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Victoria Nurse Pay & Conditions 2025–26
What Victorian public-sector nurses and midwives are entitled to in 2025–26, and how to make the most of it.
Pay pages by role:
Assistant in Nursing · Enrolled Nurse · Registered Nurse · Clinical Nurse (senior clinical grades) · Nurse Management (NUM / Director of Nursing)
Ways to maximise your income
- Postgraduate study pays an ongoing WEEKLY allowance on top of salary, for all ordinary hours, indefinitely: true 11 May 2026 rates are $65.10/wk Grad Cert, $105.90/wk Postgrad Diploma/Degree, $122.30/wk Masters, $162.90/wk PhD. You hold only the single highest, and it keeps being paid during most leave and is built into annual-leave loading
- The study is heavily subsidised on the clock: 5 days/yr paid PD leave + 5 days/yr paid exam leave + paid study leave (e.g. 4 hrs/wk) for any course with a nursing/midwifery component. If you apply for PD leave and it isn't granted that year, you get an extra day of annual leave instead. Mandatory employer training is fully paid and does NOT consume your PD leave
- Night shifts are by far the most lucrative shift loading: $114.00/shift (Mon-Thu) up to $196.10/shift (Sunday) at the true 11 May 2026 rates, versus only $36.60 for morning/afternoon — and night allowance is a flat per-shift dollar amount, separate from and on top of weekend penalties.
- Weekend ordinary hours are paid at time-and-a-half (187.5% casual) for ALL hours between midnight Friday and midnight Sunday, stacking on top of any shift allowance; public holiday work is 200% (Mon-Fri) or 250% (Sat/Sun) for non-casuals, 250%/312.5% for casuals
- The 8-hour minimum break rule is a hidden overtime trigger: if you aren't given at least an 8-hour break between successive shifts, ALL work until you get one is paid as overtime. Separately, after working overtime you're entitled to 10 consecutive hours off or double time until released
- There is NO separate 'in-charge' / team-leader allowance for RNs — taking charge in the NUM's absence is the ANUM (NM1) role and the in-charge function is built into the ANUM salary. To be paid more for taking charge you must be appointed ANUM or use Higher Duties; working a higher grade for >2 hrs in a shift pays the higher rate for the WHOLE shift
Registered nurse pay scale
Base rates, in force from 11 May 2026 — before penalties, allowances and overtime.
| Step | Weekly | Hourly | Annualised |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 2 Year 1 (Graduate) | $1,619.00 | $42.61 | $84,477 |
| Grade 2 Year 2 | $1,665.00 | $43.82 | $86,877 |
| Grade 2 Year 3 | $1,717.00 | $45.18 | $89,591 |
| Grade 2 Year 4 | $1,773.90 | $46.68 | $92,560 |
| Grade 2 Year 5 | $1,836.90 | $48.34 | $95,847 |
| Grade 2 Year 6 | $1,900.00 | $50.00 | $99,139 |
| Grade 2 Year 7 | $1,968.20 | $51.79 | $102,698 |
| Grade 2 Year 8 | $2,067.50 | $54.41 | $107,879 |
Progression beyond the base scale
Senior and specialty grades — the pay step up, and what each takes.
| Grade | Pay | What it takes |
|---|---|---|
| RN Grade 2 Year 1 (graduate) weekly rate | $1,619.00/wk | Graduate RN/Midwife, RN/M1 |
| RN Grade 2 Year 8 weekly rate | $2,067.50/wk | RN/Midwife with 8 Years of Experience (RN/M8) |
| Qualification Allowance | $63.20/wk (current); $65.80 from 23/11/2026 | RN/Midwife with a relevant Grad Certificate/Hospital Cert or equivalent; paid from commencement… |
| Qualification Allowance | $102.80/wk (current); $107.00 from 23/11/2026 | RN/Midwife holding a Postgrad Diploma, Degree or Double Degree relevant qual (Double/Masters base qual… |
| Qualification Allowance | $118.70/wk (current); $123.60 from 23/11/2026 | RN/Midwife holding a relevant Masters |
| Qualification Allowance | $158.20/wk (current); $164.60 from 23/11/2026 | RN/Midwife holding a Doctorate or PhD |
| Qualification Allowance | 6-month: $57.00/wk; 12-month: $106.80/wk (current) | EN holding a relevant certificate/qualification; NOT payable for a pre/post-registration… |
| Cert IV in Training & Assessment Allowance | $55.40/wk (current) | Employee required by employer to hold a Cert IV in Training and Assessment |
| Qualification allowance evidence & timing | 28 days | All employees claiming a qualification allowance |
Allowances you can claim & rural/remote
Qualification Allowance — RN/MidwifeGrad Cert/Hospital Cert $65.10; Post Grad Dip/Degree/Double Degree $105.90; Masters $122.30; PhD/Doctorate $162.90 (effective 11 May 2026)
