Nurses Award
Nurses Award 2020
Get plain-English answers on the Nurses Award
Answers grounded on the full MA000034 document — every clause, variation, and classification. From $499/mo (50% off first month).
Who does this award cover?
The Nurses Award covers employees working in nursing, including the following common roles:
Pay rates by classification
| Classification | Base (per hour) | Casual (+25%) | Weekly (38h) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse Level 1.1 | $32.09 | $40.11 | $1219.42 |
| Registered Nurse Level 1.2 | $32.75 | $40.94 | $1244.50 |
| Registered Nurse Level 1.3 | $33.55 | $41.94 | $1274.90 |
| Registered Nurse Level 2 | $39.59 | $49.49 | $1504.42 |
| Registered Nurse Level 3 | $42.93 | $53.66 | $1631.34 |
| Enrolled Nurse Level 1 | $30.00 | $37.50 | $1140.00 |
| Enrolled Nurse Level 2 | $30.39 | $37.99 | $1154.82 |
Rates shown are hourly permanent (base) and casual (base + 25% loading). Always verify with the official FWC document — rates change annually on 1 July following the Fair Work Commission's Annual Wage Review.
Penalty rates
How casual overtime is calculated
One of the most common payroll questions under the Nurses Award: when a casual works overtime or weekend hours, does the 1.5× or 2× multiplier apply to the base rate, or to the 25%-loaded casual rate? The answer depends on how the award is drafted.
Method for the Nurses Award
Compounded — overtime multiplier applied to the 25%-loaded casual rate
Source: Clause 11.1 / Clause 21.3 · Verified against the award text
Award defines 'casual hourly rate' = minimum hourly rate + 25% loading. Overtime and weekend rates are explicitly stated as a percentage of the casual hourly rate (e.g. 150% of the casual hourly rate for first 2 hours Mon–Sat).
| Method | Calculation | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Additive | $39.59 × 175% | $69.28 |
| Compounded (used by this award) | $49.49 × 150% | $74.23 |
| Separate | $39.59 × 150% | $59.39 |
Worked example: casual RN Level 2 (base $39.59/hr), first block of overtime at 150%. Different awards produce different hourly rates from the same base because the 25% loading is applied differently.
Calculate casual overtime for any scenario →Break entitlements
| Shift length | Meal break | Rest break | Paid? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up to 5 hours | — | — | No |
| 5–7.6 hours | 30 min | — | No |
| 7.6–10 hours | 30 min | 10 min | Yes |
| 10+ hours | 60 min | 20 min | Yes |
Want the full MA000034 document?
This page covers the headline rates, penalties, and break rules. The full award has dozens more clauses: allowances, overtime formulas, rostering rules, dispute procedures, and classification descriptors. FairWork Mate answers plain-English questions grounded on every clause. The Business API returns structured data for payroll and HR systems.
Question about the Nurses Award?
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