Nurses and midwives in New South Wales have been granted a significant one-time pay increase following a ruling by the Industrial Relations Commission, which acknowledged the historical undervaluation of this predominantly female workforce due to gender biases. The agreement includes a 16% salary rise for registered nurses and midwives, an 18% boost for enrolled nurses, and a 28% increase for nursing and midwifery assistants over a three-year period.
The commission noted that the undervaluation of roles in feminised sectors like nursing has persisted, with contributing factors being the perception that women naturally possess the caring skills required in these professions. Furthermore, it highlighted that wages have failed to keep pace with inflation and living costs in recent years.
However, it was pointed out that any salary increments would necessitate “debt funding” from the NSW government, with a 1% pay increase translating to an annual cost of $74.5 million. These additional expenses could hinder the state’s ability to finance other essential services and infrastructure. While these financial considerations influenced the commission’s outcome, they were deemed insufficient barriers to prevent reasonable pay increases.
The NSW Nurses and Midwives Association (NSWNMA) pursued this resolution after negotiations with the NSW government stalled last year. General Secretary Michael Whaites labelled the pay deal historic but expressed concerns that it does not sufficiently address the structural reforms needed within the state’s healthcare system. He emphasised that while the outcome was beneficial for enrolled nurses and assistants, registered nurses and midwives, who form the majority of the workforce, deserved a better resolution.
Whaites also condemned the ongoing tendency to undervalue women’s contributions based on economic constraints, expressing frustration that political leaders often acknowledge the worth of nurses and midwives while simultaneously claiming affordability issues prevent fair compensation. He affirmed the association’s commitment to continuing the campaign for better recognition and remuneration for registered nurses and midwives.
In response, the Minns government welcomed the commission’s ruling, stating that nurses and midwives are the cornerstone of the healthcare workforce. Treasurer Daniel Mookhey acknowledged the difficulty of the dispute but maintained that the resolution was fair and justified.