Nurse Qualification Allowance Rates in Australia

Find out how much public-sector nurses and midwives may earn from eligible postgraduate qualifications.

Overview

Across Australia, public-sector nursing and midwifery instruments provide qualification-related allowances under several names, including the ANF Qualification Allowance, the Continuing Education Allowance in NSW, the Post Graduate Allowance in Tasmania and the Post Graduate Qualification Allowance in the NT.

An allowance is a regular, ongoing payment for completing an approved qualification beyond the credentials required to enter the role. The qualification generally must be relevant to the employee’s nursing or midwifery work. Using rates scheduled to apply during 2027 where available, the indicative average payment for a registered nurse is $5,117 per year, ranging from $3,839 for a Graduate Certificate in Nursing to $6,353 for a Master of Nursing degree.

Public-sector payments are stipulated in state and territory awards and enterprise agreements. Separate agreements or awards may apply in private hospitals, aged care and other settings. Registered nurses are commonly covered, and many instruments also cover enrolled nurses. Eligibility, application requirements and payment timing vary, and only the highest eligible qualification is usually paid.

Payment Rates in Australia

Before examining the individual arrangements for each state and territory, let’s do a quick snapshot for Australia. Table 1 compares indicative annual payments to a registered nurse (RN), based on the highest job-relevant qualification held. Scheduled 2027 rates are used where published; otherwise, the latest confirmed rate is shown.

Table 1. Annual payment for nurses by postgraduate qualification

State	Grad Cert	Grad Dip	Master	Avg
VIC	$5,288	$8,596	$9,932	$7,939
TAS	$3,738	$6,074	$7,009	$5,607
NT	$4,312	$4,851	$5,929	$5,031
SA	$3,574	$4,595	$5,616	$4,595
QLD	$4,161	$4,161	$6,539	$4,954
WA	$3,943	$5,069	$6,195	$5,069
NSW	$2,792	$4,202	$5,039	$4,011
ACT	$2,905	$3,735	$4,565	$3,735
AUS	$3,839	$5,160	$6,353	$5,117

Sources: Calculated from public-sector awards, enterprise agreements and published wage rates. Timing: Figures use rates scheduled to apply during 2027 where published. Victoria uses rates from 1 July 2027, Queensland from 1 December 2027, NSW from 1 July 2027 and WA from 12 October 2026. South Australia, Tasmania, the ACT and the NT show the latest confirmed rates because no settled 2027 qualification-allowance schedule was available on 17 August 2026. Weekly rates have been annualised over 52 weeks; the Tasmanian estimates assume RN Grade 3 Year 5.

Victoria has the highest scheduled allowances in the comparison. From 1 July 2027, an RN can add about $9,932 a year for a relevant Master of Nursing or similar degree, $8,596 for a Graduate Diploma and $5,288 for a Graduate Certificate. Tasmania’s percentage-based payments are also notable, with a Master’s allowance of about $7,009 at the pay point assumed in Table 1.

New South Wales

Nurses and midwives in NSW can receive a Continuing Education Allowance (CEA) for an additional qualification relevant to their clinical duties. Eligible roles include RNs and midwives, clinical specialists and nurse/midwife managers.

From 1 July 2027, the scheduled rates are:

EN with a Certificate IV: $39.40 per week, or about $2,049 annually.
EN with an Advanced Diploma: $49.50 per week, or about $2,574 annually.
RN/RM with a Postgraduate Certificate or hospital certificate: $53.70 per week, or about $2,792 annually.
RN/RM with a Postgraduate Diploma or Degree: $80.80 per week, or about $4,202 annually.
RN/RM with a Master’s Degree or Doctorate: $96.90 per week, or about $5,039 annually.

Only the highest relevant qualification is paid. The allowance is separate from base pay but continues during periods of paid leave.

Source: Public Health System Nurses’ and Midwives’ (State) Award 2025

Victoria

Victoria’s current public-sector agreement sets fixed weekly qualification allowances. From 1 July 2027, the scheduled rates are:

Hospital Certificate or Graduate Certificate: $101.70 per week, or about $5,288 annually.
Postgraduate Diploma, Degree or Double Degree: $165.30 per week, or about $8,596 annually.
Master’s Degree: $191.00 per week, or about $9,932 annually.
Doctorate or PhD: $254.30 per week, or about $13,224 annually.

