An ANMF mental health member during protected industrial action for the new mental health EBA. Photo: Hailee Love
Just before Christmas, mental health nurse members and their colleagues overwhelmingly voted up the 2024-28 Victorian Public Sector Mental Health Services Enterprise Agreement, and it has now been submitted to the Fair Work Commission (FWC) for approval. 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 an unequivocal 88.96 per cent – and an even higher 96.8 per cent at Western Health (where the ballot was delayed as the employer did not supply all relevant information to all eligible employees before the access period deadline).
Every single public sector workplace achieved a successful yes vote.
ANMF congratulates all members on this 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 also 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.
What happens next?
The Victorian Hospitals Industrial Association lodged the agreement with the Fair Work Commission on 6 January 2026. The Commission will now review every clause to 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 informed the moment we have further updates.
When will I get my backpay?
The new rates and backpay will be paid in accordance with the Fair Work Act, which is when the Agreement becomes operational (seven days following FWC approval).
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 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’.
What about Forensicare?
At an ANMF members’ meeting on 23 January, members voted unanimously to endorse the revised state government 2025–28 enterprise bargaining Agreement offer for Forensicare mental health nurses.
After 18 months of negotiations, the government’s revised offer was provided to ANMF on 19 January, with a once-off alignment payment to align Forensicare members with the Victorian Public Mental Health Services Enterprise Agreement 2024-2028.
This payment is equivalent to wages between 20 May 2025 to 1 November 2025, and it will apply to all staff, permanent and casual, covered by the new agreement at its commencement date. The once-off payment includes payments of base rate, overtime, penalties and allowances. Superannuation is also payable on the once-off payment.
Final drafting is now taking place, and a formal ballot for all staff covered by the Agreement will be arranged soon.
