Aged care nurses will see another boost to their pay packets after the final stage of Work Value Case wage increases came into effect on 1 August.
The increases to minimum award wages under the Nurses Award 2020 mark the culmination of the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation’s (ANMF) landmark Aged Care Work Value Case at the Fair Work Commission (FWC), which successfully argued that the increasingly complex and highly skilled work performed by aged care workers had been historically undervalued due to gender-based assumptions.
Under the updated award rates, a full-time enrolled nurse supervising other direct care employees will now earn $1,542 a week, a Level 2 registered nurse with more than three years’ experience will earn $2,046 a week, and a Level 5 registered nurse will earn $2,711.30 a week.
Workers covered by enterprise agreements who already earn above the award should also see a pay rise, with the federal government funding wage increases for all aged care nurses, so that everyone’s wages would go up by the award dollar amount.
ANMF Senior Federal Industrial Officer Kristen Wischer, who led the Work Value Case run by the ANMF together with other unions, said the final pay increases bring to a close the union’s long-standing campaign to secure fairer wages for aged care nurses that recognises the vital skill, responsibility and complexity of care they provide every day.
“These long-overdue pay rises acknowledge the true value of aged care workers and are an important step towards attracting and retaining experienced registered and enrolled nurses in the sector,” Ms Wischer said.
“While there is still more work to do to address broader aged care reform, the Work Value Case outcome demonstrates what can be achieved through sustained advocacy and ensures aged care nursing is better recognised as the highly skilled job it is.”
Welcoming the final pay rise, the federal government said nurses in aged care deliver the best care for our loved ones, but their work was undervalued.
“Better pay for nurses means better care for older Australians – our record boost to wages is making it easier for aged care homes to attract and retain nurses, ensuring older people can access higher-quality, more consistent care,” Minister for Aged Care and Seniors, Sam Rae, said.
More information on the ANMF’s Work Value Cases can be found here
Full information on final award wage increases can be found here
Members should contact their state or territory Branch if they have any questions.
