An ANMF mental health member during protected industrial action for the new mental health EBA. Photo: Hailee Love
The Fair Work Commission has formally approved the Victorian Public Mental Health Services Enterprise Agreement 2024–2028.
Approval was given on Monday 23 February 2026.
The new agreement commenced its legal operation from Monday 2 March 2026. Members can access the agreement in full at anmfvic.asn.au/EBA2528.
After 19 months of negotiations and ANMF members taking protected industrial action for 36 days, the new agreement features pay parity with general nurses – including the historic 28.4 per cent pay rise over the life of the agreement – as well as 47 relevant parity claims from the general public sector nurses agreement, and the majority of members’ specific mental health nursing claims.
The wage increases will be backdated to the following dates:
First Full Pay Period On Or After (FFPPOOA) 20 May 2025
First Full Pay Period On Or After (FFPPOOA) 5 January 2026
When mental health members receive their first payslip with the new rates, if they are eligible to receive a backpayment of wages this should be clearly listed on their payslip – for example as ‘backpay’.
