With an 88% per cent yes vote, the 2024-28 Victorian Public Sector Mental Health Services Enterprise Agreement will be submitted to the Fair Work Commission for approval on 6 January. It will become operational and enforceable seven days after FWC approval.
All public sector mental health nurse members are now guaranteed pay increases totalling 28.4 per cent (inclusive of 1 July 2024 increase) – alongside over 80 new or improved conditions and entitlements.
Vote breakdown
The total yes vote was 88.96 per cent.
Every single public sector workplace achieved a successful yes vote.
ANMF congratulates all members on this incredible achievement. It was your willingness to engage in protected industrial action that got this over the line – whether it was wearing the red ANMF campaign t-shirts at work; refusing to be redeployed or to do paperwork or data entry; or engaging with consumers, carers and supporters around the importance of the campaign.
ANMF members achieved important improvements covering definitions, leave, allowances, classifications, predictable hours of work, fatigue and overtime, dispute resolution, recruitment and retention initiatives, education and professional development, maximising permanent employment, occupational health and safety and gender equity. This also includes additional mental health nursing EFT, consistent with ANMF member endorsed claims.
Western Health
At Western Health, the ballot is delayed because the employer did not supply all relevant information to all eligible employees before the access period deadline.
The new ballot dates for Western Health are:
Open: 9:00am, Saturday, 27 December 2025
Close: 5:00pm, Wednesday 31 December 2025.
The voting URL is included in the letter provided by your employer on Wednesday, 17 December 2025 and is also available at vhiawesternhealth.verovoting.com.au.
What are my log in details?
To log in, enter:
- Your date of birth in DDMMYYYY or MMDDYYYY format and
- Your last name
Once you have logged in, follow the instructions on screen to lodge your vote.
Note: employees will not receive a link to vote directly from Vero.
Who do I contact if my log in details are not working?
Telephone support is available on 1300 702 898, between 11:30AM to 08:00PM, Monday to Friday. Or contact your HR representative the People & Culture Business Partners on pccbusinesspartners@wh.org.au.
What happens next?
The Victorian Hospitals Industrial Association will lodge the agreement with the Fair Work Commission on 6 January 2026. The Commission will go through every clause and ensure that all the legally required steps have been followed and that every aspect of the agreement complies with relevant federal legislation and that the Agreement passes the better off overall test.
The timeline on this process is not within ANMF’s control, but members will be updated the moment we have information.
When will I get my backpay?
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:
- First Full Pay Period On Or After (FFPPOA) 20 May 2025
- First Full Pay Period On Or After (FFPPOOA) 5 January 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’.
