Nurses Award minimum pay rates change in 2025
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The Fair Work Commission is implementing substantial changes to the Nurses Award, introducing new pay structures and classification systems that will impact nurses across various healthcare settings.
Key changes will take effect at different times: nursing assistants from 1 January 2025, and registered and enrolled nurses from 1 March 2025.
Major Transformations Include:
Nursing Assistants
From 1 January 2025, nursing assistants providing care in residential aged care and home care settings will no longer be covered by the Nurses Award. Instead, they will fall under the Aged Care Award and Social and Community, Home Care and Disability Services Award.
Registered Nurses
Significant modifications will simplify the pay structure for registered nurses in aged care:
- Removal of annual progression through pay points for levels 1, 2, and 3
- Elimination of grades for levels 4 and 5
- New increments for Registered Nurse – Aged Care Levels 1 and 2
- Newly qualified registered nurses will now start at the same minimum pay rate
Enrolled Nurses
Enrolled nurses working in aged care will receive a single, higher minimum pay rate, with previous pay points eliminated. These nurses may also be required to supervise other direct care employees.
Translation Arrangements
A new Schedule F will outline classification translations for existing employees, ensuring that workers maintain their previous pay rates if they were higher as of 28 February 2025.
In one example, a registered nurse at pay point 3 before March 2025 will move to a ‘First 3 years of employment classified at this level’ increment. Another nurse, whose previous pay grade was higher than the new minimum, continues to be paid at that higher rate. These provisions aim to balance fair compensation with clarity for both employers and employees as the new system comes into effect.
Ritchelle is a Content Producer for Healthcare Channel, Australia’s premier resource of information for healthcare.
