HandemovaFIFO and shift rosters: a shared calendar that follows the roster
When one parent works a roster, a week-based pattern rarely fits. The children's nights follow the roster instead: at the other home while the roster parent is away, and back during home time.
Common rosters, counted in nights
| Roster | Nights away | Nights home | Repeats every |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8/6 | 8 | 6 | 2 weeks |
| 14/7 (2:1) | 14 | 7 | 3 weeks |
| 7/7 (even time) | 7 | 7 | 2 weeks |
| 5/2 (drive-in, drive-out) | 5 | 2 | 1 week |
| 4 on, 4 off (shifts) | 4 | 4 | 8 days |
Count nights, not shift days. On an 8/6 roster where the roster parent flies out on the morning of day 1 and flies home on the evening of day 8, the children may only need 7 nights at the other home. Write down what actually happens on fly-out and fly-in days, and use those numbers. For day and night swings, count only the nights the children can't stay.
Setting it up in Handemova
- Open Settings → Family → Base pattern and choose FIFO or shift roster.
- Pick who works the roster, the roster, and the first night away (usually the day they fly or drive out).
- Choose what happens during home time: all home nights with the roster parent, or split between both homes.
- Check the preview of the next few weeks, then ask your co-parent to agree. Once you've both joined, nothing changes until they do. Before then, the parent who set up the calendar can set it directly, and it shows in the history.
Only nights are saved. Handemova never asks for the employer, the site or flight details, and shared descriptions say "repeating roster", not the job. Handemova never contacts employers or shares anything with them.
Calendar links you share (a phone calendar feed or a family view) show which home the children are at, which can show when someone is away. Share them only with people you trust.
When the roster changes
- One swing moves (a late flight, an extra shift): use a swap for those nights. The pattern stays the same.
- The roster itself changes (a new contract, 8/6 to 14/7): change the base pattern from a future date. Both parents agree, and earlier nights never move.
- Nothing moves by itself. Handemova never shifts nights because of a roster change. Once you've both joined, every change is a request the other parent can see and answer.
Writing it into a parenting plan
Plans that follow a roster often say what happens when the roster changes, how much notice is given, how fly-in and fly-out days work, and how school holidays and special days fit around swings. A family dispute resolution practitioner can help you agree on this.
Information only, not legal or child support advice. A parenting plan isn't legally enforceable; consent orders made by a court are. For help agreeing on arrangements, see Family Relationships Online or call the Family Relationship Advice Line on 1800 050 321. For court forms and orders, see the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia.