Aged care workers are responsible for transforming the lives of elderly people by assisting with their daily living. Particularly as the Australian population ages, there is a strong demand for skilled workers in the aged care industry.
To get a job in aged care, it will be essential to complete certain qualifications to ensure you have the skills and experience to provide the best care possible. These qualifications typically include a Certificate III in Individual Support, which provides hands-on training for an entry-level position in the industry.
Working in aged care can be a truly rewarding experience, with the chance to develop meaningful connections and make a real difference to the lives of the elderly.
Why get a job in aged care?
Working in aged care can be a great career path because of the various benefits on offer. The following are just some of the major reasons why you should consider the aged care industry:
Working in aged care is extremely fulfilling
Because you are working in a role that improves the quality of life for elderly people, you have the chance to make a tangible difference to their lives. Many seniors often struggle to move around and carry out their day-to-day tasks, with the support of aged care workers helping to make a positive improvement.
Build meaningful relationships
Through your work, you have the opportunity to build deep and meaningful connections with elderly people and their families. Every day you can learn something new, with these relationships offering a source of inspiration and joy with stories and experiences you can cherish.
Plenty of career opportunities
Joining the aged care sector gives you a multitude of opportunities for different careers and roles. You can begin as part of the support staff and work your way up to a leadership or management role. Or you could join the industry as a nursing assistant and develop your skills to become a fully registered nurse. Whatever your interests or goals, aged care will likely have a path ready for you.
In growing demand
Australia's population is rapidly aging, with 22 per cent of Australians over the age of 65 in 2026, up from 16 per cent in 2020. Recent estimates state that the entire aftercare workforce will need to double or even triple by 2050 to meet the growing demands for our aging population. This bodes well for future employment prospects, with a shortage of skilled aged care workers creating a strong demand.
Roles and responsibilities of aged care workers
Aged care workers have multiple roles and responsibilities they must administer in support of clients. These typically include:
- Providing personal care, such as bathing, dressing and grooming
- Assisting with mobility and exercise
- Monitoring and managing health conditions
- Administering medications
- Providing emotional support and companionship
- Assisting with daily activities, such as cooking, cleaning and shopping
Essential skills for an aged care worker
Successful aged care workers share personal qualities and skills that typically include:
Empathy and kindness
Empathic traits are perhaps the most important skill for aged care workers, helping you understand and share the feelings of elderly people.
Patience and active listening
Older people can be slower in their day-to-day lives, making it important to remain patient and keep calm when things can feel slow or delayed.
Communication
Effective communication skills are essential to aged care, whether you're communicating with clients, their families, or with other colleagues and professionals.
Problem solving
Like other professions, problem-solving is an important trait in aged care for dealing with any issues that may arise and finding suitable solutions.
Teamwork
In an aged care facility, you may encounter a wide variety of professions, such as nurses, therapists and hospitality staff, in which teamwork skills are invaluable to collaborate effectively and provide the best care to residents.
How to get a job in aged care
Although the exact qualifications will depend on your personal career goals, to earn the necessary skills and experience for a job in aged care, you will need to complete of one of the following qualifications:
Certificate III in Individual Support
Through a Certificate III in Individual Support, you can gain a diverse range of skills and experience to prepare you for an entry-level position in aged care. Through hands-on learning, students can learn how to provide individualised care plans, how to communicate effectively with clients and carry out safe working practices. This certificate covers all the necessary aspects of working in aged, home and community care, as well as the disability sectors. Students at TAFE Gippsland also have the opportunity to experience 120 hours of practical placement, to be completed near the end of the course.
Once completed, the job roles or employment opportunities may include, but not be limited to:
- Aged care stream - Aged care facilities and home and community care environments.
- Disability stream - A range of disability roles such as disability support worker, personal care worker, lifestyle support worker or personal care assistant, support coordinator, case manager, in-home disability support worker, community access coordinator, in-home respite worker, disability service officer, care worker, client assistant, school support officer (disability), family support worker and community support worker.
Please refer to the course guide for more information on fees and entry requirements.
Certificate IV in Ageing Support
For people already working in the aged care industry and looking to upskill, the Certificate IV in Ageing Support can offer greater career opportunities. Through this certificate, you can further your skill set to work in more senior roles as a team leader or supervisor with higher pay scales. You’ll learn how to create an empowering environment and maintain quality service delivery through the development, facilitation and review of individualised service planning and delivery. This certificate will also provide a solid overview of the legal and ethical protocols to ensure compliance.
