2025 WAIRC 00595
Nurses' (Aboriginal Medical Services) Award No. A 23 of 1987

1B. - MINIMUM ADULT AWARD WAGE

(1) No employee aged 21 or more shall be paid less than the minimum adult award wage unless otherwise provided by this clause.

(2) The minimum adult award wage for full-time employees aged 21 or more working under an award that provides for a 38-hour week is $953.00 per week.

The minimum adult award wage for full-time employees aged 21 or more working under awards that provide for other than a 38-hour week is calculated as follows: divide $953.00 by 38 and multiply by the number of ordinary hours prescribed for a full-time employee under the award.

The minimum adult award wage is payable from the beginning of the first pay period commencing on or after 1 July 2025.

(3) The minimum adult award wage is deemed to include all State Wage order adjustments from State Wage Case decisions.

(4) Unless otherwise provided in this clause adults aged 21 or more employed as casuals, part-time employees or piece workers or employees who are remunerated wholly on the basis of payment by results, shall not be paid less than pro rata the minimum adult award wage according to the hours worked.

(5) Employees under the age of 21 shall be paid no less than the wage determined by applying the percentage prescribed in the junior rates provision in this award (if applicable) to the minimum adult award wage, provided that no employee shall be paid less than any applicable minimum rate of pay prescribed by the Minimum Conditions of Employment Act 1993.

(6) The minimum adult award wage shall not apply to apprentices, employees engaged on traineeships or government approved work placement programs or employed under the Commonwealth Government Supported Wage System or to other categories of employees who by prescription are paid less than the minimum award rate, provided that no employee shall be paid less than any applicable minimum rate of pay prescribed by the Minimum Conditions of Employment Act 1993.

(7) Liberty to apply is reserved in relation to any special category of employees not included here or otherwise in relation to the application of the minimum adult award wage.

(8) Subject to this clause the minimum adult award wage shall –

(a) Apply to all work in ordinary hours.

(b) Apply to the calculation of overtime and all other penalty rates, superannuation, payments during any period of paid leave and for all purposes of this award.

(9) Minimum Adult Award Wage

The rates of pay in this award include the minimum weekly wage for employees aged 21 or more payable under the 2025 State Wage order. Any increase arising from the insertion of the minimum wage will be offset against any equivalent amount in rates of pay received by employees whose wages and conditions of employment are regulated by this award which are above the wage rates prescribed in the award. Such above award payments include wages payable pursuant to enterprise agreements, consent awards or award variations to give effect to enterprise agreements and over award arrangements. Absorption which is contrary to the terms of an agreement is not required.

Increases under previous State Wage Case Principles or under the current Statement of Principles, excepting those resulting from enterprise agreements, are not to be used to offset the minimum wage.

(10) Adult Apprentices

(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of this clause, the minimum adult apprentice wage for a full-time apprentice aged 21 years or more working under an award that provides for a 38-hour week is $791.30 per week.

(b) The minimum adult apprentice wage for a full-time apprentice aged 21 years or more working under an award that provides for other than a 38-hour week is calculated as follows: divide $791.30 by 38 and multiply by the number of ordinary hours prescribed for a full-time apprentice under the award.

(c) The minimum adult apprentice wage is payable from the beginning of the first pay period commencing on or after 1 July 2025.

(d) Adult apprentices aged 21 years or more employed on a part-time basis shall not be paid less than pro rata the minimum adult apprentice wage according to the hours worked.

(e) The rates paid in the paragraphs above to an apprentice 21 years of age or more are payable on superannuation and during any period of paid leave prescribed by this award.

(f) Where in this award an additional rate is expressed as a percentage, fraction or multiple of the ordinary rate of pay, it shall be calculated upon the rate prescribed in this award for the actual year of apprenticeship.




26. - WAGES

(1)

Classification
Base RatePer Week$
Arbitrated Safety Net Adjustments$
Total Rate$
Registered Nurse Level 2



Year 1
663.80
725.30
1389.10
Year 2
675.88
727.12
1403.00
Year 3
691.58
732.72
1424.30
Year 4
724.60
745.40
1470.00
Registered Nurse Level 3



Year 1
742.20
752.00
1494.20
Year 2
758.70
758.10
1516.80
Year 3
776.30
764.80
1541.10
Years 4
794.70
771.80
1566.50
Registered Nurse Level 3A
820.50
781.40
1601.90
Registered Nurse Level 4



Year 1
884.25
805.45
1689.70
Year 2
953.00
831.20
1784.20
Year 3
1021.70
856.90
1878.60





(2) A registered nurse shall, in the case of a nurse working in an urban setting, be classified and paid within the range of a Registered Nurse Level 2 pursuant to subclause (1) of this clause.

(3) A registered nurse shall:

(a) in the case of a nurse working in other than an urban setting; or

(b) in the case of a nurse working in a sole capacity in an urban setting; or

(c) in the case of a nurse who is supervising one or more nurses classified at Registered Nurse Level 2 in an urban setting;

be classified and paid within the range of Registered Nurse Level 3, pursuant to subclause (1) of this clause.

(4) A registered nurse shall, in the case of a nurse working in a nursing outpost, be classified and paid as a Registered Nurse Level 3A pursuant to subclause (1) of this clause, except where that nurse is designated by the employer as a “Senior Nurse” and an additional allowance of 4.5% shall be paid.

(5) A registered Nurse co-ordinator and/or educator shall be classified and paid as a Registered Nurse Level 4 pursuant to subclause (1) of this clause.

(6) Progression beyond the commencing level will be dependent upon the attainment of additional qualifications relevant to the position held and/or servie in such position provided that advancement by service only shall be limited to one level for each year of service to a maximum of two beyond the commencing level and subject to satisfactory performance.

(7) Employees who have had recent, relevant experience, in community nursing shall have such experience recognised by the employer when determining the rate of wage payable under subclause (1) of this clause. The onus of proof of previous experience shall rest on the employee and any calculation arising from the production of work records or other documentary evidence shall only apply from the time such proof is supplied.

(8) No current employee covered by this award shall suffer any reduction in wages as a result of the May 1996 amendments to this award.

(9) The rates of pay in this award include arbitrated safety net adjustments available since December 1993, under the Arbitrated Safety Net Adjustment Principle.

These arbitrated safety net adjustments may be offset against any equivalent amount in the rate of pay received by employees since 1 November 1991 above the rate prescribed in the Award, except where such absorption is contrary to the terms of an industrial agreement.

Increases in rates of pay otherwise made under the State Wage Case Principles, excepting those resulting from enterprise agreements, are not to be used to offset arbitrated safety net adjustments.