Workers who will win $10,000 a year pay rise in budget revealed
The government has revealed 250,000 Australian workers will secure a big pay rise in the budget. Here’s who will be getting the biggest salary bump.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers has revealed the frontline workers who will secure a big pay rise in the budget to help with cost of living pressures and improve equal pay for women.
Some frontline workers will secure a pay rise of $10,000 a year under the big changes, a huge boost for workers facing cost of living pressures.
It’s all part of the biggest ever pay rise for aged care workers that will deliver pay rises to 250,000 people working on the frontline to care for older Australians.
The winners include nurses who could secure up to $200 extra a week, enrolled nurses, assistants in nursing, personal care workers, head chefs and cooks, recreational activities officers (lifestyle workers) and home care workers who will all secure a historic increases to their award wages.
Under the changes the following workers will secure a big pay rise for working in aged care:
• A registered nurse on a level 2.3 award wage will be paid an additional $196.08 a week (more than $10,000 a year)
• An enrolled nurse on a level 2 award wage will be paid an additional $145.54 a week (more than $7500 a year)
• An assistant in nursing on a level 3 award wage will be paid an additional $136.68 a week (more than $7100 a year)
• A personal care worker on a level 4 (aged care award) or a home care worker on a level 3.1 (SCHADS award) will be paid an additional $141.10 a week (more than $7300 a year)
• A recreational activity officer on a level 3 (aged care award) will be paid an additional $139.54 a week (more than $7200 a year)
• A head chef/cook on a level 4 (aged care award) will be paid an additional $141.12 a week (more than $7300 a year)
• A staff member with a Certificate III qualification moves from earning only $940 per week to $1,082
Investment to lure workers
Treasurer Jim Chalmers said it was hoped the investment would help the industry retain staff and attract new employees to the sector.
“Every worker deserves a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work and that’s what this will deliver for thousands in aged care across the country,’’ he said.
“For too long, those working in aged care have been asked to work harder for longer without enough reward but with this Budget, that changes.
“This investment recognises the incredible contribution that aged care workers make to our economy and community and will help to create a bigger incentive for young Australians looking for a rewarding career to pick aged care in the future.”
Minister for Aged Care, Anika Wells said the big pay rises reflected the fact that aged care was physically and emotionally demanding work.
The 15 per cent pay rise means that a staff member with a Certificate III qualification moves from earning only $940 per week to $1,082.
“This record $11.3 billion investment is a historic and deserved pay rise for a workforce undervalued for far too long,’’ she said.
“Fair wages play a major role in attracting and retaining workers to provide around the clock care for some of Australia’s most vulnerable people.
Health and Aged Care, Mark Butler said the pay rise would make history.
The wage decision is designed will help more women and families to make ends meet, and ensure that quality aged care workers are less likely to contemplate leaving the sector because of pay concerns.
“Our commitment is long overdue recognition of the skilled work our aged care workers deliver day in, day out,’’ he said.
“The Albanese Government will fund these fairer wages and the on-costs, to see the value of our aged care workforce reflected in the pay packets of more than 250,000 workers.”
Other winners in the budget are expected to include older Australians who are looking for work who will receive increased payments if they are over 60 but not yet eligible for the aged pension.
The Albanese Government are also expected to boost payments for single parents after former Prime Minister Julia Gillard introduced changes to force parents - mostly women - to return to work earlier.
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