Aged Care Worker jobs in Australia

There are no open aged care worker roles listed with CrossNation right now. New roles are added as employers brief us, so create a profile to be matched when one opens.

Aged care workers help older people with the parts of daily life that have become hard to manage alone. In a residential home that usually means showering, dressing, toileting, help at meal times and moving safely between bed, chair and bathroom. In home care you may also help with shopping, light cleaning and getting to appointments. You work to care plans written by registered nurses and report changes you notice, such as a resident eating less or seeming more confused. Job titles vary by employer: personal care assistant, personal care worker, assistant in nursing and care worker can all describe similar work, so read the duties rather than relying on the title. Shifts cover mornings, afternoons and nights across seven days, and many roles are part-time or casual. Workers are expected to follow the code of conduct for aged care set by the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission.

There is no national registration for personal care workers, so each employer sets its own requirements. The qualification most often requested is a Certificate III in Individual Support, usually with an ageing specialisation, which includes a supervised work placement. Some employers will consider people who are close to finishing the course. Expect to provide a national police certificate before you start, and some providers also ask for evidence of vaccinations or a first aid certificate. Home care roles often need a current driver licence and a reliable car. If you trained overseas, an employer may still ask you to complete Australian training, because the Certificate III covers local practice, documentation and resident rights. Have your certificates, identification and referees ready before you apply, since missing paperwork is a common reason for a delayed start date. Tell the recruiter about any dementia, palliative or manual handling training you hold.

Many aged care workers are covered by the Aged Care Award [MA000018], made by the Fair Work Commission. The award sets minimum pay by classification level, along with penalty rates for weekends, public holidays and night shifts, overtime, allowances and rostering rules. Larger providers often have an enterprise agreement instead, which must leave workers better off overall than the award. Home care workers can fall under a different award depending on the employer and the services it provides, so check the award or agreement named in your contract. The Fair Work Ombudsman's Pay Calculator shows the current minimum rate for each level, and those rates change over time. We do not quote pay figures on this page because they depend on the classification, the agreement and your shift pattern. Ask the recruiter which instrument applies and which level you will be placed on before you accept an offer.

Registration: No national registration (Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission oversees aged care standards). Personal care workers are not registered with Ahpra. Employers set their own requirements, commonly a Certificate III in Individual Support and a police check.

Pay and conditions: usually the Aged Care Award [MA000018] or an enterprise agreement. Check current minimum rates with the Fair Work Pay Calculator.

Award rates: Aged care worker salary in Australia: what the award sets.

ANZSCO: 423111 Aged or Disabled Carer