Australia final aged‑care nurse wage increase adds $36,000 annually as sector celebrates Employee Day

The Fair Work Commission’s aged‑care work‑value case has delivered a final wage increase that takes effect on 1 August. Registered nurses on the most common classification will earn about $36,000 more per year – roughly $700 extra each week – while enrolled nurses will see an increase of about $32,000 a year, or $600 a week. The Labor government says the total investment in aged‑care wages now approaches $18 billion and that turnover in the sector has fallen by 30 percent since the earlier pay rises.

On 7 August, Australia marks Aged Care Employee Day, the eighth annual celebration of the more than 450,000 workers in the aged‑care system. Ageing Australia encourages the public to thank staff and will announce the winners of the 2026 “You are ACE!” awards, recognising outstanding individuals, teams and organisations that improve the lives of older Australians.