- One-off cost of living payment delivered to public sector nurses and midwives today
- More than 18,500 nurses and midwives receive fast-tracked payment of up to $3,000
- Wage increases ranging from 3 per cent to 4.5 per cent with back payment to come
- Recognises valuable work of public sector nurses and midwives
Public sector nurses and midwives have today received the cost of living payment, as part of the State Government's wages policy and decision to fast-track wage increases and deliver improved conditions.
The $3,000 one-off cost of living payment (on a pro-rata basis for part-time and casual employees) has been paid to more than 18,500 nurses and midwives, with wage increases ranging from 3 per cent to 4.5 per cent and wages increases backdated to 12 October 2022 to come, in addition to a 0.5 per cent per annum increase in superannuation for two years.
The McGowan Government last month moved to grant workers the increase in pay - in accordance with the State Wages Policy - while negotiations to resolve the industrial agreement continue.
Work is also underway on the delivery of historic reforms to deliver nurse and midwife-to-patient ratios, after extensive consultation with the Australian Nursing Federation (ANF).
The pay increase is in line with the State Wages Policy, which has been accepted by 112,000 other public sector employees and equates to three quarters of the sector.
The State Government remains committed to industrial agreement negotiations with the assistance of the WA Industrial Relations Commission. The administrative pay rise will form part of the final agreement to the nursing union.
As stated by Premier Mark McGowan:
"Our State Wages Policy delivers important cost of living relief by boosting the pay of nurses and midwives with the delivery of this $3,000 one-off payment.
"WA's nurses and midwives will also receive a base salary increase of between 3 per cent to 4.5 per cent, under our offer, which is more generous than New South Wales, Victoria, the Northern Territory, and the Commonwealth.
"Nurses and midwives are vital to our public health system and we thank them for their continued efforts for the patients of Western Australia."
As stated by Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson:
"January often brings larger than usual credit card bills after the festive period so the delivery of the cost of living payment to our nurses and midwives couldn't come at a better time.
"We are working to finalise an agreement with the nurses union but did not want our hardworking nurses and midwives to have to wait for their pay increase while bargaining continues.
"Importantly, we are also progressing the implementation of nurse-to-patient ratios which are an historic reform and have been on the Australian Nursing Federation's log of claims for 25 years."
