As advised earlier this year, before the May 2022 federal election the then Coalition Government announced a one-off COVID aged care registered nurse payment bonus in the May 2021 budget. The payment is only for registered nurses, not enrolled nurses. The ANMF opposed this bonus payment at the time only being available to RNs, and continues to campaign for a fair pay rise for all nurses and carers instead of bonuses.
See our March 2022 OTR article ‘Grossly inadequate’: ANMF calls for aged care pay rises not bonuses’.
However, the Albanese Government has honoured the commitment of the Morrison Government.
The cut off for aged care providers to make an application through the Commonwealth Grant Connect website is Wednesday 14 December 2022.
Given that the payments are available please remind your employer to make the application for all eligible RNs. Aged care providers must apply for the payments on behalf of their staff. As an employee you can not apply to the Commonwealth directly.
Read more information about the bonus.
To receive the bonus a registered nurse must be employed in one of the following service types:
- an approved aged care provider funded by the Australian Government
- multi-purpose services that offer aged care services
- state or local government approved Residential Aged Care or Home Care Providers
- providers that offer aged care services under the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Flexible Aged Care Program
- an agency employing aged care registered nurses to work in one of the above organisation types
- self-employed nurse practitioners.
Full-time registered nurses will receive a $3700 bonus. Part-time and casual nurses will receive a payment on a pro-rata basis.
Registered nurses who work for the same private or public state-run aged care providers for 12 months, between 1 November 2021 and 31 October 2022, are eligible for the payment. There is also a six-month payment available if you worked for the same employer between 1 May 2022 and 31 October 2022. It is the applications for this first round that close on 14 December.
A second payment is available for eligible nurses who work for the same provider for 12 months between 1 November 2022 and 31 October 2023.
Two additional annual payments of up to $2300 are available for registered nurses who work in a rural or remote area, have a postgraduate qualification and take on leadership and training responsibilities in their workplace.
The payments are considered taxable income.
Need ANMF advice or support?
Members can complete an online Member Assistance inquiry form via anmfvic.asn.au/memberassistance (scroll to the bottom of the page).
Got a colleague not receiving ANMF emails?
If you have an ANMF colleague who is not receiving these newsflash emails, please pass this on and let them know they can re-subscribe via anmfvic.asn.au/resubscribe
Encourage your colleagues to join ANMF
Please invite your aged care nursing and personal care worker colleagues to join their union so they have access to support, advice and information about their employment. Let them know they can join via anmfvic.asn.au/join
Important COVID-19 links for nurses and personal care workers
ANMF continues to collate the important links all in one place, so you don’t have to go looking. Please bookmark and check anmfvic.asn.au/COVID-19 regularly.
This newsflash was sent to nurse practitioners and agency nurses who may be working in private aged care.
Authorised L. Fitzpatrick, Australian Nursing & Midwifery Federation, 535 Elizabeth St, Melbourne VIC 3000
