As an independent contractor working on the Five Good Friends platform, you can determine the rates you charge for the Members you help.
Recommended rates for providing help and services to Aged Care Members
As an independent contractor, you are not employed or paid under the Award. However, the recommended hourly rate set by Five Good Friends has always aimed to be above the Award as we take into account other factors, including cost of living and a commitment to attract the best Helpers for our Members. It also accounts for superannuation, annual leave and public holiday allowances.
For the most up-to-date rate information click here.
Factors to consider when setting default Helper rates
A simple rule is to make sure that you choose an affordable hourly rate for your Members while remaining profitable for you after you take costs into account.
Costs may include transport, professional memberships, training to gain new skills/certifications and the Five Good Friends platform fee.
You may also decide to change your default hourly rate depending on your qualifications or competencies that you have attained or specific skills that you can offer to your Members and their families.
Keep in mind, however, that the higher you set your default hourly rate, the fewer hours of your time your Members may be able to afford.
Changing rates
It is important to recognise that these are our recommended rates. As an
independent contractor, you always have the opportunity to set your own
rates.
If you wish to adjust anything, you must consider a fair and competitive
rate for your services. Many of our Members are operating on tight
budgets and have specific support needs – it’s essential to strike a
balance that works for both Helpers and Member
If you wish to consider changing your default rates, please let us know by
contacting your Helper Coordinator through the Customer Service Team on 1300 787 581.
It is the Member's choice what rates they accept.
Helper Rates for NDIS Members
There are various set rates for NDIS Members – visit our NDIS rates page for further information or the Support Article here.
Rates for Weekends and Public Holidays
Regarding weekends and public holidays, we encourage all Helpers to make sure they have set a rate that they are happy to charge on weekends and public holidays.
We never want to see Members choose not to receive help on weekends because prices are too high, but we ask helpers to ensure they are happy with the rates they charge on weekends and public holidays to reflect their true value.
Provider travel and Member transport
There are two types of travel that Helpers can charge for:
Provider travel: these are expenses a Helper incurs when travelling between visits. This will remain capped at 15 minutes and will be charged based on your Helper's hourly rate.
Member transportation: this is where a Helper provides transport to a Member during a visit. From 23 July 2024, Member transportation within a visit will be reimbursed to a Helper at a rate of 99 cents per kilometre. This is benchmarked against the relevant industry award.
Helping Helpers
We understand that you have many choices and options for where you can apply your skills. We are committed to ensuring Helpers on the Five Good Friends platform are not just supported, but truly engaged. The Five Good Friends platform fee enables us to provide important benefits, including:
Tailored matches: helping connect you to Members who best match your personality attributes, location, availability, qualifications and experience. This enables a rewarding and effective working relationship.
Access to ongoing training and development: we're dedicated to professional growth. As a Helper on the Five Good Friends platform, you can access free, ongoing training and development opportunities to enhance your skills and expand your business. Continue your learning journey here.
Technology to simplify your work: our advanced technology simplifies and supports the important work you do, allowing you to focus on providing the best care possible. This includes billing Members and making payments to you.
We’re here to support you
Our dedicated Helper Team is here to assist you, allowing you to focus on what matters most—providing support and help to your Five Good Friends Members.
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact our Customer Service team on 1300 787 581. Alternatively, you can email us at [email protected]
The Five Good Friends Platform Fee
We want to partner with Helpers and create a place where Helpers love what they do and feel valued, supported and in control. We want Helpers to be focused on what they do best, caring for and supporting our Members.
Five Good Friends platform fee covers many expenses a sole trader has typically to cover. We want Helpers to succeed. You can read more about the Platform Fee here.
More Questions?
If you have more questions about setting your rates, please contact the Customer Service Team on 1300 787 581 press option 3 or [email protected].