The Albanese Government is today delivering a fifth increase to award wages to the dedicated nurses who provide aged care services to older Australians.
This is good for workers, good for the economy, helps with the cost of living and will deliver better care for older Australians receiving aged care services.
Nurses in aged care deliver the very best care for our loved ones, but their work was undervalued under a decade of Liberal neglect. Every worker in the sector should be able to have a long, fulfilling career supported by strong and sustainable wages growth and that’s exactly why Labor has acted.
Today’s increase means that, since 2022, a Registered Nurse on level 2 pay point 3, the most common level amongst Registered Nurses, will have seen their pay increase more than $36,000 a year.
An enrolled nurse on the most common level and pay point will have seen their wage increase by almost $32,000 per year.
This is the final increase following the Fair Work Commission Aged Care Work Value Case, bringing Labor’s total investment in aged care wages to almost $18 billion.
Our Government put gender equality at the heart of the Fair Work Act, and we now see the Gender Pay Gap is at its equal lowest level on record, and Australian women are now earning more than $250 a week more on average, than they were before we came to government.
In recognition of the crucial role the 400,000 strong workforce plays in delivering safe and quality care to our loved ones, the Albanese Government has invested more than any previous Government to ensure aged care workers are equipped and compensated appropriately to deliver the world-class care our parents and grandparents deserve.
Labor's economic plan is designed to help Australians earn more and keep more of what they earn and that’s why we have acted to boost wages and close the gender pay gap.
More information is available on the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing website: www.health.gov.au/topics/aged-care-workforce/what-were-doing/better-and-fairer-wages.
Quotes attributable to Acting Prime Minister, the Hon. Richard Marles MP:
“The Albanese Labor Government is proud to back the aged care nurses who look after our loved ones through another wage rise.
“This means that since we came to government in 2022, aged care nurses will have seen their pay increase by up to $36,000.
“Supporting better wages and looking after workers is at the heart of our commitment to deliver real change for Australians.”
Quotes attributable to Treasurer, the Hon. Jim Chalmers MP:
“We’re delivering higher wages for hardworking aged care nurses throughout Australia.
“Aged care nurses do an incredible job and they deserve every dollar of this pay rise that we’re delivering.
“This investment recognises the big contribution that nurses in aged care make to our economy and community and will help to create a bigger incentive for young Australians looking for a rewarding career, to pick aged care in the future.
"Higher wages is one of the best ways to help people with the cost of living and that's what we're delivering for workers around the country."
Quotes attributable to Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, the Hon. Catherine King MP:
“This pay rise is an overdue recognition of the incredible work aged care nurses do every single day.
“The people looking after our parents and grandparents deserve to be paid fairly for the extraordinary work they do, and the Albanese Government is delivering that.
“This announcement means the aged care nurses in my electorate of Ballarat will see a well deserved pay increase of $8000 this year.”
Quotes attributable to Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, the Hon. Amanda Rishworth MP:
"Aged care nurses deserve more than our gratitude they deserve fair pay for the essential work they do.
"Under the Albanese Government, aged care nurses have received five wage increases because we believe these workers should be properly valued for the care they provide to older Australians.
“The Fair Work Commission recognised the historical gender‑based undervaluation of work in aged care, leading to significant wage increases that our government funded.”
"Helping Australians earn more and keep more of what they earn is at the heart of Labor's economic plan, and that's exactly what these wage increases deliver."
Quotes attributable to Minister for Aged Care and Seniors, the Hon. Sam Rae MP:
“We’re proud to have backed aged care nurses through five straight wage rises to ensure the payslip they take home reflects the incredible contribution they make keeping our loved ones safe and healthy.
"Better pay for nurses means better care for older Australians – our record boost to wages is making it easier for aged care homes to attract and retain nurses, ensuring older people can access higher-quality, more consistent care.
“After a decade of decay under the Coalition, aged care workers deserved better pay and in four short years Labor has delivered exactly that. This latest pay rise builds on our work to get wages moving and strengthen the sector for years to come.”