Aged Care Updates – Statewide

Fair Work Commission award 15% pay increase to Nurses, Extended Care Assistants (ECAs) and Home Carers

The recent Aged Care campaign run by the ANMF has resulted in a significant pay increase for aged care nurses and care workers. The Fair Work Commission has announced a 15% increase to the Award rate (Nurses Award and also the Aged Care Award (which covers care staff). The Award rate is the minimum an employee can be paid. The Federal Government has agreed to fund the increase. Look out for further announcements about when the increase will be implemented. If you are on an Enterprise Agreement (EA) and your rates of pay are higher than the Award Rate, then your pay may not be impacted by this decision.

Aged Care Registered Nurse Retention Payments

The ANMF released a newsflash on Tuesday 1 November 2022 with detail of these payments. Unfortunately, they apply only to Registered Nurses (RNs), and are required to be requested by your facility manager, in the same way the recent COVID-19 payments were. They are payable to RNs who have worked for the same aged care employer between 31 October 2021 and 31 October 2022, but also for a 6-month period a half payment is due. In addition, there is an extra payment to those RNs in leadership roles, in rural areas, and with Post Graduate qualifications. Click here for further details. Also, be sure to get your manager to apply for the funds as directed in the Departments’ information page.

Changes to Leadership at Southern Cross Care Tasmania (SCCT)

The ANMF still encourage members to feedback issues related to absence or instability of leadership across SCCT sites. Use internal SCCT reporting systems, and escalate to next level management if you can, to highlight the impact on your workload and morale. Notify the ANMF if you are unable to get a response from your internal systems, and managers.

Updates correct as at 9 November 2022.
Authorised by Emily Shepherd, ANMF Tasmanian Branch Secretary