The first historic pay rise for aged care workers came into effect on 1 January after the Fair Work Commission approved a pay rise of between 2.3 and 13.5% in 2025.

Some 340,000 aged care workers in residential and home care will receive an increase in their award wages. For some workers this is the first award increase, with a further increase commencing from 1 October 2025.

See what pay to expect in January 2025

The Aged Care Work Value Case was launched by the ANMF and other unions in 2020 to seek a pay rise of at least 25% for aged care workers on the basis that work in the sector has been historically undervalued for gender-based reasons.

In March 2024, the FWC made its final wage rates decision for AINs and PCWs, together with all other aged care employees, except for nurses. The FWC determined that AINs and personal care workers will receive further increases from 1 January 2025 and any final increase from 1 October 2025.

Following FWC ruling, ANMF Federal Secretary Annie Butler said the work performed in aged care had changed dramatically over the last two decades. “Our evidence demonstrates that the work has become more complex due to the higher needs and greater acuity of aged care residents and people receiving care at home.”

Personal care workers and assistants in nursing (AINs) working in residential care settings in the aged care industry and who were covered by the Nurses Award prior to 1 January 2025 are covered by the Aged Care Award from 1 January 2025.

The amount of the increase and when it starts can be different and some employees will receive a second increase on 1 October 2025. For direct care employees, how the increases to their minimum pay rate is applied depends on the size of the increase. These employees include:

• direct care workers in the Aged Care Award, including nursing assistants previously covered by the Nurses Award
• home care employees – Aged care in the SCHADS Award, including nursing assistants previously covered by the Nurses Award.
  
  

The minimum rates from 1 January 2025 for each classification can be found in the Aged Care Award final determination. The minimum rates that apply from 1 October 2025 will be available closer to that date.

The 1 January 2025 pay guides for the affected awards can be accessed below:

• Aged Care Award [MA000018] Pay Guide (DOCX) | (PDF)
• Nurses Award [MA000034] Pay Guide (DOCX) | (PDF).
  
  

The Fair Work Ombudsman has a Pay and Conditions Tool to calculate the pay rates that apply from 1 January 2025.