The Work value case – Nurses and midwives review is ongoing and may result in further changes to the content in this article.

Since 30 June 2023, separate classifications and minimum pay rates have applied under the Nurses Award for:

• aged care employees
• other than aged care employees.

Under the Nurses Award, aged care employees provide services for aged persons in:

• hostels
• nursing homes
• aged care independent living units
• aged care serviced apartments
• garden settlements
• retirement villages
• any other residential accommodation facility, or
• private residences.

In addition, from 1 January 2025 Nursing Assistants working in aged care are now covered by the Aged Care Award or the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Award.

Please see Aged Care Work Value Case: Changes to awards for more details.

From 1 March 2025

Enrolled and Registered Nurses in aged care moved to a new pay structure with new minimum pay rates from the first full pay period on or after 1 March 2025 (ppc 1 March 2025).

Minimum pay rates under the new pay structure also increased from ppc 1 October 2025. A further increase will apply from 1 August 2026.

These increases are in addition to any increase that may occur from the Annual Wage Review.

Please see Changes to minimum pay rates in the Nurses Award for more details.

Award coverage, classification pay points and minimum pay rates have not changed for:

• other than aged care employees
• student enrolled nurses in aged care
• nurse practitioners in aged care.

Existing employees

Enrolled and registered nurses in aged care who were employed on 28 February 2025 move to the new structure in line with the tables in Schedule F—Classification Translation Arrangements.

Enrolled nurses

Enrolled nurses in aged care move to the new classification in line with table F.1:

Please note, all enrolled nurses in aged care move to the new classification whether they are currently supervising other staff or not.

Registered nurses

Registered nurses in aged care move to the new structure in line with table F.2:

*Employees moving to a translated classification with a lower pay rate are paid their February 2025 minimum pay rate until the minimum rate for the translated classification becomes higher.

New employees

Enrolled and registered nurses in aged care who start work or change jobs from ppc 1 March 2025 are classified using the classification descriptions in Schedule A of the award.

When deciding on the correct pay rate for a new employee, all their experience at a particular level is counted.

Example

Pat qualified as a registered nurse in early 2023. She started her first job as a Registered nurse—level 1 in April 2023 with Nursing Home A. She works there until June 2025, about 2 years and 2 months.

Pat gets a new job as a Registered nurse—level 1 with Nursing Home B in August 2025.

All of Pat’s experience as a Registered nurse—level 1 counts when determining her minimum pay rate.

This means that Nursing Home B pays her as a Registered nurse—level 1 In excess of 1 year and up to 4 years of employment classified at this level.