What Labor’s Re-Election Means for Australia’s Healthcare Workforce

With the federal election now behind us, Australia’s healthcare sector can finally look ahead with a little more certainty. The re-election of the Labor government brings continuity, but also fresh commitments to the healthcare sector, which Curamoir is following closely!

Many of Labor’s election promises focused on growing and supporting critical roles across aged care jobs, nursing jobs, social services jobs, and primary healthcare. Here, we unpack the major healthcare promises Labor made during its campaign – and what they mean for workforce planning, nurse recruitment, and aged care recruitment in the months and years ahead.

Employer Funding and Pay Raises for Aged Care Jobs

Increases in Aged Care Pay and Funding

Labor has pledged $2.6 billion to support pay rises for 60,000 aged care nurses. It’s also backed a broader recommendation to the Fair Work Commission for a real wage increase for over 3 million low-paid healthcare and social service workers.

To help aged care employers meet these increased wages, additional funding will be rolled out through a mix of existing programs and new grant opportunities. This support extends across residential aged care, home care, and specialist care services.

Investment in Northern Territory Aged Care

In a targeted move to address regional healthcare inequity, the government has committed $70 million to build a new residential aged care facility in Darwin. The goal: improve aged care access for older Australians in the Northern Territory, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. This investment is expected to create local jobs and significantly expand aged care services in the region.

What does this mean for employers and aged care jobs?

This wage uplift and increased funding will be a welcome relief for employers struggling with aged care recruitment and retention. We expect it will help by making aged care jobs more attractive, especially in regional and remote areas. However, employers should prepare for increased expectations around pay and working conditions. Overall, workforce planning in aged care should now factor in a more competitive hiring environment.

Support for Nursing Jobs and Hospital Funding

Upskilling Nurses and Midwives

Labor is investing $10.5 million over two years in postgraduate scholarships for nurses and midwives, aiming to expand the nurse practitioner and endorsed midwife workforce. From 2023 to 2027, the program will deliver 1,850 scholarships, including graduate certificates, diplomas, and master's degrees.

This initiative is designed to support professional development and help fill gaps in advanced practice roles across the country.

Expanded Hospital Funding

Labor also announced a round of public hospital funding, set to reach $33.9 billion by 2025-26 (a 12% increase). Targeted projects include:

$80 million to expand Fairfield Hospital’s emergency department
$120 million for a new maternity ward at Rouse Hill Hospital
$200 million for upgrades to Perth’s Midland Public Hospital.

These investments aim to reduce waiting lists, ramping, and pressure on emergency departments – key concerns raised throughout the election campaign.

What does this mean for employers and nursing jobs?

This renewed focus on nurse education and hospital capacity directly supports nurse recruitment and retention efforts. Employers can expect to have access to a more qualified nursing workforce. At the same time, creating career pathways and clinical environments that attract these upskilled professionals will be essential.

Looking at the big picture, nurse recruitment strategies should focus on long-term planning to meet increased service demand, while tapping into government support where possible.

Mental Health & Social Services

Labor has committed over $1 billion to address record demand for mental health and social services. Major promises include:

$225 million for 31 new and upgraded Medicare walk-in mental health centres
$200 million+ for 58 Headspace centre expansions
$500 million for 20 new specialist youth mental health hubs
$90 million to train 1,200 new mental health professionals and peer workers
$135 million for digital mental health services, enhancing access to online support
$16.7 million for perinatal mental health support.

What does this mean for employers and social services jobs?

Opportunities and increased demand are both on the cards for mental health employers and social services jobs. With more funding, job creation in these areas will accelerate, but so will the competition for qualified candidates.

Employers will benefit from focusing on upskilling, employer branding, and strategic partnerships with recruitment providers to meet the growing demand for social services jobs and mental health specialists.

Medicare & Primary Care

Medicare Funding and Bulk-Billing

Labor’s highly publicised $8.5 billion Medicare commitment aims to improve dwindling bulk-billing rates and make general practice more accessible, particularly for vulnerable Australians. As part of its promises package, the Government has promised to enhance funding structures to support GPs and incentivise primary care delivery.

Expansion of Urgent Care Clinics

The number of Medicare Urgent Care Clinics is set to grow from 87 to 137, thanks to an additional $644 million investment. These clinics are spread across all states and territories and are designed to provide walk-in care for non-life-threatening conditions.

Telehealth Overhaul

Labor is allocating $204.5 million to revamp Healthdirect, the national telehealth service. By 2026, patients needing after-hours care will be able to access bulk-billed GP consultations by phone or video. Registered nurses will also be available around the clock to triage and refer patients.

What does this mean for healthcare employers and professionals?

More urgent care clinics can help reduce the burden on hospitals and ultimately create more job opportunities for nursing professionals. Employers could expect to see more candidates who are interested in flexible, non-traditional care roles, especially in telehealth and urgent care.

From a recruitment perspective, it’s important to evaluate nurse candidates on their digital literacy as much as their core nursing skills.

The Outlook for Healthcare Employers and Professionals

With Labor’s landslide election win, the path is clearer for the government to deliver on its healthcare promises without the usual political roadblocks. This means both employers and professionals can start preparing for big changes in how services are staffed and delivered – with all the opportunities these changes entail.

Whether you’re hiring for nursing jobs, aged care jobs, or social services positions, the coming years will be all about building a workforce that’s ready to meet the evolving needs of healthcare in Australia. In short: there will be plenty of work to do!

Talk to Us

Need support with hiring nurses or finding your next healthcare role? At Curamoir, we specialise in nurse recruitment, aged care jobs, allied health and social services roles. Our friendly and knowledgeable team is always here to help! Get in touch with us today to find the right talent or your ideal role.