Free Aged Care Payslip Generator (Australia)

Shift loading, weekend penalties, night shift and overtime calculated · Fair Work-compliant · Instant PDF

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This aged care payslip generator builds a Fair Work-compliant payslip for personal care workers, support workers, nursing assistants and other aged care and disability staff across Australia. Aged care payroll is harder to get right than a standard office payslip because rosters run around the clock, which means a single pay period can include ordinary hours, shift loading, weekend penalties, night shift allowances, and overtime, often all in the same fortnight.

OfficeDraft calculates each of these components and lists them as separate lines on the payslip, which is what the Fair Work Regulations require. Free to preview. PDF download from $4.99. No account needed.

Understanding Aged Care Payslips

Fair Work Regulations 2009 regulation 3.46 sets the minimum fields for every payslip in Australia. Aged care payslips need to go further than the bare minimum, because shift loading, penalty rates and allowances only satisfy the rules if they are itemised, not folded into a single hourly figure.

Required fields — aged care payslip
Employer name and ABNFull legal business name as registered on the ABN
Employee nameAs it appears on their tax file declaration
Employment basis and classificationCasual, part-time or full-time, plus the classification level under the applicable award
Pay periodStart and end date of the period being paid
Payment dateThe date funds are deposited
Base hourly rate and hoursThe award or agreement rate before loadings, penalties or overtime
Shift loadingAfternoon or night shift loading shown as its own line
Weekend and public holiday penaltiesSaturday, Sunday and public holiday rates itemised separately from the base rate
OvertimeHours and multiplier shown separately from ordinary hours
AllowancesBroken shift, sleepover, or travel-between-clients allowances listed individually where they apply
Gross payTotal of base pay, loadings, penalties, overtime and allowances
PAYG tax withheldCalculated against current ATO tax tables for the pay frequency
Net payShould match the bank deposit exactly
SuperannuationFund name and contribution amount, calculated on ordinary time earnings

Who Uses an Aged Care Payslip Generator?

🧑‍⚕️Personal care worker (PCW)

Usually classified under the Aged Care Award, providing direct personal care in a residential facility, with shift loading and weekend penalties common given the round-the-clock nature of residential care rosters.

🤝Disability support worker

Often covered by the SCHADS Award rather than the Aged Care Award, particularly in home and community-based disability services, with different penalty structures and a sleepover shift allowance that applies in some roles.

💉Enrolled nurse / registered nurse in aged care

Typically covered by the Nurses Award 2020 even when employed by an aged care provider, with its own classification structure, penalty rates and overtime rules separate from the Aged Care Award.

🏠Home care support worker

Works across multiple client locations in a single shift, which can trigger travel-between-clients allowances and broken shift provisions under the SCHADS Award, both of which must be itemised on the payslip.

🌙Overnight / sleepover care worker

Paid a sleepover allowance for being on call overnight at a client's home or facility, plus an active hourly rate for any time spent providing care during the sleepover period, both shown as separate payslip lines.

🧾Casual aged care staff

Paid the base rate plus 25% casual loading as a minimum, with shift loading, weekend penalties and overtime calculated on the loaded rate rather than the bare base rate.

Award matters more than job title. The same job title can sit under different awards depending on the service type. Check the applicable award for your role and service setting at fairwork.gov.au/employment-conditions/awards before relying on a single rate.

Shift Loading Examples

A personal care worker under the Aged Care Award 2010 works a 7.6-hour afternoon shift at a base rate of $27.05 per hour, with a 12.5% afternoon shift loading.

Afternoon shift loading breakdown
Base hourly rate (PCW, Aged Care Award)$27.05/hr
Afternoon shift loading (12.5%)$27.05 × 0.125 = $3.38/hr loading
Loaded afternoon shift rate$27.05 + $3.38 = $30.43/hr
Afternoon shift, 7.6 hours7.6 hrs × $30.43 = $231.27
Payslip lines requiredBase pay ($205.58) and shift loading ($25.69) shown separately, not blended

A payslip showing only "7.6 hrs × $30.43" without separating the base pay from the shift loading is not correctly itemised, even though the total dollar figure is right. Loading percentages vary by award, shift start and finish time, and whether the shift is rotating or permanent, so always confirm the exact figure for the applicable award.

