Changes coming into effect on 1 March 2025

The Fair Work Commission (FWC) has published its final determination in the work value case for nurses working in residential and home care aged care.

This is great news for all ENs and RNs working in aged care, as this determination marks the final outcome of the aged care work value case commenced by the ANMF in 2021.

The ANMF sought increases in minimum award wages for nurses working in aged care, on the basis that the work has never been properly valued due to gender-based undervaluation and has increased in complexity and skill over decades.

In July 2023, the Fair Work Commission granted a 15% interim increase to minimum rates to all aged care nurses, passed on through an increase in Commonwealth funding to providers to pay higher wages.

In March 2024, the FWC made its final wage rates decision for personal care workers (PCWs) and all other aged care employees, except for nurses. The total increases vary from 4.2%- 25.5% and are additional to the 15% already granted.

These increases, where applicable, will come into effect over three tranches with award increases to be implemented on 1 March 2025, 1 October 2025 and 1 August 2026.

Read how this affects your pay and classification: Work Value Cases

Changes to the classification structure

The FWC considers that the current classification structure is not reflective of work value or a contemporary way of providing career progression. This means that a new structure will come into effect in the Nurses Award from 1 March 2025.

Read more