Published in: Aged Care

Aged Care Jobs Australia: How to Find, Apply and Land a Role in 2026

Author diannemaex

Published on: June 16, 2026

15 minutes read

Why Aged Care Jobs in Australia Are Different in 2026

If you have ever dismissed aged care jobs as low-paid, low-status work — it is time to update that picture. The sector has changed more in the past three years than in the previous two decades combined. A landmark 15 per cent wage increase from the Fair Work Commission. The new Aged Care Act 2024. Mandatory staffing minimums. Stronger career frameworks. And a workforce shortage so significant that providers across every state and territory are competing actively for qualified, reliable staff.

The result is a job market where qualified aged care workers have real negotiating power, where career pathways from entry-level to senior clinical and management roles are clearly defined, and where the work — always meaningful — now carries the professional recognition it has long deserved. Aged care jobs in Australia are no longer the backup option. For a growing number of people, they are the intentional choice.

This guide is written for those people — and for anyone still weighing up whether aged care is right for them. It covers the practical realities: current salaries across every role, what qualifications are actually required, where to find aged care jobs near you, what the screening and compliance requirements involve, and what employers are genuinely looking for when they interview candidates.

Types of Aged Care Jobs Available in Australia

Aged care jobs span a far wider range than most people realise. Before deciding which role to pursue, it helps to understand the full landscape — including which roles are in the highest demand, which offer the clearest career progression, and which suit different personalities, backgrounds, and skills.

One role worth particular attention in 2026 is the Registered Nurse in aged care. Under the new Aged Care Act 2024, all residential aged care facilities must have a Registered Nurse on-site 24 hours a day, seven days a week. With more than 2,700 residential aged care facilities across Australia all requiring around-the-clock RN coverage, the structural demand for aged care nursing jobs is exceptional — and is unlikely to diminish for decades.

What Qualifications Do You Need for Aged Care Jobs?

One of the most common questions from people considering aged care jobs is straightforward: what do I actually need to get started? The answer depends on the role — but in almost every case, the pathway is shorter and more accessible than people expect.

Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing) — CHC33021

The standard entry qualification for personal care workers, support workers, and most frontline aged care jobs. Typically takes six to twelve months to complete through TAFE or a registered training organisation, and includes a mandatory practical placement in a real aged care setting. In Queensland, fee-free TAFE places are available for this qualification — meaning you can enter the aged care workforce with no out-of-pocket study costs. Many employers hire trainees while they complete their Certificate III, so you can start earning from the early weeks of your training.

Certificate IV in Ageing Support — CHC43015

The qualification for supervisory, coordination, and more complex care roles. Required for Team Leader and Care Supervisor positions. Covers dementia care, care planning, medication support, and leadership fundamentals. Also a stepping stone toward nursing qualifications for those considering a clinical pathway.

Diploma of Nursing — HLT54121

The pathway to becoming an Enrolled Nurse. Takes approximately 18 months full-time and involves significant supervised clinical placement hours. Enrolled Nurses hold a broad scope of clinical practice and earn considerably more than personal care workers — making this qualification a significant investment with a clear return.

Bachelor of Nursing

A three-year university degree required to become a Registered Nurse and register with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). The most in-demand clinical qualification in aged care right now — with mandatory 24/7 RN coverage requirements creating structural demand that shows no sign of easing.

Aged Care Screening and Compliance Requirements

Before you can start working in any funded aged care job in Australia, you must complete a series of mandatory screening and compliance checks. These are non-negotiable — they apply to all workers, volunteers, and contractors who have direct contact with aged care residents or handle their personal information.

Where to Find Aged Care Jobs Near You in Australia

Knowing where to look for aged care jobs is half the battle. The good news is that multiple reliable channels exist — and each serves a slightly different purpose depending on whether you are looking for a specific role, comparing employers, or exploring what is available in your local area.