Enrolled nurse rates from the same date are:

Relevant six-month course: $91.70 per week, or about $4,768 annually.
Relevant 12-month course: $171.80 per week, or about $8,934 annually.

A Certificate IV in Training and Assessment attracts $89.10 per week, or about $4,633 annually, when the employer requires the qualification. Only the highest eligible qualification allowance is paid. A further 9.43% increase to qualification allowances is scheduled for 17 April 2028 and is therefore outside the 2027 comparison.

Source: Nurses and Midwives (Victorian Public Sector) Single Interest Employer Agreement 2024–2028

Queensland

Queensland Health nurses at Grades 5 to 7 and Grade 9 can qualify for an allowance for an additional higher-education qualification relevant to their role. Based on the Nurse Grade 5, pay point 7 annual rate of $118,884 from 1 December 2027:

A Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma, equivalent qualification, second Bachelor’s Degree or dual degree attracts 3.5%, or about $4,161 annually.
A Master’s Degree or PhD attracts 5.5%, or about $6,539 annually.

From 1 July 2026, enrolled nurses at Grades 3 and 4 can also receive 3.5% for a second diploma or 5.5% for an advanced diploma or higher qualification. Payment remains subject to the agreement’s qualification and progression rules, and only one qualification allowance is paid.

Sources: Nurses and Midwives (Queensland Health and Department of Education) Certified Agreement (EB12) 2025 and Queensland Health nursing wage rates

Western Australia

The latest published Qualification Allowance rates for registered nurses and midwives in WA, effective 12 October 2026, are:

Level 1 (Graduate Certificate or equivalent): $3,943 annually.
Level 2 (Graduate Diploma or equivalent): $5,069 annually.
Level 3 (Master’s Degree or PhD): $6,195 annually.

Part-time staff receive a proportionate payment based on their working hours.

Source: WA Health System Nursing and Midwifery Industrial Agreement

South Australia

The latest confirmed Qualification Allowance rates under South Australia’s operative agreement, effective January 2025, are:

RN/RM with a Hospital or Graduate Certificate: $3,573.70 annually.
RN/RM with a Graduate Diploma: $4,594.60 annually.
RN/RM with a Second Degree, Master’s Degree or PhD: $5,615.70 annually.
EN with a qualifying post-enrolment course of at least six months: $2,619.10 annually.

Part-time staff receive pro-rata allowances. Public-sector nurses and midwives rejected a proposed replacement agreement in July 2026, so unconfirmed 2027 increases are not included.

Source: South Australia Nursing / Midwifery Enterprise Agreement

Tasmania

The Post Graduate Allowance in Tasmania applies to enrolled nurses, registered nurses, midwives and nurse practitioners. Rates are calculated as a percentage of the employee’s current salaried incremental point:

EN with a relevant six-month course or Advanced Diploma: 4.0%; relevant course of at least 12 months: 7.5%.
RN/RM with a Graduate Certificate: 4.0%; Postgraduate Diploma or Degree: 6.5%.
RN/RM with a Master’s Degree: 7.5%; Doctorate or PhD: 10.0%.
NP with a Graduate Certificate: 4.0%; Postgraduate Diploma or Degree: 6.5%; an additional eligible Master’s Degree or Doctorate: 7.5%.

Using the published RN Grade 3 Year 5 salary of $93,453, the Table 1 amounts are about $3,738 for a Graduate Certificate, $6,074 for a Graduate Diploma and $7,009 for a Master’s Degree. Payment continues while the employee works in an area relevant to the qualification.

Sources: Nurses and Midwives (Tasmanian State Service) Award and Tasmanian nurses and midwives salary rates

Australian Capital Territory

ACT nurses can receive a Qualification Allowance for a relevant additional qualification. Using the latest confirmed minimum salary scales:

EN with a course of at least six months or 120 hours: 3.5% of the minimum EN Level 1 salary, or about $2,655 annually.
RN/RM with an Honours Degree, Conversion Degree or Postgraduate Certificate: 3.5% of the minimum RN Level 1 salary, or about $2,905 annually.
RN/RM with a Postgraduate Diploma or Second Degree: 4.5% of the minimum RN Level 1 salary, or about $3,735 annually.
RN/RM with a Master’s Degree or Doctoral Degree: 5.5% of the minimum RN Level 1 salary, or about $4,565 annually.

