aged care union members have won huge wage increases

United Workers union aged care members have shown once again that they're a forCe to be reckoned with!

Since May 2023, aged care workers have won huge wage increases.

Direct care workers were earning only $24.12 an hour – meaning by October, you will be about $15,062.40 a year better off!

This pay rise comes on top of any other increases related to the Work Value Case and brings the new hourly rate of a direct care worker on Level 3 up to $34.58!

NOT SURE WHAT IT MEANS FOR YOU?

Your next pay increase is just around the corner. Your union is here to help you make sure that your pay is accurate and that you’re not left out of pocket.

Our Aged Care Pay Guide includes:

New pay charts and classification details for all Aged Care workers
What this means for workers on the Award or Enterprise Agreements
What you need to know to ensure your pay is correct

* This guide is exclusive to United Workers Union members. Join now to get your Pay Guide!

In addition to this pay guide, we will hold “Check Your Pay” meetings throughout October to help members ensure their pay and classification are correct.

JOIN NOW TO GET YOUR PAY GUIDE

what wage increase can you expect?

When the Fair Work Commission announced new pay rises for hundreds of thousands of aged care workers it meant that aged care workers like you finally got the recognition you deserve.

Personal care workers are eligible for up to an additional 13% wage increase (on top of the 15% awarded in 2023), making the total wage increases for some direct care workers up to 28.5% over the past twelve months!

This amazing result would have not been possible without the hard work and lobbying of United Workers Union members.

They campaigned, rallied, and took action in workplaces, the community, and online, and spoke about the importance of the work and the impact they have on the people in their care.

Support workers in catering, cleaning, and laundry won a wage increase of 7%, while maintenance and gardening workers were awarded a 3% increase.

We still have more work to do to continue to improve wages and conditions, particularly for support workers.

But this is a massive step forward, and together aged care workers will keep winning!

Historic wage increases don’t just happen – union members fight tooth and nail for them!

when can you expect the wage increase?

Indirect care workers received their full wage increase in one go in January 2025.

Direct care workers received half of the increase in January 2025, with the second half coming in October, which is 6 months earlier than proposed by the Government.

In addition to the wage increases there will be classification changes which further complicate the exact increase you will get.

*The increase percentage for direct care workers and home care workers is different depending on the classification level. The percentage that workers will receive in January and then in October varies depending on the percentage of their final increase.

All workers also received the 3.5% annual award wage increase in July, which is separate from and in addition to the Work Value Case wage increase.

how to ensure you get every dollar owed

Calculating YOUR wage increase won’t be simple.

The upcoming changes to pay rates and classifications are complicated, and providers have struggled with implementing past decisions correctly. Many members reported mistakes in their pay when the first 15% pay rise was rolled out.

There is a chance your employer will make some error during the next pay rise implementation.

Don’t rely on your employer for the correct information and pay!

Your union is here to help you make sure that your pay is accurate and that you’re not left out of pocket.

Our members-only wage guide outlines exactly how the wage increase will impact you and what you are entitled too!

What UWU members are saying about the wage increase:

Your Aged Care Union is running free online Pay Check Meetings to help members ensure they are paid correctly under the latest Work Value Case increases.

Bring your payslips from the first full pay period in October and the one before that so we can check your pay.

What You Will Learn:

Check Your Pay. Confirm the Stage 3 Work Value Case increase and other recent rises have been applied correctly.
Spot Mistakes. Identify any errors in your payslip.
Understand Your Rights. Know what you are entitled to and how to claim back pay if needed.
Get Expert Support. Our union organisers will guide you step by step and answer your questions.

Our goal is simple. We want every aged care worker to receive every cent they are owed.

Do not rely on your employer to pass on your wage increase correctly.

Secure what you are owed.