Online job boards

SEEK is the largest job board in Australia and has a dedicated aged care and nursing category with hundreds of active listings at any time. SEEK is the best starting point for understanding what roles are available, what employers are paying, and what qualifications are in demand in your specific location. Set up a job alert for “aged care jobs” with your preferred location and you will receive notifications as new positions are listed.

Indeed aggregates listings from across multiple sources and is particularly useful for finding roles that may not appear on SEEK. Indeed’s salary insights — which now show average aged care worker pay at $28.97 per hour nationally as of May 2026 — are also a useful benchmark when evaluating what a specific employer is offering.

Ethical Jobs and Care Careers are sector-specific platforms that focus on the health, community services, and aged care sectors. These platforms often carry roles from smaller providers and not-for-profit organisations that may not advertise on the major job boards.

Direct applications to aged care providers

One of the most effective ways to find aged care jobs — particularly in a specific location — is to apply directly to the providers operating in your area. Most residential aged care facilities and home care providers maintain their own careers pages and actively recruit outside of formal job board listings. For facilities in your suburb or nearby, a direct application accompanied by a well-written cover letter demonstrating genuine knowledge of the provider often receives a better response than a generic SEEK application.

Aged care recruitment agencies

For nurses and experienced care workers, specialist aged care recruitment agencies offer access to roles across multiple providers — and often negotiate better pay rates and conditions than direct employment. Agencies such as Healthcare Australia (HCA) advertise roles nationally and provide access to both permanent and flexible agency shifts. Agency work can also be a useful way to experience different facilities before committing to a permanent position.

Government employment services

Services Australia’s JobActive and the government’s Skills and Training portals list aged care jobs and also connect eligible job seekers with funded training pathways. If you are currently receiving Centrelink payments, your employment services provider may be able to fund your Certificate III in Individual Support as part of your employment plan.

Aged Care Jobs in Brisbane and the Gold Coast

For job seekers in South East Queensland, the aged care jobs market is particularly strong. Brisbane and the Gold Coast are two of Australia’s fastest-growing regions, and both have ageing populations that are driving sustained demand for residential and home-based care workers.

Residential aged care jobs in Brisbane are concentrated across the inner suburbs, South East Brisbane (including the Redlands, Wellington Point, and Capalaba areas), and the northern suburbs. On the Gold Coast, Merrimac, Robina, Varsity Lakes, and the southern Gold Coast corridor have significant residential aged care infrastructure — and active ongoing recruitment across personal care, nursing, and lifestyle roles.

Home care and Support at Home jobs are available across both regions, with demand increasing significantly since the Support at Home programme replaced Home Care Packages in November 2025. The expansion of government funding under the new programme has created additional roles for community-based support workers who can deliver services in people’s homes across suburban Brisbane and the Gold Coast.

What Aged Care Employers Are Actually Looking For

Understanding what employers are looking for in aged care job applications can mean the difference between landing an interview and being overlooked — even if your qualifications are exactly right. The sector is relationship-driven, and employers assess character and fit as much as formal credentials.

The qualities that matter most

Genuine empathy is the quality that separates effective aged care workers from merely adequate ones. It cannot be faked in an interview — experienced hiring managers will ask for specific examples of how you have supported someone through a difficult moment, and they will know immediately whether the answer reflects real understanding or rehearsed language. Think carefully before your interview about specific moments where your care for another person made a difference to them.

Reliability and consistency matter enormously in aged care. Residents build trust with the staff who care for them — and that trust depends on consistency across shifts. An aged care employer wants to know that you will show up on time, do what you said you would do, and maintain the same standard of care at 6am on a Sunday as you do at 10am on a Tuesday. In your application and interview, demonstrate reliability through specific examples from your work history.

Communication skills in aged care are about much more than being able to talk. They include listening actively to a resident whose speech is difficult to understand. Writing clear, accurate care notes. Speaking sensitively with a family member who is worried about their parent. And raising a concern with a supervisor in a way that is constructive rather than confrontational. Be prepared to talk through how you communicate in challenging situations.

