---
title: "Changes to SCHADS Award Sleepovers effective 01.06.2026"
description: "The Fair Work Commission has updated the SCHADS Award rules for sleepover shifts, taking effect from 1 June 2026. We've made updates to CareMaster so it correctly applies these new rules to your first full pay run in June."
canonical_url: "https://support.caremaster.com.au/articles/changes-to-sleepovers-effective-01062026-4nRS9cPCPC"
md_url: "https://support.caremaster.com.au/articles/changes-to-sleepovers-effective-01062026-4nRS9cPCPC.md"
---
# Changes to SCHADS Award Sleepovers effective 01.06.2026

The Fair Work Commission has updated the SCHADS Award rules for sleepover shifts, taking effect from **1 June 2026**. We've made updates to CareMaster so it correctly applies these new rules to your first full pay run in June.  

# What's changed in the SCHADS rules 

The updated rules introduce four key changes for sleepover shifts: 

**1. A sleepover shift is now one continuous shift** 

If a worker has active work before and after a sleepover, it's all treated as a single shift. The sleepover itself isn't counted as a break. 

**2. 12-hour shifts are possible by agreement** 

Workers and employers can agree in writing to extend ordinary hours up to 12 hours per shift when the shift includes a sleepover with active work on both sides. Without this written agreement, the standard 10-hour limit applies. 

 ![](https://support.caremaster.com.au/api/attachments.redirect?id=c06cda55-9e9d-4dbc-82c8-2c94728c9902 " =2400x1400")

**3. 8-hour cap on each side of the sleepover** 

You can't roster more than 8 ordinary hours on either side of the sleepover. Any active work beyond 8 hours on one side will be paid as overtime. 


 ![](https://support.caremaster.com.au/api/attachments.redirect?id=2b8fefeb-3615-4ede-8f7c-6c3a454fd3f9 " =2400x2000")

**4. Shift loadings are calculated separately for each side** 

Afternoon and night shift penalties are now worked out independently for the pre-sleepover and post-sleepover work, based on when each portion of work actually happens. This replaces the previous approach of applying one loading across the whole shift.


 ![](https://support.caremaster.com.au/api/attachments.redirect?id=1d23172a-0246-4c15-8785-2d5c53bbde44 " =2400x1800")

**How the setting works** 

Once the agreement is ticked on a worker's profile, it applies to all pay periods going forward, from the first full payrun in June onwards. The agreement will take effect from the next full pay run after you tick it. Workers without the agreement ticked will be paid under the standard 10-hour rules.