The Albanese Labor Government Delivers Fourth Increase in Aged Care Wages

The Albanese Labor Government is today delivering a fourth increase in award wages to the dedicated workers who provide aged care services to older Australians.

This is good for workers, good for the economy, and will help with the cost of living.

Workers in aged care deliver the very best care for our loved ones, but their work has been undervalued for too long. Every worker in the sector should be able to have a long, fulfilling career supported by strong and sustainable wages growth.

Wage Increases

• Registered Nurse (Level 2, Pay Point 3 – most common level): + $60.20 per week
  → Total: $28,000 a year better off under the Albanese Government.

• Enrolled Nurse (Level 2 award): + $62.40 per week

• Personal Care Worker (Level 3 award): + $39.50 per week

We’ll increase aged care wages even further next year, with the next boost coming on 1 August for registered and enrolled nurses.

Government Investment

In recognition of the crucial role workers and nurses play in delivering safe and quality care, Labor’s total investment amounts to $17.7 billion to support the Fair Work Commission’s case to increase award wages for 400,000 workers in the aged care sector.

Our economic plan is designed to help Australians earn more and keep more of what they earn. That’s why we are acting to boost wages and close the gender pay gap.

When we came to office, annual real wages were going backwards. Now, they have grown for seven consecutive quarters.

More information is available on the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing website: Better and fairer wages for aged care workers.

Quotes

Treasurer, Jim Chalmers

• “Aged care workers do an incredible job and they deserve every dollar of this pay rise that we’re delivering.”

• “This investment recognises the big contribution that aged care workers 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.”

• “Under Labor, real wages are up, inflation is down, unemployment is low, living standards are growing and people are earning more and keeping more of what they earn.”

Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Amanda Rishworth

• “The Government put gender equality at the heart of the Fair Work Act, and we now see the Gender Pay Gap at its equal lowest level on record. Australian women are now earning more than $250 a week more, on average, than they were before we came to government.”

• “Reducing the gender pay gap was one of the key reasons the government funded the 15 per cent pay increase for aged care carers. The Fair Work Commission recognised the historical gender-based undervaluation of work in aged care, leading to significant wage increases that our government funded.”

Minister for Aged Care and Seniors, Sam Rae

• “Aged care workers deserve better pay and more recognition for the meaningful work they do. We’re proud to be funding the largest ever increase to award wages in a work value case for people who care for our loved ones with such compassion.”

• “After a decade of decay under the Coalition, aged care workers were systematically underpaid and undervalued. That ended with the Albanese Labor Government – and this latest pay rise builds on our work to close the gender pay gap and get wages moving.”