5 Reasons NDIS Providers Are Choosing Pay Cat to Simplify SCHADS Award Payroll

Let me ask you a question—how confident are you that your payroll system is fully SCHADS-compliant?

Because if you’re an NDIS provider still doing payroll manually, there’s a good chance you’re underpaying staff without realising it—and that could mean massive backpay claims and Fair Work penalties. 

Most providers think payroll is just about tracking hours and paying employees. But under the SCHADS Award, you’re dealing with sleepover shifts, broken shifts, complex allowances, and penalty rates—and every tiny mistake adds up. 

That’s why so many NDIS businesses are switching to Pay Cat—because it automates all of this, ensures 100% compliance, and turns payroll from a three-day nightmare into a 20-minute task. 

So, in this article, I’m breaking down five key reasons why providers like you are making the switch.

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Unfortunately, SCHADS is one of the most complex industrial awards in Australia, making payroll a significant administrative burden for many providers.

Unlike standard payroll, SCHADS Award compliance involves:

• Sleepover shifts – Different pay rates for different hours, plus additional allowances.
• Broken shifts – Managing multiple shifts in a day, including minimum break requirements and penalty rates.
• Allowances and loadings – Additional payments for travel, uniforms, first-aid, and other entitlements.
• Weekend and public holiday rates – Ensuring correct overtime calculations based on the timing of shifts.
• Overtime rules – Different pay rates depending on the shift type, length, and frequency.

For many NDIS providers, manually tracking all these elements increases the risk of underpayments, backpay claims, and Fair Work penalties. This is exactly the problem Ben from East Coast Support Solutions faced.

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With only a handful of employees, manually calculating wages and allowances seemed like a small inconvenience.

However, as the business grew, payroll became a constant source of stress and administrative burden.

• Processing payroll took three to four days every cycle, cutting into time that could have been spent growing the business.
• Errors and miscalculations led to delayed payments and employee disputes.
• Manually keeping up with SCHADS Award changes became increasingly difficult.
• Compliance risks grew as staff numbers increased, making manual payroll unsustainable.

Ben knew he needed a better way to manage payroll—one that eliminated errors, saved time, and ensured compliance. After switching to Pay Cat, payroll became a 20-minute task instead of a multi-day process.

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Here are the key reasons why more NDIS providers are making the same switch.

The award is complex, frequently updated, and contains multiple pay categories, allowances, and penalties that must be applied correctly.

Without automation, this means:

• Manually checking pay conditions for every employee.
• Keeping up with Fair Work updates and changes to the award.
• Constantly worrying about underpayments or miscalculations.

Pay Cat eliminates this issue by automatically applying SCHADS Award rules to every shift, penalty, and allowance. Providers no longer need to manually interpret pay conditions or cross-check calculations—the system ensures that every employee is paid correctly every time.

By switching to Pay Cat, providers can reduce compliance risks, avoid payroll disputes, and ensure staff receive the correct entitlements without additional admin work.

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• Manual payroll processing often takes several days each pay cycle, especially when dealing with a large workforce.
• Errors require additional admin time to correct, leading to delays and frustration.
• Growth becomes limited as payroll takes up more and more resources.

Before switching to Pay Cat, Ben and his team at East Coast Support Solutions spent up to four days every payroll cycle processing wages manually. After automating payroll with Pay Cat, they now complete the entire process in just 20 minutes.

For NDIS providers, this means more time to focus on delivering quality care, growing their business, and managing their workforce—rather than spending hours on payroll each week.

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However, if payroll is being handled separately, this often leads to duplication of work and an increased risk of errors.

Without integration, payroll teams must:

• Manually transfer timesheet data from ShiftCare to payroll systems.
• Cross-check calculations to ensure shifts match the SCHADS Award conditions.
• Correct discrepancies when pay rates do not align with timesheets.

By integrating directly with ShiftCare, Pay Cat automates the entire process from timesheets to payroll, removing the need for manual data entry. Providers can export timesheets from ShiftCare and have Pay Cat automatically interpret pay rates, allowances, and penalties according to SCHADS Award rules.

This integration ensures:

• No manual data transfer or double-handling of timesheets.
• Fewer payroll errors and miscalculations.
• Faster, more efficient payroll processing.

For providers already using ShiftCare, Pay Cat makes payroll seamless, accurate, and stress-free.

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• Interpreting new Fair Work rulings and award changes.
• Managing unusual payroll scenarios, such as sleepovers combined with overtime.
• Responding to staff queries about payslips, penalties, and entitlements.

Pay Cat gives providers access to real payroll specialists who understand SCHADS Award compliance inside and out. Instead of second-guessing payroll calculations or spending hours researching award conditions, providers can get expert support when they need it most—especially on payday.

For businesses that do not have an in-house payroll team, this support ensures:

• Compliance with the latest SCHADS Award changes.
• Clear guidance on complex payroll scenarios.
• Confidence that payroll is always accurate and legally compliant.

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Even small underpayments can accumulate over time, leading to significant backpay liabilities and legal penalties.

By switching to Pay Cat, providers:

• Eliminate the risk of miscalculating sleepovers, broken shifts, and penalty rates.
• Ensure staff receive the correct pay every time, reducing payroll disputes.
• Protect their business from costly Fair Work investigations and underpayment claims.

For providers who want long-term peace of mind, Pay Cat ensures that payroll is always compliant, accurate, and stress-free.

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• Eliminate manual award interpretation and ensure compliance automatically.
• Save hours on payroll processing each pay cycle.
• Integrate payroll with ShiftCare to reduce errors and streamline operations.
• Access expert support for complex payroll issues.
• Avoid underpayments, backpay claims, and compliance penalties.

For NDIS businesses looking to simplify payroll and reduce administrative stress, Pay Cat provides a proven solution that works.

Book a free demo today to see how Pay Cat can transform your payroll process.