Aged Care Work Value Case: Changes to awards - Fair Work Ombudsman

Aged Care Work Value Case: Changes to awards - Fair Work Ombudsman Skip to main content Close Go to home page Fair Work Ombudsman Translate this website. Default language is English Login Register My account Home Enquiries Bookmarks Resources Log out Open search box Accessibility Copyright Disclaimer Privacy Subscribe to email updates Visit Fair Work on YouTube Visit Fair Work on X Visit Fair Work on Facebook Visit Fair Work on Instagram Visit Fair Work on LinkedIn Close Go to home page Fair Work Ombudsman Translate this website. Default language is English Login Register My account Home Enquiries Bookmarks Resources Log out Open search box Automatic translation Our automatic translation service can be used on most of our pages and is powered by Microsoft Translator. 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Default language is English Login Register My account Home Enquiries Bookmarks Resources Log out Aged Care Work Value Case: Changes to awards Published 3 October 2024 | Updated 1 October 2025 Learn more about the changes to classifications and minimum pay rates for some employees in the aged care sector. On this page: Background to the changes Employees in the Aged Care Award Pay rate increases Additional pay rate increase New streams for home care employees in the SCHADS Award Award coverage for nursing assistants in aged care More information Keep up to date Related information Background to the changes The Fair Work Commission (the Commission) has made changes to several awards as part of its Aged Care Work Value Case . Most changes took effect from the first full pay period starting on or after 1 January 2025. Additional pay rate increases took effect from the first full pay period starting on or after 1 October 2025. The changes affect the following awards: Aged Care Award Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Award (SCHADS Award) Nurses Award. Read on for a summary of the changes. Changes to minimum pay rates in the Nurses Award As part of the Aged Care Work Value Case, there have also been changes to classifications and minimum pay rates in the Nurses Award. You can access an updated pay guide for the 1 August 2026 wage increase at Changes to minimum pay rates in the Nurses Award . Employees in the Aged Care Award The Commission has updated the Aged Care Award to: add a definition of ‘direct care’ employee to clarify their role in the aged care sector add a new classification structure for direct care workers. The classification schedule has also been updated to reflect the indicative duties and qualifications for general and direct care employees. Nursing assistants working in residential care settings in the aged care industry and who were covered by the Nurses Award prior to 1 January 2025 are covered by the Aged Care Award from 1 January 2025. The schedule contains tables to help identify an employee’s new classification. This includes the reclassification of direct care employees covered by the Aged Care Award and nursing assistants from the Nurses Award. The changes in this section came into effect on 1 January 2025. For more information, read the Aged Care Award final determination . Pay rate increases From 1 January 2025, minimum pay rates increased for eligible employees working in the aged care sector. An additional pay rate increase took effect for some employees from 1 October 2025. The increase an employee gets depends on the award that covers them and their classification. The initial increase applied to: direct care workers covered by the Aged Care Award, including nursing assistants who were previously covered by the Nurses Award general care workers covered by the Aged Care Award aged care employees covered by the SCHADS Award, including nursing assistants who were covered by the Nurses Award. When the increases apply All eligible workers received an increase to their minimum pay rate from the first full pay period starting on or after 1 January 2025. The full amount of the increase and when it starts could be different. Some employees received second increase on 1 October 2025. From 1 January 2025, general workers covered by the Aged Care Award received a 3% increase to their minimum pay rate. For direct care employees, how the increases to their minimum pay rate is applied depends on the size of the increase. These employees include: direct care workers in the Aged Care Award, including nursing assistants previously covered by the Nurses Award home care employees – Aged care in the SCHADS Award, including nursing assistants previously covered by the Nurses Award. You can find the minimum rates from 1 January 2025 for each classification and more in the: Aged Care Award final determination Social and Community, Home Care and Disability Services Award final determination . Use our Pay and Conditions Tool now to calculate the pay rates that apply from 1 January 2025. Additional pay rate increase Some employees received an additional increase to their minimum pay rate from the first full pay period starting on or after 1 October 2025. These employees include: direct care workers in the Aged Care Award, including nursing assistants previously covered by the Nurses Award home care employees – Aged care in the SCHADS Award, including nursing assistants previously covered by the Nurses Award Enrolled and Registered Nurses working in Aged Care who are covered by the Nurses Award. Our Pay and Conditions Tool and Pay guides have been updated with the new rates. Some employees received their full increase from 1 January 2025. These employees don’t receive an additional increase as part of these changes. New streams for home care employees in the SCHADS Award From 1 January 2025, home care worker classifications are split into two streams in the SCHADS Award. A new classification schedule has been added to the Aged Care Award. The schedule contains tables to help identify an employee’s new classification. This includes the reclassification of direct care employees covered by the Aged Care Award and nursing assistants from the Nurses Award. A new classification translation schedule has also been added to the SCHADS Award. The schedule contains tables to help identify an employee’s new classification. This includes the reclassification of home care employees covered by the SCHADS Award and nursing assistants from the Nurses Award. The existing home care stream has been renamed Home Care Employees – Disability Care. It covers home care workers performing work for clients in disability care. For more information, read the Social and Community, Home Care and Disability Services Award final determination . Award coverage for nursing assistants in aged care From 1 January 2025, nursing assistants that were covered by the Nurses Award prior to 1 January 2025 who perform aged care work in the aged care sector are covered by either: the Aged Care Award, or the SCHADS Award. Which award covers these employees depends on their employer’s industry and the nature of the work performed. Both awards preserve the more generous annual leave entitlement in the Nurses Award for employees that were covered by the Nurses Award on 31 December 2024. For more information, read the Nurses Award final determination . More information Our Pay and Conditions Tool has been updated with the new rates. You can visit the Commission’s website at Decisions, statements and determinations for the Work value case . Keep up to date To stay up to date and be notified when our information is updated, subscribe to our email updates . It only takes a few moments to sign up and will help you stay in the loop. You can also follow us on social media for other announcements and reminders. Related information Changes to minimum pay rates in the Nurses Award Understanding the Aged Care Award Understanding the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Award Tags Aged care Nurses Social, community, disability and home care services The Fair Work Ombudsman acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their continuing connection to land, waters, skies and communities. We pay our respects to them, their Cultures, and Elders past and present. Did you find what you were looking for? Yes No Thank you for your feedback. If you would like to tell us more about the information you’ve found today you can complete our feedback form . Please note that comments aren't monitored for personal information or workplace complaints. If you have a question or concern about your job, entitlements or obligations, please Contact us . Bookmark to My account Register to save these settings for next time Why register? Get priority support! 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Printed from fairwork.gov.au Content last updated: 2026-07-27 © Copyright Fair Work Ombudsman