From 1 January 2025, there will be an increase to the minimum wages and changes to the classification structure for many aged care workers. The changes affect the following awards:
- Aged Care Award 2010
- Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award 2010
- Nurses Award 2020
The changes are the result of the end of the Work value case – Aged care industry major case.
Increases to minimum wages
In the Stage 3 decision of the Work value case – Aged care industry, an Expert Panel for pay equity in the Care and Community Sector determined that minimum wage increases will apply to:
- All workers covered by the Aged Care Award 2010, except Head chefs/cooks
- Home care workers providing services to an aged person covered by the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award 2010
The increases will take effect from the first full pay period starting on or after 1 January 2025. The amount of the increase varies according to an employee’s award and classification. A further increase will apply for some direct care workers from the first full pay period starting on or after 1 October 2025.
Coverage changes – Nursing assistants
From 1 January 2025, nursing assistants who provide care services to aged persons in either the aged care industry or the home care sector under the Nurses Award 2020 will have their award changed to either the Aged Care Award 2010 or the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award 2010. These employees will also receive an increase to their minimum wages.
New employee classification structure – Direct care workers
From 1 January 2025, direct care workers in the Aged Care Award 2010 and Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award 2010, as well as nursing assistants whose coverage has changed to these awards, will have a new, separate 6-level classification structure setting out the qualifications and experience defined at each level.
| Date | Award changes summary |
|---|---|
| From 1 Jan 2025 | Aged Care Award 2010
Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award 2010
Nurses Award 2020
|
| From 1 Oct 2025 | Aged Care Award 2010
Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award 2010
|
Aged care nurses under the Nurses Award 2020
These changes do not affect enrolled nurses or registered nurses working in aged care under the Nurses Award 2020. Changes to the Nurses Award 2020 for these workers, including new classification structures and minimum wage increases, have been considered in the Work value case – Nurses & Midwives major case.
On 6 December 2024, the Expert Panel issued a decision [2024] FWCFB 452 that these changes would take effect from 1 March 2025. Further information will be announced when these changes have been finalised.
Updated awards
We aim to publish updated awards on 30 December 2024.
Further information
The Fair Work Ombudsman has more information on the changes to aged care awards and how they may affect you: visit Aged Care Work Value Case: Changes to awards.
Read:
- Aged Care Work Value Case: Changes to awards - Fair Work Ombudsman
- The decision summary of the Stage 3 decision
- The Stage 3 decision [2024] FWCFB 150
- 27 June 2024 decision [2024] FWCFB 298
- 11 September 2024 decision [2024] FWCFB 367
- Decisions, statements and determinations for the Work value case - Aged care industry