NT nurses, midwives break pay rise stalemate

After the controversial wage freeze and 15 months of negotiations, Territory nurses and midwives have finally agreed to a new pay offer. Here’s what they’ll get.

Territory nurses and midwives will get a 3 per cent pay rise per year until 2026, as well as some bonus and attraction incentives. Picture: Glenn Campbell

Nurses and midwives have finally broken their pay rise stalemate with the bulk of union members agreeing to a new deal.

It includes a 3 per cent annual pay increase until 2026, as well as attraction and incentive allowances for all Territory nurses, up to $9000.

The enterprise agreement marks the first pay rise post the controversial wage freeze policy and the end of 15 months’ of negotiations.

Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation NT branch secretary Cath Hatcher said 87 per cent of members voted in favour of the offer.

“To begin with a wage freeze and absolutely nothing on the table to, in the end, a 3 per cent base increase plus shift penalty increases, attractive and incentive allowances, it is much better overall,” she said.

Australian Nurses and Midwifery Federation NT branch secretary Cath Hatcher said the new EBA was a good deal that put the Territory as the second-highest paid jurisdiction for nurses and midwives. Picture: Floss Adams

“It is a good agreement – we sit just behind Queensland who will be first.”

Ms Hatcher said it was crucial the Territory was within the three highest-paid jurisdictions to be able to attract nurses from interstate.

The EBA covers 2022 to 2026, meaning nurses and midwives will also be back paid.

It comes as nine nurses move through a new two-year program that aims to upskill staff in primary health and remote environments.

Touted as the first of its kind in Australia, registered nurses with a minimum of one year of experience undertake placements in a range of primary healthcare settings such as prisons, allied health, aged care and the Centre for Disease Control.

During the paid program’s final stages, nurses live and work in remote communities.

Chief Minister Natasha Fyles said the paid two-year position allows nurses to gain a graduate qualification with Flinders University, at no cost to the participant.

“The Territory is home to amazing training opportunities and we want to facilitate learning while also growing our nursing workforce,” she said.

“Hopefully in the long run we will see more nurses in remote communities.”