For most nurses the question is how much of the penalties, overtime and salary packaging a lender will count, and that differs widely between lenders.
Nurses and midwives can usually borrow on base pay plus a share of regular shift penalties and overtime, and some lenders also add back salary packaging.
How much of that variable pay counts differs between lenders, so the same payslips can support noticeably different loan sizes.
Part of the employment and income home loans guide.
What could a 5% deposit get you?
No LMI: an estimated $22,800 premium avoided (a broad guide; real premiums vary by lender and loan).
Stamp duty: $0 for eligible NSW first home buyers (saves $30,187).
Indicative only. The deposit excludes stamp duty, legal and inspection costs, and a participating lender, not this calculator, confirms 5% Deposit Scheme eligibility.
Confirm your numbers.
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Agency and casual nurses are usually assessed on an average of income over a history, often several months to a year, and some lenders work from year-to-date figures. The guides to casual employment home loans and home loans on probation cover each in detail.
Graduate nurses on probation have fewer lenders to choose from, but a hospital graduate program on a set pay scale often reads as stable employment.
Recent payslips that show the shift detail, not just the totals, your latest income statement, an employer letter if you are on a contract or graduate program, your salary packaging statement and evidence of registration if the lender asks.
Keep rosters steady in the months before applying where you can and avoid unexplained gaps. The document centre lists the full set, and overtime and allowances explains how each part of a payslip is read.
Often, when they are regular. Lenders want to see them on payslips over a period, and how much they count ranges from all of it to a share, depending on the lender and your history in the role.
With many lenders. Some add the packaged amount back as tax-free income, some gross it up as salary and some count only taxable pay, so the choice of lender can change your borrowing power.
Yes, usually with a history. Lenders tend to average agency and casual income over several months or a year, and the documents needed are heavier than for a permanent role.
Sometimes through a lender concession for selected healthcare occupations, and more often through the 5% Deposit Scheme if you are an eligible first home buyer.
Possibly. Fewer lenders accept probation, but a hospital graduate program with a set pay scale often reads as stable employment, especially with a contract that runs past settlement.
Yes. The compulsory repayment reduces the income available for the loan. In 2026-27 no repayment is due on repayment income of $69,528 or less, and the repayment thresholds article has the full table.
Charles will check how your penalties, overtime and salary packaging will be counted, which lenders suit nurses and what deposit you need. Free, no credit check.
General information only. Whether any concession applies to your profession depends on current lender policy, your membership or registration status and your full circumstances. Policies change and are confirmed in assessment.
Official sources for the figures on this page: ATO, FBT exempt organisations and capping thresholds · Housing Australia, 5% Deposit Scheme · ATO, study and training loan repayment thresholds. Scheme rules change; the official pages are the final word. Checked against these sources on 12 October 2026.
