[Australia] Minimum pay rate changes in the Nurses Award

In Australia, the Fair Work Commission (the Commission) is making changes to the Nurses Award (the Award), Fair Work Ombudsman reports.

The changes are being made as part of the Work Value Case – Nurses and midwives.

These changes take effect at different times. The changes will reportedly apply to:

• Nursing assistants from the first full pay period starting on or after January 1, 2025, and

• Registered and enrolled nurses from the first full pay period starting on, or after March 1, 2025.

The changes might also affect the minimum pay rates for nurses working in aged care.

Preparing for change

The Fair Work Ombudsman’s Pay and Conditions Tool has been updated with the new rates that will apply. Use the calculation date of March 1, 2025, to view the new classification structure and updated rates. You may also need to use a different classification if this has changed as part of the changes to awards.

New versions of the pay guides are also available to view and download here: Nurses Award Pay Guide (DOCX) (PDF).

Nursing assistants

From January 1, 2025, the Nurses Award no longer covers nursing assistants who provide care services to older people in residential aged care or home care settings.

These employees are now reportedly covered by the Aged Care Award and Social and Community, Home Care and Disability Services Award instead.

More information is available here: Award coverage for nursing assistants in aged care.

Registered nurses

From March 1, 2025, the minimum pay rates within the ‘registered nurse – aged care employees’ stream will reportedly be simplified by removing:

• annual progression through pay points for levels 1, 2 and 3

• grades for levels 4 and 5.

Increments will apply to employees classified as Registered nurses - aged care Levels 1 and 2 instead. The final determination has details of how much experience is required for each.

Newly qualified registered nurses working in aged care will start at the same level. Previously, these employees started at different minimum pay rates based on their qualifications.

The full table of classifications can be read in the final determination.

Enrolled nurses

From March 1, 2025, enrolled nurses working in aged care will be paid a single higher minimum pay rate. The pay points which previously applied have been removed.

Enrolled nurses in aged care may be required to supervise other direct care employees.

Translation arrangements

A new Schedule F - Translation Arrangement will apply from March 1, 2025.

This schedule outlines what classification existing employees will be after the changes. In addition, it maintains previous pay rates for employees if they were being paid a higher minimum pay rate on February 28, 2025.

The full table of translations can be found in the final determination.

Use the following links for further information about these award changes, access to the Commission’s decision and their final determination.

Source: Fair Work Ombudsman

(Links via original reporting)

In Australia, the Fair Work Commission (the Commission) is making changes to the Nurses Award (the Award), Fair Work Ombudsman reports.

The changes are being made as part of the Work Value Case – Nurses and midwives.

These changes take effect at different times. The changes will reportedly apply to:

• Nursing assistants from the first full pay period starting on or after January 1, 2025, and

• Registered and enrolled nurses from the first full pay period starting on, or after March 1, 2025.

The changes might also affect the minimum pay rates for nurses working in aged care.

Preparing for change

The Fair Work Ombudsman’s Pay and Conditions Tool has been updated with the new rates that will apply. Use the calculation date of March 1, 2025, to view the new classification structure and updated rates. You may also need to use a different classification if this has changed as part of the changes to awards.

New versions of the pay guides are also available to view and download here: Nurses Award Pay Guide (DOCX) (PDF).

Nursing assistants

From January 1, 2025, the Nurses Award no longer covers nursing assistants who provide care services to older people in residential aged care or home care settings.

These employees are now reportedly covered by the Aged Care Award and Social and Community, Home Care and Disability Services Award instead.

More information is available here: Award coverage for nursing assistants in aged care.

Registered nurses

From March 1, 2025, the minimum pay rates within the ‘registered nurse – aged care employees’ stream will reportedly be simplified by removing:

• annual progression through pay points for levels 1, 2 and 3

• grades for levels 4 and 5.

Increments will apply to employees classified as Registered nurses - aged care Levels 1 and 2 instead. The final determination has details of how much experience is required for each.

Newly qualified registered nurses working in aged care will start at the same level. Previously, these employees started at different minimum pay rates based on their qualifications.

The full table of classifications can be read in the final determination.

Enrolled nurses

From March 1, 2025, enrolled nurses working in aged care will be paid a single higher minimum pay rate. The pay points which previously applied have been removed.

Enrolled nurses in aged care may be required to supervise other direct care employees.

Translation arrangements

A new Schedule F - Translation Arrangement will apply from March 1, 2025.

This schedule outlines what classification existing employees will be after the changes. In addition, it maintains previous pay rates for employees if they were being paid a higher minimum pay rate on February 28, 2025.

The full table of translations can be found in the final determination.

Use the following links for further information about these award changes, access to the Commission’s decision and their final determination.

Source: Fair Work Ombudsman

(Links via original reporting)