Weekend Penalty Rate Examples

Residential aged care runs seven days a week, so Saturday, Sunday and public holiday penalty rates come up on almost every roster. The following example uses the same $27.05 base rate to show how each penalty is calculated.

Weekend and public holiday penalty breakdown
Base hourly rate$27.05/hr
Saturday penalty (50% on base)$27.05 × 0.50 = $13.53/hr penalty
Saturday rate$27.05 + $13.53 = $40.58/hr
Sunday penalty (75% on base)$27.05 × 0.75 = $20.29/hr penalty
Sunday rate$27.05 + $20.29 = $47.34/hr
Public holiday penalty (150% on base)$27.05 × 1.50 = $40.58/hr penalty
Weekend penalties are calculated on the base rate, not on a rate that already includes casual loading or shift loading. For a casual employee, the casual loading and the weekend penalty are both calculated from the base rate and then added together, not stacked on top of each other.

Night Shift Payroll Examples

Overnight care is a core part of residential aged care rostering. Night shift loading is paid on top of the base rate, and stacks with a weekend penalty if the night shift falls on a Saturday or Sunday.

Night shift breakdown
Base hourly rate$27.05/hr
Night shift loading (15%)$27.05 × 0.15 = $4.06/hr loading
Loaded night shift rate$27.05 + $4.06 = $31.11/hr
Night shift, 8 hours8 hrs × $31.11 = $248.88
If night shift falls on a SundayBoth night loading and Sunday penalty apply, calculated on the base rate and shown as separate lines

Sleepover shifts, common in home care and disability support, are usually paid differently again: a flat sleepover allowance for the overnight period, plus an active hourly rate for any time actually spent providing care. Check the penalty rates guide for how these combine with weekend and public holiday rates.

Overtime Calculation Examples

A full-time personal care worker rostered for 38 ordinary hours is asked to cover an extra 3 hours at the end of a shift due to a staffing shortfall: the first 2 hours at time and a half, the remaining hour at double time.

Overtime breakdown
Base hourly rate$27.05/hr
Rostered ordinary hours worked38 hrs × $27.05 = $1,027.90
Overtime — first 2 hours at 150%2 hrs × $27.05 × 1.5 = $81.15
Overtime — remaining 1 hour at 200%1 hr × $27.05 × 2.0 = $54.10
Gross pay (ordinary + overtime)$1,027.90 + $81.15 + $54.10 = $1,163.15

The overtime trigger point and multiplier depend on the specific award, classification, and whether the extra hours fall on a weekday, weekend, or public holiday. Confirm the exact rule using the Fair Work Pay and Conditions Tool.

Superannuation Calculation

Superannuation guarantee is calculated on ordinary time earnings, which includes shift loading, weekend penalties, and casual loading paid for ordinary hours, though it generally excludes overtime. Using the overtime example above, super is calculated on the $1,163.15 gross figure, which already includes ordinary hours plus the overtime paid on top.

Superannuation breakdown
Ordinary time earnings (base + loading + penalties)$1,163.15
Superannuation guarantee rate, FY2025–2611.5%
Super contribution$1,163.15 × 0.115 = $133.76
Fund and contribution shown on payslipFund name plus $133.76, even though most funds receive payment quarterly
Whether overtime itself counts toward ordinary time earnings for super purposes can depend on how the award and the ATO's superannuation guarantee ruling treat that specific overtime arrangement. See the ATO's superannuation guidance if you need to confirm the treatment for a specific pay run.

Fair Work Payslip Requirements for Aged Care Employers

Under section 536 of the Fair Work Act 2009, every employer must give employees a payslip within one working day of payment, whether printed or emailed. The National Employment Standards set the minimum entitlements underneath the award, including maximum weekly hours, which matters given how common extended shifts and overtime are in aged care rostering.