Understanding of the sector’s values and regulatory framework sets strong applicants apart from weak ones. Knowing what the Aged Care Code of Conduct requires — and being able to articulate why it matters — signals that you are taking the role seriously and have done your preparation. Similarly, understanding the Aged Care Quality Standards and the rights of residents under the Statement of Rights demonstrates professional awareness that many candidates lack.

How to write a strong aged care job application

Aged Care Jobs for International Workers and Visa Holders

Australia’s aged care workforce shortage has created genuine and well-supported pathways for international workers who wish to build a career in the sector. Aged care roles appear consistently on Australia’s skilled and priority occupation lists — and the combination of employer sponsorship availability and the sector’s workforce crisis means that qualified international workers are actively sought, not merely tolerated.

The Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) Subclass 482 visa is the most common pathway, allowing approved employers to sponsor skilled workers in nominated occupations where local workers are not available. Personal care workers and nurses both appear on the relevant occupation lists. For overseas-qualified Registered Nurses, AHPRA registration is required before commencing clinical work — the assessment process varies by country of origin but Australia has streamlined pathways for nurses from many countries including the United Kingdom, Ireland, New Zealand, Canada, and India.

The Aged Care Industry Labour Agreement (ACILA) provides an additional employer-sponsored visa pathway specifically tailored to aged care providers, often with faster processing and permanent residency options after two years of employment. For international workers without Australian qualifications, completing the Certificate III in Individual Support provides both employment eligibility and a pathway to employer sponsorship.

Frequently Asked Questions — Aged Care Jobs in Australia

Conclusion: Finding the Right Aged Care Job Starts with Finding the Right Employer

Aged care jobs in Australia offer more stability, better pay, and stronger career pathways than at any previous point in the sector’s history. The demographic forces driving demand are not going away. The government investment backing them is not going away. The wage increases that have made aged care competitive with other sectors are not going away. And the regulatory framework that has professionalised the work — the new Aged Care Act, the strengthened Quality Standards, the Code of Conduct — is not going away either.

But finding an aged care job is only the first step. The more important decision is finding the right aged care employer — one whose culture genuinely reflects the values the sector’s legislation now demands. Because the difference between a well-run aged care facility and a poorly run one is not abstract. It shows up in how staff are treated, how residents are spoken to, how concerns are handled, and whether the people who deliver care feel supported in doing their best work every day.

The right employer invests in your training and development rather than treating it as a cost. They promote from within because they know their best leaders are already on the floor. They take the Code of Conduct seriously — not as a compliance exercise, but as a genuine description of how people should be treated. They maintain care minutes above the mandatory minimum because they understand that the minutes that matter most are the ones where a staff member simply sits with a resident who needs company. And they have a culture where raising a concern is welcomed, not managed.

Those employers exist. Finding them takes a little more effort than scanning a job board — but it is worth it. Visit facilities in person. Ask hard questions during your interview. Talk to current staff if you can. Read the accreditation results on myagedcare.gov.au. Look at the Star Ratings. And pay attention to how you are treated during the recruitment process — it usually reflects how you will be treated as an employee.

At Superior Care Group, we have been delivering residential aged care in Queensland since 1979. Our two family-owned residences — Wellington Park in Wellington Point, South East Brisbane, and Merrimac Park on the Gold Coast — employ over 350 staff and contractors who collectively bring a culture of genuine care to every shift. We offer competitive wages, genuinely flexible rostering, ongoing professional development, student placements, and volunteering opportunities for those exploring the sector.

We are currently recruiting for aged care jobs across both residences — including personal care workers, Registered Nurses, Enrolled Nurses, lifestyle coordinators, and support roles. If you are looking for aged care jobs in Brisbane, the Redlands, or on the Gold Coast, and you want to work for an employer who takes the same care of their staff as they do of their residents, we would like to hear from you.

Visit our Careers page, complete our Job Application Form, or call us directly at Wellington Park on (07) 3822 1876 or Merrimac Park on (07) 5618 1111. The right aged care job — in the right facility, with the right team — can be the beginning of a career that defines you. We hope to be part of that for you.