921+ active disability support worker listings. Indeed is showing 352+ casual aged care roles at any given time. With the sector projected to need 75,000 additional workers nationally by late 2026, Melbourne employers are actively paying above Award minimums. Entry-level roles at major providers commonly start at $34–36 per hour — well above the $32.61 Award minimum. Cert IV qualified workers at active recruiters are regularly offered $37–40 per hour base.

What qualifications do I need to work in aged care in Melbourne and earn the higher pay rates?

The CHC33021 Certificate III in Individual Support is the minimum qualification for personal care roles in Australian aged care. Holding the CHC43015 Certificate IV in Ageing Support or CHC43121 Certificate IV in Disability Support unlocks the higher Direct Care Level 4 rate ($37.68 base, $47.10 casual). A CHC52025 Diploma of Community Services opens senior, coordination, and management-track roles with pay to $45+ per hour. Clinton Institute (RTO ID: 41597, CRICOS: 03540C) offers all three qualifications with work placement included. The pay gap between Cert III and Cert IV alone is $2–5 per hour — the course cost pays back within weeks of full-time employment.

What is the Superannuation Guarantee rate for aged care workers in 2026?

The Superannuation Guarantee (SG) rate increased to 12% from 1 July 2026. For a full-time aged care worker on $37.68 per hour (Cert IV base rate) working 38 hours per week, the employer super contribution alone adds approximately $8,300 per year on top of the base salary. Casual workers also earn the 25% casual loading on top of their base rate, plus 12% super on all ordinary time earnings.

Can international students work in aged care in Melbourne and earn these rates?

Yes. International students on a Subclass 500 student visa can work in aged care in Melbourne, subject to standard visa work hour conditions (48 hours per fortnight during study periods). Employers hire international students who hold the CHC33021 Certificate III in Individual Support, a current police check, and a Working with Children Check. The pay rates are identical regardless of residency status. With the 4.75% Award increase and active NDIS sector hiring, an international student working casual shifts in disability support at $43–46 per hour loaded is realistic — and the Post-Vocational Education Work Stream keeps the pathway open for CHC graduates to stay in Australia longer-term.

Ready to start earning in Melbourne's aged care sector?

Clinton Institute (RTO ID: 41597, CRICOS: 03540C) offers CHC33021, CHC43015, and CHC52025 qualifications with work placement in Melbourne. Classes at Level 9, 313 La Trobe Street. Apply now or call (03) 8394 2064.

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