The South Australian Government and the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation SA have reached an in-principle agreement on a new enterprise bargaining offer that would deliver a 16 per cent pay increase for nurses and midwives by July 2028, subject to a staff ballot.
The proposal would see general wage rises of 3 per cent from 1 January 2027, 3 per cent from 1 July 2027 and 4 per cent from 1 July 2028. These increases come on top of earlier administrative rises of 4 per cent in January 2026 and 2 per cent in October 2026 already set by the government.
If endorsed by members, the package would also deliver higher on-call allowances. Weekday shifts would rise from $38.70 to $51.20, weekend payments from $67.60 to $89.44, and public holiday rates from $67.60 to $127.68.
A new allowance is also planned for nurses required to wear lead aprons during shifts, recognising the demands of working in environments involving radiation-based medical imaging.
Additional measures include a $3,000 regional service incentive paid after every three years of eligible service, with the first payment available after eight years in qualifying locations. The agreement also allows more flexible staffing arrangements in certain mental health services, enabling non-mental health-qualified nurses to be included in the workforce mix where appropriate.
The government has separately committed to reviewing a proposal from the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation SA to classify all babies in postnatal wards as patients for minimum staffing ratios.
The deal follows wider investment in the state’s health system, including the recruitment of more than 2,000 nurses and midwives above attrition and the addition of more than 600 hospital beds, according to government figures.
Peter Malinauskas said the agreement reflects the value placed on nurses and midwives, noting that if accepted it would amount to a 16 per cent increase across the period, including previously announced rises. He said full-time nurses at RN1 level could see annual increases between $12,752 and $17,400.
Tom Koutsantonis welcomed the in-principle backing from the union, saying the government had worked to balance improved pay outcomes with long-term budget considerations. He thanked union leadership for engagement during negotiations and said the offer aims to keep South Australia competitive with other states while supporting public finances.
Blair Boyer said nurses and midwives remain central to the health system, pointing to nurse-to-patient ratio legislation passed last year as part of earlier commitments. He said the new agreement adds further recognition of their work and supports the long-term appeal of the profession.
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