The Malinauskas Labor Government is offering the state’s nurses and midwives their largest pay increase in 15 years, in a new offer presented to the nurses’ union.
The new offer includes an 11.14 per cent pay rise over three years, compounded, with 4% backdated to 1 January 2026, 3.5% from 1 January 2027 and 3.25% from 1 January 2028.
An 11.14 per cent increase will deliver a wage rise of between $320 to $436 per fortnight (gross) by 2028 for full-time nurses at the RN1 classification who make up nearly half of the state’s nursing and midwifery workforce.
The offer presented to the Australian Nursing & Midwifery Federation (ANMF) is the fourth offer made by the Government in the negotiations and also includes:
- A $3,000 regional service incentive on completion of every three years of post-incentive service, with the first payment after 8 years’ service in an eligible location.
- Introduction of a lead aprons allowance for each shift a nurse is required to wear this equipment.
- A commitment to further negotiations to improve on-call and recall allowances and rates.
- Enhancing flexible working arrangements, particularly for those employees returning from parental leave.
- Supporting career development including clarification of training period for qualification allowance for Enrolled Nurses, consistent statewide reclassification process for Enrolled and Registered Nurses and Midwives.
The Government will also commit to review the merits of including all babies as patients for the purpose of ratios under the new laws for safer patient ratios.
In recent months the Government has successfully negotiated enterprise agreements with:
- Doctors
- Ambulance officers
- Firefighters
- Allied health workers
- Aged care, disability services, early childhood educators, hospital orderlies and sterilisation technicians
- And has recently reached in-principle agreement with the Public Service Association
This latest enterprise agreement offer is also in addition to the significant investments and commitments the Malinauskas Government has already made in the public health system, including hiring an extra 1,462 nurses and midwives above attrition – more than four times the Government’s 2022 election commitment to recruit 300 extra nurses – and building more than 600 extra hospital beds.
Quotes
Attributable to Peter Malinauskas
Every day across our public health system, nurses and midwives do an incredible job of looking after South Australians in need.
We value their hard work and dedication and that’s why we’re putting forward a new pay offer that would deliver their largest wage rise in 15 years.
We’ve also significantly boosted the workforce, recruiting more than 1,400 extra nurses above attrition since we were elected four years ago.
Attributable to Kyam Maher
Nurses and midwives work hard to look after South Australians and they deserve a fair pay rise.
This latest offer would deliver an 11.14 per cent wage increase over three years, compounded - the highest wage increase in a nurses and midwives enterprise agreement in 15 years - and shows the Government is committed to supporting our health workers who care for the South Australian community.
The Government is committed to bargaining in good faith to reach a new enterprise agreement for public sector nurses and midwives that delivers wage rises and responsible budgetary management to ensure the ongoing delivery of vital public health services.
Attributable to Chris Picton
Our dedicated nurses and midwives do an amazing job caring for South Australians across our public health system.
We recognise their commitment and are offering them their biggest pay increase in 15 years.
Since being elected, we’ve also recruited more than 1,400 extra nurses above attrition to expand the workforce.
Plus, we have legislated staffing ratios across South Australian public hospitals, in a major win for patients, nurses and midwives.
