Nurses Award

If you employ registered nurses, enrolled nurses, nurse practitioners or assistants in nursing in Australia, the Nurses Award 2020 (MA000034) generally sets their minimum pay and conditions, across hospitals, aged care, medical practices, community health and similar settings. Some staff may instead fall under another award depending on the setting and role, such as the Aged Care or Health Professionals awards. Confirm coverage for each role against the Fair Work source before setting pay.

The award classifies staff principally as assistants in nursing, enrolled nurses, registered nurses and nurse practitioners, with registered nurses progressing through pay points and grades that reflect experience, qualifications and responsibility. Each step has its own minimum rate. Classify each nurse by their registration, role and correct pay point rather than by job title, then read the current rate for that classification from the Fair Work Pay Calculator.

Casual nurses are paid an hourly rate plus a casual loading, which is commonly 25% across modern awards, in place of paid leave and other entitlements casuals do not receive. The loading applies on top of the minimum rate, and shift and weekend penalties can apply as well for casual shifts. Treat 25% as a guide only and confirm the exact casual loading and how it interacts with penalties for this award on the Fair Work source before running pay.

MA000034 pays shift loadings on top of the base rate for afternoon and night shifts, with the loading depending on when the shift falls. These loadings apply in addition to any weekend or public holiday penalties, so an overnight shift on a Saturday or Sunday can combine several elements. Map each shift's start time and day, then confirm the current loading for that shift band from the Fair Work source rather than applying a single flat figure.

Saturday and Sunday work attracts weekend penalties on top of the ordinary rate, and because nursing runs seven days these come up constantly. As a guide, weekend penalties across awards commonly run around 25% on Saturday and 50% on Sunday, and they can combine with shift loadings for evening or overnight cover. Confirm what MA000034 actually provides for the relevant shift and employment type against the Fair Work Pay Calculator rather than assuming a figure.

Public holiday entitlements flow from the National Employment Standards and the award. As a guide, public holiday work across awards can attract penalties of up to 150%, but the award's own provisions determine what actually applies to a given nursing shift and employment type. Always verify the public holiday rate, and any arrangements for staff who do not work the day, for this award using the Fair Work Pay Calculator before processing a pay run that includes a public holiday.

Overtime generally applies to hours worked beyond a nurse's ordinary or rostered hours, with the award setting different overtime rates for the first hours and for hours after that, plus separate treatment on weekends and public holidays. Recall to work while on call can also trigger overtime-style payments. Identify which hours count as overtime for each nurse, and confirm the applicable overtime rate for this award via the Fair Work Pay Calculator.

Yes. Part-time nurses work agreed hours fewer than full-time on a reasonably predictable basis, and the award requires the agreed hours, days and times to be recorded in writing, with changes agreed in writing too. Part-timers receive pro-rata leave and the same classification rates as full-timers, and additional hours may attract overtime or penalty treatment. Check the part-time provisions in the award carefully before engaging nurses this way.

When a nurse is required to be available outside their roster, the award provides an on-call allowance, and if the nurse is then recalled to work, additional payments and minimum periods apply. There are also minimum breaks between shifts and after a recall. These provisions are easy to underpay if only the on-call allowance is applied. Confirm the current on-call and recall amounts and rules for this award using the Fair Work source.

MA000034 provides for allowances depending on the role and conditions, which can include an on-call allowance, a uniform or clothing allowance, a laundry allowance, a meal allowance, a vehicle allowance for work-related travel, and travelling or accommodation allowances. Taking charge of a shift or facility is reflected through the nurse's classification rather than a standalone in-charge allowance. Because several are paid per shift or per occasion, they are easy to miss. Identify which apply to each role and confirm current amounts on the Fair Work Pay Calculator.

Annual leave loading is an extra payment on top of base pay when a nurse takes paid annual leave, and under this award it is 17.5% of the minimum rate. Because nurses work shift penalties, the award generally provides the higher of the 17.5% loading or the shift penalties the nurse would have earned, so the more favourable amount applies. Casuals do not accrue annual leave. Confirm the correct calculation for each case against the Fair Work source.

Modern award minimum rates increase following the Fair Work Commission's Annual Wage Review and take effect from the first full pay period on or after 1 July. The 2026 review added 4.75% to modern award minimums. Apply increases from the correct pay period rather than the calendar date, and pull the new figures for each classification, pay point and allowance from the Fair Work source so nursing pay stays compliant.

The risks with MA000034 sit in the detail: the right classification and pay point, stacked afternoon, night, weekend and public holiday penalties on a rotating roster, on-call and recall payments, minimum breaks, the full set of allowances, and rates refreshed every July. The safest approach is to anchor every figure to the Fair Work Pay Calculator and review pay each 1 July. Valont runs award-compliant payroll for employers of nursing staff, mapping rosters to the correct classifications, penalties and allowances so figures stay current and accurate.

General (non-nursing) aged-care staff are covered by the Aged Care Award.

Allied health professionals and support staff sit under the Health Professionals Award.

Doctors are covered by the Medical Practitioners Award.