The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) and its members are celebrating the third and final pay rise for Australia's aged care workforce, as a result of the Fair Work Commission's (FWC) landmark Aged Care Work Value Case.
From today, AINs/PCWs receive their final pay increases, while nurses in aged care receive their second of three determined pay rises, with the final increase due in August 2026. The pay increases build on the initial 15% awarded in 2023 and 3.5% increase in March 2025, phased-in over three stages.
Federal Secretary Annie Butler said the pay rises mark a significant milestone in the ANMF's long-standing campaign to secure fair and just wages for its members working in aged care, who, for years, have been undervalued and underpaid.
"This is a significant win for the ANMF and our members working in aged care," Ms Butler said today.
"It's the final outcome of the Aged Care Work Value Case commenced by the ANMF in 2021, where we argued that the work of nurses and carers in the aged care sector had never been properly valued due to gender-based undervaluation and that their work had increased in complexity and skill over the last decades.
"The determination by the FWC finally recognises the true worth of Australia's nursing and care workforce, respecting and valuing the essential, compassionate and quality care they provide to older Australians and ensuring they are paid accordingly. These wage increases will not only provide some, long-overdue financial relief for our members and their families, but will also help retain and recruit the nurses and carers desperately needed to work across the sector. Fairer wages make aged care a more viable, attractive career path for workers entering the industry.
"The outcome that we have achieved belongs to ANMF members, without them, this would not have been possible. The success of the Work Value Case is attributable to them through their stories, their advocacy and their unwavering solidarity. We thank them all for helping us deliver this successful outcome and for continuing to work with us to improve aged care."
About us:
The ANMF, with over 345,000 members, is the industrial and professional voice for nurses, midwives and carers in Australia.