RNs/Midwives with a relevant post-basic qualification (or a base double-degree/Masters, paid after 1 year experience in a relevant area) get a per-ordinary-hour-worked…
Qualification Allowance — Enrolled NursesEN 6-month course $58.70; EN 12-month course $110.00 (effective 11 May 2026); Cert IV TAE $57.10
ENs with a relevant 6-month or 12-month post-basic certificate/qualification (full-time-equivalent duration) get a qualification allowance. Approved post-basic courses…
Endorsed Midwife Allowance$105.90 (effective 11 May 2026)
From 1 June 2025, a Midwife who holds an NMBA scheduled-medicines endorsement AND is required/contracted to perform Endorsed Midwife core functions is paid this on ALL…
Sole Midwife Allowance$63.50 per shift (effective 11 May 2026)
Paid for each shift (FFPPOOA 1 May 2024) where a midwife is the sole midwife on duty on a ward providing both maternity and non-maternity care and the RN in charge is…
Overtime Meal AllowanceMeal Allowance A $16.61; Meal Allowance B $13.28 (effective 11 May 2026)
When you work overtime past the trigger, you get either an adequate employer-provided meal or the meal allowance — paid IN ADDITION to overtime pay, and on request on…
On Call AllowanceMon–Fri $77.20; Sat $115.80; Sun/weekday PH $135.10; weekend PH $202.70 per 12-hr period (from 17 May 2024)
Paid per 12-hour period (or part) rostered on call. The old separate telephone allowance is now included in these rates. If on call spans two days with different rates,…
Vehicle / Kilometre AllowanceCar 5+ cyl $1.54/km; <5 cyl & electric $1.27/km; Motorcycle 250cc+ $0.73; under 250cc $0.57; Bicycle $0.15; Minimum per occasion $0.87 (effective 11 May 2026)
Paid when you use your own vehicle in connection with duties — including recall while on call (reasonable km) and temporary relocation to another campus DURING a shift…
Living Away From HomeReasonable accommodation, food & drink provided OR an equivalent allowance at the ATO maximum rate (or actual reasonable cost with evidence)
From 24 June 2024, where the employer requires you to live away from home, they must provide reasonable accommodation, food and drinks — or, if not provided, pay an…
Travel to another campus before a shiftReimbursement of additional travel cost + ordinary-rate pay where travel time increases by 15 minutes or more (to-and-return)
If required to temporarily relocate to another campus BEFORE a shift, you are reimbursed additional travel costs, and if your travel time (to and return) increases by…
Distant position / travel fares & out-of-pocket expensesFirst class railway/coach/plane fares + reasonable out-of-pocket expenses (within Victoria)
Employees whose duties require travel are paid first-class fares and all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses. Those engaged for a distant position with no fixed term get…
Relocation AllowanceUp to $1,900.00 lump sum
An Affected Employee permanently or temporarily relocated (resulting in additional travel/other cost) can apply in writing with an estimate of additional costs (up to 12…
Uniform Allowance$2.25 daily / $11.11 weekly (whichever is lesser in total) (effective 11 May 2026)
Employer must provide any required uniform at no cost (no payment in lieu). If a uniform is NOT provided, you are paid a uniform allowance at the daily or weekly rate…
Laundry Allowance$0.60 daily / $3.02 weekly (whichever is lesser in total) (effective 11 May 2026)
If laundering of the uniform is not provided by/at the expense of the employer, you are paid a laundry allowance at the daily or weekly rate (whichever is lesser…
Lead Apron Allowance$9.90 per shift (effective 11 May 2026)
Paid for each shift (or part) on which you must wear a lead apron as part of usual duties. Plus a 10-minute paid break (additional to normal breaks) if you wear lead for…
Hyperbaric Allowance$95.90 (effective 11 May 2026)
From 1 June 2024, paid to an employee working in (or on call for) a hyperbaric chamber: for each shift in which they undertake a pressurisation/dive; AND in addition to…
Shift AllowanceMorning $36.60; Afternoon $36.60; Night non-casual Mon–Thu $114.00, Fri–Sat $126.60, Sunday $196.10; Night casual $101.40; Change of Shift (ENs only) $53.25 (effective 11 May 2026)
Per rostered period of duty, in addition to other rates. From 15 May 2025 non-casual night shifts attract loadings (+12.5% Mon–Thu, +25% Fri–Sat, +12.5% on the Sunday…
Leave & study
Annual/recreation leave190 hours/yr (5 weeks)
You get 190 paid annual-leave hours (5 weeks) for each year of service.
