The NSW Nurses and Midwives Association (NSWNMA) has voted to accept the NSW Government’s offer of a 3 per cent interim wage increase and enhancements to working conditions.

The agreement provides an interim 3 per cent pay increase for public sector nurses and midwives, paid retrospectively from 1 July 2025, plus 0.5 per cent in superannuation.

Nurses and Midwives will also see an increase to their Night Shift Penalty rate from 15 to 20 per cent, effective from 1 July 2025, with this issue no longer part of future arbitration proceedings.

Working conditions will change, so Nurses and midwives will have a better work-life balance, including:

• Two consecutive days off
• No night shifts before annual leave unless requested
• No changes on published roster without consultation

The offer gives public sector nurses and midwives a pay rise now, while still allowing a pathway for the remaining matters to be determined by the independent Industrial Relations Commission.

The NSW Government re-empowered the independent industrial umpire to make a decision free of a wages cap.

This improvement to night shift loadings and interim pay rise follows an 8 per cent increase to pay (inclusive of a 1 per cent increase to superannuation) for nurses over the first two years of the Minns Labor Government.

While accepting the interim pay and conditions offer, the NSW Nurses and Midwives Association said this interim offer would put money in members’ pockets now

General Secretary, Shaye Candish, said, “Members have democratically voted to accept this interim offer, knowing that there is a long way to go before the pay dispute is settled. Nurses and midwives are struggling to pay their bills in this cost-of-living crisis so any financial relief is welcomed. Improvements to rosters will also provide staff with greater work-life balance,” said Ms Candish.

“However, this is not the end of our pay and conditions fight. Our case for a 35% pay increase over three years will begin in the NSW Industrial Relations Commission later this month.

“As part of this case, which is one of the biggest industrial cases this state has seen, we will present evidence around the gendered undervaluation of nurses and midwives’ work and the work value changes our professions have seen over the past 16 years.”

The case is set down for a six-week hearing from September 30 to November 7.

Treasurer Daniel Mookhey said, “This interim deal on pay, nightshift penalties and improvements to conditions is an important step towards the long-term repair of healthcare across NSW.

“We have delivered wage agreements for 81 per cent of public sector workers - investing in the teachers, paramedics, health workers and police who provide essential services. This would not be possible under the Coalition’s wage cap.”

Minister for Health Ryan Park said, “When we came to office, NSW was facing a health workforce crisis - our nurses, our paramedics, our hospital workers were leaving. We are turning things around.

“This vote is a major step to addressing the chronic shortage of nurses in our hospitals but there is more to do.

“We have an independent process underway to determine what we need to do to ensure NSW nurses have the pay and conditions needed, including to address the gender pay gap that exists.

“This was opposed by the Liberals - only Labor can keep getting on with the job of improving our hospitals and recruiting more health workers.”

Minister for Industrial Relations Sophie Cotsis said, “This agreement is long overdue recognition for nurses and midwives who have been campaigning for a long time. We are proud to support those who care for our communities day and night.

“The Minns Labor Government continues the work of rebuilding the state's essential services and reforming the industrial relations system.

“That work began with the scrapping of the Coalition’s wages cap which was in place for 12 years, introducing a fairer, modern bargaining framework, setting up an Industrial court and amending the Industrial Relations Act to include a new Object to achieve gender equality in the workplace.

“Our agreement to a historic increase in night shift penalties and improved working conditions for nurses and midwives reflects our commitment to valuing frontline workers."