Better and fairer wages for aged care workers

Aged care workers are fundamental to delivering the care all Australians expect for older people. An award wage rise recognises the value of aged care workers and the complex work they do.

Workers to benefit

We are supporting the Fair Work Commission’s decisions on the Aged Care Work Value Case.

The Fair Work Commission has made its final decision, and the Aged Care Work Value Case is now completed.

As a result of the Fair Work Commission’s decisions under this Case, approximately 400,000 aged care workers have benefited from increases to their award wages.

Under its most recent decisions:

  • Registered and enrolled nurses working in aged care will receive award wage increases from 1 March 2025, with further increases on 1 October 2025 and 1 August 2026.
  • These award wage increases apply to registered and enrolled nurses in aged care on the Nurses Award 2020.
  • Many aged care workers received award wage increases from 1 January 2025, with some of these workers to receive their increase in 2 phases, with the second increase occurring on 1 October 2025.
  • These award wage increases apply to:
    • assistants in nursing
    • personal care workers
    • home care workers
    • recreational activities officers (lifestyle workers)
    • ancillary staff – such as administration staff, drivers, maintenance staff, gardeners, laundry hands, cleaners and food services assistants.
  • These award wage increases apply to workers on the:
    • Aged Care Award 2010
    • Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award 2010 (SCHADS Award).

These increases build on the 15% award wage increase provided in 2023 to:

  • registered nurses
  • enrolled nurses
  • assistants in nursing
  • personal care workers and home care workers
  • head chefs and cooks
  • recreational activities officers (lifestyle workers).

For advice and assistance on the awards and enterprise agreements, workers may contact the Fair Work Ombudsman either by calling 13 13 94 between 8am – 5:30pm Monday to Friday (AEST), or by sending an online enquiry. Information on the award rates, including pay guides and a pay and conditions tool, can be found on the Fair Work Ombudsman’s website.

We are supporting the award wage increases, including on-costs and the increased cost of historical leave liabilities.

Funding

Aged care providers will receive additional funding through existing funding arrangements and new grant opportunities.

Privately funded facilities – such as independent living and retirement villages not funded by the Australian Government – will not be eligible to receive funding to meet the Fair Work Commission's decisions on award wage increase.

Learn more about the funding arrangements for the award wage rise for:

Apply  for Aged Care Wages – Stage 3 Historical Leave Liabilities (Tranche 1) Grant Opportunity

This grant will help aged care providers cover some of the increased value of historical leave liabilities for workers affected by the Fair Work Commission’s Stage 3 decision in the Aged Care Work Value Case.

The grant will help supplement 1 January 2025 award wage increases to leave entitlements with:

  • 25% for approved residential aged care providers
  • 50% for Home Care Packages, Commonwealth Home Support Programme, Transition Care Programme, Short-Term Restorative Care Programme and the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Flexible Aged Care providers.

Multi-Purpose Services providers will receive their leave liabilities funding through existing funding agreements and are not eligible for this grant.

Providers will need to apply online via GrantConnect before 2pm (AEDT) 6 March 2025.

If you have further questions, email Grant.ATM@health.gov.au and quote GO7428.

Details on a further Historical Leave Liabilities grant opportunity related to the registered and enrolled nurses award wage increases commencing on 1 March 2025 will be provided in the near future.

Aged care nurses wages guidance

A guidance document is available to support aged care workers, union representatives and providers as funding arrangements for the 1 March 2025 registered and enrolled nurse award wage increases of the Aged Care Work Value Case roll out. 

Providers of residential aged care and Home Care Packages can still access the guidance documents to help them understand the additional funding for the Stage 2 and Stage 3 decisions.

Provider reporting

Aged care wages attestation report Q1 to Q4 2023–24

A summary of providers’ attestations that they have passed on additional Australian Government funding in support of the Fair Work Commission’s decision to increase minimum award wages for many aged care workers and associated on-costs.

Resources

Contact

Aged care award wage rise contact

Contact us for enquiries about the aged care award wage rise for workers.
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