TRANSCRIPT
At the Health Services union headquarters - there were nerves on show among gathered workers as the Fair Work Commission decision was handed down.
Then, celebrations...
... the culmination of a four year fight for fairer wages.
Gerard Hayes is the Union's Secretary.
"This is one of the best outcomes this union has every achieved. This will go a long way to ensure that people can age with dignity and people can care for people without going into poverty."
The Commission has approved an overhaul of the aged care awards system for 200,000 workers from July.
The commission finding: the female dominated industry was historically undervalued, based on gender.
For nurses - their pay is now between 17 and 24 percent.
For Primary Care workers the figure is between 18 and 28 per cent.
Those figures are inclusive of a 15 per cent rise - awarded as part of the case last year.
Kylie Munday is an aged care worker based in Penrith, and says the rise will prove life-changing for many of her colleagues.
“We're all there because we care, but caring doesn't put food on the table, it doesn't give you a good quality of life. had men been predominantly in the aged care industry but we wouldn't have been underpaid to begin with.”
But the unions had called for a 25 per cent lift for all across the sector - that request was denied.
The commission ruled indirect care workers "...do not perform work of equivalent value ... justifying equal pay"
Support workers like kitchen staff and cleaners instead were handed 8.6 per cent rises.
Retired Chef Mark Castieau - who backed the case for his junior colleagues - was left disappointed.
"They have to put up with people, violent behaviour, dementia behaviour, they do it all, same as any carer. In Aged care we're all carers and they deserve it as much as anyone else."
The state of the Aged Care Workforce has been a key issue throughout the Royal Commission.
Many providers backed calls for conditions to improve industry-wide.
One of them was Uniting NSW and ACT - Tracey Burton is its executive director.
"Because we have a growing population of older Australians coming through, it's vital that we attract more and more people into the sector. It is a very rewarding place to work, but it's got to be fairly remunerated."
Today’s pay decision is significant and expensive.
Aged care providers say the government will need to step in - to foot the bill, with many operators running at a loss.
Before the election, Labor pledged to fund the outcomes of this wage case.
Here's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's reaction to Friday's findings.
"It is vital that our older Australians get dignity and respect in their later years. The workers who look after them deserve respect as well and they deserve better pay, so the government will examine any finding that might come down."
Hellena Soeriosoebroto has been working in aged care for 20 years.
When she started - her wage was just $14 an hour,
Today has been long overdue recognition.
"It's fantastic news, and I'm so grateful for people who were fighting before us, whoever left , to come to this stage, it's means a lot.”
