Australia boosts aged‑care nurses' pay with final $8,000 raise

The Australian federal government announced that enrolled nurses in aged‑care will receive an additional $8,000 per year from August 1, marking the final wage increase under the Fair Work Commission’s Aged Care Work Value Case. Acting Prime Minister Richard Marles and Aged‑Care Minister Sam Rae said the raise is intended to help attract and retain staff amid a chronic shortage.

Internal documents obtained by the AAP revealed the sector needs about 35,000 extra workers this financial year and an estimated 120,000 more staff by 2035‑36 to meet the needs of an aging population. The total investment in aged‑care wages now approaches $18 billion, with the government describing the move as a record boost to wages and a step toward higher‑quality care for older Australians.