Years of campaigning by the ANMF NSW and other unions has delivered a 23 per cent increase to award wages for Certificate III aged care workers.

The Fair Work Commission has ordered new pay increases for aged care workers in further recognition that this mostly female workforce has been historically undervalued.

On 15 March, the Commission ruled that award rates for direct care employees should be increased substantially beyond the 15 per cent interim increase it awarded in 2023.

The Commission ordered that assistants in nursing (AINs) and personal care workers (PCWs) with a Certificate III qualification should receive a 23 per cent increase to award wages, including last year’s 15 per cent increase.

The Commission’s ruling will set a new minimum award rate of $1223.90 per week for Certificate III-qualified AINs. The new award rate for a team leader will be set at $1370.80. For an AIN who has undertaken a Certificate IV unit of competency – for example, in medications – the new award rate will be either $1272.90 or $1321.80, depending on years of experience.

The Commission has yet to decide when the increases will take effect. “The work of aged care sector employees has historically been undervalued because of assumptions based on gender,” the Commission said.

The decision is the latest outcome of a work value case run by unions in the Commission. The case initially resulted in a record 15 per cent award rate increase for more than 250,000 aged care workers from 1 July 2023. The federal Labor government allocated $11.3 billion to cover that increase over four years.

More skills and responsibilities since COVID

In its latest decision, the Commission found that enhanced infection prevention and control measures have become embedded in aged care since the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to the exercise of additional skills and responsibilities, additional training and changes to the work environment.
The Commission ordered that assistants in nursing (AINs) and personal care workers (PCWs) with a Certificate III qualification
should receive a 23 per cent increase to award wages, including last year’s 15 per cent increase.

The Commission said this had contributed to an increase in the work value of direct care employees. Unlike the 2023 decision, this year’s additional award wage rises do not cover registered and enrolled nurses. Any further increases for them will be decided in a separate national work value case being run by the NSWNMA’s federal body, the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF).

NSWNMA General Secretary Shaye Candish said the latest round of award wage increases was a credit to the many Association members who took part in actions to push for reform of aged care. “For years, NSWNMA members have worked tirelessly alongside our federal counterparts at the ANMF and other unions, to win better wages for aged care workers,” she said.

“This is a massive achievement for AINs and PCWs working in the sector, and was won through the passion and hard work of union members who were willing to stand up for their rights at work. “When union members stand together, as aged care workers we can win the pay and conditions we deserve. “This pay rise is a great reminder that being a member of the NSWNMA means your whole union team will always have your back.”

“Over the coming weeks, the Fair Work Commission will hold hearings to determine issues relating to the rollout of this increase. This includes when pay increases will come into effect. “Rest assured, your union’s industrial experts will be at these hearings, fighting for the best outcomes for members.

“We are calling on the federal government to fully fund these increases, and for aged care providers to pass these increases on to staff. “Members of the NSWNMA will be meeting with members of parliament in Canberra, to urge them to do the right thing by aged care workers.”

‘This pay rise is a great reminder that being a member of the NSWNMA means your whole union team will always have your back.’ – Shaye Candish, General Secretary,

NSWNMA FWC decision on RN/EN pay to come

Registered and enrolled nurses in aged care were frustrated to learn that the Fair Work Commission delayed a decision to make changes to their pay rates, as part of 15 March ruling. However, in more hopeful news, the FWC will consider those pay rises as part of another work value case being runby the NSWNMA’s federal body the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF).

The ANMF is optimistic for a positive outcome in this next case, based on the recent ruling on pay being historically undervalued. ANMF Federal Secretary Annie Butler said the Commission recognised the “federal award system has failed to set minimum award rates of pay that properly recognise the addition to work value affected by the transformation of nursing into a profession”.

“We are also very pleased the Commission is proposing a benchmark, which will seek to address this historical, gender- based undervaluation,” Annie said. “ANMF witnesses, including our members, union officials and academic experts, all gave evidence that the work performed in aged care has changed dramatically over the last two decades.

“Our evidence was accepted that the work has become more complex due to the higher needs and greater acuity of aged care residents and people receiving care at home. “The Commission also agrees the impact of COVID on delivery of care has brought about permanent change to the way work is performed.” ‘Our evidence was accepted that the work has become more complex due to the higher needs and greater acuity of aged care residents and people receiving care at home.’ – Annie Butler, Federal Secretary, ANMF