Hospital-based Midwifery Certificates are equivalent to a Postgraduate Diploma for the allowance. Payment is fortnightly and, under the current agreement, is made at the full-time-equivalent rate to eligible employees. Successor ACT public-sector agreements were still under negotiation in August 2026, so no unconfirmed 2027 increase is included.

Source: ACT Public Sector Nursing and Midwifery Enterprise Agreement 2023–2026

Northern Territory

In the NT, nurses can receive a Post Graduate Qualification Allowance for an additional credential relevant to their work. The latest confirmed rates, effective 19 August 2025, are:

Nurse 1 (EN) with a course of at least six months or 120 hours: $3,259 annually.
Nurse 2–8 (RN/RM) with a Conversion Degree or Graduate Certificate: $4,312 annually.
Nurse 2–8 with a Graduate Diploma: $4,851 annually.
Nurse 2–8 with a Master’s Degree or Doctorate: $5,929 annually.

The allowance is paid fortnightly, including to part-time nurses on a pro-rata basis. It continues during authorised paid leave and contributes to superannuation but does not affect overtime or penalty rates. An August 2026 replacement-agreement offer proposed further annual increases, but no proposed values are included before settlement.

Source: NTPS nurses and midwives rates of pay

Eligible Types of Qualifications

Qualification allowances are generally payable for approved additional qualifications. Recognised credentials commonly include hospital certificates, nursing graduate certificates and diplomas, second degrees, Master’s Degrees and doctorates. Some instruments also cover relevant non-nursing degrees, TAFE or VET qualifications, or specified courses for enrolled nurses.

The qualification must be relevant to the employee’s work under the applicable instrument. Healthcare, management or education qualifications may be eligible in some circumstances. Payment generally starts only after the employer receives the required evidence or application, such as a certificate, diploma or academic transcript.

Graduate certificate in nursing

A popular study option for becoming eligible for a qualification allowance is a Graduate Certificate in Nursing. This is a relatively short course but offers high returns, with an indicative average annual payment of $3,839 across Australia.

Key features:

Also called a postgraduate certificate and is equivalent to a hospital certificate.
Typically consists of only four subjects.
Option to choose a general or specialised study program.
May qualify you to become a Clinical Nurse Specialist or other higher-paying nurse designation.

A Grad Cert is often seen as a pathway course, as the subjects are normally drawn from a master’s program. Graduates can opt to continue studying and use completed subjects towards a Graduate Diploma or Master’s degree.

Graduate diploma in nursing

A Graduate Diploma in Nursing consists of eight subjects and typically takes 16 months to complete through part-time study. Graduates may qualify for an allowance when the credential is relevant and the applicable agreement conditions are met. The indicative average Qualification Allowance for a Graduate Diploma is around $5,160, which is about $1,321 more per year than for a Graduate Certificate.

Programs are generally designed for RNs looking to expand their skills and knowledge in specific areas of nursing practice. A grad dip makes you more competitive for specialised and senior nursing roles.

Master of Nursing

A Master of Nursing program typically consists of 12 subjects. The indicative Qualification Allowance for a Master’s Degree averages $6,353 per year across Australia and may not be proportionate to the amount of study required. Extra pay can nonetheless be viewed as a bonus, considering the career advantages of an MN degree.

A Master of Nursing has the potential to significantly boost a nurse’s salary. The pay premium is estimated to range from $5,639 to $56,648 annually, compared to the average RN salary. Advanced degrees open doors to higher-paying roles such as Clinical Nurse Consultant, Clinical Nurse Educator and Nurse Unit Manager.

Allowances and Tax Deductions for Uniforms

Enterprise agreements may include uniform allowances to help cover the costs of maintaining professional attire. According to Scrubs IQ, “Nurses can spend quite a lot of money throughout the year on nurse essentials that are necessary for the job.” Scrubs IQ offers a large selection of scrubs and complementary products, including stylish medical scrubs in Melbourne, to help healthcare professionals meet uniform needs.

Also, nurses may be able to claim tax deductions for purchasing and laundering eligible work clothing. Shoes, socks and stockings qualify only when they are an essential part of a distinctive compulsory uniform; ordinary footwear and support stockings do not. Special non-slip nursing shoes may qualify as protective footwear. Protective equipment such as aprons, gloves and masks may also be deductible when bought for work and not reimbursed. Keep receipts and laundering records in line with ATO guidance.