SA nurses and midwives offered 16 per cent pay rise under new deal

Public sector nurses and midwives across South Australia are set for a significant financial boost after the state government and the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation reached a landmark 16 per cent pay increase deal. The proposed agreement, which spans until mid-2028, seeks to stabilise a workforce under immense pressure while addressing long-standing concerns regarding staff retention and recruitment within the state’s public hospitals.

The package follows months of intensive negotiations and potential industrial friction that threatened to disrupt the regional health sector. Beyond the headline salary adjustments, the deal includes specific provisions for improved working conditions and safety measures, reflecting a strategic move by the Malinauskas Government to prioritise frontline essential services amidst a tightening national labour market for healthcare professionals.

“This agreement represents more than a fiscal adjustment; it is a calculated investment in the sovereign capability of our healthcare system, balancing the urgent need for worker retention against the long-term sustainability of the public purse.”

Union members will now cast their votes to formalise the arrangement, a process expected to conclude in the coming weeks. Should the deal be ratified, it will mark one of the most substantial wage increases for the sector in recent South Australian history, providing a crucial framework for the future of the state’s medical infrastructure and patient care standards.