On 20 December 2024 the Fair Work Commission (FWC) published its final determination in the work value case for nurses working in residential and home care aged care.

This is great news for all ENs and RNs working in aged care, as the Determination marks the final outcome of the aged care work value case commenced by the ANMF in 2021.

The ANMF applied to vary the Nurses Award to increase minimum award wages for nurses working in aged care, on the basis that the work had never been properly valued due to gender-based undervaluation and that the work has increased in complexity and skill over the last decades.

The FWC agreed that award wages were too low. In July 2023, the FWC granted a 15% interim increase to minimum rates. This increase was passed on to all aged care nurses, through an increase in Commonwealth funding to providers to pay higher wages.

The FWC acknowledged that further increases were warranted and scheduled additional hearings throughout last year. The ANMF provided evidence and submissions in response, arguing that the total increase should be in excess of 30% for all classification levels. The FWC also sought submissions on the Nurses Award classification structure. The ANMF argued that no changes to the classification structure were necessary, however, the FWC determined that it was appropriate to make some changes.

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