2025 WAIRC 00602
Nurses' (Private Hospitals) Award

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.




29. - WAGES

(1) The minimum rate of wages per week payable to employees under this award shall be as follows:

(a) Post Basic Student:

A registered nurse undertaking post basic training in a course leading to registration or a certificate endorsed by the Nurses' Board of Western Australia shall be paid at the rate prescribed in subparagraph (c)(i) of this subclause for the second year of experience or such higher rate commensurate with the pre-requisite experience for entry to a course. Provided that this subclause shall not operate so as to increase the rate of wage being paid to a nurse at the point of entry to such a course.



Base Rate Per Week$
Arbitrated Safety Net Adjustment$
Total Rate$





(b)
Registered Mothercraft Nurse - Years of Experience:




1st Year
396.20
598.00
994.20

2nd Year
403.70
600.20
1003.90

3rd Year
414.80
603.20
1018.00

4th Year
426.30
606.70
1033.00

5th Year and thereafter
437.40
612.40
1049.80





(c)
Registered General Nurse:









Level 1.1
471.60
628.20
1099.80

1:2
495.10
634.40
1129.50

1:3
518.70
643.20
1161.90

1:4
542.30
654.80
1197.10

1:5
565.90
663.70
1229.60

1:6
589.50
672.60
1262.10

1:7
613.00
681.40
1294.40

1:8
636.60
690.20
1326.80






Level 2:1
660.20
696.40
1356.60

2:2
675.90
702.20
1378.10

2:3
691.60
708.20
1399.80

2:4
707.30
714.30
1421.60






Level 3:1
736.80
725.20
1462.00

3:2
754.50
731.80
1486.30

3:3
772.20
738.60
1510.80

3:4
789.90
745.20
1535.10






Level 4:1
834.60
762.10
1596.70

4:2
859.30
771.20
1630.50

4:3
908.30
789.70
1698.00

4:4
933.10
799.00
1732.10

4:5
957.60
808.30
1765.90

4:6
994.40
821.80
1816.20






Level 5:1
994.40
821.80
1816.20

5:2
1059.70
846.70
1906.40






(2) Classification in levels:

Level 1
A registered nurse in the first or subsequent years of experience as a registered nurse and not elsewhere classified.


Level 2.
A registered nurse appointed as a clinical nurse, an area manager, a research nurse, a staff development nurse, or clinical instructor.



A registered nurse functioning in a combined role and classified at Level 2.


Level 3.
A registered nurse appointed as a clinical nurse specialist, a nurse manager, a nursing researcher, a staff development educator, or a nurse educator.



A registered nurse functioning in a combined role classified at Level 3.


Level 4
A registered nurse appointed as a co-ordinator clinical nursing, a co-ordinator nursing management, a co-ordinator nursing research, or a co-ordinator nursing staff development/education.



A registered nurse appointed to co-ordinate combined roles at Level 4.



Director of Nursing - Level 4.


Level 5
Director of Nursing - Level 5.

(3) 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.

(4) A Director of Nursing in a Nursing Home shall be paid on the following basis:

(a)
Less than 20 beds
Level 4, increment 1




20 beds and up to 39 beds
Level 4, increment 1 to increment 2




40 beds and up to 59 beds
Level 4, increment 3 to increment 4




60 beds and up to 99 beds
Level 4, increment 4 to increment 6




100 beds or more
Level 4, increment 6 to Level 5, increment 2

(b) In addition to the above, in deciding the increment to be paid within the appropriate range as provided by subclause (a) above, the following factors shall be considered:

(i) The range of Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Podiatry and/or other such services provided, if any;

(ii) The provision of such services as psychogeriatic units, respite care, day centres and/or hostels, if any;

(iii) The extent of involvement of the Directors of Nursing in purchasing, budget preparation and/or any administrative duties;

(iv) The extent of responsibility taken by the Director of Nursing for the kitchen, laundry, cleaning, gardening, maintenance and/or other like functions;

(v) The extent of responsibility of the Director of Nursing for Staff Development and Education.

(5) (a) (i) A nurse classified at Level 1 who completes a Bachelor of Applied Science in Nursing, or equivalent Nursing Degree shall be given accelerated progression of 12 months through the incremental scale.

Provided that a degree qualified nurse entering the workforce without clinical experience shall start at increment 1 Level 1. At the completion of 12 months' service that nurse shall accelerate one increment provided that performance is satisfactory.

(ii) The provisions of subparagraph (i) shall not apply to a nurse on the maximum incremental point in Level 1.

(b) Progression for all classifications for which there is more than one wage point, shall be by annual increments, subject to a satisfactory performance appraisal.

(6) Promotion and reclassification mechanisms shall be as agreed between the employer and the Federation.

(7) Where an employee is appointed to a position, previous relevant nursing experience at that level, or in a similar level under a differing career structure, shall be taken into account for determining the appropriate increment level.

Experience shall include the time spent in hospital based post basic courses and includes midwifery and psychiatric training.

(8) The onus of proof of previous experience shall rest with the employee.

Provided that an employee returning to the profession after an absence greater than five years shall commence at the first increment of Level 1 for a period of 3 months. During this time the employee shall be subject to performance appraisal and review by the Director of Nursing or by peer assessment if there is dispute. Upon satisfactory review she/he shall move to a level and increment as determined by the assessment. An employee who fails to satisfy the panel of her/his competency to progress through the Level 1 increments or into another level as the case may be, may apply for reassessment by a peer assessment panel after a period of 12 months from the date of employment.



SCHEDULE A

Notwithstanding the general provisions of Clause 29. - Wages of this award, but subject to subclauses (3) and (4) thereof regarding the offset of an arbitrated safety net adjustment, the following annual salaries shall apply in lieu thereof to the positions described herein:


Base Rate Per Annum $
Arbitrated Safety Net Adjustment $
Total Rate Per Annum$




Directors of Nursing - Level 5







Grade 1

Esperance Community Nursing Home
46125
40720
86845




Grade 2

Dean Lodge
McDougall Park Nursing Home
Rockingham Nursing Home
49200
41876
91076