Casual aged care and disability support staff are entitled to the same payslip fields as permanent staff, plus the 25% casual loading itemised separately. Background on how casual entitlements work more broadly is covered in the Fair Work Ombudsman's casual employee fact sheet.

Which Award Applies: A Quick Comparison

AwardTypical roles coveredCommon setting
Aged Care Award 2010Personal care workers, catering, cleaning and laundry staffResidential aged care facilities
Nurses Award 2020Enrolled nurses, registered nurses, nursing assistantsResidential and community aged care
SCHADS AwardDisability support workers, home care workersHome care, community and disability services

This is a general guide, not a classification tool. Some providers move staff between settings, and enterprise agreements can override award rates entirely. Confirm the correct award and classification with the employer or the Fair Work Ombudsman before relying on a payslip for a compliance decision.

Aged Care Payslip Compliance Checklist

  • Correct award identified (Aged Care Award, Nurses Award, or SCHADS Award)
  • Correct classification level applied for the base rate
  • Shift loading itemised as its own line, not blended into the hourly rate
  • Weekend and public holiday penalties calculated on the base rate, not the loaded rate
  • Night shift allowance shown separately from any weekend penalty that also applies
  • Overtime hours and multiplier shown separately from ordinary hours
  • Sleepover and broken shift allowances included where the roster requires them
  • Casual loading shown separately for casual employees
  • Superannuation calculated on ordinary time earnings, including loadings and penalties
  • Payslip issued within one working day of payment

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Enter hours, base rate, shift loading, weekend penalties and overtime. Preview instantly with the tool above, then download the PDF from $4.99.

Common Payroll Mistakes in Aged Care

Blending shift loading into the base rate

Showing a single "$30.43/hr afternoon rate" instead of the $27.05 base plus $3.38 loading breaks the itemisation rule in Fair Work Regulations 2009 regulation 3.46, even if the total is correct.

Applying weekend penalty to the loaded rate instead of the base rate

Saturday and Sunday penalties under most aged care and disability awards are calculated on the base rate, not on a rate that already includes casual loading or shift loading. Stacking penalties on an already-loaded rate overpays or underpays depending on which error runs.

Missing the sleepover or broken shift allowance

Home care and disability support rosters that include sleepovers or split shifts attract specific allowances under the SCHADS Award. Leaving these off the payslip, or bundling them into ordinary hours, understates what the worker is owed and misstates the payslip.

Calculating super on base pay only

Superannuation guarantee applies to ordinary time earnings, which includes casual loading and most shift loadings and penalties paid for ordinary hours. Leaving these components out of the super base underpays super without it being obvious from the payslip alone.

Using the wrong award for the role

A personal care worker in residential aged care, a disability support worker in a home care setting, and an enrolled nurse can all work for the same provider under three different awards, each with its own base rates and penalty structure. Applying the Aged Care Award to a SCHADS-covered role, or vice versa, produces an incorrect payslip even when the arithmetic is otherwise correct.

For a broader look at how penalty rates work across industries, see Penalty Rates on Payslips in Australia. If tax withheld looks wrong, see PAYG Withholding on Payslips Explained. If a super line is missing entirely, see Super Not Showing on Payslip.

