The Fair Work Commission has formally approved the 2024-28 Victorian Institute of Forensic Mental Health Services (Forensicare) enterprise agreement.
Approval was given on Tuesday 30 June 2026. The new agreement will commence its legal operation from Tuesday 7 July 2026. You can access the agreement in full at https://anmfvic.asn.au/forensicareEBA24.
After 19 months of negotiations the new agreement includes pay parity with general nurses and mental health nurses, an historic 28.4 per cent (compounded and including 1 July 2024) pay rise over four years and more than 80 new and improved working conditions including allowances, penalties, additional nursing EFT and other improved entitlements.
We acknowledge that it was a long campaign period and thank every Job Rep and member who participated in this EBA campaign.
When will I get my backpay?
As communicated in EBA update 12, the pre-payment has been paid by Forensicare and eligible staff should receive these payments today (30 July). Please contact your employer if this has not occurred, ensuring you meet eligibility requirements.
When the Forensicare Enterprise Agreement is operational on 7 July, Forensicare advise they will be continuing the calculation of payment of all other entitlements, including the remainder of the mental health alignment payment if applicable.
The new rates and backpay will be paid in line with the Fair Work Act, which is when the agreement is operational (seven days following FWC approval).
The wage increases will be backdated to the following dates:
- Mental Health Alignment Payment – all staff covered by this Agreement will be paid a once off Alignment payment equivalent to wages prescribed under the Mental Health Agreement for their relevant classification, work schedule and EFT from FFPPOOA 20 May 2025 to FFPPOOA 1 November 2025 (excluding wages already received and any early pre-payment of the alignment payment)
- First Full Pay Period On Or After 1 November 2025
- First Full Pay Period On Or After 5 January 2026
- First Full Pay Period On Or After 15 June 2026
When you receive your first payslip with the new rates, if you are eligible to receive a back payment of wages, this should be clearly listed on your payslip – for example as ‘backpay’.
Questions?
If you have questions about your pay, you must contact your payroll department. If you would like to check whether your backpay has been calculated correctly, you can use the wage rate table and allowances table in the Agreement at https://anmfvic.asn.au/forensicareEBA24.
Read a summary of the key wins in Campaign Update #10
