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What is Broken shift?

A broken shift is a shift split into two or three separate periods of work in one day, with unpaid breaks between them. Under the SCHADS Award a broken shift attracts an allowance, and the number of breaks determines which allowance applies. It is common in disability support, where morning and evening routines sit hours apart.

Free toolSCHADS pay calculatorWork out what a shift pays, including broken-shift allowances.

The award distinguishes a broken shift with one unpaid break from one with two, and pays a higher allowance for the latter. There are limits on the span of the overall shift and on how the periods may be arranged.

Broken shifts are frequently missed in payroll because each period looks like an ordinary short shift in isolation. The allowance only becomes visible when the day is assessed as a whole.

The rules in clause 25.6

The broken shift rules apply to social and community services employees when doing disability services work, and to home care employees.

  • An employer may roster a broken shift of 2 periods of work with 1 unpaid break, not counting meal breaks.
  • A broken shift of 3 periods with 2 unpaid breaks needs the employee’s agreement before each occasion, unless it is part of their agreed regular pattern of work.
  • A broken shift with 1 unpaid break attracts an allowance of 1.7% of the standard rate. One with 2 unpaid breaks attracts 2.25%. Both are paid per broken shift, not per period.

Span, breaks and minimum payments

  • The span of a broken shift is up to 12 hours. Work beyond 12 hours from the start is paid at double time.
  • The employee must get at least 10 hours off between broken shifts on successive days.
  • Part-time and casual employees are paid at least 2 hours for each period of work in a broken shift.
  • A break that falls inside a minimum payment period counts as time worked, so it does not create a broken shift.

Penalties and shift allowances

Broken shifts are paid at ordinary rates, with weekend, overtime and public holiday penalties applied as usual. Shift allowances apply only to the periods that meet the afternoon, night or public holiday shift definitions.

The award’s own example: a worker on 9.00 am to 11.00 am, then 5.30 pm to 8.30 pm, receives the afternoon shift allowance on the second period only.

How Rostery helps

Rostery applies the SCHADS broken shift rules to approved actual times, including the span, the allowance and the minimum payment for each period.

Questions people ask

How many breaks can a SCHADS broken shift have?

One unpaid break as standard. Two unpaid breaks only with the employee’s agreement, made before each occasion or as part of their agreed regular pattern of work.

Is the broken shift allowance paid per period or per shift?

Per broken shift. It is 1.7% of the standard rate for one unpaid break and 2.25% for two.

What happens if a broken shift runs past 12 hours?

All work beyond the 12-hour span is paid at double time.

Does a short gap between visits make a broken shift?

Not if the gap falls inside a minimum payment period. That time counts as worked.

Checked against the official sources on 2 October 2026. Rules change: confirm the current position with the agency before you rely on it.

Related terms

SCHADS AwardThe SCHADS Award is the modern award covering most Australian disability and community services employees. It sets minimum pay rates by classification level, and the rules for penalties, overtime, broken shifts, sleepovers, on-call, travel reimbursement and minimum engagement periods. Compliance is a legal obligation, not a payroll preference.Minimum engagementMinimum engagement is the shortest period an employee must be paid for when called to work, regardless of how long the shift actually runs. Under the SCHADS Award, disability support workers generally have a two-hour minimum for part-time and casual engagements, with some exceptions for particular arrangements.SleepoverA sleepover is an arrangement where a support worker stays overnight at a participant’s home to be available if needed, and is permitted to sleep. Under the SCHADS Award it attracts a flat sleepover allowance rather than hourly pay, plus payment at the appropriate rate for any period the worker is actually woken to work.

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