1. Aged Care Workers & Support Staff
From 1 January 2025, award wages for personal care, nursing assistants, lifestyle/activity coordinators, cleaners, kitchen, and maintenance staff increased by 2.3%–13.5%, depending on role and classification. A further increase applies October 1, 2025 for select positions coact.org.auanmj.org.au.
The Aged Care Award (MA000018) also includes a 3% general wage rise for award-covered roles from 1 January 2025 fairwork.gov.au.
PayScale reports the average hourly wage for aged care support workers at A$26.80 (2025) payscale.com.
2. Enrolled & Registered Nurses in Aged Care
Effective 1 March 2025, aged care nurses under the Nurses Award (MA000034) will see simplified classification levels and increased minimum rates across all levels — as part of Fair Work’s "work value" decisions health.gov.aufairwork.gov.aufwc.gov.au.
There are also scheduled pay updates on 1 October 2025 and 1 August 2026, following staged implementation anmj.org.auhellocare.com.au.
3. Broader Healthcare Nursing (Non-Aged Care)
Across Australia’s public, private, and non-profit sectors, Registered Nurse (RN) and Nurse Practitioner (NP) weekly rates vary by jurisdiction. Per data from March 2025:
Entry-level RNs earn around A$1,383–1,546/week (A$36–41/hr)
Experienced RNs reach A$1,926–2,704/week (A$51–71/hr)
Nurse Practitioners can command A$2,020–2,888/week (A$53–76/hr) – state-dependent medicaljobsaustralia.com.
1 January 2025
— Key increases for aged care support roles began, backed by the sector’s funding model health.gov.aufairwork.gov.au.
1 March 2025
— Major award changes for aged care nurses kick in: classification revisions and base wage bumps health.gov.aufwc.gov.auhellocare.com.au.
1 October 2025 & 1 August 2026
— Future increments for nurses, phased in as planned anmj.org.auhellocare.com.au.
| Role | Hourly Rate (A$) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Aged Care Support Worker | ~$26.80 | Award + inflation adjustments payscale.com |
| Personal/Home Care Worker | $32.14 | Up ~30% since 2022 unitedworkers.org.au |
| Enrolled Nurse (Aged Care) | $35–46 | Entry to experienced pay medicaljobsaustralia.comhealth.gov.au |
| Registered Nurse (Aged Care) | $46–63 | Depends on level and experience medicaljobsaustralia.comhealth.gov.au |
| Registered Nurse (General) | $36–71 | Public/private/non-profit variance medicaljobsaustralia.com |
| Nurse Practitioner | $53–82/hr (or more) | Advanced roles earn top rates medicaljobsaustralia.com |
Budget forecasts should align with award updates on Jan 1 & Mar 1, 2025, plus future phases.
Compare aged-care and general-care nurse rates — the latter often pays higher in public sectors.
Staged pay rises give providers time to adjust finances—especially with government funding support built in health.gov.auhealth.gov.au.
FY 2025/26 isn’t just about inflation — it’s a period of structured, multi-stage wage reform across healthcare, especially aged care. Knowing when and how much ensures your workforce stays engaged and your budgets stay balanced.
Need help benchmarking your staffing costs or budgeting across roster changes? E4 People can guide you through the awards, classifications, and timing — ensuring your team remains compliantly compensated and supported.