As previously advised on 7 November, the Queensland Nurses and Midwives’ Union (QNMU), the Australian Nurses and Midwives’ Federation (ANMF) and other unions have secured a significant pay rise for aged care nurses and AINs/carers through our work value case.

The Award base wages of aged care nurses and AINs/carers will increase by 15%, with the possibility of further increases in Stage 3 of our case in the Fair Work Commission (FWC).

This 15% work value increase in Award wages is separate from the annual wage increases in all Awards (which was a 4.6% increase in July 2022).

Last Friday, the Commonwealth Government made a submission to the FWC about when they think the interim 15% Award wage increase should be paid to aged care workers.

The Commonwealth Government submitted to the FWC that the increase should be phased-in with:

• a 10% increase to Award wages for direct care workers from 1 July 2023, and
• the remaining 5% increase to Award wages for direct care workers from 1 July 2024.

The Commonwealth Government also proposed to fully fund aged care employers for the cost of those phased-in Award wage increases, including ‘on-costs’ (e.g. superannuation, payroll tax, workers’ compensation and allowances).

The FWC is independent of the government and is not bound to follow the Commonwealth Government’s submission. However, their submission is likely to be one of the more important submissions received by the FWC regarding operative dates for the Award wage increases.

By 20 January, the ANMF, other unions and employers are due to make submissions to the FWC about when the interim 15% Award wage increases should be paid.

If required, a final FWC hearing about the operative dates of the interim 15% Award wage increase will occur on Monday, 13 February and the FWC will make its decision about those operative dates shortly thereafter.
 
How much more could I be paid?

The table below sets out what the Award wage increase of 15% looks like.

Nurses Award 2020 Rates including 15% proposed increase
Classification, paypoint	Base hourly wage	From date/s to be decided	Difference
	As at 1/7/2022	15%
Nursing assistant, 1st year	$23.25	$26.74	$3.49
Nursing assistant, 2nd year	$23.61	$27.15	$3.54
Nursing assistant, 3rd year and thereafter	$23.99	$27.59	$3.60
Nursing assistant, experienced (the holder of a relevant Cert III qual)	$24.76	$28.47	$3.71
Student enrolled nurse - less than 21 years of age	$21.60	$24.84	$3.24
Student enrolled nurse - 21 years of age and over	$22.67	$26.07	$3.40
Enrolled nurse - pay point 1	$25.22	$29.00	$3.78
Enrolled nurse - pay point 2	$25.55	$29.38	$3.83
Enrolled nurse - pay point 3	$25.89	$29.77	$3.88
Enrolled nurse - pay point 4	$26.27	$30.21	$3.94
Enrolled nurse - pay point 5	$26.53	$30.51	$3.98
Registered nurse with a 4 year degree	$28.17	$32.40	$4.23
Registered nurse with a masters degree	$29.14	$33.51	$4.37
Registered nurse - level 1, pay point 1	$26.98	$31.03	$4.05
Registered nurse - level 1, pay point 2	$27.53	$31.66	$4.13
Registered nurse - level 1, pay point 3	$28.21	$32.44	$4.23
Registered nurse - level 1, pay point 4	$28.96	$33.30	$4.34
Registered nurse - level 1, pay point 5	$29.85	$34.33	$4.48
Registered nurse - level 1, pay point 6	$30.71	$35.32	$4.61
Registered nurse - level 1, pay point 7	$31.60	$36.34	$4.74
Registered nurse - level 1, pay point 8 and thereafter	$32.42	$37.28	$4.86
Registered nurse - level 2, pay point 1	$33.28	$38.27	$4.99
Registered nurse - level 2, pay point 2	$33.81	$38.88	$5.07
Registered nurse - level 2, pay point 3	$34.40	$39.56	$5.16
Registered nurse - level 2, pay point 4 and thereafter	$34.96	$40.20	$5.24
Registered nurse - level 3, pay point 1	$36.09	$41.50	$5.41
Registered nurse - level 3, pay point 2	$36.75	$42.26	$5.51
Registered nurse - level 3, pay point 3	$37.38	$42.99	$5.61
Registered nurse - level 3, pay point 4 and thereafter	$38.06	$43.77	$5.71
Registered nurse - level 4, grade 1	$41.19	$47.37	$6.18
Registered nurse - level 4, grade 2	$44.14	$50.76	$6.62
Registered nurse - level 4, grade 3	$46.71	$53.72	$7.01
Registered nurse - level 5, grade 1	$41.56	$47.79	$6.23
Registered nurse - level 5, grade 2	$43.77	$50.34	$6.57
Registered nurse - level 5, grade 3	$46.71	$53.72	$7.01
Registered nurse - level 5, grade 4	$49.63	$57.07	$7.44
Registered nurse - level 5, grade 5	$54.73	$62.94	$8.21
Registered nurse - level 5, grade 6	$59.89	$68.87	$8.98
Nurse practitioner, 1st year	$41.53	$47.76	$6.23
Nurse practitioner, 2nd year	$42.76	$49.17	$6.41
Occupational health nurse - level 1, pay point 1	$28.96	$33.30	$4.34
Occupational health nurse - level 1, pay point 2	$29.85	$34.33	$4.48
Occupational health nurse - level 1, pay point 3	$30.71	$35.32	$4.61
Occupational health nurse - level 1, pay point 4	$31.60	$36.34	$4.74
Occupational health nurse - level 1, pay point 5	$32.42	$37.28	$4.86
Occupational health nurse - level 2, pay point 1	$33.28	$38.27	$4.99
Occupational health nurse - level 2, pay point 2	$33.81	$38.88	$5.07
Occupational health nurse - level 2, pay point 3	$34.40	$39.56	$5.16
Occupational health nurse - level 2, pay point 4	$34.96	$40.20	$5.24
Senior occupational health clinical nurse	$34.96	$40.20	$5.24
Occupational health nurse - level 3, pay point 1	$36.09	$41.50	$5.41
Occupational health nurse - level 3, pay point 2	$36.75	$42.26	$5.51
Occupational health nurse - level 3, pay point 3	$37.38	$42.99	$5.61
Occupational health nurse - level 3, pay point 4 and thereafter	$38.06	$43.77	$5.71

 

You can view all current award rates here.
 
Note: If you are an EN or RN, you need to know your Award pay point within your Award classification in order to work out what your new award base wage rate will be (and therefore determine if your pay has slipped below the award rate). Your Award pay point number may be different from your current pay point number.

If in doubt, or you believe you are not being paid at the correct pay point, speak to your line manager in the first instance, then contact the QNMU if you cannot resolve it.