Over recent years, nurses, midwives and care workers have helped drive significant reforms made to healthcare and the professions they work in. This has included advances in gender equity; industrial relations reforms including wage increases through the Aged Care Work Value Case, stronger delegate rights; and long-awaited improvements in aged care with 24/7 registered nurse coverage and mandated care minutes.
Meanwhile there has been health reform that has expanded scope of practice for endorsed midwives and nurse practitioners while most recently RN prescribing standard has been introduced.
While these reforms mark real progress, their full impact is yet to be fully realised by those working on the ground. For example, some aged care providers are still failing to pass on the full wage increases to staff, even though they are funded by taxpayers to do so.
The ANMF remains focused on ensuring every reform translates into meaningful, tangible improvements for nurses, midwives, care workers, and the communities they serve. In 2026, our mission is clear: enforceable standards, fair pay, safer workplaces, and health centred policies that deliver genuine change on the floor, not just promises on paper.
Australia is making significant progress toward gender equality, particularly in advancing economic opportunities for women and girls. The national gender pay gap has fallen to a record low of 11.5%, while women’s workforce participation has reached a record high of 63.5%, with women working more hours.
Despite these gains, barriers remain. Unequal domestic responsibilities and pay disparities across industries continue to hold women back, according to University of Sydney research. Male dominated occupations earn, on average, 16% more than female dominated roles such as care work. National analysis further confirms that gendered education and career pathways restrict women’s access to secure, well-paid jobs, while contributing to persistent skills shortages in priority growth sectors.
Reducing the gender pay gap has been central to the Albanese Government’s economic agenda over the past three years. Key reforms include:
- Raising wages in the care economy
- Strengthening workplace laws to address gender undervaluation
- Enhancing gender pay gap reporting
- Banning pay secrecy provisions
- Expanding access to skills and training through fee free TAFE
At the national level, the ANMF continues to advocate for stronger measures, including workplace flexibility, superannuation reform, fairer tax concessions for women, and a benchmark on retirement adequacy that does not disadvantage women.
The urgency is clear: women retire with 25% less superannuation than men, and research from the Super Members Council warns of a looming crisis of older women entering retirement in poverty. The Workplace Gender Equality Agency reports that the pay gap begins in workers’ 20s, accelerates in their 30s, and peaks at nearly $53,000 per year between ages 55 and 59.
Recent wins include ANMF’s successful lobbying for superannuation contributions on government funded paid parental leave. From 1 July, parents now receive an additional 12% contribution to their nominated super fund.
Progress has also been made in women’s health. The federal government’s landmark $800 million women’s health package improves access, affordability, and choice nationwide. Around 300,000 women each year will benefit from more affordable long acting contraceptives, saving up to $400 in out-of-pocket costs. The package also funds free practitioner training and introduces a 40% bulkbilling incentive to strengthen reproductive autonomy.
Looking ahead, the National Women’s Health Advisory Council will transition into expert panels to guide priority areas of women’s health. Meanwhile, unions, including the ANMF are campaigning for universal paid reproductive health leave through the It’s For Every Body campaign, which seeks 10 days of paid leave annually for issues including menstruation, fertility, and menopause. Menopause alone is estimated to cost women aged 50–54 more than $15 billion per year in lost earnings and superannuation due to early retirement. In 2024, Queensland public sector workers secured this entitlement, setting a precedent for national reform.
