After more than 50 days of protected industrial action, Victorian nurses and midwives won a pay deal that will help retain and recruit the staff needed to rebuild the public health system.

The ANMF (Victoria Branch) initially rejected a government offer of 12.5 per cent, but nurses and midwives voted to accept a revised offer that will see them get a 28.4 per cent increase by November 2027 in all classifications.

There will be two pay rises per year:

• In 2024 increases will total 5 per cent
• In 2025 increases will total 22 per cent
• In 2026 increases will total 09 per cent
• In 2027 increases will total 72 per cent.

A graduate nurse/midwife earning a current weekly base rate of $1298.60, will earn $1667.60 by November 2027. A Grade 2 Year 7 will rise from $1762.70 to $2263.40.

There were also a number of improved conditions, including:

• improved night-shift penalties for permanent nurses and midwives
• improved on-call and recall allowances
• a 92 per cent increase to the qualifications allowance by the end of the four-year agreement
• a right-to-disconnect

NSWNMA General Secretary Shaye Candish congratulated our Victoria colleagues on a significant achievement.

“Even though Victoria’s budget is in the red, the government has still found a way to acknowledge the value of nurses and midwives,” she said.