Frequently Asked Questions — Aged Care Payslip Generator

Is the aged care payslip generator free to use?
Yes. You can enter employer and employee details, hours, base rate, shift loading, penalty rates and allowances, then preview the payslip at no cost. Downloading the finished PDF costs from $4.99, with no subscription and no account required for a single payslip.
What award applies to aged care workers in Australia?
Most personal care workers and support staff in residential aged care are covered by the Aged Care Award 2010. Enrolled and registered nurses working in aged care are usually covered by the Nurses Award 2020. Home care and disability support workers are more often covered by the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award (SCHADS Award). Some large providers use an enterprise agreement that replaces these award rates, in which case the enterprise agreement applies instead.
How is shift loading calculated for aged care shift workers?
Shift loading is an extra percentage on top of the base rate for working outside standard daytime hours, and it applies separately from any penalty rate for the day of the week. Afternoon and night shift loadings under aged care awards commonly sit in a range depending on the shift start and finish time, with a higher loading typically applying to permanent night shift than to a single afternoon shift. The loading must be shown as its own line on the payslip, not folded into a blended hourly rate.
What are the weekend penalty rates for aged care staff?
Saturday and Sunday work in aged care attracts a penalty rate on top of the base rate, with Sunday typically penalised more heavily than Saturday. Public holiday work attracts the highest penalty. The exact percentage depends on the applicable award and the employee's classification, and casual employees have their casual loading applied on top of, not instead of, the weekend penalty.
How does night shift allowance work for aged care employees?
A night shift allowance or loading compensates staff for working through the night, commonly for shifts that start or finish within a defined overnight window set by the award. It is paid in addition to the base rate and is separate from any weekend penalty that might also apply if the night shift falls on a Saturday or Sunday.
How is overtime calculated for aged care workers?
Overtime generally applies once an employee works beyond their rostered ordinary hours for the day or the week, and is paid at a higher multiplier than the base rate, often time and a half for an initial period and double time after that. The exact trigger and multiplier depend on the award and the employee's classification, and rostering rules in aged care (including broken shifts and minimum engagement periods) can affect when overtime starts.
Do casual aged care workers get superannuation?
Yes. Casual employees are entitled to superannuation at the same rate as permanent staff, currently 11.5% of ordinary time earnings for the 2025–26 financial year, rising to 12% from 1 July 2026. Ordinary time earnings includes the casual loading and most shift loadings and penalty rates paid for ordinary hours, so super should be calculated on the full loaded amount, not the bare base rate.
Can I use an aged care payslip for a visa or Centrelink application?
Yes, a correctly formatted payslip showing gross pay, tax withheld, net pay and hours worked is commonly used to support visa applications and Centrelink income reporting. Requirements differ depending on the visa subclass or the Centrelink payment type, so check the specific documentation list for your situation before relying on payslips alone.
What must every aged care payslip include?
Fair Work Regulations 2009 (regulation 3.46) requires the employer name and ABN, employee name, pay period dates, payment date, gross and net pay, the base rate and hours worked, any loadings, penalty rates and allowances shown separately, tax withheld, and the superannuation fund name and contribution amount. This applies to every aged care employer in the national system, whether a large provider or a small home care business.
What should I do if my aged care payslip is missing shift loading or penalty rates?
Check your roster against the payslip to confirm which hours were ordinary, which attracted shift loading, and which fell on a weekend or public holiday. If the payslip doesn't match your roster, raise it with payroll or your manager in writing first. If the issue isn't resolved, the Fair Work Ombudsman can be contacted on 13 13 94 for a free wage enquiry.

Related Payroll Tools and Guides

Need a payslip for a visa or Centrelink application? Payslip for Visa Application Australia and Payslip for Centrelink Australia cover the specific documentation requirements.

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Whether you run a residential aged care facility, a home care service, or a disability support business, this aged care payslip generator itemises shift loading, weekend penalties, night shift and overtime the way Fair Work requires. Free to preview. PDF from $4.99. No account required.

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Written by: OfficeDraft Payroll Compliance Team, Senior Payroll Compliance Specialist. Reviewed by: Fair Work-accredited HR consultant with aged care and disability sector award compliance experience.

Sources: Fair Work Ombudsman — Pay Slips; Fair Work Act 2009; Aged Care Award 2010; Nurses Award 2020; SCHADS Award; ATO — Superannuation. Award rates and multipliers checked against current published figures as of May 2026.

Disclaimer: This content is general information, not legal, tax, or financial advice. Award classifications, shift loadings, penalty rates and allowance amounts vary by role, service setting and enterprise agreement. Aged care wage rates have also been subject to significant government-funded increases in recent years, so always confirm current rates against the Fair Work Ombudsman or a registered payroll professional before processing pay. Consult the Fair Work Ombudsman, a registered tax agent, or an employment lawyer for advice specific to your situation.

Last updated: May 2026