Aged Care Jobs in Australia: Award Pay, Shifts and How to Start (2026)
What aged care worker jobs in Australia involve: 2026 award pay for personal care workers, shifts, home care vs aged care homes and how hiring works.
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Step 1 of 3: Job overview
From July 2026, a personal care worker with a Certificate III under the Aged Care Award must be paid at least $36.23 an hour, and more as a casual. Many providers also take on new starters and help them train. Below you'll see what the job is really like, and the next page shows exactly what you need to qualify.
Tap the kind of aged care work that interests you, and we'll show you the requirements next.
Which type of aged care work suits you?
🤝 What an aged care worker actually does
Aged care workers help older Australians with everyday life, so they can stay safe, comfortable and as independent as possible. You'll see the job advertised as personal care worker (PCW), personal care assistant (PCA), assistant in nursing (AIN) or support worker.
The work is hands-on and people-focused. A typical shift can include:
- Helping residents or clients shower, dress, groom and use the toilet
- Helping people move safely, including transfers from bed to chair
- Serving meals and drinks, and helping people eat if they need it
- Reminding people about medication where you are trained and allowed to
- Chatting, keeping people company and joining in activities and outings
- Writing short notes so nurses and the next shift know how each person is going
Aged care homes vs home care
In an aged care home (residential care), you work on one site as part of a team led by nurses, often with the same residents each shift. In home care, you visit older people in their own homes and travel between visits.
Home care is growing under the government's new Support at Home program, which started on 1 November 2025 and replaced Home Care Packages. Both settings use the same core training.
Wondering if you'd pass the checks? It only takes a minute to find out.
💰 How much aged care workers are paid (2026)
Most personal care workers in aged care homes are covered by the Aged Care Award 2010. The Fair Work Commission raised award rates by 4.75% from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026, on top of earlier work value increases for aged care. Here are the minimum full-time rates for direct care workers:
| Direct care level | Weekly (38 hours) | About per hour |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1 (Introductory) | $1,239.00 | $32.61 |
| Level 2 (Direct Carer) | $1,307.80 | $34.42 |
| Level 3 (Qualified, Certificate III) | $1,376.70 | $36.23 |
Source: Aged Care Award, rates from 1 July 2026. Casual workers get a 25% loading on top of the hourly rate instead of paid leave. Many providers have enterprise agreements that pay more than the award, and evenings, weekends and public holidays attract penalty rates.
On top of your wages, your employer must pay super (superannuation) into your retirement fund. The Australian Taxation Office says the super guarantee rate is 12% of ordinary time earnings from 1 July 2025.
🕒 Shifts and working hours
Older people need care around the clock, so aged care runs every day of the year. Jobs and Skills Australia's profile for aged and disabled carers shows about 60% of these workers are part-time, so flexible hours are common.
- Morning shifts: helping residents get up, showered, dressed and to breakfast
- Afternoon shifts: lunch and dinner, activities, visitors and getting ready for bed
- Night shifts: checking on residents, helping with toileting and responding to call bells
- Home care rounds: a list of visits across your local area, often at set times
- Casual work: picking up shifts that fit around study or family
Next up: the police check, NDIS worker screening, the Certificate III and the documents providers ask for.
⭐ Training and career growth
The main entry qualification is the Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing), course code CHC33021. TAFE NSW lists a mandatory 120 hours of work placement for it, so you get real experience while you study. Fee-free TAFE places are offered in many states, but places are limited.
Under the award, a qualified personal care worker with a Certificate III is paid at Level 3. With experience you can move into senior, specialist or team leader roles, which have higher award rates. Some workers go on to study the Certificate IV in Ageing Support or nursing.
🙋 Who this job suits
Aged care can be a great fit if this sounds like you:
- You're patient, kind and enjoy talking with older people
- You've cared for a grandparent, parent or friend and found it rewarding
- You want steady work in a sector that needs people every day
- You'd like flexible, part-time or casual hours
It can be harder if you find personal care, like helping someone shower or use the toilet, uncomfortable. The work is also physical and sometimes emotional, so think honestly about whether it suits you.
Curious whether you'd meet the checks? The requirements page explains each one in plain English.
✅ What to expect next
Hiring in aged care usually follows a few simple stages. You apply to a provider, have an interview, and the provider checks your work rights, references and police check or NDIS worker screening clearance before you start. Your first shifts are usually buddy shifts alongside an experienced worker.
On the next page: the police check and NDIS screening rules, work rights and visa basics, whether you need a driver licence for home care, and the mistakes that get applications rejected.
🔥 Other jobs hiring now
Aged care isn't the only option. If you want to compare, these jobs are worth a look too.
Disclaimer: This is an independent information website. We are not an aged care provider, government agency or employer, we do not hire anyone and we do not collect job applications. Pay rates, screening rules and training options change and vary by employer and state, so always check the official employer, Fair Work and government websites before you apply. Never pay anyone to get a job.