Thanks to a case run by unions in the Fair Work Commission (FWC), Award wages in aged care will increase by 15% from 30 June 2023.

This 15% increase in Award wages is separate from the annual wage increases won by Australian Unions in all Awards. The FWC will determine the annual award wage increase in late May or June 2023 and that increase is likely to be payable from early July 2023.

The table below sets out what the 15% wage increase looks like for the Nurses Award 2020 - and the rate you must be paid no less than from 30 June 2023.

Nurses Award 2020 - minimum hourly base wage rates in aged care including 15% work value increase
Classification, paypoint	Base hourly wage (as at 1 July 2022)	Base hourly wage from 30 June 2023 with 15% increase	Difference
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) and Personal Care Worker with a Cert III [grade 3 (ACE - level 4) of Aged Care Award]	$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

 

You can view all current award rates here.
 
Note: If you are an EN or RN who is paid above the Award rate, 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.