Aged care workers are set to receive a major pay boost in the upcoming federal budget, with salary increases of up to $10,000 per year to cover rising living costs.
The $11.3 billion package announced by Aged Care Minister Anika Wells will benefit 250,000 workers including registered nurses, enrolled nurses, assistant in nursing, aged care workers, home care workers, recreational activity officers and head chefs.
From January 1, 2021, workers will receive an extra $7000 per year and registered nurses will be paid an additional $10,000 a year. Treasurer Jim Chalmers said this funding is the pay rise aged care workers “need and deserve”. He said the care economy, including aged care, is going to become a “bigger and bigger” part of the economy in the future. Wells said the pay increase for aged care workers is the largest since the Federation of Australia, and employers will be legally obliged to pay 15 per cent above the award for workers. The package also covers funding for leave liabilities and superannuation. The pay boost will bring 10,000 more workers to the aged care sector.
Registered nurses on a level 2.3 award wage will receive an extra $196 a week, which equates to more than $10,000 a year. Enrolled nurses on a level two award wage will be paid an extra $145 a week, adding up to more than $7500 a year. A level three assistant in nursing will receive an additional $136 a week, amounting to more than $7100 a year. A level 4 aged care worker or level 3.1 home care worker will get an extra $141 a week, equating to more than $7300 a year. A recreational activity officer on a level 3 aged care award will be paid an extra $139 a week, adding up to more than $7200 a year. A head chef on a level 4 aged care award will receive an additional $141 a week, totalling more than $7300 a year.
Finally, a staff member at an aged care facility with a Certificate III will receive an extra $1082 a week.