Diploma of Nursing
With opportunities for nurses in aged care, the Diploma of Nursing is designed to help you build knowledge and skills in a practical learning environment. This course will give you the advanced skills to work as a nurse in a contemporary healthcare environment, with the confidence to perform clinical assessments, look after people with acute and chronic care needs, monitor and administer medications, attend to wounds and apply theory to your practice. You will be taught by industry professionals in simulated working environments, with mandatory clinical placements allowing you to link theory to practice.
Once completed, you will be able to register as an Enrolled Nurse with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulatory Agency (AHPRA) under the National Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA).
Additional qualifications needed
National police check
Aged care workers are “key personnel” under the Aged Care Act 1997, meaning you will need to complete a national police check as a standard requirement. This demonstrates you have no criminal record and is usually a quick step that can be completed online as part of the recruitment process.
NDIS worker screening check
If an aged care facility is also a registered NDIS (National Disability Insurance Scheme) provider and you work in a risk-assessed role, an NDIS worker screening check will be required. A risk-assessed role involves ‘more than incidental contact’ with people with disabilities, including physically assisting or building a rapport with a disabled person. This screening checks your national criminal and work misconduct history, and can be accepted in place of a police check.
Up-to-date vaccinations
To protect staff and residents, employers will require proof of your vaccinations. To get a job in aged care, you will usually need to be vaccinated against influenza (the flu) by the 15th of August each year. Although the Australian Government is no longer mandating COVID-19 vaccinations for all aged care workers, some employers may still recommend a COVID-19 vaccination, particularly for high-risk facilities.
Job opportunities in aged care
There are a variety of career opportunities and roles in aged care, ranging from nursing to support care and hospitality. These include some of the following:
Personal care worker
These professionals are responsible for providing direct care and support to aged care residents in both residential facilities and their homes. Their typical duties include carrying out daily living assistance, with tasks that help with hygiene, meal preparation and mobility. They can also provide valuable emotional support and companionship.
Registered nurses (RNs) and enrolled nurses (ENs)
Nurses are a vital part of the aged care industry. They are responsible for administering medications, monitoring resident health and providing clinical care. Enrolled nurses typically work under a registered nurse, who carries out higher levels of patient care with added leadership duties.
Allied health and therapy
This refers to professionals such as physiotherapists, occupational therapists, dietitians, speech therapists, and psychologists who may work in aged care to improve the physical and cognitive functions of residents.
Hospitality workers
Integral to the success of an aged care facility, hospitality staff include professional chefs, cooks and catering assistants. They help manage the diet of aged care residents, with tasks that include preparing meals, overseeing food supplies and maintaining the health and safety of a kitchen.
Management and leadership roles
Once workers gain enough experience, they may transition into a role in leadership and management. These are vital to steering the direction of facilities and ensuring everything operates effectively, with positions such as facility manager, care coordinator and team leader.
Aged care worker salary in Australia
People working in aged care can expect to earn a median salary of $1,761 per week or $46 per hour. This equates to approximately $91,572. This is according to data from the Jobs and Skills Australia website.
However, entry-level positions have a starting rate of $1,007.5 per week or $26.51 per hour. Team leaders and managers can earn more than $1,800 per week or $95,000 per year.
Aged care worker job outlook
Australia's aged care sector is currently experiencing a severe shortage of skilled workers, which is only expected to grow each year as our population ages. These shifts are primarily driven by Australia’s aging demographics, with more people living longer, there will be a need for a greater range of aged care services and in-home support.
According to Ageing Australia, approximately 2.3 million people will be aged 70 or over by 2044, with the number of home care recipients reaching 1.82 million. They also estimate that Australia is not yet on track to meet these growing workforce demands, with a workforce shortage of 400,000.
Although these shortages are a growing concern for Australia’s ability to support our aging population, they also present a great opportunity for aged care workers. Jobs and Skills Australia estimates that 27,300 new jobs are being created each year, with countless opportunities for entry-level workers. As long as you have all the required skills and qualifications, you should have no issues landing your first role.
To get a job in aged care, you will likely need to complete a qualification such as the Certificate III in Individual Support, which ensures you develop all the required skills and knowledge. For further information on how to get a job in aged care, please reach out to TAFE Gippsland for support.