NSW nurses secure landmark pay rise after years-long fight
Nurses and midwives across New South Wales are set to receive significant pay increases following a landmark industrial ruling.
womensagenda.com.auHere’s the latest on NSW nurses’ pay rise.
- NSW nurses and midwives have been awarded a major pay rise after an Industrial Relations Commission ruling, with total increases ranging up to around 16% over three years for many staff and a one-off reset in the first year. This outcome was reported in mid-April 2026 and applies to the state’s public health workforce.[1][4][5]
- The specifics include a one-off reset of about 10% in the first year (backdated to July 1, 2025) and ongoing annual increases of around 3% in the subsequent two years, with variations by role (e.g., enrolled nurses, assistant nurses receive higher upfront adjustments).[2][4][5]
- Some sources note this as a historic but incomplete valuation of nursing work, emphasizing that many in the sector still seek further alignment with interstate benchmarks and broader recognition of the profession.[4][5][2]
- Interim arrangements and earlier offers (e.g., a 3% interim rise) were superseded by the IRCommission decision, marking a turning point after years of industrial action and negotiation.[3][4]
Illustration: The pay rise is often described as a two-stage outcome—an immediate “reset” plus sustained increases over three years, intended to address long-standing undervaluation of nursing roles.
Would you like a one-page summary with the key percentages by role and the timeline, or a quick comparison to similar arrangements in other Australian states? I can provide a concise table if you’d prefer.