Council rostering software, for every local government service
A library, a depot and a pool on one payroll: each with its own roster pattern, all in one audit trail.
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You set the rates once: Local Government and Local Government (State) awards
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Library officer, parks and gardens officer and works depot operator on one roster
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7am depot starts, library evenings and Saturdays and pool early and late shifts
How RosterElf handles councils
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Each service its own template
Each service area is its own site or set of positions with its own roster template, and everything goes to payroll in one export.
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Rates set once, applied to every shift
Set the award or agreement rates once in the pay rate builder, and RosterElf applies them to every rostered shift.
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On-call on the roster, callouts as worked time
Roster on-call periods as shifts with the allowance you set, and callouts are clocked as worked time when they happen.
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GPS clock-in on the phone
Outdoor crews clock in on their phones with GPS, and the geofence can block clock-ins outside the radius.
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Every change on the record
Roster changes and approvals show in the activity feed, and licences and tickets sit in the HR Hub (Full Suite and HR plans) with automatic expiry reminders.
Council staff scheduling
Build the roster around the work, not last week's
- Copy a template week, then move cover to the busy days
- Every shift costed at your pay rates as you build it
- Publish to the staff app in one click
Every change on the record
Roster changes and approvals show in the activity feed, and licences and tickets sit in the HR Hub (Full Suite and HR plans) with automatic expiry reminders.
Local Government Award (MA000112) rates, set once
Set your award rates once, then roster with them
- Your pay rates and penalties, set up in the pay rate builder
- Every rostered shift costed at the rates you set
- Check each rule against your own award or agreement
Local Government Industry Award (MA000112) — pay rates by period
| Period | Full-time & part-time | Casual |
|---|---|---|
| Ordinary hours (Mon–Fri) | 100% | 125% |
| Saturday | 150% | 175% |
| Sunday | 175% | 200% |
| Public holiday | 250% | 275% |
Casual employees get a 25% casual loading, added to the weekend and public holiday rates. Many councils pay under an enterprise agreement that sits over the award, and NSW councils use the Local Government (State) Award. Rates change each 1 July; see the Local Government Award pay guide and verify against Fair Work.
From clock-in to payroll
Staff clock in on a tablet kiosk or their phone, managers approve timesheets against the roster, and approved hours go to Xero or MYOB. RosterElf is not payroll software: it costs the timesheets and sends them to your payroll.
Clock-in
A tablet kiosk or the staff app, with GPS recorded at clock-in, breaks and clock-out. The geofence can block clock-ins off site. On Core and Full Suite.
Timesheets
Worked hours land beside the rostered shift, costed at your pay rates, for a manager to approve before the pay run.
Xero and MYOB
Approved, costed timesheets go to Xero or MYOB, so nothing is re-keyed. Your payroll still runs the pay.
Reviews from RosterElf customers
Andrew Nathan
November 13, 2025
"We are extremely happy with Roster Elf, it's a great improvement on the previous system we were using. Sean and all the staff have been fantastic, really know their stuff and make using RosterElf a pleasure."
Monica Van De Laak
October 16, 2025
"Sean was an amazing help, very patient and thorough."
Mary C.
October 13, 2025
"I can see my roster, enter availability, put leave in advance and clock on and off easily."
Council rostering templates and guides
Free templates, guides and job descriptions for your business.
Comparing tools? Read our guide to the best rostering software in Australia .
Try council rostering free for 15 days
Set your award's rates once in the pay rate builder and RosterElf applies them to every shift.
No credit card 4.7 stars from 329 reviews on Google, Xero, G2 and Capterra
Real support from people who understand your business
At RosterElf, support isn't a ticket system — it's part of the product.
More about our support
Our Australian-based team helps you set up correctly, understand award rules, and stay compliant as your business changes. No scripts. No offshore handoffs. Just real help when you need it.
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Guided setup and onboarding
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Award and payroll questions answered
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Ongoing help as your team grows
Council rostering FAQ
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The best council rostering software gives each service area, from libraries and depots to pools and childcare, its own roster template while keeping approvals, records and payroll export in one system. It should also apply the Local Government Award or enterprise agreement rates you set. RosterElf does this, with GPS clock-in for outdoor crews.
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Councils in the national workplace system are covered by the Local Government Industry Award (MA000112), and many have an enterprise agreement that sits over it. NSW councils are covered by the separate Local Government (State) Award. Early childhood teachers, nurses and doctors working for councils have their own awards. Confirm coverage with Fair Work.
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Usually not. Fair Work says the Children’s Services Award does not cover employers already covered by the Local Government Award, so educators in a council-run centre are generally paid under MA000112 or the council’s agreement. Degree-qualified early childhood teachers are excluded from the Local Government Award and covered by the Teachers Award instead.
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Roster the on-call period as its own shift so everyone can see who is available each night, with the allowance set in the pay rate builder. When a crew member is called out, they clock in on their phone and the callout is recorded as worked time against them, ready for approval.
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Yes. Rosters, roster changes, leave, approvals and timesheets are kept in RosterElf, and the activity feed shows who changed what and when. That gives a council a record to answer a roster or pay question months later without reconstructing it from emails and spreadsheets. Approved timesheets also go to payroll unchanged.