The Australian Government is today delivering a fourth increase in award wages to the dedicated workers who provide aged care services to older Australians.
This is good for workers, good for the economy and will help with the cost of living.
Workers in aged care deliver the very best care for our loved ones, but their work has been undervalued for too long and every worker in the sector should be able to have a long, fulfilling career supported by strong and sustainable wages growth.
Today's increase means an extra $60.20 per week for a registered nurse, on level 2, pay point 3 of the award, which is the most common level amongst registered nurses. On top of our previous increase to aged care wages, they will be more than $28,000 a year better off under the Albanese Government.
Enrolled nurses will see a bump in their pay by $62.40 per week (for a level 2 award) and personal care workers will also benefit from this increase by $39.50 per week (for a level 3 award).
We'll increase aged care wages even further next year, with the next boost coming on 1 August for registered and enrolled nurses.
In recognition of the crucial role workers and nurses play in delivering safe and quality care to our loved ones, Labor's total investment amounts to $17.7 billion in order to support the Fair Work Commission's case to increase award wages for 400,000 workers in the aged care sector.
Our economic plan is designed to help Australians earn more and keep more of what they earn and that's why we are acting to boost wages and close the gender pay gap.
When we came to office annual real wages were going badly backwards, but now they have grown for seven consecutive quarters.
