The Fair Work Commission Stage 1 Decision on the Work Value Case Released.

There’s been a lot of Industry discussion and media coverage in recent times on the issue of wages for Aged Care workers. We are encouraged by the recent Stage 1 decision from the Fair Work Commission(FWC) that ensures our Direct Care Teams are remunerated fairly for all the wonderful work they do caring for older Australians. 

The FWC decision provides an interim 15% increase for the rates for Registered Nurses, Enrolled Nurses, Assistants in Nursing, Personal Care Workers and Home Care Employees in the Aged Care Award 2010, the Nurses Award 2020 and the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Award 2010.

CEO Sue Thomson states ”We welcome this decision and the timing of wage adjustments for care workers set to receive the interim 15% increase, will be announced soon.  It is important to note however, that non-direct care workers – are not included. Workers such as kitchen, laundry, administration, and recreation activities staff are not included in the increase at this stage though we do welcome any progress in this area, as we equalliy value the work they do”.  

The Fair Work Commission announced there will be two further Stages (2 and 3) before the matter is finalised:  

Stage 2 will determine when and how these increases will be rolled out in those three modern awards. We anticipate that we will have a greater understanding on the implementation process after November 22.

Stage 3 includes further classification definitions and structures in the three modern awards. Importantly, for Stage 3, the FWC is yet to decide whether other classifications in aged care should also receive an increase in wage rates due to work value, but we will not know until sometime next year.

Next Steps

We will now fully review the Decision so that we can inform our McLean Care teams in more detail of its contents and full implications as soon as possible.

Further media information contact:  

Sue Thomson – CEO McLean Care

Phone 1300 791 660