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Nurses' pay hopes dashed by IRC

By Zoe McMaugh

Apr 17, 2026

NSW Nurses and Midwives Association members Rhonda Dixon, Jess Donaldson, Mon Collicoat and Lucy Bee, and Lucy's daughter Billie Keane, after yesterday's IRC determination.

Local nurses and midwives admit to feeling a little “deflated” after being forced to take on a pay deal less than half of what they feel they’re worth.

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After two years fighting for fairer wages and other important conditions, the pay dispute was referred to the Industrial Relations Commission.

The IRC yesterday handed down a 16 per cent pay deal for registered nurses over three years.

It is 19 per cent lower than the NSW Nurses and Midwives Association was asking for.

And the IRC determination is final, meaning the union and nurses have no power to demand change through strike action.

Deniliquin NSWNMA president Jess Donaldson said the IRC initially gave hope to nurses who tuned into the livestream determination yesterday, but it was short-lived.

“It started positively, with the IRC saying how undervalued they thought we nurses were. But then it all changed.

“We were told that even a one per cent increase in wages would cost the NSW Government $74.5 million a year because of the size of the workforce.

“They said they simply could not afford it, and that’s when I started to get worried.

“We (union nurses) asked for a 35 per cent pay increase, and we were officially offered nine.

“We managed to argue that up, but registered nurses have still only been offered 16 per cent over three years.

“That includes 10 per cent backdated to July 2025, minus the three per cent they gave us last year - so really only seven per cent.

“We then get the standard three per cent increase for 2026 and 2027.

“For enrolled nurses, the increase backdated from July is nine per cent, and for assistants in nursing it is a far better 19 per cent - and we’re happy for them.”

Ms Donaldson said the pay deal may have been easier to take if other requests were not rejected by the IRC.

“We asked for an extension of paid sick leave from two weeks to four weeks, and that was rejected.

“Teachers, who sometimes work with sick kids get four weeks, but nurses who work with them all the time only get two.

“For us, the fear is that even though this determination closes the gap a little, the conditions are still better in Victoria, and we may lose more nurses over the border.“

Ms Donaldson said nurses and midwives now await advice from the Association on what steps come next in the fight for better conditions.