Extra annual leave for weekend/shift workers+38 hours/yr (up to 10 weekends)
On top of the 190 hours, weekend workers earn up to an extra 38 hours (a 6th week) annual leave per year - 3.8 hours for each week you work ordinary hours on a weekend,…
Six-weeks annual leave savings6 weeks/yr
If you were already accruing 6 weeks' annual leave as at 30 June 2022, you keep accruing 6 weeks unless a listed trigger (e.g. you change employer or stop weekend work)…
Annual leave loading17.5% (or penalties, whichever higher)
During annual leave you get the HIGHER of 17.5% leave loading or the shift/weekend/qualification/uniform/RIPRN penalties you would have earned had you worked. Loading is…
Cashing out annual leaveUp to 2 weeks/yr
With employer agreement you can cash out up to 2 weeks of annual leave per 12 months, provided you keep at least 6 weeks banked; you are paid the full amount including…
Purchased leaveUp to 20 days/yr (48/52 model)
You can buy up to 20 extra paid leave days per year by spreading your salary - e.g. buy 4 weeks and be paid 48/52 (92.31%) of ordinary pay across the year.
Personal leave91h12m (yr1); 106h24m (yrs2-4); 152h (yr5+)
Paid personal (sick/carer's) leave: 91 hours 12 min in your first year, 106 hours 24 min in years 2-4, and 152 hours (~4 weeks) per year from year 5 onwards.
Personal leave for appointments/disabilityUp to 5 days/yr
You can use up to 5 days of personal leave per year to attend a health practitioner or diagnostic appointment, or on account of a disability.
Single-day sick leave without evidence5 occasions/yr
You can be absent for a single day without a medical certificate on up to 5 occasions per year of service (provided you give proper notice).
Unpaid carer's leaveUp to 2 days per occasion
Once your paid personal leave is used up, you can take unpaid carer's leave - in the absence of agreement, up to 2 days (or 2 shifts where shifts exceed 8 hours) per…
Paid parental leave14 weeks paid
As the primary carer taking long parental leave you get 14 weeks' paid parental leave (can be spread, e.g. 28 weeks at half pay), on top of any Commonwealth paid…
Paid parental leave2 weeks paid
As the non-primary (partner/secondary) carer taking short parental leave you get 2 weeks' paid parental leave.
More leave types
Compassionate/bereavement leave4 days paid per occasion
You get 4 days' paid compassionate (bereavement) leave each time a permissible occasion arises - e.g. death or life-threatening illness of immediate family/household,…
Cultural/ceremonial leave3 days paid/yr ceremonial + 1 day NAIDOC
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander employees get 3 days' paid ceremonial leave per year, plus a day's paid leave for NAIDOC week.
Special disaster leaveUp to 3 days paid per occasion
Special disaster leave of up to 3 days per occasion (paid, non-cumulative) is available from 24 June 2024.
Jury / community service leave10 days paid limit (jury)
For jury service there are special pay rules with a 10-day paid leave limit.
Hours, overtime, breaks & on-call
Ordinary hours per week38 hrs/week
Ordinary hours are 38 per week (or an average of 38). Standard configurations: 5 shifts of up to 8 hrs in one week; 76 hrs over a fortnight; 152 hrs…
Maximum ordinary hours per week48 hrs/week
No more than 48 ordinary hours may be worked in any week (subject to the roster provisions).
Maximum ordinary shift length10 hrs (12 hrs by agreement)
Maximum ordinary shift is 10 hours; up to 12 hours only under a written 12-hour shift agreement with the ANMF. A 12-hour shift must include at least…
Double shift definition / max continuous hours14 hrs continuous
A 'double shift' occurs where a non-casual employee works 14 or more continuous hours (including paid/unpaid breaks). Double-shift hours beyond…
Morning shift allowance$36.60/shift
Flat allowance per rostered period of duty for a morning shift (defined as a shift commencing between 6:00pm and 6:30am - definition reproduced as…
Afternoon shift allowance$36.60/shift
Flat allowance per rostered period of duty for an afternoon shift (a shift finishing between 6:00pm and 8am). Same flat rate as morning shift.…
Night shift allowance$114.00/shift
Base night-shift allowance for a non-casual night shift commencing Monday-Thursday. A night shift is one that finishes on the day after commencing…
Night shift allowance$126.60/shift
Higher night-shift allowance for a non-casual night shift commencing on a Friday or Saturday (= casual base rate + 25%). 11/05/2026 in-force rate.
Night shift allowance$196.10/shift
Sunday night-shift allowance (Sunday night = shift commencing Sunday concluding Monday) = Sunday Night base rate + 12.5%. Highest of the night…
Night shift allowance$101.40/shift
Flat casual night-shift allowance per period of duty. 11/05/2026 in-force rate. (Casuals also receive separate weekend/PH penalties.)
Saturday & Sunday ordinary-hours penalty150% (187.5% casual)
All ordinary (non-overtime) hours worked between midnight Friday and midnight Sunday are paid at time-and-a-half. For casuals the rate is 187.5%.…
Public holiday penalty200% Mon-Fri / 250% Sat-Sun
A non-casual who works (including overtime) on a public holiday is paid 200% (1/38th weekly salary basis) for a PH falling Mon-Fri, or 250% for a PH…
All figures are drawn from the Nurses and Midwives (Victorian Public Sector) Single Interest Employer Agreement 2024-2028. Confirm your exact classification, step and allowances against the current instrument and your payslip.