Pay rises on the horizon for the majority of members

May brings public sector members their fifth wage increase of the 2024-2028 EBA, with public sector mental health members getting a pay increase in June.

Many private sector members will also see wage increases over the coming months.

A summary of key agreements is below, with further details after the table.

ANMF recommends you carefully check your payslip in the first full pay period on or after (FFPPOOA) the relevant date listed above to make sure your new rates have been applied correctly.

If you have questions regarding your pay, contact your payroll department in the first instance. If you still have questions after, contact ANMF member assistance.

Public sector nurses and midwives

The fifth wage increase of the 2024-2028 public sector EBA is due in the first full pay period on or after 11 May 2026.

All nurses and midwives in the Victorian public sector will receive a 28.4 per cent (compounded) wage increase by the end of the four-year agreement. In 2026, the total percentage wage rise will be between 3 per cent and 4.09 per cent (compounded), depending on classification.

Check your classification: anmfvic.asn.au/EBAwages.

Public sector mental health

Following the Fair Work Commission approval of the public sector mental health agreement, members should have received backpay to FFPPOOA 20 May 2025 and 5 January 2026 – though ANMF is aware that some employers are trying to delay backpayments.

Such delays are unacceptable, and where they are happening ANMF is escalating the issue with the employer, the Victorian Hospitals Industrial Association and the government.

In the meantime, pay increases for mental health members will apply at FFPPOOA:

• 15 June 2026 (3 per cent)
• 4 January (1 per cent, average) and 7 June (3 per cent) 2027
• 10 January (9.4 per cent) 2028.

Private sector

Most of the state’s major private sector agreements have now been re-negotiated, with all members covered by these agreements receiving pay rises over the coming months

Ramsay Healthcare

With ANMF members voting up the Ramsay Enterprise Agreement 2026-2030 in March, it became the first major private acute employer in Victoria to match and then move ahead of the November 2027 public sector wage increases, with compounded wage increases ranging between 21 and 32 per cent over the life of the four-year agreement.

Ramsay members’ wage increases were backpaid to the first full pay period on or after 1 October 2025 with another wage increase payable from 20 March 2026.

Upcoming wage increases for Ramsay members will occur on:

• 1 July (3 per cent) and 1 December (1 per cent) 2026
• 1 June (2.8 per cent, average) and 1 December (8.2 per cent, average) 2027
• 1 May 2028 (3 per cent)
• 1 May 2029 (3 per cent).

Healthscope

Healthscope members’ total pay increase for 2026 and 2027 is 16 per cent pay, plus improved allowances and entitlements.

After receiving backpay to 1 July 2025 (4.25%) and 1 January 2026 (2.25%), members can now look forward to pay rises from FFPPOOA:

• 1 July 2026 (4.25 per cent)
• 1 January 2027 (1 per cent)
• 1 July 2027 (4.25 per cent)

Cabrini

The majority of Cabrini members are looking at a 16 per cent pay rise over 2026 and 2027, plus improved allowances and entitlements.

With backpay between 5 and 12 per cent to November 2025, the 2026 pay rise of between 3.3 and 19.5 per cent (depending on classification) will be in November, followed by a July 2027 increase of 3 per cent for all classifications.

Epworth

Members at Epworth will receive their next payrise FFPPOOA:

• 1 July 2026: 4.25% (+ 10 per cent increase to the qualifications allowance for eligible staff)
• 1 July 2027: 4.25%

St John of God

Members at St John of God will receive their next payrise FFPPOOA:

• 1 July 2026: 4.25% (+ corresponding allowance increases)
• 1 July 2027: 4.25% (+ corresponding allowance increases)

St Vincent’s Private

Members at St Vincent’s Private will receive their next payrise FFPPOOA:

• 1 July 2026: 2.5%

What if your EBA is not listed?

There are hundreds of enterprise bargaining agreements (EBAs) covering Victorian ANMF members, across the public, private and not-for-profit sectors. As each reaches its nominal expiry date, national law allows us to renegotiate them to seek improved pay and conditions for members.

This means that ANMF (Vic Branch) is routinely engaged in bargaining at multiple employers. You can check your workplace’s EBA via the Member Portal. Typically, if the EBA’s nominal expiry date is within the next six months, we can begin bargaining.

To find out more, including how you can get involved to seek improved pay, conditions and entitlements, visit our EBA101 collection.

What if your workplace is not covered by an EBA?

Members working in a range of smaller workplaces – such as GP medical and specialist clinics, small day procedure and endoscopy centres, some private drug and alcohol services, cosmetic surgery services and some private at-home dialysis services – are often not employed under an enterprise agreement.

Instead, these members are covered by the federal Nurses Award 2020, which only outlines the legal minimum rates of pay – meaning any pay rise (including when and how much) is up to the individual employer. Without an EBA, ANMF cannot negotiate directly with your employer for improved pay, entitlements and conditions.

We can make application to the Fair Work Commission – the nation’s highest industrial decision-making body – to vary an award, as we did with our successful Aged Care Work Value Case.

ANMF currently has an application at the Commission to increase wage rates by 35 per cent for nurses, midwives and personal care workers covered by the federal Nurses Award. The matter is listed for hearing in Melbourne between 10 and 16 June 2026. Find out more.