Here’s the latest on NSW nurses’ pay rise based on recent reports.
- NSW nurses and midwives have been awarded a pay rise package following a ruling by the NSW Industrial Relations Commission. The deal includes a one-off reset of about 10% in the first year (backdated to July 1, 2025) and then 3% increases in the next two years, with added increases for enrolled nurses and assistants in nursing (up to around 22% initially for assistants in nursing and 16% overall for many registered nurses/midwives over three years).[2][3][4]
- The package totals up to 16% for registered nurses and midwives across three years, with enrolled nurses receiving around 18% and assistants in nursing receiving the largest uplift in the first year, contributing to an overall up to 28% package in some formulations as negotiations evolved.[3][4][2]
- The timing and scope of the increases are tied to the industrial court’s recognition that nursing work has been undervalued and to backdating considerations, with the deal set to influence public sector wages in the state ahead of political events such as the upcoming state election.[4][7][2]
Notes and context
- Estimates of the precise final percentages can vary slightly by role and the exact backdated period, but the core elements are the 10% one-off reset in the first year, followed by 3% per year for the next two years, plus additional adjustments for different nurse classifications.[2][4]
- This development marks a significant shift after years of wage disputes and aligns with broader discussions about valuing predominantly female health-care work.[2]
Would you like a quick, side-by-side summary table of the main pay components by role and the effective dates, or a brief explainer of what a “one-off reset” entails for each classification? I can also provide links to the primary announcements if you want to read the official statements.[3][4][2]