A national day of mourning to commemorate the Queen’s passing has been recently announced as a public holiday for Thursday, 22 September 2022. As such, all the usual public holiday entitlements and rates will apply for nurses and midwives.
Generally, if you are rostered on the public holiday you can be directed to work, even if you usually do not work on public holidays. However, your employer will need to take your personal circumstances into account, including whether you have been able to arrange child care.
NSW Public Sector
In the public health system, the entitlements for public holidays are set out in the Public Health System Nurses and Midwives’ (State) Award 2022 and depend upon your employment status and how you are rostered. Please note that if you are rostered on the public holiday you can be directed to work, even if you usually do not work on public holidays.
The below table sets out a summary of the entitlements.
In each case, the public holidays rates are in substitution for any shift penalties that would normally have been paid.
In relation to full time employees who work on other than a seven day basis, a day worker is defined as working their ordinary hours from Monday to Friday inclusive and who commences work on or after 6AM and before 10AM each day. A shift worker is defined as not a day worker.
In relation to permanent part time employees, the award provides at 29.PART I.(v) that when a public holiday occurs on a day of the week on which an employee regularly works, the employee’s roster must not be changed to avoid payment for the public holiday.
Private, Aged Care and other sectors
For nurses and midwives working in all other sectors, including private hospitals, aged care facilities and medical centres, public holiday entitlements will differ from employer to employer. To find the award or enterprise agreement that applies to you please visit the NSWNMA website:
If there’s an issue with your public holiday pay please notify your manager or payroll office in the first instance to discuss this issue. NSWNMA can assist you if you’re unable to resolve the problem with your employer. Should you require advice about your public holiday entitlements please do not hesitate to contact our Information Team on 02 8595 1234 (Metro) or 1300 367 962 (Rural) or by emailing us at gensec@nswnma.asn.au